STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3005

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2144

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, 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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 comprising stakeholders, to develop and publish electronic information technology accessibility standards to be implemented by all state agencies.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, Disability and Communication Access Board, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Enterprise Technology Services.

Your Committee finds that the electronic information technology accessibility standards required by this measure will help the State meet its digital equity goals by ensuring that all electronic information, programs, and services offered by the State are accessible to persons with disabilities. Your Committee further finds that the standards will ensure that accessibility levels are consistent across all state entities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2144, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair