Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2552 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to delete the requirement that precinct officials be satisfied that the physical disability exists before rendering assistance, and to delete blindness as a specified condition.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Arc in Hawaii, Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii, Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii, and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that current language in section 11-139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires precinct officials to be satisfied that a physical disability exists before rendering assistance to an individual. Removal of the requirement would relieve the burden on the individual to prove that a disability exists before assistance can be given.

Your Committee has amended this measure by removing language related to disability status. These amendments place the focus of the law on the person's right to vote, rather than on an individual's disability status. The Disability and Communication Access Board believes the modified language will encourage greater voter participation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2552, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2552, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.