STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1393

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 109

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 109, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require newly created, replaced, or reprinted state and county letterheads, symbols, and emblems to contain accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and language.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kuakini Hawaiian Civic Club of Kona, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian language is one of the official languages of the State and that this measure encourages the ethically-mandated preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Clarifying that the requirement of using accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and words in state and county letterheads only applies to Hawaiian names and words that are included in the letterhead;

(2)  Requiring the Department of Accounting and General Services to develop a procedure to verify that all Hawaiian names and words included in any state or county letterhead, symbol, or emblem are in conformance with any of the Hawaiian language resources designated by this measure;

(3)  Adding three new Hawaiian language resources to be used in determining the accuracy of Hawaiian names and words;

(4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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. 109, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 109, H.D. 3, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair