STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3330

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1419

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1419, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to develop, publish, and periodically update electronic information technology disability access standards to be implemented by state entities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Executive Office on Aging, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, Hawaii State Committee of Blind Vendors, and twelve individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State has made great progress in embracing information and communication technology. Your Committee further finds, however, that the enormous potential of this technology in government operations cannot be fully realized if significant portions of the citizenry lack meaningful access. This holds especially true for individuals with disabilities. As the testimony in support of this measure makes clear, barriers to accessing information and communication technology are not abstract, academic concepts. They are concrete obstacles that, in the context of government operations, impair the right of individuals with disabilities to fully participate in civic life. Accordingly, this measure will help ensure that all Hawaii residents can participate in and benefit equally from State programs and services by establishing standards and a process to improve accessibility for information and communication technology.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing all references to "electronic information technology" with "information and communication technology", to conform with usage in federal law;

(2) Designating the Disability and Communication Access Board as the agency responsible for the development of the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards, rather than the Office of Enterprise Technology Services;

(3) Requiring the Disability and Communication Access Board to develop, publish, and update the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards in consultation with the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, by no later than July 1, 2023;

(4) Specifying that technology developed, purchased, or provided by the State shall be consistent with the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards;

(5) Clarifying the composition of the working group to be convened to review the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards;

(6) Clarifying and streamlining the parameters of the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards;

(7) Clarifying the definitions of "individuals with disabilities" and "information and communication technology";

(8) Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position within the Department of Health to support the Disability and Communication Access Board in effectuating this measure and for the development and implementation of the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards;

(9) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

    (10) 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1419, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1419, 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 Committee on Government Operations,

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SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair