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HB689
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
689
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that sex trafficking is
a form of modern-day slavery.
�
According
to a 2018 report published by Arizona State University and the Hawaii state
commission on the status of women, one out of every eleven adult male residents
of Hawaii are online sex shoppers.
�
The
report also estimated that there were 74,362 potential sex buyers in
Hawaii.
�
Moreover, Imua Alliance, a
victim service provider for survivors of sex trafficking and sexual violence,
estimates that one hundred fifty establishments participate in the commercial
sex trade in the State, increasing the high risk for sex trafficking.
�
During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic,
a service provider for sex trafficking victims in Hawaii reported seeing a
three hundred per cent increase in demand for services.
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The legislature additionally finds
that Pacific Islanders, specifically Native Hawaiians, are disproportionately
overrepresented in the State's sex trafficking survivor population.
�
In a survey conducted by the Hawaii state
commission on the status of women and Arizona State University, sixty-four per
cent of sex trafficking victims identified as having at least partial Native
Hawaiian ancestry.
�
According to the
report, "overutilization of Native Hawaiians to meet sex buyer demand may
be directly linked to structural economic coercion and vulnerabilities
connected to land dispossession, exposure to sexual violence,
hypersexualization, incarceration, cultural dislocation, intergenerational
trauma, mental and emotional distress, racism, poverty, and going inequities".
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The legislature further finds that
victims of sex trafficking should not be criminalized for their own
exploitation.
�
Immunizing sex trafficking
survivors from being faced with the prospect of prosecution advances the
delivery of social services and trauma-informed care for those in need.
�
It would also help to end the social stigma
that retraumatizes survivors of sexual exploitation, while empowering victims
to obtain financial security for the harm that they have endured and pursue legal
persons and commercial entities that profit from exploitation.
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The purpose of this Act is to
establish safe harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek
medical or law enforcement assistance.
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SECTION
2
.
�
Section
712-1200, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
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"
�712-1200
�
Prostitution.
�
(1)
�
A person commits the offense of prostitution
if the person engages
in, or agrees or offers to engage in, sexual
conduct with another person in return for a fee or anything of value.
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(2)
�
As used in this section:
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"Minor"
means a person who is less than eighteen years of age.
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"Seeks
medical or law enforcement assistance" includes but is not limited to
making, or assisting someone who is making, a report to the 911 system, a
poison control center, a medical provider, a reproductive health provider, or
any law enforcement agency or providing care to someone who is awaiting the
arrival of medical or law enforcement personnel.
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"Sexual
conduct" means "sexual penetration", "deviate sexual
intercourse", or "sexual contact", as those terms are defined in
section 707-700, or "sadomasochistic abuse" as defined in section
707-752.
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(3)
�
Prostitution [
is
]
shall be
a petty misdemeanor; provided
that
if the person who commits the offense under subsection (1) is a
minor, prostitution [
is
]
shall be
a violation.
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(4)
�
A person convicted of committing the offense of prostitution as a petty
misdemeanor shall be sentenced as follows:
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(a)
�
For the first offense, when the court
has not deferred further proceedings pursuant to chapter 853, a fine of no less
than $500 but no more than $1,000 and the person may be sentenced to a term of
imprisonment of no more than thirty days or probation; provided that in the
event the convicted person defaults in payment of the fine, and the default was
not contumacious, the court may make an order converting the unpaid portion of
the fine to community service as authorized by section 706‑605(1);
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(b)
�
For any subsequent offense, a fine of
no less than $500 but no more than $1,000 and a term of imprisonment of thirty
days or probation, without possibility of deferral of further proceedings
pursuant to chapter 853 and without possibility of suspension of sentence; and
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(c)
�
For the purpose of this subsection, if
the court has deferred further proceedings pursuant to chapter 853, and
notwithstanding any provision of chapter 853 to the contrary, the defendant
shall not be eligible to apply for expungement pursuant to section 831-3.2
until three years following discharge.
�
A
plea previously entered by a defendant under section 853-1 for a violation of
this section shall be considered a prior offense.
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(5)
�
This section shall not apply to any member of a police
department,
a sheriff, or a law enforcement officer acting in the course and scope of
duties; provided that the member of a police department, sheriff, or law
enforcement officer is engaging in undercover operations; provided further that
under no circumstances shall sexual contact initiated by a member of a police
department, sheriff, or law enforcement officer; sexual penetration; or
sadomasochistic abuse be considered to fall within the course and scope of
duties.
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(6)
�
A minor may be taken into custody by any
police officer without order of the judge when there are reasonable grounds to
believe that the minor has violated subsection (1).
�
The minor shall be released, referred, or
transported pursuant to section 571-31(b).
�
The minor shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the family court
pursuant to section 571-11(1), including for the purposes of custody,
detention, diversion, and access to services and resources.
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(7)
�
Notwithstanding this section or any other law
to the contrary, a person who in good faith seeks medical or law enforcement
assistance for themselves or another person, or is the subject of another
person's good faith act seeking medical or law enforcement assistance, shall
not:
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(a)
�
Be arrested,
charged, prosecuted, or convicted;
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(b)
�
Have their
property be subject to civil forfeiture; or
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(c)
�
Otherwise be
penalized,
pursuant
to this section if the probable cause or evidence for the arrest, charge,
prosecution, conviction, seizure, or penalty was gained as a result of seeking
medical or law enforcement assistance; provided that this subsection shall not
apply to any other criminal offense.
"
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SECTION
3
.
�
Section
712-1206, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
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"
[
[
]�712-1206[
]
]
�
Loitering
for the purpose of engaging in or advancing prostitution.
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(1)
�
For the purposes of this section[
, "public
]
:
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"Public
place"
means any street, sidewalk, bridge, alley or alleyway, plaza, park, driveway,
parking lot or transportation facility or the doorways and entrance ways to any
building [
which
]
that
fronts on any of the aforesaid places, or a
motor vehicle in or on any such place.
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"Seeks medical or law enforcement
assistance" includes but is not limited to making, or assisting someone
who is making, a report to the 911 system, a poison control center, a medical
provider, a reproductive health provider, or any law enforcement agency or
providing care to someone who is awaiting the arrival of medical or law
enforcement personnel.
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(2)
�
Any person who remains or wanders about in a public place and repeatedly
[
beckons
]
:
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(a)
�
Beckons
to
[
or repeatedly
]
,
stops, or [
repeatedly
] attempts to stop[
,
]
or [
repeatedly attempts to
] engage passers-by in conversation[
, or
repeatedly stops
]
;
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(b)
�
Stops
or
attempts to stop motor vehicles[
,
]
;
or [
repeatedly interferes
]
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(c)
�
Interferes
with the free passage of other persons
,
for the purpose of committing the crime of
prostitution as that term is defined in section 712-1200[
,
] shall be
guilty of a violation.
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(3)
�
Any person who remains or wanders about in a public place and repeatedly
[
beckons
]
:
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(a)
�
Beckons
to,
[
or repeatedly
] stops, or [
repeatedly
] attempts to engage
passers-by in conversation[
, or repeatedly stops
]
;
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(b)
�
Stops
or
attempts to stop motor vehicles[
,
]
;
or [
repeatedly interferes
]
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(c)
�
Interferes
with the free passage of other persons
,
for the purpose of committing the crime of advancing
prostitution as that term is defined in section 712-1201(1) [
is
]
shall
be
guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
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(4)
�
Notwithstanding this section or any other law
to the contrary, a person who in good faith seeks medical or law enforcement
assistance for themselves or another person, or is the subject of another
person's good faith act seeking medical or law enforcement assistance, shall
not:
����
(a)
�
Be arrested,
charged, prosecuted, or convicted;
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(b)
�
Have their
property be subject to civil forfeiture; or
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(c)
�
Otherwise be
penalized,
pursuant to this section if the
probable cause or evidence for the arrest, charge, prosecution, conviction,
seizure, or penalty was gained as a result of seeking medical or law
enforcement assistance; provided that this subsection shall not apply to any
other criminal offense.
"
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SECTION
4
.
�
Section
712-1207, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
����
"
�712-1207
�
Street prostitution and commercial sexual
exploitation; designated areas.
�
(1)
�
It
shall be unlawful for any person within the boundaries of Waikiki and while on
any public property to:
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(a)
�
Offer or agree to
engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee or anything of
value; or
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(b)
�
Provide, agree to
provide, or offer to provide a fee or anything of value to another person to
engage in sexual conduct.
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(2)
�
It shall be unlawful for any person within
the boundaries of other areas in this State designated by county ordinance
pursuant to subsection (3), and while on any public property to:
����
(a)
�
Offer or agree to
engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee or anything of
value; or
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(b)
�
Provide, agree to
provide, or offer to provide a fee or anything of value to another person to
engage in sexual conduct.
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(3)
�
Upon a recommendation of the chief of police of a county, that county
may enact an ordinance that:
����
(a)
�
Designates areas,
each no larger than three square miles, as zones of significant
prostitution-related activity that is detrimental to the health, safety, or
welfare of the general public; or
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(b)
�
Alters the
boundaries of any existing area under paragraph (a);
provided
that [
not
]
no
more than four areas may be designated within the
State.
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(4)
�
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any person violating this
section shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to a
mandatory term of thirty days imprisonment.
�
The term of imprisonment shall be imposed immediately, regardless of
whether the defendant appeals the conviction, except as provided in subsection
(5).
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(5)
�
As an option to the mandatory term of thirty days imprisonment, if the
court finds the option is warranted based upon the defendant's record, the
court may place the defendant on probation for a period not to exceed six
months, subject to the mandatory condition that the defendant observe
geographic restrictions that prohibit the defendant from entering or remaining
on public property, in Waikiki and other areas in the State designated by
county ordinance during the hours from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
�
Upon any violation of the geographic
restrictions by the defendant, the court, after hearing, shall revoke the
defendant's probation and immediately impose the mandatory thirty-day term of
imprisonment.
�
Nothing contained in this
subsection shall be construed as prohibiting the imposition of stricter
geographic restrictions under section 706-624(2)(h).
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(6)
�
Any person charged under this section may be admitted to bail, pursuant
to section 804-4, subject to the mandatory condition that the person observe
geographic restrictions that prohibit the defendant from entering or remaining
on public property, in Waikiki and other areas in the State designated by
county ordinance during the hours from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
�
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to
the contrary, any person who violates these bail restrictions shall have the
person's bail revoked after hearing and shall be imprisoned forthwith.
�
Nothing contained in this subsection shall be
construed as prohibiting the imposition of stricter geographic restrictions
under section 804-7.1.
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(7)
�
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a police officer, without
warrant, may arrest any person when the officer has probable cause to believe
that the person has committed a violation of subsection (5) or (6), and the
person shall be detained, without bail, until the hearing under the appropriate
subsection can be held, which hearing shall be held as soon as reasonably
practicable.
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(8)
�
For purposes of this section:
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"Area" means any zone within a
county that is defined with specific boundaries and designated as a zone of
significant prostitution by this section or a county ordinance.
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"Public property" includes any
street, highway, road, sidewalk, alley, lane, bridge, parking lot, park, or
other property owned or under the jurisdiction of any governmental entity or
otherwise open to the public.
����
"Seeks medical or law enforcement
assistance" includes but is not limited to making, or assisting someone
who is making, a report to the 911 system, a poison control center, a medical
provider, a reproductive health provider, or any law enforcement agency or
providing care to someone who is awaiting the arrival of medical or law
enforcement personnel.
����
"Sexual conduct" has the same
meaning as in section 712-1200(2).
����
"Waikiki" means that area of Oahu
bounded by the Ala Wai canal, the ocean, and Kapahulu avenue.
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(9)
�
This section shall apply to all counties;
provided that if a county enacts an ordinance to regulate street prostitution
and commercial sexual exploitation, other than an ordinance designating an area
as a zone of significant prostitution-related activity, the county ordinance
shall supersede this section and no person shall be convicted under this
section in that county.
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(10)
�
Notwithstanding this section or any other law
to the contrary, a person, except for a person who provides, agrees to provide,
or offers to provide a fee or anything of value to another person to engage in
sexual conduct, who in good faith seeks medical or law enforcement assistance
for themselves or another person, or is the subject of another person's good
faith act seeking medical or law enforcement assistance, shall not:
����
(a)
�
Be arrested,
charged, prosecuted, or convicted;
����
(b)
�
Have their
property be subject to civil forfeiture; or
����
(c)
�
Otherwise be
penalized,
pursuant to this section, if the
probable cause or evidence for the arrest, charge, prosecution, conviction,
seizure, or penalty was gained as a result of seeking medical or law
enforcement assistance; provided that this subsection shall not apply to any
other criminal offense.
"
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SECTION 5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.
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SECTION 6.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Sexual
Exploitation; Safe Harbor Protections; Assistance
Description:
Establishes
safe harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical
or law enforcement assistance.
The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.