STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1178

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 600

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COURT INTERPRETERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Judiciary to implement a certification program for court interpreters and to appoint and use certified court interpreter in legal proceedings.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the bill from Hawaii Interpreter Action Network, Hawaii Newspaper Guild, Hawaii Interpreters of the Deaf, National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators, Faculty of the Ilokano and Philippine Drama and Film Program, Hispanic Center of Hawaii, Japan-American Society of Hawaii, Disability and Communication Access Board, Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc., Philippine Nurses Association-Hawaii, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Hawaii Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the Public Defenders Office, and numerous individuals.  The Judiciary testified against the bill.  Many of the testimony in support indicated specifically that they preferred the Senate version.

     Your Committee amended the bill to reflect the Senate version, which allowed the Judiciary to set up the program according to the court rules.  Your Committee further amended the bill by requiring the Judiciary to set up the certification program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair