HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

162

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of human services to facilitate provision of social services to non-citizen victims of human trafficking.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, terrified and alone, many non-citizen victims of human trafficking escape to safety with only the clothes on their backs; and

 

     WHEREAS, without resources to secure housing, food, medical care, or other basic necessities, non-citizen victims of human trafficking struggle to survive in our communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, victim assistance and services for trafficked persons are constrained by factors such as legal provisions barring undocumented migrants from benefits and victim-related services; and

 

     WHEREAS, individuals that are trafficked but are not identified or recognized by law enforcement as victims of a severe form of trafficking may be expeditiously removed or detained in criminal detention facilities across the country; and

 

     WHEREAS, trafficking victims' fear of removal is exploited by traffickers to keep individuals isolated and under their control; and

 

     WHEREAS, federal law may protect trafficked persons by providing immigration status, permission to work, and possible United States permanent residence once the victim is certified as a severe victim of trafficking; and

 

     WHEREAS, once trafficked persons are identified, "certification" is a process by which trafficked persons are deemed eligible for benefits and services to the same extent as a refugee, namely federal and state benefits (including medical services), housing, legal services, protection, victim compensation and assistance, immigration benefits and programs, restitution, and translation and interpretation services; and

 

     WHEREAS, because certification often requires a considerable length of time to process, typically six months, there is the need for pre-certification victim services, from the time that individuals are identified as trafficked persons until they are certified by federal law enforcement, during which time trafficked persons may experience the greatest need for services; and

 

     WHEREAS, trafficking victims are eligible for certain federally funded services, namely emergency medicaid, immunizations, and access to domestic violence shelters and other exempt services but they are ineligible for other federally funded services such as cash assistance programs or state funded comprehensive health care services; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Department of Human Services is requested to:

 

     (1)  Identify existing obstacles, in statute, rule, or policy, that limit or deny benefits to victims of trafficking; and

 

     (2)  Conduct a needs assessment to identify appropriate social and financial services for victims of trafficking, by public and private agencies, until such time as the person secures a visa, certification, or a work authorization card from the Department of Homeland Security or other federal agency or is able to return to their country of origin, if they wish to do so; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Social Services for Victims of Human Trafficking