[Nfb-hi] SB893 HD1 As Posted on 3/24/2011

[Milton Ota]

SB893 HD1.DOC
THE SENATES.B. NO.893
      TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011S.D. 3
      STATE OF HAWAIIH.D. 1
        
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 communications 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:
     (1)  Cost;
     (2)  Quality of services;
     (3)  Experience; and
     (4)  Any other factors that the board deems appropriate.
     (c)  No later than January 1, 2013, 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.  The board shall submit a report to the legislature no later

than 20 days prior to the start of the regular session of 2012 describing
its 
progress toward contracting with qualified providers of telephone-based
audible 
information access. 
     SECTION 4.  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 5.  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 6.  New statutory material is underscored.
     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
 
Report Title:
Telephone-based Audible Information Access Service; Department of Human 
Services; Appropriation
 
Description:
Directs the Disability and Communication Access Board to contract for a 
telephone-based service to provide access to timely print media.
Appropriates 
funds.  Effective July 1, 2050.  (SB893 HD1)
 
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for 
informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of
legislative 
intent.