STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1211

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 148

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 148 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC PLAYGROUND THAT ALLOWS VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN TO FREELY EXPLORE THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND INTERACT WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS IN A SAFE, WELCOMING, AND DEVELOPMENTALLY ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu to seriously consider the establishment of an accessible public playground that allows visually impaired children to freely enjoy their environment and interact with their families and friends in a safe, welcoming, and developmentally enriching environment.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Association of the Blind and three individuals.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii does not provide a playground that specifically caters to or facilitates safety and enjoyment for the blind community, even though 1.2 percent of Hawaii's population is currently eligible for Blind and Disabled Supplemental Security Income.  This measure promotes inclusive playgrounds that provide opportunities for interaction between visually impaired children and sighted children, which is important for the development of social and leadership skills.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Encouraging the State of Hawaii, in addition to the City and County of Honolulu, to seriously consider the establishment of an accessible public playground for visually impaired children;

     (2)  Amending the title accordingly to reflect that this measure is encouraging the State and the City and County of Honolulu to take action; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 148, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 148, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Human Services,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair