URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES AND GENERATING A PLAN TO EXPAND SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL.

HCR133

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

133

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY TO COMBAT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN BY
STRENGTHENING STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES AND GENERATING A PLAN TO EXPAND
SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL
.

����
WHEREAS,
human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children are among
the most severe and inhumane criminal offenses affecting vulnerable individuals
across the United States and within the State of Hawaii; and

����
WHEREAS,
victims of trafficking are often among the most vulnerable members of society,
including runaway youth, homeless youth, foster youth, and individuals
experiencing poverty or instability; and

����
WHEREAS, law
enforcement agencies in the State of Hawaii receive as many as 2,000 runaway
youth reports each year, and national studies indicate that one in seven
runaway youth are likely victims of human trafficking; and

����
WHEREAS,
traffickers frequently exploit vulnerable youth by using coercion,
manipulation, and violence, often operating through hotels, online platforms,
and organized criminal networks; and

����
WHEREAS, the
State of Hawaii receives millions of visitors each year and maintains a major
tourism economy, which traffickers may exploit to facilitate the commercial
sexual exploitation of vulnerable individuals; and

����
WHEREAS,
investigations involving human trafficking are complex and require specialized
training, dedicated personnel, and coordinated efforts among law enforcement
agencies, prosecutors, social service providers, and federal partners; and

����
WHEREAS,
current law enforcement resources dedicated specifically to investigating human
trafficking and locating runaway youth are limited and insufficient to address
the growing scale and complexity of trafficking crimes; and

����
WHEREAS,
increasing the number of trained investigators dedicated to trafficking
enforcement would improve the State's ability to identify victims, locate
missing youth, dismantle criminal trafficking networks, and bring offenders to
justice; and

����
WHEREAS,
protecting children and vulnerable individuals from exploitation must remain a
top priority for the State of Hawaii and its law enforcement agencies; now,
therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, the Department
of the Attorney General and the Department of Law Enforcement are urged to
strengthen law enforcement capacity to combat human trafficking and the
commercial sexual exploitation of children by strengthening statewide
enforcement initiatives and generating a plan to expand specialized
investigative personnel; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED Operation Shine the Light Initiative should be expanded to include all
county police departments to strengthen coordination among county police
departments, prosecutors, the Department of Human Services, and federal law
enforcement agencies and to improve victim identification, investigation, and
prosecution of trafficking crimes; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the initiative consider the establishment of specialized runaway
youth recovery teams in each county law enforcement department to rapidly
locate missing youth who may be at risk of trafficking or exploitation; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that an assessment be conducted to determine the need for any
additional specialized investigative personnel; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED the Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Law
Enforcement are requested to submit a report of findings and recommendations,
including proposed staffing levels, training needs, and funding requirements
necessary to support this statewide enforcement initiative, to the Legislature
no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027;
and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Governor, the Attorney General, the Director of the Department of Law
Enforcement, the Director of Human Services, and the chiefs of police of each
county in the State of Hawaii.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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DLE;
Attorney General; Sex Trafficking Prevention