STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2486

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2381

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2381 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require electronic information technology developed, purchased, or provided by the State to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and

(2) Require the Disability and Communication Access Board to, no later than December 31, 2022, develop and publish accessibility standards to be implemented by state entities.

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

Your Committees find that digital technology is rapidly replacing conventional printed communications, which can pose an accessibility challenge for individuals with certain disabilities. It is critical that the State provide all of its residents equal and convenient access to communications relating to its programs. This measure will reduce barriers to ensure that individuals with disabilities are considered when new technologies are deployed and to promote greater accessibility and engagement in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Human Services and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2381, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2381, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Government Operations,

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair