STAND. COM. REP. NO. 858-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1945

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1945, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SERVICE PILOT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Human Services to establish a Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program that provides training and other services to blind or visually impaired individuals residing on the neighbor islands; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the pilot program, subject to a matching requirement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board and Hawaii Disability Rights Center. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Budget and Finance, Executive Office on Aging, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and seven individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1945, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair