RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

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Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: ILAGAN
Last action: 2026-04-21
Official status: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text does not provide specific details on language combinations or exact funding amounts.

Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program

This bill establishes a statewide program at the University of Hawaii to train individuals as translators and interpreters, providing them with certificates upon successful completion.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii.
Provides training in translation and interpretation, including ethics and best practices.
Requires participants to complete educational requirements and internships through the Hele Imua program.
Recognizes successful graduates as qualified translators and interpreters with certificates.

Who It Names or Affects

High school graduates who have earned a seal of biliteracy from the Department of Education.
Community members with demonstrated bilingual skills.
The University of Hawaii, which will run the program.
State agencies like the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Terms To Know

Seal of Biliteracy: An award given to high school graduates who show proficiency in English and at least one other language.
Hele Imua Program: A program by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that offers internship opportunities for participants.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many students will be accepted into the program.
It is unclear what specific languages or language combinations the program will focus on.
The exact amount of funding appropriated has not been specified in the official text provided.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a statewide program at the University of Hawaii to train high school graduates with language proficiency in translation and interpretation, providing them with certification upon completion.

Establishes a new program called 'Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program' at the University of Hawaii.
Provides training for eligible participants who have earned the seal of biliteracy or demonstrate bilingual competency.
Requires participants to complete educational requirements, including internships through the Hele Imua program.

The exact funding amount and full-time equivalent positions are not specified in the amendment text.
The effective date is set for July 1, 3000, which seems to be an error or placeholder.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment establishes a statewide language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii to train qualified translators and interpreters, with priority given to high school graduates who have earned the seal of biliteracy.

Adds new sections to Chapter 304A of Hawaii Revised Statutes to establish a curriculum for training translators and interpreters.
Specifies that participants must complete educational requirements including internships through the Hele Imua program.
Requires the program to provide specialized instruction in public service settings such as education, healthcare, social services, law, agriculture, and government.
Sets up criteria for acceptance into the program, giving priority to seal of biliteracy recipients.

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified in the amendment text provided.
The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a statewide Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii to train qualified translators and interpreters.

Adds new sections to Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to create a program that trains eligible high school graduates with the seal of biliteracy and community members with demonstrated language skills as qualified translators and interpreters.
Specifies that the curriculum will include training in translation and interpretation ethics, standards, and best practices.
Provides for internship opportunities through the Hele Imua Internship Program of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Establishes priority acceptance into the program for students who have received the seal of biliteracy from the department of education.

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified in the amendment text provided.

Bill History

2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Garrett, Sayama, Miyake Co-Chairs; Amato, Kapela, Muraoka.
2026-04-17 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
2026-04-16 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-14 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 650) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-04-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-10 S
One Day Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-10 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3706) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-06 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-23 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-23 S
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3135) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-17 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.
2026-03-12 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDU, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 74).
2026-03-05 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 810-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-25 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kusch.
2026-02-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 639-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-17 H
The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-10 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-09 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 122-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to HED, LAB, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.
Filipino Caucus; UH; Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program; Positions; Appropriation ($)
Establishes a statewide Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii. Establishes positions and appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2005

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2005

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

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.
�
(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.

����
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 three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions.

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

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Filipino
Caucus; Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program; University
of Hawaii; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a statewide language access education and
workforce development program at the University of Hawaii.
�
Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.