Report Title:
Handicap: Interpretive Services
Description:
Allows the Disability and Communication Access Board to assess applicant fees for sign language interpreter credentialing, and to retain the fees in a special fund to offset the cost of the credentialing. (HB647 HD2)
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
647 |
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TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the disability and communication access board has established a mechanism for credentialing sign language interpreters who do not possess national certification. Although the startup costs were underwritten by the disability and communication access board, in cooperation with the department of human services, the department of education, and the University of Hawaii, there is a need for ongoing financial support. The legislature further finds that the costs of each test, over and beyond administrative staff costs, can be offset by charging applicants a fee for the test or screening process.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Give the disability and communication access board authority to assess a fee to cover the costs of each test;
(2) Make the tests self-supporting; and
(3) Create a special fund to retain collected fees.
SECTION 2. Chapter 348F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§348F- Disability and communication access board special fund. (a) There is established the disability and communication access board special fund to be administered by the disability and communication access board. All moneys received by the disability and communication access board as application fees for credentialing of interpreters shall be deposited into the special fund. All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited into this special fund shall become part of the special fund.
(b) Moneys in the disability and communication access board special fund shall be expended to cover all costs of administering this chapter including the costs of administering the program for the state credentialing of interpreters.
§348F- Fees. The board may establish fees, pursuant to chapter 91, for applicants seeking state credentialing of interpreters."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the disability and communication access board special fund the sum of $10,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 and the sum of $10,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003 to carry out the purposes of the special fund.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the disability and communication access board for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.