Bill Text: HI SCR144 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requesting The Legislative Reference Bureau To Conduct A Study On Amending Existing Prostitution Laws In The State Of Hawaii.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-15 - Referred to JDC, WAM. [SCR144 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SCR144-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	144
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON amending existing PROSTITUTION LAWS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

 

 

     WHEREAS, there has been significant discussion about the utility of criminal prostitution laws by leading human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women; and

 

     WHEREAS, previous task forces established by the State did not include sex worker rights advocates or harm reductionists; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is little well known data about prostitution in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, there are various models of legislation that address prostitution in less punitive ways; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body seeks to gain a better perspective on potential solutions to the various issues surrounding criminal prostitution and human trafficking legislation other than reforming the criminal justice system; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study on amending existing prostitution laws in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is requested to include:

 

     (1)  The scope and scale of sex trafficking in the State;

 

     (2)  The mental and physical health and well-being of individuals engaged in sex trafficking in the State;

 

     (3)  The experiences of law enforcement personnel with individuals subject to sex trafficking in the State;

 

     (4)  The experiences of individuals subject to sex trafficking in the State with law enforcement;

 

     (5)  The needs of individuals subject to sex trafficking and the availability of services in the State to meet those needs;

 

     (6)  The impact of arrest, conviction, and incarceration on individuals who have been arrested on prostitution offenses;

 

     (7)  The costs to state and local law enforcement and corrections budgets of arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating individuals for prostitution offenses; and

 

     (8)  The potential costs and benefits of partial or full decriminalization of prostitution, including possible effects on rates of sex trafficking; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau may seek input from the following entities:

 

     (1)  Department of Health;

 

     (2)  Department of Human Services;

 

     (3)  Department of Public Safety;

 

     (4)  The various county police departments;

 

     (5)  Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence;

 

     (6)  Waikiki Health Center Youth Outreach Project;

 

     (7)  Community Health Outreach Work to Prevent AIDS Project;

 

     (8)  Harm Reduction Hawaii;

 

     (9)  Amnesty International;

 

    (10)  American Civil Liberties Union;

 

    (11)  Hawaii Anti-Trafficking Task Force; and

 

    (12)  Any individual or entity the Legislative Reference Bureau may deem necessary; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including barriers that may limit data collection and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature by December 1, 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Legislative Reference Bureau; Report; Prostitution; Laws