Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee defers immigration-services trust fund bill (SB853) amid questions about existing resources
Summary
SB853, which would establish an immigration services trust fund within the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations’ Office of Community Services, was deferred after testimony noting Act 207 from last year provided staffing and resources and public testimony showed significant opposition.
Senate Bill 853, which would establish an immigration services trust fund to support immigration-related matters within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Office of Community Services (OCS), was deferred by the Senate Committee on Labor and Technology on Feb. 7.
The bill would have required OCS to submit annual reports to the Legislature accounting for fund expenditures and included appropriation language. Ray Domingo of the Department of Labor (OCS) testified that the department "stand[s] in support of this measure." Doctor Amy Abbayani of Hawaii Friends for Civil Rights said the organization supported the bill while acknowledging that other funding vehicles may exist and said they look forward to working with the program.
Committee members noted that Act 207 (passed last year) provided positions and resources; the committee requested an update on where those positions stood. Ray Domingo said the department recently got approval from the governor to create the funded positions and was in the process of recruiting for two funded positions. The transcript recorded substantial public opposition: committee staff noted at least 30 pieces of testimony, later totaling "at least 40," in opposition.
Given the recent enactment of Act 207 and the availability of new positions and funding, the committee recommended deferral of SB853 for further consideration.
