CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 182

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 813

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 813, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COURT INTERPRETERS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning in 2026 and every three years thereafter, require the Judiciary to conduct a study on interpreter fees;

(2) Require the Judiciary to increase the hourly fees, mileage reimbursement rate, and commuter-time compensation rate for court interpreters; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that court interpreters are independent contractors of the Judiciary, who play an integral role in the administration of justice and provide critical language access in the State's courts. The compensation for court interpreters has remained unchanged for the most part since it was established in 2007. This measure will help determine whether to increase the fees and rates for court interpreters.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the requisite information for making an appropriation in excess of the general fund expenditure ceiling pursuant to article VII, section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Removing language that would have required the Judiciary to increase the hourly fees, mileage reimbursement rate, and commuter-time compensation rate for court interpreters;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of $20,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 to fund the study for annual adjustments of fees for court interpreters;

(4) Amending section 2 to reflect its amended purpose;

(5) Making it effective on July 1, 2023; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 813, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 813, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO Co-Chair	____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO Co-Chair