STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3879

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1759

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1759, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Judiciary to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide legal counsel and assistance to low-income immigrants and non-citizen residents from nations that have signed compacts of free association with the United States.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Human Services, Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Catholic Charities Hawaii, The Legal Clinic, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the legal services supported by this measure will help address a gap in the State's low-income legal services and provide low-income immigrants and certain non‑citizen residents in immigration proceedings greater access to justice.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount from $250,000 to an unspecified sum;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2088, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes 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 H.B. No. 1759, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1759, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair