HB2489 appropriates $140,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the University of Hawaii to establish a bachelor’s degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The bill also directs the university to develop a multi-year plan to add a master’s degree program in ASL interpretation and to provide the personnel and administrative support needed to launch and sustain the programs.
The measure is framed as a response to Hawaii’s shortage of qualified American Sign Language interpreters. Its findings cite a 2024 Disability and Communication Access Board report recommending an interpreter training program within the University of Hawaii system and note that Hawaii is one of only eight states without such a program. The bill’s stated goal is to create an academic and career pathway for residents while increasing the supply of trained interpreters statewide.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would create a new state-funded ASL interpreter training initiative within the University of Hawaii at Manoa and require the university to plan for expansion into graduate-level training. It would not directly amend existing statutes beyond making a specific appropriation, but it would authorize the use of state general funds for program development, staffing, and administration. The practical effect would be to expand higher-education offerings and potentially increase the pipeline of certified ASL interpreters serving deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in Hawaii.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable support for the bill’s purpose, with the measure presented as a workforce, access, and education solution to a documented statewide shortage. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes indicating opposition in the provided materials, and the bill was referred to the Education/Human Services and Ways and Means committees, consistent with its education and funding components. The tone of the bill itself is strongly affirmative, emphasizing public need and program development.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are fiscal and implementation-related: whether $140,000 is sufficient to establish and sustain a new degree program, how quickly the University of Hawaii can build faculty and administrative capacity, and whether the state should prioritize this initiative over other higher-education or disability-access needs. Another possible issue is the bill’s delayed effective date of July 1, 3000, which appears anomalous and could raise drafting or technical concerns. No explicit opposition is documented in the provided record.
Encouraging The Kawaihuelani Center For Hawaiian Language Of The University Of Hawaii At Manoa To Further Provide Learning Resources And Opportunities That Promote Hawaiian Language And Culture.
Encouraging The Kawaihuelani Center For Hawaiian Language Of The University Of Hawaii At Manoa To Further Provide Learning Resources And Opportunities That Promote Hawaiian Language And Culture.
Urging The University Of Hawaii President And Board Of Regents To Establish A Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Program At The University Of Hawaii Maui College.
Requesting The Disability And Communication Access Board To Study The Communication Needs Of Individuals Who Are Deaf, Hard Of Hearing, Or Deaf-blind In Health Care Settings And Make Necessary Revisions To The Guidance For Health Care Providers.
Requesting The Disability And Communication Access Board To Study The Communication Needs Of Individuals Who Are Deaf, Hard Of Hearing, Or Deaf-blind In Health Care Settings And Make Necessary Revisions To The Guidance For Health Care Providers.