STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1356

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 239

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 239 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL CHANGING ACCOMMODATIONS IN ALL STATE FACILITIES, STATE PARKS, AND CITY AND COUNTY PARKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that all individuals in the State, including those with disabilities, deserve equal access to basic civic activities, such as visiting local parks. However, a lack of accessible accommodations in public bathroom facilities often limits the freedom of those with disabilities and their families to access public spaces, as they are faced with limited, uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous options for toileting. This measure promotes equity and inclusion for all the State's residents by requesting that the relevant authorities of the State and City and County of Honolulu provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, city and county parks.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 239, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 239, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair