Testify in Support of SB 265

Help ban sex trafficking in Hawai’i by testifying in SUPPORT of SB 265.

Hawai’i has recently become the last state in the U.S.  without a sex trafficking law.  But you can change that by submitting your testimony online in SUPPORT of SB 265.  SB265  RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING establishes the offense of sex trafficking as a class A felony and also includes the offense of sex trafficking in the list of violent crimes for which victims may be eligible for criminal injury compensation.

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 SB 265 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: Please select testify as an individual.
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, this hearing takes place at 3PM on March 27 at State Capitol, Conference Room 325.
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 SB265 RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING”. However, we have also provided an example testimony below. 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”.

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.

Example testimony:

I strongly support SB 265.

The lack of a sex trafficking law prevents the proper identification of victims, who are otherwise prosecuted for prostitution and branded as criminals.

The average age of entrance into commercial sexual exploitation is 13 years old. For the sake of our keiki, we must make sure that sex traffickers are held fully accountable for their crimes, while giving victims the services they need to rebuild their lives and restore their futures.