Bill > HB609

This bill aims to combat sex trafficking in Hawaii by implementing a comprehensive approach focused on awareness, education, and support. It requires state and county agencies, schools, and university campuses to display informational placards at least 8.5 by 11 inches in size, which will include details about sex trafficking, victim protections, and resources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The Department of Human Services must develop a model placard by January 1, 2026, to be made available online. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Education provide training for teachers, administrators, and school-based behavioral health specialists on sex trafficking dynamics, including methods traffickers use to lure victims, identification strategies, and trauma-informed response techniques. The Department of the Attorney General is tasked with developing and implementing public education and outreach events across Hawaii's counties, focusing on topics such as vulnerable populations, trafficking methods, victim impacts, and community prevention strategies. The bill recognizes sex trafficking as a complex issue that often occurs in plain sight and targets school-aged children through social manipulation, and seeks to address these challenges by increasing awareness and providing critical resources to potential victims and community members.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=609&year=2026