STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3592

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 218

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 218 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO ASSESS REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR BEACH ACCESS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a feasibility study to assess reasonable accommodations for beach access for persons with disabilities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging and two individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that beach access for persons with disabilities, including veterans, is extremely limited, especially for those in wheelchairs. Your Committees further find that although there is beach wheelchair access at certain beaches in the State, it is not available at most beaches, preventing residents and visitors with disabilities from enjoying the State's beaches. To ensure equitable access to the State's beaches, your Committees conclude that the Department of Land and Natural Resources should conduct a feasibility study to assess the provision and maintenance of reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities so that those persons may have access to the shoreline of any beach that has a public restroom within an ocean recreation management area.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 218 and recommend its adoption.

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

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair