STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3039

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2458

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 S.B. No. 2458, 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 help provide legal assistance and legal counsel to low-income immigrants in immigration proceedings.

More specifically, the measure appropriates moneys to the Judiciary to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide legal services to low-income immigrants in immigration proceedings, including deportation and asylum cases.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, The Legal Clinic, Pacific Gateway Center, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and eight 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 immigrants in Hawaii are in need of legal assistance, and an appropriation to the Judiciary will support efforts to provide competent legal services to low-income immigrants navigating the immigration court process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $250,000 to an unspecified amount; 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. 2458, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2458, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair