STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2409

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2457

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2457 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys for the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services to reestablish its Immigrant Resource Centers to address the specific needs of the low-income immigrant population in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations - Office of Community Services, Department of Human Services, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, Common Cause Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i – Health Committee, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, The Legal Clinic and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that immigrants and their children have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to the State. Your Committees further find that despite being vital members of the community and the workforce in Hawaii, many immigrants face barriers to success, including discrimination, cultural misunderstanding, and language access to government information and services. Your Committees believe that it is essential for the well-being of the State that new immigrants are assimilated into our society as quickly and with as few barriers as reasonably possible. From fiscal years 2014 through 2017, the Office of Community Services maintained Immigrant Resource Centers in all four counties to provide low-income immigrants with the needed support services; however, the centers are no longer operating, due to lack of funding. This measure will restore funds for the Immigrant Resource Centers to provide the immigrant and refugee populations the necessary support to transition into life in Hawaii and become contributing members of our society.

Your Committees have reviewed the testimony of the Department of Budget and Finance expressing concerns regarding this measure's possible effect on the State's obligation to adhere to the maintenance of effort requirements as a recipient of Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funds under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Recovery Plan Act of 2021. Your Committees find that this issue raises concerns that merit further consideration and respectfully requests that your Committee on Ways and Means further examine those issues and concerns raised by the testimony.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Labor, Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2457 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Labor, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair