STAND. COM. REP. NO. 58

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 933

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 933 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PRINT DISABILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Public Utilities Commission to use Universal Service Fund monies to provide free telecommunications access to certain information for individuals with print disabilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that blindness, visual impairment, and learning disabilities, including dyslexia, are among the most prevalent forms of print disability. Lack of timely access to information can pose everyday challenges for residents who are unable to see or use standard print as their primary form of communication, leaving them at an information deficit. Your Committee finds that this measure is consistent with the purposes of the Universal Service Program and the use of the Universal Service Fund, and can help to serve populations in need of more accessible formats of information.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Providing explicit authorization for the Public Utilities Commission to use the Universal Service Fund to provide access for individuals with print disabilities, subject to a limit yet to be determined;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 933, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 933, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair