STAND. COM. REP. NO.  124-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2727

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 2727 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOVIE THEATERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove communication barriers at motion picture theaters for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision.  Specifically, this measure requires a public accommodation that owns, leases, leases to, or operates a motion picture theater in more than two locations in the State to provide open movie captioning and descriptive narration, for movies that are offered with such formats, during at least two showings per week of each motion picture that is offered for viewing.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communications Access Board, Aloha State Association for the Deaf, Isle Interpret, LLC, Hawaii Deaf Surfriders Association, Maui Deaf Friends, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission testified in support of the intent of this bill.  A concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.  Regal Entertainment Group and Consolidated Entertainment, Inc., provided comments.

     Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have poor vision often have difficulty enjoying motion pictures.  While movie theaters may make captioning available via the use of various assistive devices, these devices are uncomfortable and often difficult to use.  Open captioning, which refers to captioning that is seen on the screen by all viewers, would provide equal access to enjoy movies for all theater patrons.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2727 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

____________________________

DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, Chair