STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1751

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.R. No. 70

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.R. No. 70, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY WITH COOPERATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE HAWAII VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU TO IMPROVE MARKETING AND VISITOR INFORMATION STRATEGIES TO ATTRACT TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES TO HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the State's tourism market and attract travelers with disabilities to Hawaii by:

(1)  Requesting the Hawaii Tourism Authority, with cooperation from the Department of Health and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, to improve marketing and visitor information for travelers with disabilities, including developing a comprehensive information page on the Department of Health's and Hawaii Tourism Authority's websites;

(2)  Requesting the Hawaii Tourism Authority to submit to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2014, a list of strategies that will attract more travelers with disabilities to Hawaii; and

(3)  Designating the month of October as "Travelers with Disabilities Month".

The Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Advocates for Consumer Rights, The Voice of the Lord Ministry, Nashimoto and Associates LLC, AccesSurf, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Chamber of Commerce For Persons with Disabilities – Hawaii supported this measure with amendments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 70, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 70, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair