A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that the disability and communication access board has established a mechanism for the credentialing of 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 purposes of this bill are to give the disability and communication access board authority to assess a fee to cover the costs of each test and continued education and training, make the tests self-supporting, and 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 or otherwise under this chapter and any state appropriations or other moneys made available to carry out the purposes of this chapter 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 but not limited to 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 same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to carry out the purposes of the special fund. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the disability and communication access board.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.