Among the 39 bills Governor Linda Lingle is listing as possible veto items is Senate Bill 2045, a polarizing measure aimed at curbing human trafficking in Hawaii.

The bill passed through the Hawaii Legislature with unanimous approval from lawmakers, only to be widely criticized by local law enforcement, prosecutors and public defenders. The state attorney general has also said that the measure should not be allowed to become law.

The bill’s supporters say it’s an important first step toward seeing some prostitutes as victims, rather than just as criminals. Prosecutors who oppose it say the bill’s language will actually make it harder for them to convict those who do the most harm, such as pimps and human traffickers.

Lingle’s explanation for a possible veto reflects those concerns, stating that the measure “does not clearly define the prohibited conduct in a way that can be enforced and prosecuted in court.”

Meantime, parties on all sides of the debate insist that their efforts have been thwarted by petty politicking from others involved in drafting trafficking legislation, and important steps toward protecting victims and bettering Hawaii law have failed to be realized as a result.

Lingle has until July 6 to decide whether to veto SB 2045, sign it into law, or let it become law without her signature.