STAND. COM. REP. NO. 677

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 625

       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 S.B. No. 625, 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 a certification program and to appoint and use certified court interpreters for legal proceedings.

     Your Committee received comments in support of the measure from:  the Hawaii State Judiciary, Office on Equality and Access to the Courts, the Disability and Communication Access Board, the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators, the Hawaii Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the Centro Hispano de Hawaii, five faculty members of the Ilokano and Philippine Drama and Film Program, University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Interpreter Action Network, the Hawaii Newspaper Guild, and fourteen individuals.  The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission submitted comments.

     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.  Consequently, there is great need for competent interpretation services, particularly where legal proceedings are concerned.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will ensure that persons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or limited-English proficient will understand and be able to express themselves during court proceedings.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the definition of "certified interpreter" by including American Sign Language interpreters who are otherwise certified by state or national organizations; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes to conform to proper ramseyering conventions and 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 S.B. No. 625, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 625, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair