STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3043

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2038

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2038, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the human trafficking victim services fund to be administered by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide support and services to human trafficking victims.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Kauai; Americans for Democratic Action/Hawaii; Hawaii Catholic Conference; The Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery; Hawaii Family Forum; Hawaii Women's Coalition; IMUAlliance; and twenty individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Community Services of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that existing law does not provide a source of revenue to support and provide services to human trafficking victims.  Human trafficking victims often face immediate need for access to basic and life-sustaining services, including toiletries and food.  Some victims also require long-term access to stable and supportive environments, such as licensed residential treatment facilities.  This measure assists in providing the necessary funding for support and services to human trafficking victims.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the disbursement of money from the human trafficking victim services fund is required to be used for support and services to victims of trafficking crimes related to part I of chapter 712, Hawaii Revised Statutes, rather than victims of promoting prostitution in the first degree under section 712-1202, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or a severe form of trafficking as defined under title 22 United States Code section 7102; and making conforming amendments to reflect this amendment.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2038, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2038, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair