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.

HR125

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

125

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE 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 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 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