Bill Text: HI HB867 | 2025 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 867

Bill Title: Relating To Recreational Facilities.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-11 - Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Thursday, 02-13-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. [HB867 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2025-HB867-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	867
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the lack of disability-compatible equipment in state parks and playgrounds and department of education playgrounds is having a negative impact on physically disabled youth in the State. This causes disparate utilization of recreational facilities and prevents opportunities for socialization. It is important to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Disabled community members have rights and it is important that these rights be recognized.

The purpose of this Act is to enhance the inclusion of physically disabled youth in important socialization activities by:

(1) Beginning on June 30, 2030, requiring all new playgrounds constructed in state parks and on public school grounds to have a minimal set of accessible recreational playground equipment; and

(2) Appropriating funds to the department of land and natural resources and department of education to purchase and install accessible recreational playground equipment.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

right to Playgrounds accessible to all youth.

§ -1 Short title. This chapter may be cited as the Right to PLAY Act.

§ -2 Definitions. As used in this chapter:

"Accessible recreational playground equipment" means recreational playground equipment that can be used by physically disabled youth.

"Department" means department of land and natural resources.

"Physically disabled" means having a physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

"Playground" means any public outdoor facility with apparatuses that are intended for the recreation of children, including but not limited to sliding boards, swing sets, and teeterboards.

"Public school" has the same meaning as in section 302A‑101.

"Youth" means individuals under the age of eighteen.

§ -3 Accessible recreational playground equipment installation; minimum requirements. (a) Beginning on June 30, 2030, every new playground constructed in a state park or on public school grounds shall include accessible recreational playground equipment as part of the playground apparatuses.

(b) All accessible recreational playground equipment installed pursuant to this section shall comply with the standards set forth in the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, or any successor or similar guidelines or standards governing accessibility standards for public facilities.

§ -4 Accessible recreational playground equipment special fund. (a) There is established an accessible recreational playground equipment special fund to be administered by the department, which shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund by the legislature.

(b) Moneys from the accessible recreational playground equipment special fund shall be expended by the department for the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of accessible recreational playground equipment.

(c) All unobligated, unencumbered, or unexpended funds remaining in the fund in excess of $ at the close of each fiscal year shall lapse to the general fund.

§ -5 Compliance with federal law. All accessible recreational playground equipment shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the accessible recreational playground equipment special fund established pursuant to section -4, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the accessible recreational playground equipment special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to purchase and install accessible recreational playground equipment in state parks.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the accessible recreational playground equipment special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be transferred to the department of education to purchase and install accessible recreational playground equipment on department of education public school grounds.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Accessible Recreational Playground Equipment; State Parks; Public School Playgrounds; Special Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Beginning on 6/30/2030, requires all new playgrounds constructed in state parks and on public school grounds to include accessible recreational playground equipment as part of the recreational apparatuses. Establishes the Accessible Recreational Playground Equipment Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.