STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2051-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3238

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3238, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii to train participants to be recognized as qualified translators and interpreters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; University of Hawaiʻi System; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; AlohaCare; Roots Reborn; Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights; The Legal Clinic; Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3238, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair