STAND. COM. REP. NO.  176-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3398

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 3398 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to expand language programs in the University of Hawaii (UH) system by appropriating funds system wide for shared resources for Philippine language and culture programs.

     The Oahu Filipino Community Council, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region XII, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Hawaii Interpreter Action Network, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The UH system and a concerned individual supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee notes that several testifiers clarified some of the details with regard to Philippine languages and culture, including that the three most prevalent of the major Philippine languages used in Hawaii are Filipino, Ilocano, and Cebuano.  Additionally, testifiers stated that "Filipino" is the national language of the Philippines, and that when referring to all of the languages of the Philippines collectively, the term "Philippine languages" is preferred.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying references to languages and culture by replacing some of the terms with "Philippine languages" and "Philippine-American studies";

     (2)  Adding Windward Community College as one of the schools that should receive funding;

     (3)  Removing the appropriation amounts to facilitate further discussion; and

     (4)  Making other technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3398, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3398, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair