STAND. COM. REP. NO. 216

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 840

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 840 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize American Sign Language as a fully developed, autonomous, natural language with its own grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and cultural heritage.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Disability and Communication Access Board, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that although the State recognizes American Sign Language as a world language for public school purposes, further measures are needed to advance the understanding and acknowledgement that American Sign Language is a unique language and not merely signed English.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2065, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 840, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 840, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair