HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

933

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

C.D. 1

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PRINT DISABILITIES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the public utilities commission has a duty and obligation to obtain and maintain access to a basic set of essential telecommunications services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the public utilities commission to provide free telecommunications access to certain information for persons with a print disability.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide free telecommunications access to certain information for persons with a print disability.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the public utilities commission for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. 300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1, will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023‑2024 to be exceeded by $1,063,767,367 or 10 per cent.  In addition, the appropriations contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023‑2024 to be further exceeded by $150,000 or 1 per cent.  The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023‑2024 to be exceeded by $1,063,917,367 or 11 per cent.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

 

Report Title:

Deaf and Blind Task Force; Public Utilities Commission; Print Disabilities; Telecommunications Access; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Public Utilities Commission to provide free telecommunications access to certain information for individuals with a print disability.  (CD1)

 

 

 

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