STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1062-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2494
                                     S.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Judiciary
and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2494, S.D.
2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPOWERMENT OF THE BLIND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purposes of this bill is to:

     (1)  Allow the State Committee of Blind Vendors (Committee)
          to hire private attorneys under certain circumstances; 

     (2)  Establish an account into which is to be deposited
          $30,000 upon legislative appropriation each fiscal year
          from the Randolph-Sheppard revolving account, from
          which the Committee may expend moneys for the purposes
          of the revolving account; and

     (3)  Make an appropriation in an amount to be specified to
          facilitate further discussion on the funding necessary
          to carry out the purposes of this bill.

     Concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this
bill.  The Department of the Attorney General submitted testimony
in opposition to this bill.  

     The bill will assist the blind and visually handicapped in
becoming more self-sufficient and independent.

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1062-00
                                 Page 2

 
     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Human Services and Housing and Judiciary and
Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your
Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2494, S.D. 2 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Human Services
                                   and Housing and Judiciary and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair            DENNIS ARAKAKI, Chair