SB2787 SD2

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is an unfulfilled need in the State for broad-based, dedicated services for recent immigrants to assist them with issues relating to language access; legal issues relating to their status as immigrants; acculturation with respect to legal responsibilities, employment responsibilities, family matters, and other acculturation issues; employment searches; support for their children's education; access to health care; inclusion and civic engagement; and a myriad of other challenges and opportunities.

The legislature also finds that Hawaii has a long history of welcoming immigrants. Immigrants and their children have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to the State, including the State's economy, workforce, and community.

The legislature further finds that immigrants comprise two hundred seventy thousand persons, or eighteen per cent, of Hawaii's population, including 145,000 persons who are naturalized citizens. Immigrants come to Hawaii from many countries; almost half of all immigrants in the State come from the Philippines. Immigrants make up forty per cent of agricultural workers, thirty-three per cent of tourism and hospitality workers, and twenty-three per cent of health care workers in the State.

The legislature further finds that other states provide immigrant and refugee services through state-funded offices with dedicated staff and program funds for immigrant integration. These offices also coordinate with other government and community agencies and apply for federal resources. This type of office exists in Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and New York. In California, the department of social services has an immigrant services bureau that ensures the effective development and implementation of programs to support legal services, outreach, community education, and other integration efforts. Many cities across the nation, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle have also established comprehensive, government-funded offices for immigrant and refugee affairs. Many of these offices provide funds for English language training, translation and interpretation, workforce development, and legal services related to immigration status, naturalization, and accessing government services. In Hawaii, the counties of Maui and Hawaii have offices offering limited services, but there are none in the county of Kauai or the city and county of Honolulu.

Pursuant to H.C.R. No. 169 (2021), the legislature convened a working group to "improve access to government services for immigrants and increase immigrant opportunities to make civic and economic contributions to the community." As part of the working group, community groups identified the office of community services as the best state agency to service immigrants and suggested that the office be given dedicated staff to address immigrant and refugee matters. In response, Act 256, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, provided $1,000,000 to the office of community services to reinstate immigrant resource centers and to support nonprofit immigrant service agencies. The legislature notes that in 1985, the office of community services was established as an attached agency to the department of labor and industrial relations. The legislative mandate of the office of community services is to serve low-income individuals, immigrants, and refugees.

The legislature believes that further action is needed to support programs for Hawaii's immigrants and refugees, to support immigrant services, and to ensure that new immigrants have equal access to government services.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to provide for additional dedicated staff and additional program funds to allow the office of community services to meet its full legislative mandate, by establishing an immigration services and access unit within the office of community services.

SECTION 2. Chapter 371K, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§371K- Immigration services and access unit. The office of community services shall establish within the office a unit to provide for immigration services and access through program activities identified for immigration services and access purposes. The purpose of the immigration services and access unit shall be to promote immigrant economic self‑sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration. The immigration services and access unit shall provide statewide services, coordinate with relevant government and nonprofit agencies, and approve contracts with qualified nonprofit organizations to support integration and civic engagement. The immigration services and access unit shall also be responsible for the immigrant resource centers, administration of the refugee program, and management of other programs relating to immigrants."

SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish full-time equivalent ( FTE) positions and fund the immigrant services and access unit within the office of community services.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2787
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII