Bill Text: HI HB2374 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Office of Language Access

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-07-06 - (S) Act 201, 7/3/2012 (Gov. Msg. No. 1304). [HB2374 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB2374-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3288

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2374

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2374 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF LANGUAGE ACCESS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve access to government services and programs for limited English proficient persons by transferring the Office of Language Access from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations - Office of Language Access, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, and Catholic Charities Hawaii.  The Department of Human Resources Development submitted written comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that by transferring the functions and duties of the Office of Language Access to the Department of Health, this measure will improve the State's delivery of vital language services to its limited English proficient population and provide them better access to needed government services, protect their rights, and enable them to become more active participants and contributing members of society.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adopting language recommended by the Department of Human Resources Development regarding employees whose functions are transferred by this measure;

 

     (2)  Clarifying language with respect to limited English proficient persons;

 

     (3)  Requiring the Department of Health to provide public notice in a printed publication or electronic format upon completion of the transfer; and

 

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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. 2374, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2374, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair