STAND. COM. REP. NO. 600

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 794

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Culture, Arts & International Affairs and Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 794 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISABILITY AWARENESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate the month of October as "Disability Awareness Month: Employment, Enrichment, and Inclusion" in recognition of the employment challenges and successes of persons with disabilities in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and three individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Your Committees find that there are more than 66,000 working-age persons with disabilities in the State, almost 40 percent of whom are presently employed. However, persons with disabilities face disparities in the workforce and, on average, earn less per year than their non-disabled peers. Your Committees further find that this measure supports and brings awareness to the issues that the State's working-age persons with disabilities face.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Culture, Arts & International Affairs and Health & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 794, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 794, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Culture, Arts & International Affairs and Health & Homelessness,

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair

____________________________ ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair