STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1239

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 131

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 131 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE MAYORS OF EACH COUNTY, AND VARIOUS STATE AND COUNTY LEADERS TO FIRMLY UPHOLD BOTH THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HAWAII TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Governor, the Attorney General, the mayors of each county, and various state and county leaders to uphold the constitutions of the United States and Hawaii to preserve and protect civil rights and ensure the safety of immigrants in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the IMUAlliance, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that protecting and preserving the civil rights of all members of the community are essential to promoting and protecting the public welfare.  The guarantees of certain civil rights are enshrined in the federal and state constitutions.  Recent actions and statements emanating from the executive branch of the federal government have created uncertainty as it relates to the protection of certain individual civil rights, particularly as those protections pertain to immigrant communities.  Immigrant communities, especially in this State, make vital social, cultural, and economic contributions to our society.  It is therefore critical that government work to ensure that the rights of immigrants are not illegally infringed upon.  To ensure the protection of all citizens' civil rights, and particularly those of immigrants, state and county agencies and law enforcement officers are urged to uphold the federal and state constitutions and to resist any illegal actions that the federal government might take that would threaten the constitutionally protected rights of all citizens, including immigrants.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 131 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair