STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2435

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2752

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2752 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Office of Elections Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee to provide voter education and outreach services for individuals with accessibility needs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Statewide Voters with Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee and four individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that removing barriers for persons with voting accessibility needs ensures that all individuals have equal access to the voting process. Existing law requires the State Office of Elections and each county election office to address accessibility and ways to remove barriers. Your Committees believe that understanding the unique needs of each community statewide can provide valuable insight on current and future accessibility issues for voters. This measure will promote greater participation in voting by individuals with access needs who may otherwise be excluded.

Your Committees note that although the appropriation amount in this measure is an unspecified amount, the Statewide Voters with Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee's testimony requests an appropriation of $10,000 for information gathering, outreach, and voter education expenses approved by the Committee.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2752 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair