[Nfb-hi] SB 893, SD1

[Milton Ota]

THE SENATE
 S.B. NO.
 893
 
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
 S.D. 1
 
STATE OF HAWAII
 Proposed
 
A BILL FOR AN ACT
 
RELATING TO INFORMATION ACCESS.
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
 
     SECTION 1.  Thousands of Hawaii residents experience disabilities such as visual impairments, dyslexia, and physical impairments that 
 
prevent them from directly accessing conventional print media.  Many printed materials are available through governmental and nonprofit 
 
agencies in accessible formats such as braille, large print, or audio recording.  However, it is generally not practical to provide time-sensitive 
 
information such as a local daily newspaper in these specialized formats.  The legislature finds that even in a media environment where 
 
information is frequently available in multiple formats that are both portable and widely accessible, telephone-based audible information access 
 
remains an important service for many individuals.
 
     SECTION 2.  Chapter 348F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as 
 
follows:
 
     "§348F‑    Telephone-based access to time-sensitive print media.  (a)  The disability and communication access board shall ensure that a 
 
telephone-based audible information access service is available statewide to individuals with visual or other impairments that limit access to 
 
printed media.
 
     (b)  The board shall investigate the availability of experienced providers of quality telephone-based audible information access service and 
 
shall award a contract to provide this service to one or more providers that the board determines to be best qualified.  In reviewing the 
 
qualifications of any provider or providers, the board shall consider the factors of cost, quality of services, experience, and any other factors that 
 
the board deems appropriate.
 
     (c)  The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to administer a telephone-based audible information access service, including 
 
establishing a mechanism for providing ongoing funding for the service. 
 
     (d)  As used in this section:
 
     "Telephone-based audible information access service" means the delivery of current daily newspapers and other periodicals in audio format 
 
through a telephone call to a local or toll-free telephone number."
 
     SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding any provision of section 138-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the contrary, there is appropriated out of the 
 
wireless enhanced 911 fund, the sum of $80,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so 
 
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 for deposit into the disability and communication access board special fund 
 
established pursuant to section 348F‑7, Hawaii Revised Statutes. 
 
     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the disability and communication access board special fund the sum of $80,000 or so much 
 
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 
 
for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a telephone-based audible information access service.
 
     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the disability and communication access board for the purposes of this Act; provided that the 
 
appropriations authorized under this Act shall be expended on a contract for services with the Hawaii affiliate of a national organization that:
 
     (1)  Has affiliates in at least all fifty states; and
 
     (2)  Provides electronic services that provide blind, visually impaired, and print disabled persons with access to newspapers, magazines, 
 
and television listings twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, by means of a touch tone telephone, the Internet, or by downloading the 
 
electronic information to a digital talking book player or MP3 playing device.
 
     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report Title:
 
Telephone-based Audible Information Access Service; Disability and Communication Access Board; Appropriation
 
 
 
Description:
 
Directs the disability and communication access board to establish and maintain a telephone-based audible information access service to 
 
provide access to daily newspapers and other periodicals in an audio medium; makes appropriations from the wireless enhanced 911 fund to 
 
the disability and communication access board special fund to establish the information access service.  (SD1 Proposed)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative 
 
intent.