STAND. COM. REP. NO. 767-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1977

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1977, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BRAILLE LITERACY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the individualized education programs of blind students to include the instruction of Braille and provision of Braille instructional materials under certain circumstances;

(2) Require the Department of Education to establish a Braille Literacy Resource Center; and

(3) Appropriate funds to the Department of Education to make grants or enter into contracts with qualified entities to provide in-state Braille transcription services or provide financial support to a qualified entity for the establishment of Braille transcription services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board; National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Education; and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1977, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair