STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1036

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 227

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 227, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMMIGRATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Department of Human Services to contract with non-profit providers to provide access to legal counsel to immigrants in immigration proceedings.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Filipina Advocacy Network, Hawaii J-20+, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and six individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committees find that there are many immigrants who seek to continue legal residence or obtain legal status in the country.  However, immigrants are not provided with court-appointed counsel, including those detained and facing deportation.  Many immigrants lack the resources to obtain legal representation.  Therefore, immigrants who have limited English proficiency and limited understanding of the complex immigration court system, including children, are forced to argue their cases in court without legal representation.  The lack of counsel may have a profound impact on immigrants' ability to receive a fair hearing.

 

     Your Committees further find that Hawaii has a tradition of welcoming immigrants.  The State's economics are driven by immigrants and immigrants make major contributions to Hawaii.  Immigrants are an integral part of Hawaii's diverse, multicultural community.

 

     Your Committees note that given the current political climate and the number of immigrants being detained and faced with deportation, immigrants are in dire need of legal help.  Therefore, there are vital public policy reasons behind providing legal representation to immigrants in immigration proceedings. 

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency; and

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of March 15, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 227, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 227, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair