STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2002

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2513

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2513 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ASSISTING PERSONS UNDER A COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations one full-time coordinator position to assess and enhance the delivery of self‑sufficiency services to individuals present in Hawaii under the Compacts of Free Association.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that the Compacts of Free Association in place between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau authorize unrestricted immigration into the United States, its territories and possessions, enabling citizens of these nations to enter therein, lawfully engage in occupations, and establish residence as non-immigrant aliens.  For many of these immigrants to Hawaii, however, finding a job may be difficult, and self-sufficiency services are critical.

     Your Committees are strongly supportive of the concepts in this measure, and the continuing work of the task force established by Senate Resolution No. 142, S.D. 1 (2007), to determine how to coordinate the provision of these services.  Your Committees also find that alternative methods of funding should be considered for both services and the coordination of services, in particular federal funds, and defer to the Committee on Ways and Means for further discussion of funding sources.

     Your Committees have amended this measure to correct a reference to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Human Services and Public Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2513, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2513, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Human Services and Public Housing,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair