STAND. COM. REP. NO. 599

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 893

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 893, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INFORMATION ACCESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Direct the Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division of the Department of Human Services to contract for a telephone-based service to provide access to timely print media; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to establish and maintain the telephone-based service.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Milton Ota, Sponsor Agent, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, NFB Newsline Program; Kyle S. Laconsay, President, National Federation of the Blind, Hawaii; and ten individuals.

     Your Committee finds that access to newspapers, publications, and other time-sensitive material via a telephone-based service is an important service to many blind and visually-impaired individuals.  However, your Committee notes that concerns have been raised as to whether the Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division of the Department of Human Services has a special fund at its disposal to establish and maintain such a system.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     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. 893, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 893, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair