STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1559

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 207

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 207, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A JOINT AGENCY STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Request the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (lead agency), Department of Taxation, Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Education, Corrections Division of the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Department of Human Services, and Department of Agriculture to conduct a joint study on the impact of illegal immigration in Hawaii; and

     (2)  Request the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to lead a task force to determine investigatory and enforcement actions to reduce the practice of hiring illegal or undocumented workers.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state agency and one organization.  Comments were submitted by one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the State's current economic situation calls for more prudent state spending and improved enforcement of existing laws.  Your Committee recognizes this measure as a step toward preventing the hiring of undocumented workers, recovering funds owed to the State by companies that are found to hire undocumented workers, and preventing companies found to employ undocumented workers from doing business in the State.

     Your Committee also recognizes the merits of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' comments, which name the Regulated Industries Complaints Office as the agency with the appropriate authority to represent the Department's licensing boards on the task force.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 207, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair