STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2520

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

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




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2494, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow the State Committee of
Blind Vendors to hire private attorneys under certain
circumstances.

     In addition, this bill also establishes 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 State Committee of Blind Vendors may expend moneys
for the purposes of the revolving account, and makes an
appropriation.

     Your Committee agrees with the intent of this bill, and
finds that giving the State Committee of Blind Vendors
discretionary authority over the funds generated from vending
operations will assist the blind and visually handicapped in
becoming more self-sufficient and independent.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
bill by:


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2520
                                   Page 2


     (1)  Replacing the sum appropriated with a blank amount to
          facilitate further discussion on the funding necessary
          to carry out the purposes of this measure; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the
          purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2494, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2494, S.D.
2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair


 
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