STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1339

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1052

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1052, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the Public Utilities Commission, under the Universal Service Program, may use funds from the Universal Service Fund to provide free telecommunications access to individuals with print disabilities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Public Utilities Commission, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committees find that access to essential telecommunications services is vital for individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly those with print disabilities and individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Your Committees also recognize the importance of providing timely and essential information to all community members in an accessible format.

Your Committees further find, pursuant to Act 247, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, the Public Utilities Commission administers a program called the Third Party Provider to Offer Assistive Services for the Print Disabled, also known as the Print Disability Assistance Program (PDAP). Under the PDAP, the Public Utilities Commission provides assistive services for the print disabled and expands the services offered through the Hoopono Services for the Blind, administered by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Department of Human Services. Ensuring the timely delivery of crucial information such as emergency alerts, job notifications, daily newspapers, and other information pertinent to the individual helps enable those individuals to live independently. Accordingly, this measure will affirm the State's commitment to digital accessibility while ensuring equitable access to telecommunications for all individuals regardless of disability status.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1052, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1052, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair