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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
172 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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REQUESTING compliance WITH TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.
WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii provides many essential services, programs, and activities to its residents, including health and human services, child protection, access to public benefits and medical services, emergency disaster relief, and education; and
WHEREAS, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000d, requires all entities receiving federal funds to provide language-accessible services including the translation of vital documents and other oral language services for limited English proficient persons; and
WHEREAS, individuals and non-profit entities have raised substantial concerns regarding the State's compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the State should be in full compliance with Title VI; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Governor is requested to issue a directive instructing all state departments to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or any other succeeding provision of federal law, regulation, or guideline, and to ensure that all departments are in full and complete compliance with Title VI; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature request an audit of the Department of Human Services, including but not limited to a review and analysis of the Department's compliance with its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to ensure meaningful access by people with limited English proficiency by examining the adequacy of:
(1) The Department's written policy of language access;
(2) Any programs, protocols, or training used to ensure that the Department's staff understands and is capable of carrying out meaningful access to its services; and
(3) The Department's oversight of the language assistance program to ensure that people with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to its services;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor direct each department to submit a report detailing its compliance efforts to the Legislature no later than thirty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the House of Representatives, and the Auditor.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964