HI SB2284

Appropriates $200,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2016-2017 to fund three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) permanent positions within the Office of Language Access.

Positions consist of two full-time equivalent researcher positions and one full-time equivalent office assistant position to assist state agencies in implementing Hawaii's language access law.

Restores critical staffing that was eliminated during the 2009 state reduction-in-force, with only two of six positions previously restored in 2013.

Funds will be expended by the Department of Health to provide oversight, technical assistance, compliance monitoring, and complaint resolution to 26 state agencies and approximately 150 state-funded agencies.

Act takes effect July 1, 2016.