STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2910

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2787

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2787, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMMIGRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require and appropriate moneys for the Office of Community Services to establish an Immigration Services and Access Unit to promote immigrant economic self-sufficiency, community inclusion, and integration.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Language Access, Office of Community Services, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, The Legal Clinic, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, World Education Services, Roots Reborn, Kaibigan ng Lahaina, and eight individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Federation of Republican Women and sixty-one individuals.

Your Committee recognizes that many immigrants use their time and energy to contribute to local communities, and they are an essential part of the State's economy. Your Committee finds that because immigrants often face issues relating to language barriers, immigration status, integration, and other matters, the State should provide immigrants with appropriate support services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2787, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2787, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair