STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3451

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 5

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 5 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PROMPT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HAWAII ELECTRONIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY ACT ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2024,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Urge the Chief Information Officer to ensure prompt implementation of Act 172, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, (Act 172) on or before December 31, 2024; and

(2) Request and advise the Chief Information Officer to submit a report to the Legislature no later than thirty days before the Regular Session of 2025, that:

(A) Describes the status of implementation of Act 172; and

(B) Makes any recommendations for future legislation needed to ensure that the State's electronic information technology meets or exceeds federal accessibility standards.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Disability and Communication Access Board, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and six individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that electronic information technology accessibility standards are necessary to ensure disability access to electronic information technology, which is key for independence and equality to people with disabilities in the State. Accordingly, the Legislature enacted Act 172, known as the Hawaii Electronic Information Technology Accessibility Act, which requires the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Disability and Communication Access Board and a working group composed of stakeholders, to develop, publish, and periodically review and update electronic information technology accessibility standards required to be implemented by all state entities within six months of the publication or amendment of these standards. However, no standards have been issued since the enactment of Act 172 on June 27, 2022. This measure provides a timeline that will help the State meet its digital equity goals and ensure that all electronic information, programs, and services offered by the State are accessible to individuals with a disability.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 5 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor and Technology,

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HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair