STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3038

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2457

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2457 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMMIGRANT RESOURCE CENTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to restore funding for immigrant resource centers.

More specifically, the measure appropriates moneys to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the Department's Office of Community Services to provide staff and resources to assist immigrant and refugee populations throughout the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, Common Cause Hawaii, The Legal Clinic, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pacific Gateway Center, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and seven individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

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

Your Committee finds that this measure's restoration of funding for immigrant resource centers will improve access to government services and support the Office of Community Services in meeting its legislative mandate and mission to serve low-income individuals, immigrants, and refugees.

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. 2457, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2457, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair