STAND. COM. REP. 3115

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2020

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2020, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROSTITUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make it a class C felony to sell or offer to sell travel services for the purpose of promoting prostitution, and to authorize the suspension or revocation of travel agency registration for engaging in such activities.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Attorney General, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Equality Now, First Unitarian Church, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that prostitution is inherently harmful and dehumanizing. While this is true of prostitution in any country, it is much worse in developing nations. It has been established that one local company specializes in sex tours to Thailand. Sex tourism objectifies and exploits young women and children who are either trapped or sold into prostitution due to poverty, lack of education, and limited opportunities in their home country. It is critical that strong legal deterrents be enacted to combat this crime.

For the purposes of style and clarity, your Committee has made nonsubstantive amendments to this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2020, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2020, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair