STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1167

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 893

      S.D. 3

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 893, S.D. 3, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure equal access to information by providing telephone-based audible information access to individuals with visual or other impairments that limit their access to print media.  To this end, this bill directs the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) to:

(1)  Contract with service providers to ensure that a telephone-based audible information access service is available statewide to individuals with visual or other impairments that limit their access to print media; and

(2)  Adopt rules to administer the access service, including establishing a mechanism for providing ongoing funding for the service.

Additionally, this measure appropriates funding for this service from the Wireless Enhanced 911 Fund.

     The Department of Human Services and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Honolulu Police Department and several concerned individuals opposed this bill.  DCAB offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Requiring DCAB to adopt rules no later than January 1, 2013;

(2)  Requiring DCAB to report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2012 on its progress toward contracting with qualified providers of telephone-based audible information access; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Further, your Committee notes concerns regarding the legal implications of appropriating moneys from the Wireless Enhanced 911 Fund for deposit into the DCAB Special Fund, and whether moneys from the fund can be used for providing telephone-based audible information access services.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 893, S.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 893, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair