STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1336

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   S.B. No. 227

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 227, 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 appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to contract with non-profit providers to provide access to legal counsel for immigrants in immigration proceedings.

 

     The Filipina Advocacy Network, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Filipinos for Affirmative Action, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Honolulu County Republican Party and two individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Human Services provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the amount appropriated to an unspecified amount;

 

     (2)  Changing the expending agency to the Judiciary;

 

     (3)  Requiring the Judiciary to contract with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to provide legal assistance and legal counsel to immigrants in determining legal status and citizenship, provide diversion to existing services, and otherwise provide counsel for existing rights; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee notes that its intent is not to supplant existing nonprofit and county agencies that are currently providing legal services to aid immigrants in immigration proceedings.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 227, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 227, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair