STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3545

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 35

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 35 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A U VISA CERTIFICATION POLICY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Law Enforcement to develop and implement a U visa certification policy.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, The Legal Clinic, Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights, Valar Law LLC, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the U visa is an immigration benefit for immigrant victims of certain crimes who will assist, are currently assisting, or have previously assisted law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of a crime. Your Committee further finds that the U visa provides eligible immigrant victims with nonimmigrant status to temporarily remain in the United States while assisting law enforcement, allowing these individuals to legally remain and work in the United States. Your Committee concludes that the State would benefit from having a U visa certification policy to ensure that victims of certain crimes have a safe opportunity to report these crimes without fear of deportation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 35 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair