STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1367-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2144

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2144, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Disability and Communication Access Board and a working group comprised of stakeholders, to develop and publish, and periodically review and update, electronic information technology accessibility standards to be implemented by all state entities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Disability and Communication Access Board, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and eight individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Enterprise Technology Services and one individual.

Your Committees find that electronic information technology has rapidly replaced conventional printed communications in the areas of employment, education, and receipt of services. Your Committees further find that uniform standards are needed to ensure that state entities are proactively addressing accessibility in their communications, information technology development, and technology procurement processes. This measure helps the State meet its digital equity goals by ensuring that all electronic information, programs, and services offered by the State are accessible to individuals with a disability.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2144, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2144, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness and Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair