STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1568

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 600

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, S.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 and administer an interpreter certification program and to appoint and use certified interpreters for legal proceedings.

     Your Committee received comments in support of the measure from the Judiciary and the Disability and Communication Access Board.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is one of only three states that has not yet implemented a certified court interpreter program for the deaf, the hard-of-hearing, and the limited-English proficient.  Currently, anyone can register as a court interpreter and there are no standards or minimum requirements established by statute or rule.  Hawaii has a diverse population and many residents are not native English speakers or are deaf or hard-of-hearing.  Consequently, there is great need for competent interpretation services, particularly where legal proceedings are concerned.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.

     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. 600, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair