Senate Bill 2234, prohibiting the sexual exploitation of minors, passed a major legislative hurdle Thursday and will be up for final vote before the House and Senate next week. Senate Bill 2234 was initially written and sponsored by Senator Jonathan
Senate Bill 2234, prohibiting the sexual exploitation of minors, passed a major legislative hurdle Thursday and will be up for final vote before the House and Senate next week. Senate Bill 2234 was initially written and sponsored by Senator Jonathan Chun of Kaua’i and Senator Richard Matsuura from the Big Island.
“This bill provides significant and meaningful protection for our youth, and especially young girls,” said Chun. “This bill closes a loophole in existing prostitution or sexual abuse laws that allow the hiring of young girls to work as exotic or nude dancers in public or private clubs, or provide erotic or nude massage services.”
Chun further elaborated that “this bill provides for tough felony convictions and asset forfeiture of persons or businesses that prey upon these young girls.”
“Furthermore,” Chun said, “the bill, through the legislative committee hearing process, has been amended to require the maintenance of age verification records of sexual performers and sexually exploited persons. This will further ensure that those who attempt to treat minors as sexual objects to be bought, sold, or rented for sexual purposes will have to suffer severe penalties for such actions.”
Chun praised the efforts of many organizations and individuals who assisted in drafting the bill and strongly supported it since its introduction earlier this year. He said that two organizations deserving of special praise are Sisters Offering Support (SOS) and Hawaii Family Forum.
“In front of legislative committees, young girls who were victims of sexual exploitation and who have now sought refuge and help from SOS gave compelling testimony that was absolutely heartbreaking,” Chun said.
Chun noted that The Garden Island’s recent article concerning recruitment of Kaua’i’s youth by O’ahu’s sex industry highlights the fact that sexual exploitation of minors is a pervasive problem for all islands, including Kaua’i.
The bill, which was co-introduced with Senators Kanno, Matsuura, Hernmings, Chun Oakland, Kawamoto, Buen and Inouye, has passed all hurdles in the committee hearing process and final passage is pending a vote by the entire Senate and House of Representatives.
After final passage, it will then be sent to the Governor for approval.
