Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Government Operations and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2625 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a procurement code preference for purchases of goods and services from offerors who employ persons with disabilities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Procurement Office and Hawaii Disability Rights Center. Comments were received from the Department of Accounting and General Services. Testimony in opposition was received from the American Council of Engineering Companies.

Your Committees find that this measure would increase the employment rate among individuals with disabilities and enable them to become truly integrated into society. The unemployment rate among such individuals is extremely high.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making an amendment to an existing statute rather than enacting a new statute.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Government Operations and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2625, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2625, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.