STAND. COM. REP. NO.  664

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 813

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 813 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to recognize Hawaii's multicultural society by designating September as "Language Access Month" to promote awareness of language access for government services and emphasize the importance of and need for language access in Hawaii's diverse society.

     The Office of Language Access, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Filipino American Citizens League, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Filipinos for Affirmative Action, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc., Pacific Gateway Center, and United Filipino Council of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Leaving blank the specific month designated as "Language Access Month";

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 813, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 813, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs,

____________________________

JOEY MANAHAN, Chair