STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3135

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2005

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2005, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a statewide Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Language Access, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Pride at Work - Hawaiʻi, AlohaCare, The Legal Clinic, Roots Reborn, Waipahu Safe Haven Immigrant/Migrant Resource Center, and six individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that nearly twenty percent of the State's population is foreign-born and one-in-nine have limited English proficiency, demonstrating the critical need for qualified, culturally competent interpreters. The local shortage of translators impedes language access, which is foundational to equity, civil rights compliance, and public trust. This measure will help develop the State's labor supply of qualified interpreters by bridging the gap between biliteracy qualifications in secondary education and long-term careers in the professional workforce.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2055, 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2005, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2005, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair