Committee backs language access education program after wide support from immigrant and legal advocates

The House Higher Education Committee voted to pass SB 3238 SD1 with amendments after extensive testimony from immigrant rights groups, legal clinics and university representatives who described the state's language diversity and pressing needs for trained interpreters and translators.

Yasmin Chaney, representing the Commission on the Status of Women, told members she stood on written testimony in support and urged passage. The Legal Clinic and nonprofit service providers emphasized that certification and practicum experiences are needed to ensure interpreters and translators are competent for public'safety and legal contexts. "Generic trainings on ethics do not produce competent interpreters and translators," testified Marcela Aloha Lani Boya, and urged the bill's supporters to refine training plans to include language'specific skills.

Advocates described how limited language access interfered with recovery after recent storms and the Maui fires, and argued a university'based pipeline could supply qualified practitioners to state agencies and community providers. The chair recommended passing the bill with HD1 changes (removing three FTEs and defecting the effective date to allow further drafting); the committee adopted the recommendation.

The committee recorded the recommendation as adopted; the bill will be forwarded with the committee'recommended HD1 language and the defective effective date for further consideration.