Bill Text: HI HB497 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Sex Trafficking Offenses; Crime

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [HB497 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB497-Amended.html

---

 

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  391

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 497

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 497 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to establish sex trafficking as a felony offense and to protect victims of sex trafficking by:

 

     (1)  Establishing class A and class B felony sex trafficking offenses;

 

     (2)  Establishing the affirmative defense to any prosecution for prostitution that the sexual conduct occurred through force, fraud, or coercion; and

 

     (3)  Requiring the Attorney General to give priority to providing protection or funds to witnesses in any official proceeding or investigation involving sex trafficking.

 

     The Office of Community Services of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Catholic Conference, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 497 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

		____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair