SB3238 establishes a Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program within the University of Hawaii. The program is intended to train eligible participants to become qualified translators and interpreters, with a focus on bilingual and biliterate students and community members. Priority admission goes to high school graduates who earned the Department of Education’s seal of biliteracy, while other applicants must show proficiency in English and at least one additional language or hold the Global Seal of Biliteracy.
The program’s curriculum must include translation and interpretation training, ethics and best practices, and specialized experience in public-service settings such as education, health care, social services, legal services, agriculture, and government. It also requires completion of educational requirements and internship opportunities through the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Hele Imua program, and it may offer both credit and non-credit pathways. The bill also declares the program a matter of statewide concern and directs the University of Hawaii SEED office to administer it in collaboration with campuses, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and other public and private entities.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, creating a new University of Hawaii program focused on language access workforce development. It also appropriates $375,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027, including funding for three full-time equivalent positions at Leeward Community College, Kapiolani Community College, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, plus operating funds to implement the program. The measure is designed to expand the state’s pool of trained translators and interpreters and to support language access services across multiple public sectors.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support and a generally positive reception. It passed the Senate Education Committee, Senate Ways and Means, and conference committee votes unanimously or near-unanimously, with no recorded opposition in the provided vote history. The legislative findings frame the measure as a workforce development and equity initiative, emphasizing the importance of multilingual access for Hawaii’s diverse communities.
Contention
No major opposition is reflected in the available transcripts or vote summaries. The main policy choices embedded in the bill are the use of state funds, the placement of the program within the University of Hawaii, and the prioritization of seal-of-biliteracy holders for admission. Any potential points of debate would likely center on implementation details, such as how admission standards are set, how internships are structured, and whether the appropriation is sufficient to support the new positions and training program.