Bill Text: HI HR96 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Urging The State To Address The Lack Of Language Support In Services, Programs, And Activities Offered By State Government For Persons With Limited English Proficiency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-04-04 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR96 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HR96-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	96
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE STATE TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF LANGUAGE SUPPORT IN SERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY STATE GOVERNMENT FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the State comprises people who speak many languages; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is home to a large number of persons with limited English proficiency who do not speak English as their primary language and self-identify as having a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English; and

 

     WHEREAS, for persons with limited English proficiency, language can be a barrier to accessing important benefits or services, understanding and exercising important rights, complying with applicable responsibilities, or understanding information; and

 

     WHEREAS, a significant number of elderly residents and newcomers are less proficient in English and are challenged in their daily tasks such as visiting the pharmacy, communicating with a physician, and managing access to essential services, including access to municipal water and electricity services; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State's workforce includes persons with limited English proficiency who also face challenges because of their inability to fully understand instructions for safe workplace practices or requirements and information related to the safe handling of toxic materials and legal disposal of harmful waste, which puts them at significant physical risk; and

 

     WHEREAS, children with limited English proficiency face significant challenges in gaining meaningful access to and participating in social, educational, and recreational opportunities when they are restricted by the lack of available bilingual caregivers, school counselors, teachers, coaches, and other adults who contribute to the development of their health and educational success; and

 

     WHEREAS, a significant percentage of visitors to the State lack proficiency in English and, therefore, are at risk in situations where they are unable to understand written or verbal warnings about dangerous surf conditions, impending severe weather, appropriate responses to emergency sirens or warnings, and restrictions on interacting with wildlife, including protected species; and

 

     WHEREAS, one of the underpinnings of our State is the Aloha Spirit, which is codified in law, and it is with the Aloha Spirit and good feelings that the people of Hawaii have toward one another and others that the Legislature finds that ensuring meaningful access to services, programs, and activities for all persons is a State priority; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the State is urged to address the lack of language support in services, programs, and activities offered by State government for persons with limited English proficiency; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State shall make it a priority to:

 

     (1)  Remove obstacles to promoting the hiring of bilingual and multilingual persons in the State's workforce;

 

     (2)  Promote and support the use and study of languages other than English;

 

     (3)  Expand the functional and active use of languages commonly spoken in the State by persons in the workforce;

 

     (4)  Recognize language skills as critical workforce skills that are essential to the State, the state economy, and the health and well-being of the people of the State;

 

     (5)  Promote an environment of aloha where the use of languages other than English in any public setting is welcomed, valued, and recognized as essential to building relationships, social ties, and community bonds; and

 

     (6)  Promote workplace training, public service campaigns, and educational programs that address bias and discrimination with respect to using languages other than English in public; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Mayors of the Counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui; Executive Director of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission; Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board; and Executive Director of the Office of Language Access.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

State Priority; Limited English Proficiency; Services