Report Title:

System Responses to Cases of Child Sexual Assault and Exploitation; Task Force

 

Description:

Establishes a two-year statewide task force to evaluate and make recommendations on the State's system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation.  Makes appropriations for the task force.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

326

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to children.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  (a)  The chair of the senate committee on human services and public housing and the chair of the house of representatives committee on human services shall convene a temporary statewide task force on system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation.  The purpose of the task force shall be to review, assess, and make recommendations on Hawaii's system responses to cases regarding:

     (1)  Child sexual abuse, assault, and exploitation;

     (2)  Sexually reactive children;

     (3)  Youth who sexually offend; and

     (4)  Related minor-to-minor incest.

The task force shall also consider associated issues, including Internet crimes against children, child pornography, and child trafficking in its discussions.

     (b)  In addition to the co-convenors, as specified under subsection (a), the task force shall consist of representatives from each of the following:

     (1)  The judiciary;

     (2)  The Children's Justice Center;

     (3)  The county police department for each county;

     (4)  The department of human services;

     (5)  The department of health;

     (6)  The department of education;

     (7)  The prosecutor's office for each county;

     (8)  The department of the attorney general;

     (9)  Children's Alliance of Hawaii;

    (10)  Child and family services;

    (11)  Catholic Charities Hawaii;

    (12)  Sex Abuse Treatment Center;

    (13)  The Salvation Army; and

    (14)  The United States Attorney's Office.

     (c)  The inter-agency advisory committees of the children's justice center for each county shall be consulted on a regular basis for input to the task force.

     (d)  The center for alternative dispute resolution shall assist the task force in performing its duties as required by this Act.

     (e)  The members shall not receive compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties under this Act.

     SECTION 2.  The statewide task force on system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008, and a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.  The advisory task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2009.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the statewide task force on system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the senate for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the statewide task force on system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the house of representatives for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon approval; provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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