STAND. COM. REP. NO.
[€16
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR042023
RE: s.R. No. 26
s.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty—Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.R. No. 26 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S
OFFICE OF LANGUAGE ACCESS TO ESTABLISH AN AMERICAN SIGN
LANGUAGE INTERPRETER WORKFORCE WORKING GROUP TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS IN THE STATE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(l) Request the Office of Language Access to convene an
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Workforce
Working Group for the purpose of promoting the increase
of ASL interpreters in the State; and
(2) Request the working group to:
(A) Recommend training and incentives to increase the
number of ASL interpreters in the State;
(B) Submit an interim report to the Legislature before
the Regular Session of 2024 and a final report
before Regular Session of 2026; and
(C) Dissolve on June 30, 2026.
2023—2377 SR SSCR SMA.dOCX
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 Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Disability and Communication Access Board and two
individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure
from the Office of Language Access.
Your Committee finds that ASL interpreters provide a critical
service to deaf, hard of hearing, deaf—blind, and hearing
individuals and public agencies in the State who wish to
effectively communicate with each other in a variety of settings
and circumstances. Your Committee also finds that there is an
insufficient number of qualified ASL interpreters to accommodate
current needs in the State. This measure serves as an essential
step to increase the number of qualified ASL interpreters in the
State.
Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised by the Office
of Language Access regarding its lack of expertise in the area of
ASL to chair the working group. Your Committee also acknowledges
the testimony of the Disability and Communication Access Board
suggesting that the Board is better situated to assume that role,
as its functions include establishing administrative rules for the
utilization of communication access services, including ASL
interpreting, in State programs and activities and issuing Hawaii
State Sign Language Interpreter Credentials to qualified
interpreters.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(l) Requesting the Disability and Communication Access
Board, rather than the Office of Language Access, to
convene the American Sign Language Interpreter Workforce
Working Group;
(2) Requesting a representative from the Disability and
Communication Access Board, rather than the Office of
Language Access, to serve as chairperson of the working
grOUP;
(3) Updating the list of certified copy recipients;
(4) Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose; and
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 STAND. COM. REP. No. [S;'12a7
Page 3
(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R.
No. 26, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form
attached hereto as S.R. No. 26, S.D. l.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the,members of the
Committee on Health and Human
Services,
u
BfiENAVBNTbRA, Chair
Eff:i;/E§fi
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawai‘i
Record of Votes
Committee on Health and Human Services
HHS
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
SR u. Hm 3/20/23
D The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:
The Recommendation is:
Pass, unamended
2312
Zéass,with amendments
’
2311
D Hold
2310
D Recommit
2313
Members
SAN BUENAVENTURA, Joy A. (C)
AQUINo, Henry J.c. (v0)
/,//
Aye/ Aye (WR) Nay Excused
MORIWAKI, Sharon Y.
SHIMABUKURO, Mane s.L.
AWA, Brenton
// /,
Recommendation:
TOTAL
'
K
Wfi
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature:
Distribut' '
Original
Wopted
File with Committee Report
Yellow
Clerk's Office
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
D
Pink
Not Adopted
Drafting Agency
Goldenrod
Committee File Copy
Revised: 11/30/22