Sex Trafficking Related Bills for 2015

Senate Bill 264: Relating to advertising, bans “cybertrafficking” in Hawai’i by prohibiting advertisements for massage, relaxation, spa, escort, or body rubs from including images depicting any person being advertised as a massage therapist, relaxation therapist, or escort in a nude condition.

Senate Bill 479: Relating to prostitution, creates separate laws for johns and sex trafficking victims by adding a new section to chapter 712, HRS, which makes solicitation of prostitution a petty misdemeanor. Amends the prostitution statute by narrowing the offense to a person who engages in, or agrees or offers to engage in, sexual conduct with another person for a fee. Substitutes the offense of solicitation of prostitution for the offense of prostitution in sections 712-1208 (promoting travel for prostitution), 712-1209.5 (habitual solicitation of prostitution), and 853-4, HRS, which precludes certain offenses from being eligible for a deferred plea. Adds the offense of solicitation of prostitution to 712A-4, HRS, to the list of offenses for which property is subject to civil forfeiture.

Senate Bill 919: Relating to prostitution, establishes a “john school” in Hawai’i by requiring persons convicted of the offense of prostitution for paying, agreeing to pay, or offering to pay a fee to another to engage in sexual conduct to serve no less than eight hours in a prostitution offender education program. Appropriates funds to the judiciary.

It only takes a few minutes to submit your testimony online.

1. Go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov.
2. Click REGISTER at the top right-hand corner.
3. Enter your name, email, and create a password.
4. Accept terms and create your login.
5. Go to your email and confirm.

YOU ARE READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1. Sign in http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/login/login.aspx with the login you created, click the orange “Submit Testimony” button, and enter the bill number to retrieve the hearing notice.
2. Enter your name and email, which should already be pre-populated if you’re signed in.
3. Testifying on behalf of: You may testify as an individual or as an organization, either way it is considered a testimony.
4. Testifier position: Select “Support”.
5. Will you be testifying in person at the hearing? Select “No” to submit your testimony online. You do not need to attend the hearing. If you are interested in attending in person, you will find the date, time, and room number in the bottom corner of the hearing notice.
6. Testimony file to upload: All that is needed is one sentence in your own words that you support the bill. For example “I support (insert name of bill)”. You may upload your testimony as a Word or text document.
6. Scroll to the bottom of form and click the blue “Next” Button.
7. Review your information, check the box next to “I understand and agree to the terms above”, and then “Submit Testimony”.

1. Login and click the Orange button above “Hearing Notifications” in the middle of the page.
2. Enter the measure with no spaces and click Add.

Available to testify in-person? We strongly urge you to do so, because nothing is more compelling than having concerned community members directly stating their position and reasons to the committee and public. If you are interested, please email Kaleo at [email protected] for more information.