STAND. COM. REP. NO. 379-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1759

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1759 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Judiciary to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide legal counsel and assistance to low-income immigrants in immigration proceedings, including deportation defense and asylum, and for any other immigration legal issues.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Community Services, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Filipina Advocacy Network, Hawai‘i Access to Justice Commission, The Legal Clinic, Pacific Gateway Center, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that many immigrants lack the resources to obtain legal representation to help navigate the highly complex immigration court process, which may result in detainment or deportation. This measure will allow immigrants to obtain vital legal counsel and assistance to ensure a more fair process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1759 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair