STAND. COM. REP. NO.  162-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2104

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2104 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow for blind and visually impaired persons to apply for and obtain disability parking permits.

The Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs and several concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Disability and Communication Access Board opposed the measure.

     Your Committee notes that the Disability and Communications Access Board opposed the measure because it said the intent of Congress was to provide the opportunity to obtain parking permits to persons with disabilities that limit their physical mobility or limit their ability to walk a long distance.  The Disability and Communications Access Board said individuals who are blind or visually impaired do not meet the recommended definition as stated in the applicable federal rules, listed under Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter II, Part 1235, Subpart B.

     The Disability and Communications Access Board estimated it would cost $60,000 to implement the placards for a conservative estimate of 5,000 blind and visually impaired people in Hawaii.

     A concerned individual testified that a disabled parking permit would allow blind residents, who ride in personal cars with family, to avoid walking across busy and dangerous parking lots.  The individual added Hawaii currently allows disabled residents who require the use of a cane for mobility to obtain a disability parking permit, but excludes the blind who also use a cane for mobility.  The individual testified that 28 other states and Washington, D.C., allow their blind residents to obtain a disability parking permit.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2104, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2104, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Transportation.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair