§78-2 Equal opportunity. No person shall be discriminated against in any case because of any physical or mental handicap, in examination, appointment, reinstatement, reemployment, promotion, transfer, demotion, or removal, with respect to any position the duties of which, in the opinion of the director, may be efficiently performed by a person with a physical or mental handicap; provided that the employment will not be hazardous to the person appointed or endanger the health or safety of the person's fellow employees or others.

To promote employment opportunities for the severely handicapped individuals, all departments or agencies of the state and county governments shall develop and implement programs for the selective employment of the severely handicapped individuals. Such programs shall provide for the certification by the state vocational rehabilitation office that the severely handicapped individual possesses the skills necessary to safely perform the duties of the position to which the individual will be placed. [L 1967, c 160, §1; HRS §78-2; am L 1980, c 111, §4; gen ch 1985]