SB2688

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that access to information used in discussions, deliberations, decisions, and actions of governmental agencies must be made available as a matter of right, consistent with the State's Sunshine Law. However, there are multiple ways to comply with the State's Sunshine Law that may create barriers to access by people who have disabilities. For example, those with physical disabilities such as paralysis may face difficulties when reading posted electronic notices of public meetings due to having to scroll through "boiler plate" language on the agendas before they can access the agenda information. In some instances, links to required board packets or attachments to the agenda may take a reader to a website, which the person may need to scroll down significantly to find the attachments or entirety of the board packet. These barriers create needless frustration for persons with disabilities and are prohibitive to the State's policy that the formation and administration of public policy be conducted as openly as possible. The legislature believes that by bringing together a variety of expertise on access to government information, barriers to government information may be lowered or eradicated.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Establish the access Hawaii advisory committee to advise the access Hawaii committee on how to improve accessibility to government information for people with diminished access to government information arising from disabilities; and

(2) Require the access Hawaii committee to review the recommendations of the access Hawaii advisory committee, implement appropriate action to improve access to the government, and include in its annual report the access Hawaii advisory committee's recommendations and the access Hawaii committee's actions relative to the access Hawaii advisory committee's recommendations.

SECTION 2. Chapter 27G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§27G- Access Hawaii advisory committee; establishment; composition; duties; responsibilities. (a) There is established within the department of accounting and general services, the access Hawaii advisory committee to advise the committee on how to improve accessibility to government information for people with diminished access to government information arising from disabilities.

(b) The access Hawaii advisory committee shall consist of seven members and shall include:

(1) The executive director of the disability and communication access board;

(2) The administrator of the department of human services division on vocational rehabilitation, or the administrator's designee; and

(3) Five members who shall be appointed by the governor, without regard to chapter 76, based on recommendations from organizations in the State that are comprised of a majority of officers and members who are persons with diminished access to government information arising from disabilities. The appointments shall not be subject to the advice and consent of the senate.

The members of the access Hawaii advisory committee shall serve without pay, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties as members of the access Hawaii advisory committee.

(c) The term of office of each appointed member of the access Hawaii advisory committee shall be four years from the date of the member's appointment; provided that the initial appointments shall be as follows:

(1) Two members to be appointed for four years;

(2) One member to be appointed for three years;

(3) One member to be appointed for two years; and

(4) One member to be appointed for one year.

Any vacancy occurring on the access Hawaii advisory committee shall be filled in accordance with the foregoing provisions for the unexpired portion of the term concerned.

(d) The access Hawaii advisory committee shall review and make recommendations annually to the committee and the legislature on challenges faced by people who have special needs arising from disabilities when accessing government information, including access to notices, meetings, and online services and recommendations to overcome the challenges faced by people whose needs are affected by disabilities when accessing government information.

(e) The committee shall:

(1) Review the recommendations of the access Hawaii advisory committee;

(2) Implement appropriate action to improve access to the government; and

(3) Include in its annual report required by section 27G-5 the access Hawaii advisory committee's recommendations and the committee's actions relative to the access Hawaii advisory committee's recommendations."

SECTION 3. Section 27G-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§27G-5 Annual report. The committee shall submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature no later than [~~twenty~~] forty days prior to the convening of each regular session, on the operations of the portal. The annual report shall include the portal manager's annual financial reports[.], the access Hawaii advisory committee's recommendations, and the committee's actions relative to the access Hawaii advisory committee's recommendations."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Access Hawaii Advisory Committee; Access Hawaii Committee; Disability Access to Public Information

Description:

Establishes the Access Hawaii Advisory Committee to advise the Access Hawaii Committee on how to improve accessibility to government information for people with diminished access to government information arising from disabilities. Requires the Access Hawaii Committee to review the recommendations of the Access Hawaii Advisory Committee, implement appropriate action to improve access to the government, and include in its annual report the Access Hawaii Advisory Committee's recommendations and the Access Hawaii Committee's actions relative to the Access Hawaii Advisory Committee's recommendations.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2688
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII