STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1169-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2787

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2787, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMMIGRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an Immigration Services and Access Unit within the Office of Community Services to promote immigrant economic self-sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the Immigration Services and Access Unit, including for new positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Office of Language Access; Office of Community Services; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; World Education Services; The Legal Clinic; Roots Reborn; Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights; Pacific Gateway Center; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Kaibigan ng Lahaina; and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Federation of Republican Women.

Your Committee finds that while immigrants comprise a significant percentage of the State's population, there is a lack of broad-based, dedicated services for recent immigrants to help them with language access, employment searches, access to health care, and other challenges and opportunities. This measure provides support for the Office of Community Services to fulfill its full legislative mandate to serve the immigrant population through immigration services and programs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, 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 Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2787, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2787, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair