STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1692

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.R. No. 178

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.R. No. 178 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO EXAMINE AND RE-EVALUATE ITS POLICIES REGARDING REFUGEE AND ASYLEE PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-REFOULEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Department of Homeland Security to examine and re-evaluate protections for refugee and asylum seekers including its policies about not returning (“non-refoulement”) a person to a country where he or she is at risk of being subjected to persecution. 

Numerous concerned individuals testified in support of the measure.  Several individuals offered comments and one individual testified in opposition.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the description of "non-refoulement";

(2) Clarifying that the measure applies to both refugee status seekers (individuals outside the United States) and asylum status seekers (individuals who are already in the United States);

(3) Adding information about other relevant protocols and conventions;

(4) Deleting "true" and "truly" from descriptions of refugee and asylum seekers;

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 178, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 178, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair