HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1749
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to language access.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The office of language access was established by Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, to provide oversight, central coordination, and technical assistance to twenty-six state agencies and approximately one hundred fifty state-funded agencies in implementing the requirements of Hawaii's language access law.

     The office of language access has a statutory mandate to ensure that state and state-funded agencies are in compliance with Hawaii's language access law.  The office of language access provides technical assistance to agencies in the form of needs assessments, assistance with language access plans, training of agency staff, work with interpreters and translators, and data collection and reporting.  The office of language access also conducts periodic compliance monitoring, provides complaint resolution, and reports annually to the governor and the legislature.  The office's staff was cut to a single position in 2009 due to the State's reduction in force.  Although some positions were restored in 2013, critical staff positions remain unfilled.  As a result, the office of language access has not been able to fully perform its statutorily mandated compliance and technical assistance functions.  Accordingly, many state agencies have been unable to implement important aspects of their language access plans due to lack of oversight and technical assistance and many limited English proficient individuals in Hawaii continue to lack meaningful access to government services, programs, and activities.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish three positions within the office of language access to assist state agencies and state-funded agencies in implementing the requirements of Hawaii's language access law.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 to establish three positions within the office of language access to assist state agencies and state-funded agencies in implementing the requirements of Hawaii's language access law.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Office of Language Access; Appropriation; Department of Health

Description:

Appropriates funds for three positions within the Office of Language Access.

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