Report Title:

Language Access; Multi-lingual Emergency Services

 

Description:

Requires each county to develop and implement a plan for multi-lingual access to the emergency 911 telephone system; appropriates funds for that purpose.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1045

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

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 most individuals living in Hawaii read, write, speak, and understand English.  However, there are many individuals who are limited English proficient, meaning the individuals, on account of national origin, do not speak English as their primary language and identify themselves as having a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand the English language.  Language for limited English proficient persons can be a barrier to accessing important emergency services, such as medical care and law enforcement.

     According to the 2000 United States Census survey, over twenty-six per cent of Hawaii's population speaks a language other than English.  The majority of immigrants to Hawaii arrive from Asia and the Pacific Islands.  Of those whose primary language is an Asian or Pacific Isla nd language, it is estimated that over twenty per cent are limited English proficient.

     Currently, if an individual who is limited English proficient calls the emergency 911 telephone number, the individual may not be able to communicate the individual's needs to the operator or answer questions that facilitate the delivery of critical emergency services.  Other jurisdictions have made great strides in improving multi-lingual access to emergency and other important services or benefits.  For instance, all members of Toronto, Canada's diverse communities have access to life-saving emergency 911 services in more than one hundred fifty languages.  The operators there have instant access to interpreters who speak many languages.

     The Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice provides limited English proficiency resources to assist federal, state, and local government in the provision of language assistance to limited English proficient individuals, including recommendations specific to emergency 911 telephone systems.  For instance, recommendations include recruiting bilingual call takers and dispatchers, contracting with telephonic interpretation services, or establishing a city- or county-wide bank of city or county employees who are bilingual and who can provide translation services when necessary.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the counties to develop and implement a plan for multi-lingual access to the emergency 911 telephone system, and to appropriate funds for that purpose.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  Each county shall develop and implement a plan for multi-lingual access to the emergency 911 telephone system.

     (b)  In developing and implementing the plan, each county shall:

     (1)  Consult with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, the department of health, the office of language access, the other counties, and applicable emergency services and law enforcement agencies;

     (2)  Research best practices, including how other jurisdictions provide multi-lingual access to emergency 911 telephone systems;

     (3)  Provide for quality control and regular assessment of the provision of multi-lingual access; and

     (4)  Request any federal funding that may be available for the development or implementation of the plan.

     SECTION 3.  Each county shall submit an interim report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session, and shall submit a final report, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 regular session.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the following sums, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sums, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to assist the counties in implementing this Act:

          City and county of Honolulu  $          

          County of Kauai              $          

          County of Maui               $          

          County of Hawaii             $          

          Total                        $          

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by each county for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  The sums appropriated shall constitute the State's share of the cost of mandated programs under article VIII, section 5, of the state constitution.


     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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