SB2412 • 2026

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

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Sponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA, CHANG, ELEFANTE, FEVELLA, Hashimoto, Kanuha
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
UH; ASL Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation ($) Appropriates funds to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a master's degree program for interpreter training.
(SD1)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2412 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2412 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2412 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII .

Bill History

2026-02-18 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-18 S
Reported from EDU/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2350) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on EDU/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-20 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
UH; ASL Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a master's degree program for interpreter training. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2412

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2412

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO the UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that Hawaii faces a growing shortage of qualified American
Sign Language interpreters.
�
The 2024
report by the disability and communication access board, Assessment of American
Sign Language Interpreting Services and the Interpreter Shortage in Hawaii,
recommends establishing an American Sign Language interpreter training program
within the university of Hawaii system.

����
The legislature further finds that Hawaii
is one of only eight states that does not have an American Sign Language interpreter
training program.
�
More than two hundred
certificate, associate, bachelor, and graduate level interpreter training
programs are offered nationwide.

����
The legislature believes that establishing
a bachelor's degree program in sign language interpretation with a multi-year
plan to include a master's degree program will eliminate the shortage of American
Sign Language interpreters in the State and provide an academic and career path
for Hawaii residents to become skilled professionals.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to address
the State's American Sign Language interpreter shortage by appropriating moneys
to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation
at the university of Hawaii at Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a
master's degree program.

����
SECTION 2.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $140,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2026-2027 to:

����
(1)
�
Establish
a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the
university of Hawaii Manoa campus;

����
(2)
�
Develop
a multi-year interpreter training program to include a master�s degree in American
Sign Language interpretation; and

����
(3)
�
Provide
personnel and administrative resources necessary to launch and sustain the
programs.

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

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University
of Hawaii; ASL Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
moneys to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language
interpretation at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus with a multi-year plan
to include a master's degree program for interpreter training.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.