STAND. COM. REP. NO. 422

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1052

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1052 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide clear authorization and guidance for the Public Utilities Commission to implement and manage, through the Universal Service Program, the provision of essential telecommunications services for individuals with print disabilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Human Services; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii State Council on Development Disabilities; and National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Act 225, Session Laws of Hawaii 1995, established the Universal Service Program, the purpose of which, in part, is to help customers with disabilities access and maintain a basic set of essential telecommunications services as determined by the Public Utilities Commission. Despite existing law requiring telecommunications carriers to contribute to the Program, the Program is currently inactive with no funds available. Furthermore, there is a lack of clear legislative authority for the Public Utilities Commission to develop a program addressing print disabilities. This measure resolves these issues by adding language to clearly authorize the Public Utilities Commission to develop a program for persons with print disabilities and authorizing the use of funds for this purpose.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1052, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1052, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair