HB1419 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the advent of the information age has brought rapid replacement of conventional printed communications with electronic information technology in employment, education, and receipt of services. State entities are making great progress, but the implementation of new technologies and procedures is not consistently or cost-effectively made accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The legislature further finds that equal access to information and communication technology is essential for all citizens to participate and benefit equally in all programs and services. Information and communication technology developed, purchased, or provided by the State should be equally accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Cost-effective techniques and products exist to make information and communication technology accessible to individuals with disabilities by proactively addressing accessibility at the time of planning, designing, developing, and procuring information and communication technology.

The purpose of this Act is to require the disability and communication access board to develop, publish, and periodically update information and communication technology disability access standards.

SECTION 2. Chapter 348F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§348F- Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards; development; review and updates. (a) No later than July 1, 2023, the board shall develop, publish, and periodically update accessibility standards, to be known as the "Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards". These standards shall apply to all state entities and shall be consistent with:

(1) The standards and guidelines issued by the United States Access Board in the implementation of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and section 255 of the Telecommunications Act (47 U.S.C. § 255); and

(2) The web content accessibility guidelines of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative.

(b) The board, in consultation with the chief information officer of the office of enterprise technology services, shall convene a working group with representation from appropriate state entities, stakeholders, and other appropriate individuals and officials, including representatives from the office of enterprise technology services and state procurement office, to review the accessibility standards every three years and update them as necessary. Within six months of any published updated accessibility standards, each state entity shall review the updated accessibility standards and make revisions to existing procurement or development rules, policies, and procedures under its control to incorporate the updated standards.

(c) Information and communication technology developed, purchased, or provided by the State shall be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities and consistent with the accessibility standards developed pursuant to subsection (a).

(d) As used in this section:

"Accessibility" means the ability of an individual with a disability to receive, use, and manipulate data and operate controls included in information and communication technology in a manner equivalent to that of individuals who do not have disabilities.

"Individuals with disabilities" means individuals with impairments that limit their ability to use information and communication technology, including but not limited to individuals who are blind or have low vision, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, individuals who have limited or no use of their hands, or individuals who have other similar impairments.

"Information and communication technology" means information technology and other equipment, systems, technologies, or processes, for which the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of electronic data and information, as well as any associated content.

"State entity" means the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the State, including their departments, divisions, agencies, and offices; public bodies; public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools; and the University of Hawaii."

SECTION 3. Section 27-43, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is established within the department of accounting and general services the office of enterprise technology services, which shall be headed by a full-time chief information officer to organize, manage, and oversee statewide information technology governance. The chief information officer shall be appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34. The chief information officer shall report directly to the governor and shall:

(1) Develop, implement, and manage statewide information technology governance;

(2) Develop, implement, and manage the state information technology strategic plans;

(3) Develop and implement statewide technology standards[;], including the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards established pursuant to section 348F- ;

(4) Work with each executive branch department and agency to develop and maintain its respective multi-year information technology strategic and tactical plans and road maps that are part of the State's overall information technology strategic plans, road maps, and directions;

(5) Coordinate each executive branch department and agency's information technology budget request, forecast, and procurement purchase to ensure compliance with the department or agency's strategic plan and road map and with the office of enterprise technology services' information technology governance processes and enterprise architecture policies and standards, including policies and standards for systems, services, hardware, software, and security management;

(6) Report annually to the governor and the legislature on the status and implementation of the state information technology strategic plan;

(7) Update the state information technology strategic plan every four years;

(8) Perform other necessary or desirable functions to facilitate the intent of this section;

(9) Employ persons exempt from chapters 76 and 89;

(10) Provide centralized computer information management and processing services, coordination in the use of all information processing equipment, software, facilities, and services in the executive branch of the State, and consultation and support services in the use of information processing and management technologies to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity of state government programs;

(11) Establish, coordinate, and manage a program to provide a means for public access to public information and develop and operate an information network in conjunction with overall plans for establishing a communication backbone for state government; and

(12) Adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this part."

SECTION 4. By January 1, 2024, each state entity shall review the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards and make revisions to existing procurement or development rules, policies, and procedures under its control to incorporate the standards.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for:

(1) Development and implementation of the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards pursuant to section 2 of this Act; and

(2) Establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position within the department of health to support the disability and communication access board in the development and implementation of the Hawaii Information and Communication Technology Disability Access Standards.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1419
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1