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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011_0315_Agenda_MtgPacket MACFEA Mayor's Advisory Committee for Equal Access TUESDAY, Mare 15, 2011 12:00 pm MO'IKEHA MEETING ROOM 2A&B 4444 Rice Street, Lihue, Hawaii 96766 MACFEA'S MISSION IS TO ASSIST THE COUNTY OF KAUAI IN ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY LAWS MANDATING EQUAL ACCESS MEETING AGENDA • Roll Call, Introductions • Approval of Agenda • Approval of January 18, 2011 Minutes • Business • Goals and Objectives for 2011/12 Fiscal Year (deferred 1/18/11) • Crosswalk enhancement in Koloa • Kamalani Park renovations / Lydgate Beach Park pavilion access • Reports • County of Kauai ADA Coordinator's report • DCAB report for February, 2011 and March, 2011 — Dr. Lucy o Members' reports • Announcements • Next MACFEA meeting: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 • Adjournment Cc: Marc Guyot, Deputy County Attorney Anyone needing assistance, auxiliary aides or alternate format of materials,please contact Christina at 241-6203(V/TTY) five(5)working days before the meeting date posted above. Meeting Minutes — DRAFT Mayor's Advisory Committee For Equal Access (MACFEA) Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Mo'ikeha Meeting Room 2A & 213 4444 Rice Street, Uhue, Hl 96766 Members present: Rita Manriquez — State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board (STBIAB); Dr. Lucy Miller — DCAB (Disability and Communication Access Board) Board member; Betty Bell (12:14 pm) — Kaua'i Federation for the Blind; Linda Nuland-Ames — Director RSVP, Elderly Affairs; El Doi — Kaua'i Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC); Roberta Eiben — Consumer; Kathy English — Hawai'i Disability Rights Center; Elena Costales — Consumer, KCIL Volunteer; Laura Burman (12:37 pm), Director Hawai'i Red Cross. Staff members also present: Christiana Pilkington — ADA Coordinator; Marc Guyot — Deputy County Attorney; Barbara Davis — Staff Secretary; Paula Morikami — Boards & Commissions Administrative Aide. Captioner: Heather Theriaque - Caption First. Members absent or excused: Sharry Glass — Advocate, Teacher/Trainer; Rhoda Rojas — Hawai'i Center for Independent Living-Kauai (HCIL), Ana Valdez — Family Advocate; Dawn Cummings— Family Advocate Guests: Celia Mahikoa, Kaleo Carvalho and Jeannie "Missy" Caminos — County Transportation Agency Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair El Doi at 12:10 pm in the Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A & 2B at 4444 Rice Street in Uhue with 7 members present; the Stn member joined the meeting prior to the approval of the minutes. Approval of Agenda Dr. Lucy moved to approve the agenda as circulated. Ms. English seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0 Approval of November 16, 2010 Minutes Ms. Eiben moved to approve the minutes as circulated. Ms. Bell seconded the motion. Motion carried 8:0 MACFEA Page 1 Business Discussion with the Kaua'i Transportation Agency regarding transportation initiatives Celia Mahikoa, the new Executive on Transportation, Kaleo Carvalho, the Operations Manager, and Jeanie "Missy" Caminos the new departmental transportation coordinator for the Kauai Bus introduced themselves to the MACFEA members. A question and answer format followed with Chair Doi presenting questions that had been generated from the members. Q: Has there been any discussion regarding free bus passes for adults who have disabilities and who are on a fixed income?" For instance a person with developmental disabilities receives only $50 a month allowance and the bus pass is $20 making it hard to afford hygiene products or entertainment on the remaining $30 a month. Would the transportation office consider lowering or waiving the bus pass fee for riders on fixed incomes? A: While that question has come up before, it would take a legislative change in the bus fare ordinance to restructure the fare rates and to administratively set up a system to manage that additional feature but it is definitely something that the Transportation Agency would consider if given the proper direction. Asked how someone would show they were on a fixed income, Chair Doi explained that for a client with DD (Developmental Disabilities) a case manager initiates the application for a bus pass which has to be renewed annually. Mr. Carvalho clarified that bus passes were $25 a month. Also, how would you qualify people on a fixed income or Social Security disability and what proof would be needed of a disability without being discriminatory if that person is outside the assistance of the DD Council. The County of KauaTs Elderly Affairs has an assisted transit program for those citizens who are over 60; it is not a free program but rather on a donation basis for those who qualify. If Kaua'i should implement a transit program for people on a fixed income or Social Security disability, the monies would have to be supplemented from the County's general fund so the County's taxpayers would be carrying the base for that kind of a program. Q: As the baby boomers get older, paratransit ridership will undoubtedly increase. Is Transportation preparing for an increase in paratransit ridership? Are there any special programs for seniors now and how do they work? A: Paratransit ridership is basically demand driven so as the demand grows for this service, Transportation will do everything in its power to provide the increase in service as the needs are presented. The seniors programs have KQpuna Care which is run through the Office of Elderly Affairs and various other senior center programs whom we partner with to do transports on a referral basis. There is no charge to the senior at the time they get on the bus but they do make a donation at the end of the month. MACFEA Page 2 Q: What are the eligibility criteria for paratransit? A: Basically if you are 60 years or older, you qualify for door-to-door service but we have to do a location assessment zone to make sure the bus can get to the home. Applications are available through the Transportation Agency Office as well as on the County's Website which asks for basic information such as name, age, phone number, address, location, emergency contact and if a mobility aid or device is required. Clients less than 60 years of age that fall under the ADA portion need to qualify by getting a physician or professional verification. Another way to qualify is through Elderly Affairs' KGpuna Care or other agency participants such as Easter Seals. Q: Why is the cost of a paratransit bus so much more expensive to run than the cost of a fixed route run? A: The paratransit service requires registration of the individual who will be using it. Also the Agency has to have schedulers on staff to take phone calls and make the reservations and there is a software program that manages the reservation system that we pay an annual maintenance fee for. While a fixed route system picks up and drops off at specific bus stops, the paratransit is door-to-door and the amount of time it takes the drivers to provide the two different services is quite drastically different as is fuel consumption and other things that may be involved. Asked if there is a break-even point for paratransit, it was noted that the cost of one trip typically averages about $20 per trip and would probably not break-even which is why it is a subsidized system. Q: We hear about the need for bus shelters often and we know they must be on an accessible route and comply with ADA so they can be used by everyone in the public. What is the plan for bus shelters on Kauai and are there priority locations for new accessible bus stops? A: This ties in to Mayor Carvalho's inaugural speech; in the Holo Holo 2020 plan we are looking to get shelters at every stop and to have every stop be completely ADA compliant by 2020. Currently we are working with a contractor on getting platforms at each stop; we know there are challenges with that and we will be working to do our best to make each stop completely compliant and very usable for everyone on Kaua'i. Is there was any way MACFEA could work with Transportation to prioritize a couple of bus stops that prove to be really challenging each year and bring them into compliance quicker? Attorney Guyot pointed out that there are competing interests as to what would be a priority but thought that with the federal funds that come into the Transportation Department there would be a certain mandate that would allow for expediting two or three locations a year that had been identified in the transition plan. Q: How long does it take to make one shelter? A: Some of the shelters are put up through contractors or service organizations such as the Lions Clubs who in many instances design, build and put the shelter up. When the County is blessed to have federal money to provide the materials for a shelter this can MACFEA Page 3 help make the teaming up happen more quickly. Part of KauaTs challenge is with its rural setting and the attempt to make everything connected; unfortunately the money and the needs don't meet up all the time. Under ADA if there is not an existing sidewalk, one does not have to be put in. However if a bus pad is put in, people need a way on and off the bus pad so there needs to be an accessible route that feeds that bus stop and who pays for that? Transportation pays for the bus stop, the shelter and the accessible pad to deploy on; the disconnect is who pays for connecting that pad to the area it serves? Q: Is there a plan other than our transition plan? A: The County is looking at initiating a contract with a consultant or planner who will assist us with developing the multimodal land transportation plan for the island. There will be community meeting held in five general areas on the island to get community input on priorities that is more specific to each area and yet can be tied together for all of Kaua'i. We will also be taking all of the compliance requirements into consideration. Q: Why do paratransit riders with permanent qualifying disabilities have to reapply for paratransit services? If you have a permanent disability, why can't you have permanent paratransit status? A: ADA paratransit riders need only to recertify themselves prior to their expiration date to verify if there have been any changes in their rider status such as a change in their mobility status, do they require an aide to ride with them or was there a change with their phone number. They do not need to reapply for paratransit services, only recertify their needs. Q: What happens to those people whose paratransit certification has expired? A: Recertification is sent out in the mail. If they don't respond, Transportation tries to contact the rider but once it hits a certain time beyond the expiration date, the rider will have to reapply. Depending on the situation, Transportation would try not to refuse service to the rider but would let them know they have to either reapply or recertify for paratransit services. Q: Will Transportation provide assistance to people filling out an application or recertification if they are unable to complete the process on their own? A: Yes. Someone from the staff will get on the phone with the rider and go through all the questions on the application and complete the answers. MACFEA Page 4 Q: Would an increase in bus shelters assist in a decrease for paratransit ridership when people have a place to sit, rest and are protected from the sun or rain while they wait? A. It is not known if it would have a large impact because it is hard to beat door-to-door service but increasing the number of shelters should encourage overall use of the fixed- route systems quite a bit more. Ms. Pilkington shared that at a conference a couple of years ago they said that shelters cut paratransit ridership in half for those that did not always require door-to-door service because people could operate with more flexibility without having to plan their lives 24-hours in advance or worry about the weather. Q: How can dispatch make it easier with scheduling for paratransit riders since the rider is required to call 24-hours in advance and often have to leave meetings or appointments earlier than they should to catch the bus? A: It is not dispatch, it is the reservation system. All paratransit drivers have a scheduled start and end time (an 8-hour shift) and as many people as possible are accommodated within the time frame that the particular driver has. Another consideration is where the rider lives and the size of the vehicle required to make that accommodation whether it is a 20-seater, a van or a minivan. We try as much as possible to adjust our time but the client also needs to try to adjust as well. Q: For some people, it's hard to understand the bus schedule. Who can a person go to if they are intellectually disabled to better understand how to interpret bus schedules; are the schedules available in large print or Braille? Are the schedules accessible on the website? A: Schedules are available on the website and people are welcome to call the Transportation Office to ask specific questions about the schedule. We are always looking for ways to make it easier to read but it is rather difficult when you are dealing with so many times and so many locations. We would be more than happy to guide people through the schedules. Q: Do the drivers and dispatchers receive training on how to interact with people who have disabilities and how often do they receive training? What is the training, who does the training and when was the last training they received? A: The dispatchers and drivers do receive training on how to interact with people who have disabilities and they are given a handbook. When drivers initially start they are given training on dealing one-on-one with persons with disabilities and instructed on how to securely strap wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility aids in the vehicle so that people are transported safely; they also go through a refresher course at least once a year. We also have training on DVD programs which the dispatchers go through once a year as well. Ms. Pilkington said that she along with some of the MACFEA members such as Dr. Lucy and Sharry Glass also offer great awareness trainings and would be happy to extend their services to the Transportation Agency if they should want them. MACFEA Page 5 Q: Are there plans for the current bus schedule to increase in frequency on some routes and if so, when and which routes? A: The priority is not so much in frequency as in later schedules as well as Sunday service. If demand dictates it, we will look at increasing frequency at certain high- demand times during the day to encourage the use of service. Q: When will the Sunday service start? A: If approved by the County Council, the implementation date could be the middle of February. Q: Is the County planning for the buses to run later into the evening and if so, when and how late? A: We are looking at just about every route right now. They would leave Uhu'e at 9:30 pm heading to Kekaha and Hanalei and this would get the buses back around midnight which means the dispatchers would also need to stay on until midnight. Paratransit will still be on demand as needed but if somebody calls and needs a later pickup we can probably schedule that as well. If a rider calls the office in advance we may also be able to accommodate them on an out-of-service bus either on their first run of a morning or the last run of an evening. Q: When a person calls to make a paratransit reservation for a Saturday why am I not able to get one? A: There are not as many paratransit buses on Saturday as there are Monday through Friday and the drivers finish work at 7:00 pm in the evening which means you would have to adjust your time schedule. For instance, you would not be able to go to a movie in the evening. Q: What are the bus schedules for holidays? A: The bus runs on a holiday schedule, which is the same as the Saturday schedule, for every holiday except Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Q: Sometimes we hear about a bad experience with a bus driver but more often we hear about how great the bus drivers are and how lucky we are to have such a wonderful bus system. Is there a way for riders to report on good experiences? Can a rider share a bad experience without filing a formal complaint? A: The same procedure would apply whether you are making a complaint or a compliment. If a person calls in to complain or compliment a driver for whatever reason, we like to get a name and phone number so we can follow up with that person. When the dispatchers take the information they give it to the office manager and if it is a compliment, a letter is sent to the employee with a copy to the Mayor. Complaints are MACFEA Page 6 handled in the same manner but the office manager does a check with the driver to see what happened and what went wrong and we also get back to the client with our findings. People do not have to leave their name and phone number but it helps us to follow up with them to let them know the process of how we handled the situation. Q: Does Transportation have a suggestion box so people can make suggestions anonymously? A: No, there is no actual suggestion box. Sometime people have written little notes, folded them up and dropped them in the fare boxes when they want to remain anonymous. There is also the "Aloha Begins with Me" card (available in all County locations including on each bus) where people can write their comments and it goes back to the Mayor's Office for follow up. Q: It is easy to say to call Transportation and talk in private about a complaint but it doesn't work out that way. Being a small island, the drivers may guess who the complainant is or they may be related in some way to the person or they may just not want issues with their family. Now do you suggest a person talk to someone in Transportation? A: Yes, we may know who we are speaking with but we keep it confidential. Through deduction, a driver might figure it out but the driver is not allowed to retaliate; if there is any retaliation they are disciplined. Q: Do the drivers get drug tested and how often? A: There is a random drug test system in place where Oahu pulls the numbers, sends it to us and we have to order the drug test. All new employees always go through a drug test. Dispatchers and mechanics also have to be drug and alcohol tested because they work in sensitive positions as well. Q: If a rider feels or maybe smells something on a driver, could they contact someone and then would that person be tested? A: It would be good to call it in immediately and let us know what you suspected so we can follow up with the employee at that time. To report it on another day would be too late and we would not be able to follow up. o Goals and Objectives for 2011112 Fiscal Year Action- Ms. Pilkington suggested deferring Goals and Objectives to the March meeting; this item was placed on the agenda to allow committee members to bring up a specific goal or objective they might want to work on during the year. MACFEA Page 7 o Reminder: Applications for appointment to the MACFEA are due to the Office of Boards and Commissions Most MACFEA committee members' applications have been received in the Office of Boards and Commissions. Those few that are still outstanding should be completed and sent in as soon as possible. Reports c. County of Kaua'i ADA Coordinators report Ms. Pilkington reminded the MACFEA members about the training on Thursday (January 20th) presented by Mona Higa from the Facility Access Unit of DCAB regarding the new access guidelines. The County's Public Works will receive training in the morning and engineers and architects from the private sector will go through the training in the afternoon. MACFEA members are welcome to attend either session. o DCAB report for January 2011 — Dr. Lucy Dr. Lucy said that most of what DCAB is doing right now is refining guidelines and rules to show all of the changes in technology since everything was first put into place 20 years ago. 20 years ago, everyone was fighting to get TTY's but no one uses TTY anymore. Now it is computers, pagers, BlackBerries and iPod's and DCAB needs to update their guidelines and rules to bring all of that into alignment. Dr. Lucy also said the Communication Access Conference is scheduled in March and will focus on how to empower individuals in the community to discuss what is needed to be more responsive to the community. MACFEA lost quorum at 1:30 pm ending the meeting without further discussion of business. Next MACFEA meeting: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 Respectfully submitted by: Barbara Davis, Staff Support Approved as is Approved with amendments. MACFEA Page 8 DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD 919 Ala Moana Boulevard,Room 101 -Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Ph. (808)586-8121 (V,ITDD)-Fax(808) 586-8129 February 2011 Report from the Disability and Communication Access Board for City and County of Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Big Island Mayors Committees Maui, Kauai, and Big Island Developmental Disabilities Committees Disability Rights Hawaii Big Island Submitted by Francine Wai, Executive Director 1 Travelers Tips to Hawaii: DCAB has updated its Travelers Tips to all islands. The Oahu guide was updated in 2010 and now all three (3) neighbor island guides (Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island) have been updated. The updated Oahu guide is posted on the DCAB web site under the section on "Visitor Information"; the updated neighbor island guides will be posted on the web site shortly. For more information, please contact Judy Paik at judy.paik(a-)-doh.hawaii.qov. 2. City and County Ordinance on the Leash Law and Service Animals: DCAB provided technical assistance and support to the City and County of Honolulu to amend its ordinance to conform to the new provisions of the ADA. The leash law, applicable to all animals, has requirements that specify that all dog owners must comply with to maintain their dogs on a leash while in places open to the public. The new law states that a service dog must be under the control of its handier and shall have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere either the service dog's safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service dog shall be otherwise under the handlers control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means). For more information, contact Debbie Jackson at debbra.iackson@doh.hawaii.gov. 3. State Legislation related to Service Animals: DCAB is supporting, with amendments, changes to state legislation that will mirror the ADA in places of public accommodations and the Fair Housing Act in housing. Because the issue of service animals is very unclear and difficult for many establishments, DCAB believes that consistency with federal law will help ensure compliance. DCAB held a focus group with service dog users to receive feedback and support on its endeavors. The bills that we are following are Senate Bill 892/House Bill 601 (companion bills) and Senate Bill 1302/House Bill 1075 (companion bills). If you would like to receive alerts on these bills, please contact Debbie Jackson at debbra,iackson(a-)-doh.hawaii.gov. 4. State Legislation related to Building Design: DCAB is supporting legislation that would give it the authority to charge a review fee to support the document reviews conducted under Hawaii Revised Statutes §103-50. This is a bill that is similar to the one passed by the Legislature last year but vetoed by Governor Lingle. This bill would allow DCAB's Facility Access Unit to be self sufficient, not dependent upon general fund appropriations. There are five (5) similar bills introduced — Senate Bill 150/House Bill 487 (companion bills), House Bill 756, Senate Bill 1299/House Bill 1072 (companion bills). DCAB prefers the language in Senate Bill 1299/House Bill 1072. If you would like to receive alerts on these bills and can offer supportive testimony, please contact Curtis Motoyama at curtis.motoyama(a-)-doh.hawaii.go . 5. State Legislation related to Parking for Persons with Disabilities: DCAB is supporting legislation that would establish a revenue stream for the parking program for persons with disabilities from a $1 increase in the motor vehicle registration fee placed into a special fund. The bills are Senate Bill 593/House Bill 916 (companion bills). These bills would allow the parking program to be self sufficient, not dependent upon general fund appropriations. The increased revenues will also allow us to expand enforcement efforts. If you are a user of the program, we would appreciate your support in providing testimony. Please contact Debbie Jackson at debbra.iackson(-G).doh.hawaii.go if you are able to provide assistance. 6. DON'T FORGET DCAB's THREE UPCOMING CONFERENCES... Communication Access Conference (March 16, 2011): DCAB, the Pacific ADA Center, and Sprint Relay Hawaii are co-sponsors of a conference titled The Power and Influence of Accessible Communication at the Japanese Cultural Center. The conference will have presentations on the new provisions in communication access in the ADA, the Twenty First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, Captioning in Movie Theaters, U.S. Library of Congress, and Advocacy in the Workplace. Exhibits on the latest communication technology will be available throughout the conference day. The cost is $50, including continental breakfast and lunch. Limited scholarships are available. For more information, contact Kristine Pagano at kristine.paganodoh.hawaii.gov. 2010 Design Standards (March 23-24, 2011): DCAB and the Pacific ADA Center are sponsoring a day and a half, twelve (12) hour training on the "new ADAAG" with Dave Yanchulis, Director of Research at the U.S. Access Board. The twelve (12) hour training will cover not only the changes to existing elements in ADAAG but also new provisions such as housing and recreation facilities. The training is geared to individuals already familiar with the existing ADAAG, particularly design professionals, but is open to all. The conference fee is $100 and will cover continental breakfast on both days and lunch on the first day. For more information, contact Laurie Palenske at laurie.palenske@doh.hawaii.go . Special Parent Information Network (SPIN) Conference (April 16, 2011): SPIN announces their 25th annual conference, Red, White & Blue: SPIN's Tribute to You, scheduled at the University of Hawaii's Campus Center. For more conference information, contact either Susan Rocco at susan.rocco@doh.hawaii.gov or Jan Tateishi at ian.tateishi ,doh.hawaii.go . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to sign up for DCAB's three (3) E-bulletins For the Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities E-News, contact debbra.iackson@doh.hawaii.gov. For the Facility Access E-Bulletin, contact o),doh.hawaii.gov. For the Communication Access E-Bulletin, contact kristine.pagano@doh.hawaii.gov. DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD 919 Ala Moana Boulevard,Room 101 •Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Ph, (808) 586-8121 (V/TDD) •Fax (808)586-8129 March 2011 Report from the Disability and Communication Access Board for City and County of Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Big Island Mayors Committees Maui, Kauai, and Big Island Developmental Disabilities Committees Disability Rights Hawaii Big Island Submitted by Francine Wai, Executive Director 1. DON'T FORGET DCAB'S THREE UPCOMING CONFERENCES... Communication Access Conference (March 16, 2011): DCAB, the Pacific ADA Center, and Sprint Relay Hawaii are co-sponsors of a conference titled The Power and Influence of Accessible Communication at the Japanese Cultural Center. The conference will have presentations on the new provisions in communication access in the ADA, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, Captioning in Movie Theaters, U.S. Library of Congress, and Advocacy in the Workplace. Exhibits on the latest communication technology will be available throughout the conference day. The cost is $50, including continental breakfast and lunch. Limited scholarships and neighbor island airfares are still available. For more information, contact Kristine Pagano at kristine.pagano(o)_doh.hawaii.go . 2010 Design Standards (March 23-24, 2011): DCAB and the Pacific ADA Center are sponsoring a day and a half, twelve (12) hour training on the "new ADAAG" with Dave Yanchulis, Director of Research at the U.S. Access Board. The twelve (12) hour training will cover the changes to existing elements in ADAAG as well as new provisions for housing and recreation facilities. The training is geared to individuals already very familiar with the existing ADAAG, particularly design professionals, but is open to all. The conference fee is $100 and will cover continental breakfast on both days and lunch on the first day. For more information, contact Laurie Palenske at laurie.palenske(-a)doh.hawaii.gov. Special Parent Information Network (SPIN) Conference (April 16, 2011): SPIN announces their 25th annual conference, Red, White & Blue: SPIN's Tribute to You, scheduled at the University of Hawaii's Campus Center. For more conference information, contact Susan Rocco at Isusan.rocco(c_doh.hawaii.gov or Jan Tateishi at ian.tateishiadoh.hawaii..qov. 2. County Legislation on Electric Personal Assistance Mobility Devices: The City and County of Honolulu is proposing Bill 13, which attempts to regulate the proliferation of various mobility devices on sidewalks. This bill is in response to the increased use of various devices such as Segways on sidewalks by tourists and others without concern for the safety of pedestrians. Given the new Department of Justice rules on personal assistance devices and the need for government entities to make reasonable modification for people with disabilities. DCAB expressed concern that the bill not be more stringent than what is permitted under the ADA. The direction taken by the City and County of Honolulu may affect other counties. If you would like more information, please contact Debbie Jackson at debbra.iackson(o-),doh.hawati.go . 3. State Legislation related to Building Access Document Reviews: DCAB is supporting legislation that would give it the authority to charge a review fee to support the document reviews conducted under §103-50, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The bills are Senate Bill 150 and House Bill 756. These bills would provide stability to DCAB and ensure that its function of reviewing all state and county construction projects continue. If you would like to receive alerts on these bills and can offer supportive testimony, please contact Curtis Motoyama at curtis.motoyama((Ddoh.hawaii.go . 4. State Legislation related to Parking for Persons with Disabilities: DCAB is supporting legislation that would establish a revenue stream for the parking program for persons with disabilities from a $1 increase in the motor vehicle registration fee placed into a special fund. The bill is House Bill 916. This bill would allow the parking program to be self sufficient, not dependent upon general fund appropriations. The increased revenues will also allow us to expand enforcement efforts. If you are a user of the program, we would appreciate your support in providing testimony. Please contact Debbie Jackson at debbra.iacksonp_doh.hawaii.gov if you can provide assistance. 5. State Legislation related to Service Animals: DCAB is working on legislation that would clarify state law to be consistent with federal law as it relates to service animals. We are attempting to change obsolete provisions relating to licensing, in light of the new ADA rules issued by the Department of Justice. The bill that we is following are Senate Bill 892. For more information, please contact Debbie Jackson at debbra.iackson(a-)doh.hawaii.ciov. 6. Other Disability-Related Legislation: A few bills of interest that DCAB did not initiate but are following that are still alive include: Senate Bill 9621House Bill 761 changes references in the Hawaii Revised Statutes from "Mental Retardation" to "Intellectual Disability" and Senate Bill 127, SDI Relating to the Comprehensive Deaf Center. Please contact Debbie Jackson at debbra.jacksondoh.hawaii.gov for more information. 7. DCAB Training: With the new ADA rules taking effect March 15, 2011, DCAB has been very busy conducting training sessions for various agencies and businesses. Among the sessions that we have conducted are: Aloha Stadium (ticketing and other new Title 11 provisions), Hawaii Community Development Authority (new Title 11 rules), City and County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation staff(service animals and other new Title 11 rules), Department of Land and Natural Resources (Title 11), and St. Francis West Hospital (service animals). If you would like training, please feel free to contact our office. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to sign up for DCAB's four(4) E-bulletins For the Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities E-News, contact debbra.iacksona-doh.hawaii..qov. For the Facility Access E-Bulletin, contact laurie.palenske{ doh.hawaii.gov. For the Communication Access E-Bulletin, contact kristine,pagano doh.hawaiiAov. For the SPIN Bulletin, contact ian.tateishi(a-)doh.hawaii.gov.