STAND. COM. REP. NO.  591

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 722

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 722, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require:

 

     (1)  The Department of the Attorney General to address the needs of victims of human trafficking through the development of a statewide human trafficking program;

 

     (2)  The Department of the Attorney General to provide annual reports to the Legislature on the State's efforts to address human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children; and

 

     (3)  The Children's Justice Program to coordinate the investigation and case management of child trafficking cases, including cases involving the sexual exploitation of children.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Judiciary, Department of Transportation, Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Psychological Association, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that children, particularly foster, runaway, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and undocumented children and children suffering from mental illnesses and substance abuse issues, are vulnerable to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.  To adequately serve children who have been sexually exploited, your Committee believes that a statewide human trafficking program is needed to develop and utilize comprehensive interagency case management strategies, protocols, and a multi-disciplinary response that is victim-centered and offender-focused.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the Department of the Attorney General shall submit a report on the State's efforts to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022 and a report on the State's efforts to address human trafficking no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023;

 

     (2)  Permitting the Department of the Attorney General to submit additional reports to the Legislature at the determination of the Department; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 722, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 722, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair