Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 647, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Disability and Communication Access Board to charge application fees for credentialing sign language interpreters and to create the disability and communication access board special fund to receive those fees. Moneys from the special fund are to be used to cover all costs of administering chapter 348F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, including the program for state credentialing of interpreters.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's sign language interpreters require proper credentials to certify their qualifications and expertise. Some employment opportunities are not available for Hawaii's sign language interpreters without credentials although the interpreters possess the necessary skills. The Disability and Communication Access Board currently has the authority to administer the High Quality Assurance System test for sign language interpreter credentialing in the State. This measure authorizes the Board to charge application fees to fund administration of the test.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 647, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.