STAND. COM. REP. NO. 49

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 388

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 388 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to adopt the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard to provide for the timely availability of accessible instructional materials and technology for eligible students.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and thirteen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that books and other instructional materials are needed in alternate accessible formats for use by elementary and secondary school students in the State who are unable to use print as their primary learning media. Your Committee further finds that existing state law pertaining to instructional materials for exceptional children requires publishers to meet provisions that are now out of date and undesirable due to advances in technology. Your Committee believes that a revision is needed to harmonize and integrate the existing federal law and practice with state law, including allowing for technological advancements that make more instructional materials available in appropriate accessible formats for exceptional children.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definition of "print instructional materials" to align with the federal definition of the term;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 388, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 388, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair