HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

84

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE COUNTIES TO PROVIDE BEACH ACCESS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN HAWAII.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii is known worldwide for its beaches and is committed to offering beach access to all visitors; and

 

     WHEREAS, beach access for persons with disabilities, including veterans, is extremely limited, especially for those with mobility limitations; and

 

     WHEREAS, Title 28 Code of Federal Regulations Part 35 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities; and

 

     WHEREAS, Title 28 Code of Federal Regulations Part 36 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and requires places of public accommodation to be designed, constructed, and altered to make them compliant; and

 

     WHEREAS, access to Hawaii's beaches is meant to be open for all residents and visitors and access to beaches will need to be improved so as not to discriminate against persons with a disability; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the counties that maintain beach transit corridors are requested to provide beach access to the shoreline for persons with disabilities at beaches that have a public restroom facility or are in an ocean management area; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in providing access to the shoreline at beaches, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the responsible counties consider the topography and physical characteristics of the beach transit corridor; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the responsible counties shall provide access no later than July 1, 2016; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Resources and the mayors of Hawaii County, Maui County, Kauai County, and the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

Beach Access; Reasonable Accommodation; Disabled Persons