Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 979 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Judiciary to enact a court interpreter certification program as well as require the use of certified court interpreters in all state legal proceedings when requested or required by a non-English speaking person.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Interpreter Action Network, the Hawaii Newspaper Guild, and four individuals. The Judiciary testified in opposition to the measure. The Office of the Public Defender offered comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that there are no formal or established standards relating to certification or performance of court interpreters in legal proceedings in this State. This situation must be addressed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of interpretive services used by a non-English speaking person in all formal legal proceedings. Your Committee further finds that this measure is designed to address concerns regarding oversight and accountability of court interpreters by establishing a Supreme Court Committee on Certification of Court Interpreters to enact standards for the certification, discipline, and evaluation of court interpreters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 979, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 979, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.