Bill Text: HI SB192 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Prostitution; Minors; Offenses; Statute of Limitations; Forfeiture; Sex Offender Registry

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-07-09 - Act 247, 7/1/2013 (Gov. Msg. No. 1350). [SB192 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB192-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 547

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 192

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 192 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROSTITUTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to discourage the demand for prostitution in Hawaii through stronger deterrents.  Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes an offense of solicitation of a minor for prostitution as a class C felony;

 

     (2)  Increases the statute of limitations to bring a cause of action for coercion into prostitution from two to six years;

 

     (3)  Clarifies the minimum and maximum fine for a person convicted of committing the offense of prostitution;

 

     (4)  Adds the offenses of promoting prostitution, solicitation of a minor for prostitution, habitual solicitation of prostitution, and solicitation of prostitution near schools and public parks under the State's forfeiture laws; and

 

     (5)  Amends the definition of "sexual offense" under the sexual offender registry laws to include acts that consist of the solicitation of a minor who is less than eighteen years of age for prostitution.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Community Services; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; Police Department, City and County of Honolulu; IMUAlliance; Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery; Courage House Hawai‘i; Equality Now; and twenty-seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure strengthens the laws and penalties for crimes that exploit children subjected to prostitution.  Your Committee recognizes that victims of prostitution may continue to experience physical and mental trauma long after the commission of the crime.  This measure allows these victims additional time to seek assistance without relinquishing their right to seek justice by extending the statute of limitations to bring a cause of action from two to six years.  Lastly, by amending the State's forfeiture and sexual offender registry laws, this measure discourages individuals from engaging in solicitation of prostitution.

 

     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 S.B. No. 192 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

		____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair