STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 1 9 2024
RE: H.C.R. No. 71
H. D. 1
S. D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred H.C.R. No. 71, H.D. 1, entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH TO CONVENE A STAKEHOLDER WORKING GROUP TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENHANCE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
IN THE STATE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE
SERVICES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the
Department of Health to convene a Stakeholder Working Group to
make recommendations to enhance meaningful access to health care
in the State through the provision of language assistance
services.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Health, Office of Language Access, State
Health Planning and Development Agency, Hawai‘i Coalition for
Immigrant Rights, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, AlohaCare,
Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law
and Economic Justice, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!,
Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaii Medical Service
Association, and three individuals.
2024-2658 SSCR SMA.docx
l■lll■lllillll■lllllllll■llllllllllllllll
 STAND. COM. REP.
Page 2
Your Committee finds that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 mandates recipients of federal financial assistance to take
reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to programs,
services, and activities for limited English proficient persons.
Your Committee further finds that while major hospitals across the
State have made strides in addressing language barriers, much
remains to be done to ensure comprehensive language access in
health care settings to guarantee equitable and effective
communication for all individuals, particularly those with limited
English proficiency. This measure requests the convening of a
Stakeholder Working Group to make recommendations to improve
effective communication in health care and human services to
prevent misdiagnosis, delayed medical treatment, and language
access barriers to necessary services and programs.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language to request the Department of Health
to invite at least one limited English proficient
individual with experience accessing health services to
participate in the Stakeholder Working Group;
(2) Inserting language to request the Stakeholder Working
Group's study and assessment of language access in
health care settings across the State and on each island
in the State to include the benefits and impacts of
technologies such as artificial intelligence; and
(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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
H.C.R. No. 71, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its
adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 71, H.D. 1,
S.D. 1.
2024-2658 SSCR SMA.docx
I Illi iiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir'
 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Page 3
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Health and Human
2024-2658 SSCR SMA.docx
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiBiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Health and Human Services
HHS
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to: ___________________________________
The Recommendation is:
__ Pass, unamended V’^Pass, with amendments __ Hold Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
SAN BUENAVENTURA. Joy A. (C)
AQUINO. Henry J.C. (VC)
KEOHOKALOLE. Jarrett
SHIMABUKURO. Maile S.L.
AWA. Brenton
TOTAL
Recommendation:
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signaturg>—______ _______________ _
Distribution: Original Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 12/27/23