STAND. COM. REP. NO.  129

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 330

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 330 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC AGENCY MEETINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is ensure that state and county programs, services and activities are accessible to persons with disabilities by setting forth specific compliance requirements for notices of public agency meetings for persons with disabilities.

Hawaii Disability State Rehab Council and two individuals testified in support of this measure.  Office of Information Practices submitted testimony opposing this measure.  Disability Communication Access Board and City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Retaining requirements that the notice of public agency meetings include contact information that may be used by persons with disabilities to request necessary accommodations;

     (2)  Deleting other notice requirements including those relating to the accessibility of electronic postings to state websites; and

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

     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. 330, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 330, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair