HI HB2226

Appropriates funds from general revenues for full-time equivalent permanent positions within the Office of Language Access to help state and state-funded agencies implement Hawaii's language access law.

Establishes positions including researcher and office assistant roles to provide oversight, technical assistance, needs assessments, training, and compliance monitoring to approximately 26 state agencies and 150 state-funded agencies.

Addresses staffing gaps created by 2009 reduction-in-force that eliminated the office's six-person staff, with only two positions restored by 2013, leaving critical positions unfilled.

Supports implementation of the statewide language access resource center established by Act 217, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, which has been hindered by delayed funding and staffing.

Effective date: January 7, 2059 (note: specific dollar amounts and exact number of FTE positions are blank in the bill text).