CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 209-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3238

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3238, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS,"

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) Establish a Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii is suffering from a critical shortage of trained, culturally competent translators and interpreters able to serve the State's linguistically diverse communities. This shortage infringes on equity, civil rights compliance, and public trust by impeding language access. This measure supports the establishment of a sustainable statewide translator training pathway, therefore fostering economic self-sufficiency, civic engagement, and improved service delivery to local immigrant, English-second language, and other multilingual communities.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $375,000 to establish a Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii, with:

(A) $225,000 allocated for the establishment of three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions; provided that Leeward Community College, Kapiolani Community College, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa shall each host one position; and

(B) $150,000 allocated to implement the Program, divided equally between Leeward Community College, Kapiolani Community College, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

(2) Making it effective on July 1, 2026; and

(3) 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. 3238, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3238, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT Co-Chair	____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Chair
____________________________ TYSON K. MIYAKE Co-Chair	____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO Co-Chair