Appropriates $43,000 from general funds for fiscal year 2003-2004 to continue telephonic reading system for the blind and visually impaired (Newsline service) for one year. (CD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is the policy of the State to protect and advance the public interest by having appropriate and efficient telecommunications services available to all persons of the State. It is in the public interest to provide universal access to and encourage the further development of the State's telecommunications services, thereby enhancing the quality of life, ensuring a high standard of public health and safety, and allowing citizens to participate more fully in their community and government.

The legislature finds that telecommunications services are particularly important to individuals who are blind or visually impaired as a means by which these individuals can access vital knowledge and information and participate more fully in the political, social, cultural, and economic mainstream. Thousands of Hawaii residents have disabilities that prevent them from directly accessing conventional print material due to visual impairments, dyslexia, and orthopedic and other impairments that prevent the physical manipulation of print materials. For decades, there have been governmental and nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing access to reading materials on a wide variety of subjects by way of braille, large print, or audio tape recordings. However, it is not economically feasible to provide access to time-sensitive, local, or regional publications through these traditional means and formats.

The legislature finds that the lack of direct and prompt access to materials such as newspapers, magazines, newsletters, broadcast media schedules, and other time-sensitive materials has a detrimental effect on the educational prospects, literacy, and opportunity for full participation in governmental and community forums of people with print disabilities.

In response to this need, the National Federation of the Blind, an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, developed NFB-NEWSLINE (Newsline), a telephonic reading service that uses high technology systems to provide access to previously inaccessible material through telecommunications. By making a toll-free telephone call, Newsline subscribers can hear a computer-generated voice reading today's newspapers and other time-sensitive materials.

The legislature further finds that Newsline serves the informational needs of blind and visually impaired citizens. The Newsline service has been available to Hawaii residents who are blind or visually impaired since 2000. All of the subscribers meet the criteria to receive services from the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Nearly three hundred Hawaii residents subscribe to the Newsline service, which uses existing telecommunications systems to provide subscribers with access to daily newspapers and other time-sensitive materials. Although start-up costs were covered by a combination of federal demonstration grant and private grant funding, those sources of funding will no longer be available. Absent new funding, this service will likely be discontinued.

Accordingly, it is the purpose of this Act to appropriate funds to continue a telephonic reading system that provides individuals who are blind or visually impaired with toll-free statewide telephonic access to time-sensitive information for one year.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $43,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, to continue a telephonic reading system service that provides individuals who are blind or visually impaired with toll-free telephonic access to time-sensitive information. The public utilities commission may enter into a contract with a qualified private, nonprofit organization to provide these services.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the public utilities commission for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.