STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2274

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2782

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2782 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATED TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address language barriers and ensure equitable access to information and assistance for all residents, especially those with limited English proficiency by requiring the Office of Enterprise Technology to develop multilingual accessibility standards in consultation with the Office of Language and Access.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!, Pacific Gateway Center, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Roots Reborn, Hawaiʻi Worker's Center, and five individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Office of Language Access.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is one of the most culturally diverse states and has one of the highest proportions of non-English speaking individuals in the nation. Your Committee further finds that according to the 2018-2022 American Community Survey, close to twenty-six percent of Hawaii's residents, (or approximately 350,000 individuals) speak a language other than English at home, of which 150,000 indicated that they speak English "less than very well". Your Committee further finds that lack of English proficiency can have a significant impact on a person's economic situation, social activities, and their access to health and wellness services. Your Committee also finds that the Lahaina community on the island of Maui, with approximately thirty-six percent of its residents five years and older speaking a language other than English at home, faced significant challenges in receiving timely and accurate information and assistance during the August 2023 wildfires due to a language barrier. This measure will allow more Hawaii residents to access education and employment opportunities, and important public assistance, benefits, programs, and services.

Your Committee notes that although this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount and unspecified number of positions to be established, the Office of Enterprise Technology Services' testimony requests an appropriation of $100,000 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) program manager position for the purposes of this measure. Therefore, your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Ways and Means consider inserting these numbers for fiscal year 2024-2025.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2782, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2782, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor and Technology,

________________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair