HB2005 HD2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2005
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

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 language access is essential to ensuring equitable access to education, healthcare, legal services, agriculture, emergency and other government programs for Hawaii's diverse communities. Hawaii's large multilingual population requires a trained and culturally competent workforce of translators and interpreters.

The legislature commends the department of education for recognizing high school graduates with the seal of biliteracy. These students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and at least one additional language represent a valuable pipeline for meeting the State's language access and workforce needs.

The legislature further finds that providing a structured pathway, including training and paid internship opportunities, would develop qualified bilingual workers to strengthen workforce development, expand language access services, and create meaningful career opportunities.

The legislature also finds that this issue is a matter of statewide concern pursuant to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to establish a program that enables eligible high school graduates who have earned the seal of biliteracy and members of the community with demonstrated biliteral competency to be recognized as qualified translators and interpreters.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV subpart M to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304A- Language access education and workforce development program; established. (a) There is established at the university of Hawaii the language access education and workforce development program to provide a curriculum to train eligible participants to be recognized as qualified translators and interpreters.

(b) The curriculum of the language access education and workforce development program shall provide training in translation and interpretation, including ethics, standards, and best practices.

(c) Participants in the language access education and workforce development program shall complete educational requirements, including internship opportunities through the hele imua program of the department of labor and industrial relations.

(d) The language access education and workforce development program shall provide specialized instruction and opportunities for interpretation in public service settings, including but not limited to education, healthcare, social services, law, agriculture, and government.

(e) Participants who have successfully completed the curriculum and met the requirements of the language access education and workforce development program shall receive a certificate of completion and shall be recognized as qualified in translation and interpretation proficiency.

(f) The language access education and workforce development program shall be provided statewide and shall be administered by the university of Hawaii in collaboration with the department of education, the department of labor and industrial relations, and other relevant public and private entities.

(g) The language access education and workforce development program shall be administered by the SEED office of the university of Hawaii at Manoa in cooperation with academic departments of the university of Hawaii at Manoa and all campuses of the university of Hawaii system.

(h) Priority for acceptance into the language access education and workforce development program shall be given to students who have received the seal of biliteracy from the department of education.

(i) Other applicants to the program shall demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language, as determined by:

(1) Standards developed by the language access education and workforce development program; or

(2) Testing through the Global Seal of Biliteracy program."

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 2026-2027 for the language access education and workforce development program established by section 2 of this Act, including for full-time equivalent ( FTE) positions.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.