STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1159

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 617

S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 617, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COURT INTERPRETER SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support the Court Interpreting Services Program's educational services and activities related to the training, screening, testing, and certification of court interpreters by establishing the Court Interpreting Services Revolving Fund.

The Judiciary and Hawaii Interpreter Action Network testified in support of this bill. The Department of Budget and Finance provided comments.

Your Committee finds that interpreter services are crucial to the court system to assure due process and equal access for individuals whose knowledge of the English language is limited. This measure will assist the Judiciary in developing and implementing a comprehensive education, screening, testing, and certification program for court interpreters.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 617, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair