STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1126

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 600

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COURT INTERPRETERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to help secure the legal rights of non-English-speaking persons participating in legal proceedings by requiring the Judiciary to establish and operate a statewide court interpreter orientation, testing, and certification program.

 

     The Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, Hawaii Interpreter Action Network, National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, Centro Hispano de Hawaii, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Philippine Nurses Association-Hawaii, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Japan-America Society of Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Disability and Communication Access Board supported this measure with amendments.  The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission supported the intent of this bill.  The Judiciary opposed this measure.

 

     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 H.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair