SB 853

THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
853
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to immigration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION 1.� The legislature finds that Act 207, Session
Laws of Hawaii 2024, established an immigration services and access unit within
the office of community services to assist the office in achieving its mandate
of serving low-income individuals, immigrants, and refugees. �As the State is comprised of a significant
immigrant population and families with mixed immigration statuses, providing
additional support for immigrants will ensure timely access to services and
minimal disruption to the lives of individuals who have pending immigration
proceedings.
���� Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to establish an immigration services trust fund to
provide continued support to the office of community services for
immigration-related matters.
���� SECTION
2.� Chapter 371K, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:
���� "�371K-  � Immigration services trust fund.� (a)� There is established the
immigration services trust fund into which shall be deposited:
���� (1)� Appropriations made by the legislature;
���� (2)� Any moneys received from grants,
donations, or the proceeds from contributions; and
���� (3)� The interest or return on
investments earned from moneys in the trust fund.
���� (b)� The immigration services trust
fund shall be administered by the department of labor and industrial relations
and used for the purposes of the immigration services and access unit within
the office of community services.
���� (c)� The department of labor and
industrial relations shall submit a report to the legislature no later
than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session to provide an
accounting of the receipts and expenditures of the fund."
���� SECTION
3.� There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$  or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into
the immigration services trust fund.
���� The
sums appropriated shall be expended
by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this
Act.
���� SECTION
4.� New statutory material is
underscored.
���� SECTION
5.� This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DLIR;
Office of Community Services; Immigration Services Trust Fund; Established;
Reports; Appropriations
Description:
Establishes
the Immigration Services Trust Fund to support immigration-related matters
within the Office of Community Services.�
Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to submit
annual reports to the Legislature on the accounting of expenditures of the
Fund.� Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.