STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1721-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.C.R. No. 74

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 74 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose 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; Valar Law LLC; Hawaiʻi Workers Center; Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights; Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that federal law allows eligible undocumented immigrant victims to petition for nonimmigrant status under a U visa, which allows the victims to temporarily remain and work in the United States while assisting law enforcement. Having a U visa certification policy for the State will encourage undocumented immigrant victims to report and assist the investigation and prosecution of crimes involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 74, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 74, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair