STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2276

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2787

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2787 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMMIGRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Immigration Services and Access Unit within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services to support programs for Hawaii's immigrants and refugees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Language Access, Office of Community Services, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights, FilCom CARES, Hawaiʻi Workers Center, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that immigrants comprise two hundred seventy thousand persons, or eighteen percent, of Hawaii's population, including 145,000 persons who are naturalized citizens. Your Committee also finds that immigrants are vital to the fabric of our communities and essential for the continued growth and success of the State's economy. Despite their contributions, immigrants often face numerous obstacles, including language barriers, legal issues related to their immigration status, and challenges with acculturation and integration. This measure will provide immigrants with the necessary comprehensive support services and resources to address these needs and promote immigrant economic self-sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration.

Your Committee notes that although this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount and number of positions to be established, the Office of Community Services' testimony requests an appropriation of $520,000 to establish three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions for the purposes of this measure. Therefore, your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Ways and Means consider inserting these numbers for fiscal year 2024-2025.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2787, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2787, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair