STAND. COM. REP. NO. 140

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 227

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 227 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMMIGRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Department of Human Services to contract with non-profit providers to provide access to legal counsel to immigrants in immigration proceedings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, Aloha State Association of the Deaf, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu County Republican Party. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that there are many immigrants who seek to continue or obtain legal status in the country. However, the immigration court process is highly complex, which may be intimidating or overwhelming for immigrants who may struggle with navigating a different culture and language. Many immigrants may lack the resources to obtain legal representation, which may have a profound impact on the immigrants' ability to receive a fair hearing.

Your Committee further finds that Hawaii has always embraced a welcoming attitude for people of all backgrounds, nationalities, and ethnicities. According to the 2017 American Immigration Council Fact Sheet, nearly eighteen percent of Hawaii residents are immigrants, while more than one in seven residents is a native-born United States citizen with at least one immigrant parent. Immigrants are an integral part of Hawaii's diverse, multicultural community and make extensive contributions to the State.

Your Committee notes that, given the current political climate and the number of immigrants being detained and faced with deportation, immigrants in Hawaii are in dire need of legal help. For these reasons, your Committee recognizes the vital public policy reasons behind providing legal assistance and legal counsel to immigrants in immigration proceedings, which this measure ensures.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a purpose section;

(2) Changing the appropriation from an unspecified amount to $100,000; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 227, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 227, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

________________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair