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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012_0320_MACFEA_AgendaPacket NIACFEA Mayor's Advisory Committee for Equal Access TUESDAY, March 20, 2012 12:00 p.m.or shortly thereafter Molikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/B 4444 Rice Street, Llihu'e, Hawaii 96766 MACFEA's mission is to assist the County of Kaua'i in its compliance with the Federal, State and County Laws mandating Equal Access NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA • Call to Order • Introduction of MACFEA members and staff • Approval of January 17,2012 Meeting Minutes • Business o Presentation on Complete Streets by Bev Brody from Get Fit Kaua'i • Discussion to change meeting time to accommodate paratransit riders (Deferred to 3/20/12) • Election of Vice-chair • Reports * DCAB report for February and March, 2012 and Legislative Update as of 2/21/12 * ADA Coordinator's report * Updates./Announcements • Next Meeting: o Tuesday, May 15, 2012 • Adjournment Cc: Marc Guyot, Deputy County Attorney If you need an alternate format or an auxiliary aid to participate, please contact Christina at 241-6203 (V/TTY) at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS and TESTIMONY Persons wishing to offer comments are encouraged to submit written testimony at least 24-hours prior to the meeting indicating: I. Your name and contact information, position/title and organization you are representing (if applicable); 2. The agenda item that you are providing comments on; and 3. Whether you will be testifying in person or submitting written comments only. 4. If vou are unable to submit your testimony at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, please provide 10 copies of your written testimony at the meeting. While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the meeting or improperly identified may be distributed to the members after the meeting is concluded. The length of time allocated to persons wishing to present verbal testimony may be limited at the discretion of the chairperson or presiding member. Send written testimony to. TMACFEA Attn, Barbara Davis Office of Boards and Commissions 4444 Rice Street, Suite 150 LThu'e, HI 96766 e-mai L bdavisCci,*auai.gov Phone: 241-4919 Fax.- 241-5127 F If you need an alternate format or an auxiliary aid to participate, please 1 contact Christina at 241-6203 (V/TTY) at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting. Meeting Minutes — DRAFT Mayor's Advisory Committee For Equal Access (MACFEA) Tuesday, January 17, 2012 Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2Al2B 4444 Rice Street, Uhu'e, HI 96766 Members present: Rita Manriquez— State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board (STBIAB), Linda Nuland-Ames— Director RSVP, COK Elderly Affairs, Roberta Eiben — Consumer; Rhoda Rojas — Hawai'i Center for Independent Living-Kaua'i (HCIL)-, Ana Valdez— Family Advocate; Dr. Lucy Miller— DCAB (Disability and Communication Access Board) Board member; Kathy English — Hawai'i Disability Rights Center, Sharry Glass—Advocate, Teacher/Trainer; Betty Bell — Kaua'i Federation for the Blind; El Doi — Kaua'i Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC), Elena Costales — Consumer, KCIL Volunteer Staff members also present: Christina Pilkington —ADA Coordinator; Marc Guyot— Deputy County Attorney; Barbara Davis — Support Clerk. Captioner: Darlene Pickard - Caption First. Members absent or excused: Dawn Cummings — Family Advocate-, Call to Order Chair Linda Nuland-Ames called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. with 11 members present. Approval of November 15, 2011 Minutes Action: Ms. Bell moved to approve the minutes of November 15, 2011, as circulated. Ms. Doi seconded the motion. Motion carried 11:0 Business o Discussion to change meeting time to accommodate paratransit riders Ms. Bell explained that it takes at least 45 minutes to get to LThu'e from Po'ipo using the paratransit bus; a trip which would take around 20 minutes by regular vehicle. Ms. Bell did not think that MACFEA could resolve the scheduling issue and stated that she was just grateful to have the paratransit bus. Chair Nuland-Ames thought even if they started the meeting an hour earlier, the members might still encounter a similar problem with having to leave the meeting early depending on how paratransit scheduled the drivers, Ms. Bell explained that the paratransit dispatcher ask where a person is going and what time they need to be there and then schedule the most convenient bus time. The more MACFEA-- January 1'7, 2012 Page 1 people scheduled for one bus, the more possibility of a delay in the arrival time at your destination. Ms. Bell said she would be willing to check with The Bus to see if there would be a more convenient time for the MACFEA meeting that would accommodate members from the South Shore. Ms. Pilkington was asked to check on accommodating the meeting time and passengers from other areas of the island and report back at the March meeting. Chair Nuland-Ames said another way to address the meeting time problem is to stay on point with the agenda and try to keep the meeting at one hour. Action: Ms. Glass moved to defer this item to the March meeting to gather more information on accommodating paratransit riders and their attendance at the meeting. Ms. Bell seconded the motion. Motion carried 11:0. Reports o DCAB reports for January, 2012 Dr. Lucy said the DCAB board meeting was scheduled for the following week and that she had nothing further to add to the report that was included in the meeting packet. o ADA Coordinator's report Ms. Pilkington attended a DCAB workshop where the presenter was from the John F Kennedy Center and spoke on access to programs and services for auditoriums whose business is conducted on Web sites for their ticketing. Ms. Glass shared that as a visually impaired person she has difficulty accessing a lot of Web sites and asked if there was any process for standardizing those sites such as creating a text based Web site. Ms. Pilkington said that a person can use the Bobby Check to see what is and is not accessible on a Web site. Ms. Pilkington asked Ms. Glass to check the County's Web site and let her know if she has any problems with accessing it. Ms. Pilkington also mentioned a lady who complained about paratransit services and wanted to share her information with the MACFEA. Chair Nuland-Ames made note that before the lady could speak with the Committee, the item needed to be placed on the agenda and she would have to contact the secretary a minimum of 10 days prior to the meeting in order to have her concern placed on the agenda. To comply with the Sunshine Law, testimony is limited to agenda items. MACFEA- January 17, 2012 Page 2 In response to Dr. Lucy's inquiry about captioning for streaming video, Ms. Pilkington said the laws are such now that Title III or private entities don't always have to caption what is being Web streamed, for some reason or another. Ms. Bell suggested it would be helpful to those with visual problems, if the various entities would also indicate where someone could call for assistance if they did have trouble accessing some of the sites. Ms. Glass said she hoped the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall (KWMCH) did not go online with ticket sales because that really limits people who can access them. Ms. Pilkington explained that most events at KWMCH are contracted by private entities who do their own advertising for whatever performance or activity it is. When they do sign a contract, they are trained in how to provide auxiliary notice for the events and the availability of our assistive listening devices. Other than that they are on their own. Ms. Pilkington said she would talk with the Deputy County Attorney about how to ensure tickets are sold at accessible sites and that Internet sites be accessible as well, if that venue is used. Action: Ms. Pilkington to report at the next meeting on ticket sales arrangement and or requirements at KWMCH. o Updates /Announcements Ms. Valdez reported that there was a good turnout at the recent meeting for people with neuromuscular diseases and they are looking forward to the next meeting on March 10. Ms. Bell wanted the minutes to reflect that the Federation for the Blind thanked Mayor Carvalho for participating in the White Cane Day activities at Kukui Grove Shopping Center. The Federation has also scheduled a clinical pharmacist to speak to the group and talk about the drugs they are taking with regard to their particular treatment. Ms. Doi reported that the Kauai Developmental Disabilities, in conjunction with Department of Education (DOE), will be having their first transition event on January 28 and hope to make this a twice yearly event. Ms. Manriquez reported on the ongoing study by Dr. Ross on concussions sustained by our youth as part of their school activities. The State Traumatic Brain Injury Association of Hawaii will be holding their conference on March 8 and 9. Ms. Eiben was happy to report that she got a part-time job with the Health Department shredding paper and will start at the end of the week. Dr. Miller said she would like to see more emphasis on training various County personnel who work with the public and asked how they could do that. Chair Nuland- Ames said Dr. Lucy could request the item be placed on the next agenda for discussion. MACFEA- January 17, 2012 Page 3 Ms. Pilkington said she was in the process of creating a calendar for upcoming training events but anyone could call her and ask what trainings were coming up. Ms. Rojas bid a fond Aloha to the MACFEA group announcing that she was moving to Las Vegas. Ms. English said the Hawai'i Disability Rights Center had hired another advocate who will be assisting on 0'ahu and Ms. English will continue to advocate for Kaua'i citizens. Chair Nuland-Ames reported that starting February 28 for 11 days, Tropic Care, through a grant from the Department of Defense, will be providing free complete health care to everyone on Kaua'i at three different locations on the island. More details will be forthcoming on February 1. Chair Nuland-Ames announced that the next MACFEA meeting is Tuesday, March 20, with Bev Brody of Get Fit Kaua'i speaking on the Complete Streets project. Adjournment Action: Ms. Bell moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:58 p.m. Ms. Doi seconded the motion. Motion carried 11:0 Respectfully submitted by: Barbara Davis, Staff Support Approved as circulated Approved as amended MACFEA- January 17, 2012 Page 4 Af 951) (of DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOA" 919 Ala Moana Boulevard,Room 101 -Honolulu,Hawaii 96814 Ph. (8081)586-8121 (V/TDD) •Fax(808)586-8129 February 2012 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 State Council on Developmental Disabilities State Independent Living Council Submitted by Francine Wai, Executive Director NOTICE: DCAB's temporary office relocation due to building renovations, which was scheduled for late February has been postponed by the contractor. We will keep you informed if and when we move. 1. Legislative Session 2012 The 2012 Legislature has convened and DCAB has started its active monitoring of bills that may impact people with disabilities. DCAB's Legislative Committee will be meeting weekly to review bills and to provide testimony, as appropriate. It's a bit early to predict anything, although we know that money is still very, very tight. DCAB is introducing the same two (2) bills as we did last year: 1) a bill to permit us to assess a nominal review fee for our blueprint review function under§103- 50, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and 2) a bill to increase the motor vehicle registration fee by $1 to fund the disabled person parking program and increase enforcement. In addition, DCAB is introducing another housekeeping bill to expand the use of our special fund to receive money from the above two (2) bills. DCAB's legislation is part of the Governor's package, so we are hoping for a `warm' reception. For information on the three (3) bills, contact Francine Wai at francine.wai&doh.hawaii..qo . Among the other bills that DCAB has already reviewed are several that relate to parking, including bills to expand the eligibility to persons who are blind/low vision or who have a mental disability; a bill to provide more authority to nurse practitioners to certify many health forms, including the disabled person parking application; a bill for emergency on-call assistance for persons with stranded motorized wheelchairs; a bill for a student athlete traumatic brain injury program; a bill concerning the composition of the State Rehabilitation Council, a bill relating to funding for a Comprehensive Deaf Center; a bill relating to the Newsline reading service for people who are blind or have low vision; a bill relating to insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders; a bill relating to insurance parity for mental health services, and bills to appropriate money for the Aging and Disability Resource Centers as well as other kupuna or caregiver services. All bills from the 2011 Legislature are also technically still alive. For more information, contact Debbie Jackson at debbra.iackson{ doh.hawaii.gov. 2. 2012 Disability Access Training — March 28-29, 2012 DCAB's Annual Design Training is scheduled for March 28-29, 2012 at the Ala Moana Hotel. Our trainers will be Mr. Paul Beatty and Ms. Earlene Sesker, Accessibility Specialists with the U.S. Access Board. This year's program highlights and features those areas common to most buildings, facilities, and sites. The morning of Day 1 will discuss how the new ADAAG applies to new and existing buildings. The afternoon will focus on routes, including site arrival points, accessible parking, passenger loading areas, routes, walking surfaces, curb ramps, handrails, elevators, doors and gates. The morning of Day 2 will focus on designing accessible bathrooms and toilet rooms. The deadline for the early registration fee of$110 (which includes two (2) continental breakfasts and lunch) is February 29, 2012. For more information, contact Mona Higa at mona.higadoh.hawaii.gov or Laurie Palenske at laurie.palenskeadoh.hawaii.go . 3, DCAB to Host Briefing on Public Rights of Way Guidelines — March 29, 2012 DCAB will be sponsoring a public informational briefing with Mr. Paul Beatty of the U.S. Access Board on March 29, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the proposed guidelines of the U.S. Access Board relating to design of public rights- of-way elements. These elements include curb ramps, sidewalks, on-street parking, audible pedestrian signals, crosswalks, and more. The briefing will be held at the Honolulu International Airport Conference Room on the seventh floor of the Interisland Terminal. This session is free. For more information, contact Mona Higa at mona.higa doh.hawaii.goov or Laurie Palenske at laurie.palenske&doh.hawaii.gov. 4. DCAB to Host Forum on Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment — March 29, 2012 The U.S. Access Board is responsible for issuing accessibility standards for free- standing medical diagnostic equipment (ie., scales, hospital beds, etc.) to ensure access and usability for persons with disabilities. The U.S. Access Board anticipates that a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be issued by the middle of March 2012. In anticipation of the announcement, and will hold a public forum with Ms. Earlene Sesker, Accessibility Specialist, outlining their proposed standards. The forum will be held at the Queen's Medical Center Conference Center on March 29, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. This session is free. For more information, contact Mona Higa at mona.higa(@_doh.hawaLggy or Laurie Palenske at laurie.,oalenske@dohhawaii.go , ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.iackson(a-)_doh.hawaii.go For the Facility Access E-Bulletin, contact laurie.t)alenskedoh.hawait.go For the Communication Access E-Bulletin, contact kristine.pagano(abdoh.hgAg Li.goy For the SPIN Bulletin, contact ian.tateishiadoh.hawaq.gov DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOA" 919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 101 • Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Ph,(808)586-8121 (V/TDID)•Fax(808)586-8129 March 2012 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 State Council on Developmental Disabilities State Independent Living Council Submitted by Francine Wai, Executive Director NOTE- This update does not contain any legislative information as a separate Legislative Update was sent to you in mid-February. 1. Proposed Accessibility Standards for Medical Diagnostic Equipment The U.S. Access Board has released for public comment proposed accessibility standards for medical diagnostic equipment. Developed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the proposed standards address access for people with disabilities to examination tables and chairs, weight scales, mammography equipment, and other equipment used for diagnostic purposes. The standards provide design criteria that will allow independent access to diagnostic equipment, including types that require transfer from wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Provisions address transfer surfaces, support rails, armrests, compatibility with lift devices, and other features to facilitate transfer. Equipment that does not require transfer from wheelchairs or that is used in a standing position is also addressed. The proposed rule includes a discussion of these requirements that highlight areas where additional information is sought. Health care providers are not required to comply with the standards until the Department of Justice or other federal agencies adopt the standards as requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other laws. The U.S. Access Board seeks feedback on the proposed rule with public comment deadline June 8, 2012. DCAB is reviewing the proposed standards and will be submitting comments in early June prior to the deadline. For more information, contact Curtis Motoyama at f--:urt�iis,-rmnotL�ova.-n�a,,ew-dao�hn-hna�,w�iai',�.�uv. And, as a reminder, DCAB is sponsoring a free public forum with the U.S. Access Board on March 29, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Queen's Medical Center to hear about the proposed rules. To register, contact Laurie Palenske at I aw-u r i e,Ra I e_rt s k ef,51 d o h,hi aw,a i L a ov- 2. Design for All Seminar- March 28-29, 2012 This is the last chance to register for DCAB's seminar, Design for All on key changes to the "new" Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) which go into effect on March 15, 2012. The seminar will feature two (2) Accessibility Specialists from the U.S. Access Board, Ms. Earlene Sesker and Mr. Paul Beatty. Check our web site, wwvv.hawaii,Cjoy/heath/dcab for a copy of the program. To register, contact Laurie Palenske at laurie,2alenske codoh.hawaii.qoy. C ......... . 3. Recent DCAB Technical Assistance and Training • DCAB staff completed statewide trainings for the staff of the Hawaii State Public Library System on Kauai, Maui, Hawaii, and Oahu on Title [I of the ADA. For more information on the trainings, contact Debbie Jackson at qebbra.La,--k_so,i@doh.hawaii.qov. • DCAB staff completed training for Department of Public Safety staff on the use of Ultratec (TTY) to better communicate with persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or unable to use the conventional phone. For more information on the training, contact Kristine Pagano at kristine.Daaano(@doh,hawai' • DCAB staff provided training to the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association on the upcoming changes in Title III that would affect their members. For more information on the training, contact either Francine Wai at francine,waira-)doh.haw-'-', ­, or Mona Higa at !mnpoEna_hhiaa ra),-daorh haw • DCAB conducted training for the State Department of Transportation on the ADA Amendments Act. For more information on the training, contact Charlotte Townsend at charlofte.townsendild)doh hawa11 ov. • DCAB staff served as a resource person at a meeting of the system-wide University of Hawaii disability coordinators to discuss changes in the ADA Title 11 rules, particularly in the areas of service animals and other power driven mobility devices. For more information on the training, contact Francine Wai at francine1wai0-doh.haw • Mahalo to Betty Siegel of The Kennedy Center for her wonderful, enthusiastic, and informative workshops on Accessible Seating and Ticketing and Access to Culture and the Arts in January. For more information on the trainings, contact Debbie Jackson at qdebbraLackson @a-__do_hAhavw,(aii..-_oy. j__ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to sign up for DCAB's four (4) E-Bulletins For the Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities E-News, contact debbr iackson®R doh.haw For the Facility Access E-Bulletin, contact laurie.Dalenske(sidoh,hawaii,-gov For the Communication Access E-Bulletin, contact !K�ristin a ano d�ohhaw � For the SPIN Bulletin, contact jqa.tateis1hi,,W-d-oh,hawa i .4 t989 Y DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD 919 Ala Moana Boulevard,Room 141 •Honolulu,Hawaii 96814 Ph. (808)586-8121 (V/TDD) •Fax(808)586-8129 DCAB LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (as of 2121112) The following is a list of bills that are being 'tracked' by DCAB and its Legislative Committee. We have listed any DCAB position below the description of the bill with a bullet point(•). If there is no DCAB position listed, it means that DCAB is just monitoring the bill at this time. This list does not include any resolutions. Friday, February 17, 2012, was first lateral. That means for a bill to remain alive, it must be referred to its final committee for a hearing. Bill status changes depending upon hearing schedules and actions taken on a particular bill. To find the current status of a bill, visit the Capitol web site at www.capitol.hawaii.gov and type in the bill number in the first box at the top left column and then click on "Go". The current bill status will be displayed. For more information, please contact Debbie Jackson, Legislative Coordinator, at debbra.iackson a doh.hawaii.goov or Francine Wai, Executive Director, at francine.waidoh.hawaii.gov. Parking for Persons with Disabilities 1-113 2552/SB 2814 — Relating to Funding for Parking for Disabled Persons Increases the state vehicle registration fee by $1, to be deposited into the Disability and Communication Access Board Special Fund to cover the costs of administering the parking program for persons with disabilities. • DCAB initiated and supports this bill. HB 2552 is moving. This bill is similar to HB 916 that passed out of Conference Committee last year but was re-committed at the end of the session due to a technical flaw in the bill. HB 1114— Relating to Parking for Disabled Persons Extends the definition of disabled person to include the mentally ill for the purposes of applying for and obtaining a disabled person's parking permit. 0 DCAB does not support this bill. It was not heard and should therefore be dead. HB 2104, HD1 — Relating to Parking for Disabled Persons Authorizes persons who are blind or visually impaired to apply for and obtain a disabled person's parking permit. • DCAB does not support this bill. This bill was heard and deferred. HB 2331 — Relating to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Authorizes Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to certify death certificates and applications for persons with disabilities to apply for and obtain a disabled person's parking permit. • DCAB does not support this bill. This bill was not heard. HB 2485/SB 2747 — Relating to Electric Vehicle Parking Clarifies requirements pertaining to parking spaces for electric vehicles. • DCAB has comments to ensure that the electric vehicle parking is accessible in design (except for signage) and does not displace accessible parking stalls. HB 2641 — Relating to Electric Vehicles Limits the length of free parking time available to electric vehicles parked on city, state or county governmental property. SB 1119 — Relating to Parking for Disabled Persons Allows qualified applicants to receive a second removable windshield placard upon request and verification of the applicant's disability. 0 DCAB does not support this bill. This bill was heard and deferred. SIB 2023 — Relating to Parking for the Disabled Provides a disabled parking permit holder the option to either hang the permit from the mirror or display it on the dashboard of the vehicle. DCAB does not feel that this bill is necessary. Placard holders without a mirror can already place the placard on the dashboard. Non-discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities/Civil Rig hts SB 2248/HB 2168— Relating to Public Safe#y Requires the Hawaii Paroling Authority to establish a medical release program for inmates who are permanently and totally disabled, terminally ill, or geriatric and pose no public safety risk. Request the Department of Public Safety to assess and refer inmates to the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Sets conditions for medical release. SB 2595 — Relating to Early Intervention Services Requires the Department of Health to develop and establish a family cost participation schedule of monthly cost participation fees for early intervention services. Authorizes the Department to offer early intervention services on a fee-for-service basis for children who are ineligible for services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. SB 2699/1-113 2437, HD1 — Relating to Elections Makes an appropriation of$1,725,000 for fiscal year 2011-2012 to fund the voting system contract for conducting of the 2012 elections. This appropriation will assist in keeping the state in compliance with the Help America Vote Act, Public Law 107-252 that mandates voting system requirements for accessibility of polling sites for voters with disabilities. DCAB supports this bill but defers to the Office of Elections on funding. SB 2828/HB 2566 — Relating to the Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council Revises the Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council membership and functions to be consistent with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 requirements regarding the State Interagency Coordinating Council. Service Animals or Other Animal-Related Bills HB 2749/SB 3032 — Relating to Allowing Dogs in Restaurants Permits a restaurant patron to bring a dog into a restaurant under certain conditions and at the discretion of the restaurant owner or manager. • DCAB offers comments that dogs other than service animals, if permitted in a restaurant, must adhere to the same behavior expectations as service animals and should not diminish the rights of persons with disabilities with service animals. Community-Based Services for Persons with Disabilities — Non-Appropriation SB 126, SD2, HD1 — Relating to Persons with Disabilities Authorizes the establishment of a joint task force on the Medicaid Buy-In Program for persons with disabilities who are working. The purpose of the task force is to study, assess, and accordingly revise the Medicaid Buy-in Program for working people with disabilities. • DCAB requests to be removed from the Task Force due to time constraints and priorities. SB 2821 — Relating to Mortality Review of Deaths of Persons with Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities Creates a new part in Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), giving the Department of Health (DOH) the authority to obtain all records for death review for persons with developmental or intellectual disabilities. SB 2833 — Relating to Employment Exemption for Domestic Services for Persons with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Amends the definition of"employment" in various sections of the HRS by clarifying the "domestic services" exclusion for services to persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities. SB 2910— Relating_to Special Education Requires the Department of Education (DOE) to ensure that sign language and cued speech services are available to children who are deaf or hard of hearing and to other children with a disability for whom the services would be appropriate. Requires the DOE to adopt rules relating to providing sign language and cued speech services for children with a disability. HB 2222 — Relating to a Silver Alert Creates and implements a silver alert program to alert the public of any missing senior citizen with a mental condition to be operated concurrently with the Maile Amber Alert program. HB 2405/SB 2631 — Relating to Health Insurance Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide health care coverage and benefits for autism spectrum disorders beginning after December 31, 2012. Community-Based Services for Persons with Disabilities —Appropriation SB 127, SD1, HDI — Relating to the Comprehensive Deaf Center Appropriates an unspecified amount of money for a grant to establish and operate a Comprehensive Deaf Center. • DCAB supports the intent of this bill and defers to the Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding funding. SB 2388 — Relating to Aging and Disability Resource Centers Establishes the Aging and Disability Resource Center program in the Executive Office on Aging (EOA). Appropriates $1,427,461 for fiscal year 2012-2013 to develop and expand the Aging and Disability Resource Center program statewide. • DCAB supports the intent of this bill and defers to EOA regarding funding. SB 2269, SD1 — Making an Appropriation to Best Buddies International Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to Best Buddies International for the expansion of Best Buddies Hawaii chapters on the islands of Maui and Oahu. • DCAB supports the intent of this bill and defers on the funding. SB 27781HB 2516 — Making an Appropriation for Early Childhood Health Appropriates funds to the DOH to support early childhood development. HB 17401SB 2435 — Relating to Information Access Appropriates $80,000 from the general funds to Vocational Rehabilitation to maintain a telephone-based audible information access service (Newsline). • DCAB supports the intent of this bill and defers to DHS regarding funding. HB 2843 — Relating to the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund Appropriates moneys from the emergency and budget reserve fund to DNS for child abuse and neglect social services. Effective July 1, 2012. Iniury Prevention HB 2315 — Relating to Traumatic Brain Injury Requires the DOE to implement a student athlete traumatic brain injury program. • DCAB supports this bill. HB 2276— Relating to Skateboards Requires any person under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard. Establishes a fine. HB 2277 — Relating to All-Terrain Vehicles Prohibits minors from using all-terrain vehicles. Prohibits use of all-terrain vehicles on public roadways. Prohibits passengers from riding on all-terrain vehicles. Prohibits the use of all-terrain vehicles between sunset and sunrise. Prohibits the use of all-terrain vehicles without a helmet. Building Code/Design HB 2358, HD1 — Relating to the Building Code Establishes the Hawaii State Building Code, Hawaii State Building Code Council, and Natural Disaster Preparedness Commission. Effective July 1, 2012. • DCAB offers comments on the bill. HB 2553, HD1/SB 2815— Relating to Building Design for Persons with Disabilities Requires DCAB to charge fees to defray expenses of reviewing construction plans to ensure compliance with law, establishes a fee schedule to be effective January 1, 2013, and requires the fees to be deposited into the DCAB special fund. • DCAB initiated and supports this bill. HB 2553, HIDI is moving. This bill is similar to SB 150 from last year that was left in conference committee. SB 2696— Relating to the State Building Code Abolishes the State Building Code Council, provides for a transition from the current to the new proposed law, and requires the counties to adopt building codes with their revisions or opt out of adoption. • DCAB offers comment on the need for standardization of the code for all counties. Public Hearings and Electronic Information • DCAB is commenting on all bills relating to posting information on the web or by print format to ensure that there is equal access to persons with disabilities in alternate format. HB 2404/SB 2520 — Relating to Public Information Requires all government agencies, boards, commissions, and committees to post the minutes online. HB 2456— Relating to Publication of Notices Allows government agencies to publish notices electronically or online on official government websites in lieu of publication in a newspaper or other written publication. SB 2219— Relating to Publication of Notice Authorizes government agencies to publish notices electronically or online on the state or county official government websites in lieu of publication in a newspaper or other written publication. SB 2233 — Relating to Electronic Information Requires government agencies to disseminate publications of notice electronically; provides the option of additional supplemental notice in a daily or weekly publication of statewide circulation or in a daily or weekly publication in the affected county, as appropriate; appropriates funds for the operational expenses of the Office of Information Management Technology; electronic notice requirement effective January 1, 2013. SB 2234 — Relating to Electronic Information Eliminates the requirement to post hard-copy notices of public meetings with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; requires all government agencies, boards, commissions, and committees to post electronic copies of their agendas, minutes, and related documents online and transmit electronic copies, rather than hard copies, of meeting notices to persons who request notification. SB 2737/HB 2475 — Relating to Public Meetings Increases the ability of members of boards and commissions subject to the "Sunshine Law," Part I of Chapter 92, HRS, to attend meetings by allowing boards to conduct board meetings at multiple locations by audio only interactive forms of conference technology, including teleconferencing, videoconferencing, and voice over Internet protocol. Other HB 1611 — Relating to the Sunshine Law Allows board members to attend public gatherings, community events, professional association, conferences and professional development seminars. Allows notice of board meetings to be filed at least four calendar days before the meeting and notice of board meetings by e-mail. • DCAB supports this bill. HB 2132 — Relating to Human Services Establishes for the State Rehabilitation Council that at least ten members constitutes a quorum to do business and a concurrence of at least a majority of quorum is necessary to validate Council action. Act is repealed on June 30, 2014. • DCAB does not support this bill. The bill did not have a hearing and thus is dead. HB 2551/SB 2813— Relating to the Disability and Communication Access Board Special Fund Amends the purpose of the DCAB Special Fund to allow for the receipt of various fees, including fees from the credentialing of interpreters. • DCAB initiated and supports this bill. SB 2813 is moving. HB 2626— Relating to Safe Routes to School Permanently establishes the Safe Routes to School Program within the Department of Transportation. Establishes a Safe Routes to School Special Fund. Assess a surcharge of$25 for violations and deposits these surcharges into the Safe Routes to School Special Fund. Deposits federal Safe Routes to School Program moneys into the Safe Routes to School Special Fund. Effective July 1, 2012. SB 2811 — Relating to Qualified Community Rehabilitation Pro-grams Repeals the requirement for the Department of Human Resources Development to submit annual reports to the Legislature regarding expenditures of qualified rehabilitation programs.