STAND. COM. REP. NO. 378-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1761

H.D. 1

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. 1761 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION CARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of limited purpose identification cards for individuals who otherwise satisfy the requirements for a government-issued identification card except for the individual's inability or refusal to provide satisfactory proof of authorized presence in the United States under federal law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Community Services, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, Filipina Advocacy Network, The Legal Clinic, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that in 2015, the Legislature authorized the issuance of limited purpose driver's licenses, limited purpose provisional driver's licenses, and limited purpose instruction permits to individuals who otherwise satisfy the requirements for a driver's license, provisional driver's license, or instruction permit except for the individual's inability or refusal to provide satisfactory proof of authorized presence in the United States under the federal REAL ID Act. Your Committee further finds that the State does not similarly provide residents who do not drive and are unable to meet the requirements for a REAL ID-compliant identification card with the ability to access state-issued identification. This issue impacts several demographic groups, including young adults, elderly persons, houseless persons, undocumented immigrants, and lawfully present non-immigrants, and is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic since proof of identification is required for entry into many public venues. Authorizing the issuance of limited purpose identification cards will improve access for residents of the State, including marginalized or disadvantaged residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2222, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 1761, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1761, H.D. 1, 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