The bill's primary objectives are twofold: to authorize civil claims against individuals and businesses that profit from sexual exploitation or sex trafficking and to extend the statute of limitations for bringing such claims to ten years. By taking these steps, HB111 aims to empower survivors of sex trafficking and provide them with a legal avenue to pursue justice. This legislative change is expected to not only facilitate recovery for victims but also hold accountable those who exploit vulnerable individuals for profit.
Summary
House Bill 111 addresses the serious issue of sex trafficking in Hawaii, which has been highlighted as a prominent problem within the state. The legislature acknowledges that sex trafficking constitutes a form of modern-day slavery and presents alarming statistics, indicating a significant number of potential sex buyers in Hawaii. Furthermore, the bill recognizes that Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are disproportionately represented among victims of sex trafficking, linking their vulnerability to historical and ongoing socioeconomic injustices.
Contention
Critically, the proposed amendments entail significant changes to Chapter 663J of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, thereby altering the legal landscape surrounding sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. The bill draws attention to the coercion involved in these crimes, defining key terms and specifying the different forms of coercion that victims may have experienced. This legal clarity is intended to simplify the process of filing claims and ensure that justice can be more effectively sought by survivors. However, the bill may encounter opposition from various sectors concerned about how these changes will be implemented and enforced in practice.
Relating to the prosecution of the offenses of trafficking of persons and compelling prostitution and to certain consequences of compelling prostitution.