HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1762

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that one out of nine persons living in Hawaii has limited proficiency in English.  This limitation often impedes those person's access to important benefits and services, including access to health care and other public benefits; essential information during public health emergencies, pandemics, or natural disasters; and access to earned benefits, including unemployment benefits and workers' compensation.

     The legislature further finds that the office of language access was created in 2006 to address these language barriers through central coordination, technical assistance, and administration of a language access resource center for the benefit of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government.  Where a government entity fails to provide language access, the office of language access is only authorized to eliminate the language barrier through informal methods including conferences, conciliation, mediation, and persuasion.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the office of language access to submit an annual report to the governor and legislature regarding the compliance of state agencies and certain other entities with state and federal language access laws; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) limited English proficiency language coordinator position in the office of language access; fund the operating expense of the office of language access for purposes of this Act; and for the office of language access to develop a comprehensive statewide plan to increase language access.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 321C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§321C-    Annual report.  The executive director shall submit an annual written report to the governor and legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session detailing the compliance of state agencies and covered entities with this chapter; complaints of noncompliance with this chapter, if any; resolution of any of these complaints; and recommendations to enhance and promote language access."

     SECTION 3.  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 2022-2023 to fund:

     (1)  The establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) limited English proficiency language coordinator position in the office of language access;

     (2)  The operating expenses of the office of language access to collaborate with all state departments to ensure compliance with all state and federal language access laws; and

     (3)  The development of a comprehensive statewide plan to increase language access by the office of language access.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of language access for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060.

 

Report Title:

Office of Language Access; Annual Report; Limited English Proficiency Language Coordinator; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Executive Director of the Office of Language Access to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the compliance of state agencies and certain entities with state and federal language access laws, complaints of noncompliance if any, resolution of the complaints, and recommendations on how to enhance and promote language access.  Makes appropriations to fund the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Limited-English Proficiency Language Coordinator position in the Office of Language Access; the operating expenses of the Office of Language Access to collaborate with all state departments to ensure compliance with all state and federal language access laws; and the development of a comprehensive statewide plan to increase language access by the Office of Language Access.  Effective 7/1/2060.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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