STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1070

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 557

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 557 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from collaborating with the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws, except when required by law.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Church of the Crossroads, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, J-20+, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Aloha State Association of the Deaf, Filipina Advocacy Network, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Police Department, Honolulu Police Department, and twelve individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that enforcement of federal immigration laws is a federal law enforcement function and that requiring state and local law enforcement agencies to perform duties traditionally delegated to federal law enforcement agencies would divert state and local law enforcement agencies from their principal functions, potentially risking the stability and security of many communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 557, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 557, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair