On Thursday, June 24, 2021 Governor David Ige signed into law:
SB828 HD1 CD1 grants exclusive jurisdiction in matters of divorce to the family court of the circuit in which an applicant resides at the time the application is filed. The bill also repeals the requirement that a person lives in or be physically present in the state continuously period for at least six months before applying for a divorce.
SB834 SD1 HD2 CD1 establishes the offense of importation, sale, or possession of one or more childlike sex dolls. Childlike sex dolls, which are designed to look and feel as lifelike as possible, have been found to contribute to the exploitation, objectification, abuse, and sexual assault of minors.
HB887 HD1 SD2 CD1 Creates a separate offense for those who provide anything of value to engage in sexual conduct with another. Specifies that sex trafficking includes advancing or profiting from prostitution by certain means, including through coercion. This bill makes a person strictly liable for sex trafficking of a minor in terms of the victim's age. Renames offenses involving the solicitation of prostitution to use the more appropriate term of commercial sexual exploitation. Includes anything of value as a type of compensation for purposes of engaging in prostitution or other offenses involving commercial sexual exploitation.
Statement by Chair Linda Ichiyama on Governor's Bill Signing of SB828 and SB834
"The bills signed today reflect the critical importance of legal protections in family court and reducing criminal offenses perpetrated against children. Even though this session was shortened due to the pandemic, the Women's Legislative Caucus continues to introduce and support many bills that affect women, children and families."
