STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1153-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   S.B. No. 3141

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3141, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services to contract with nonprofit providers to provide low‑income immigrants with legal counsel to assist and represent them in immigration proceedings and provide assistance on immigrant status issues.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Community Services, Domestic Violence Action Center, Pono Hawaii Initiative, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, Filipina Advocacy Network, The Legal Clinic, Filipinos for Affirmative Action, and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services assists Hawaii's low-income immigrant and refugee populations overcome and alleviate workforce barriers to economic self-sufficiency through an array of community-based programs and services.  This measure will allow the Office to provide additional services to these populations.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3141, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair