STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1052

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 537

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 S.B. No. 537 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 Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that American Sign Language is the primary language for many individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Your Committee further finds that although the State recognizes American Sign Language as a world language for public school language requirement purposes, further steps are needed to advance the understanding and acknowledgment that American Sign Language is a unique language and not merely signed English.

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 S.B. No. 537 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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