STAND. COM. REP. 1394

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.C.R. No. 155

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 155 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO ENSURE MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TO FEDERALLY-ASSISTED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to:

(1) Request the Governor to ensure the availability of sufficient resources to provide individuals with limited English proficiency with meaningful access to federally-assisted programs and services; and

(2) Encourage all executive departments to review existing policies and provide in their annual reports to the Legislature a summary of actions taken to ensure meaningful access to programs and services for persons with limited English proficiency.

The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and Na Loio testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Referencing proposed reductions in funding the Department of Education (DOE) English as a Second Language Learners Program and adult education English and Graduate Equivalency Diploma courses for English as a second language students;

(2) Noting that adult education classes are necessary for those who wish to obtain a Graduate Equivalency Degree or study for citizenship tests;

(3) Requesting a written plan to correct deficiencies in the policies and practices of executive agencies with regard to access of individuals with limited English proficiency to federally-assisted programs and services if they cannot be remedied within 90 days;

(4) Requesting DOE to provide information in its annual report to the Legislature pertaining to access to English as a Second Language programs and classes;

(5) Sending certified copies of this concurrent resolution to health and human services agencies and organizations providing services to non-English speakers under contracts with state agencies; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 155, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 155, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Housing,

 

____________________________

MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair