Report Title:

Government Signs in English and Hawaiian

Description:

Requires all state and county signs to be in English and the Hawaiian language.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1526

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to government signs.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 1-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§1-13 Official languages[.]; government signs. (a) English and Hawaiian are the official languages of Hawaii. Whenever there is found to exist any radical and irreconcilable difference between the English and Hawaiian version of any of the laws of the State, the English version shall be held binding. Hawaiian shall not be required for public acts and transactions[.]; except as provided in subsection (b)."

(b) All state and county signs shall be in English and the Hawaiian language; provided that existing signs not in compliance with this subsection on the effective date of this Act shall comply when a replacement for the sign is required."

SECTION 2. Section 1-13.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§1-13.5[]] Hawaiian language; spelling. Macrons and glottal stops may be used in the spelling of words or terms in the Hawaiian language in documents prepared by or for state or county agencies or officials [.]; provided that all signs provided for under section 1-13 shall use macrons and glottal stops in the spelling of words or terms in the Hawaiian language. Any rule, order, policy, or other act, official or otherwise, that prohibits or discourages the use of these symbols shall be void."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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