Bill Text: HI SB893 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Telephone-based Audible Information Access Service; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-04-13 - (H) Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 747). [SB893 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB893-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
893 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§269‑ Telephone-based access to time-sensitive print media. (a) The public utilities commission 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 commission 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 the provider or providers that the commission determines to be best qualified. In reviewing the qualifications of the provider or providers, the commission shall consider the factors of cost, quality of services, experience, and any other factors that the commission deems appropriate.
(c) The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to administer a telephone-based audible information access service, including the establishment of a surcharge or other mechanism to collect customer contributions which shall be deposited into the universal service fund established pursuant to section 269-42 to recover the costs of establishing and maintaining 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. Section 269-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§269-41[]] Universal
service program; establishment; purpose; principles. There is established
the universal service program. The purpose of this program is to:
(1) Maintain affordable, just, and reasonable rates for basic residential telecommunications service, as defined by the commission;
(2) Assist customers located in the areas of the
State that have high costs [of] for essential telecommunications
service, low-income customers, and customers with disabilities[,] in
obtaining and maintaining access to a basic set of essential telecommunications
services as determined by the commission[. The]; provided that the
commission may expand or otherwise modify relevant programs[,] such as
the lifeline program [under] established pursuant to section
269-16.5;
(3) Ensure that consumers in all communities are
provided with access[,] at reasonably comparable rates[,] to all
telecommunications services [which are] used by a majority of consumers
located in metropolitan areas of the State[. The]; provided that the
commission shall provide for a reasonable transition period to support the
statewide deployment of these advanced telecommunications services[,]
including[,] but not limited to[, the use of] using strategic
community access points in public facilities such as education, library, and
health care facilities;
(4) Ensure that consumers are given the information
necessary to make informed choices among the alternative telecommunications
carriers and services; [and]
(5) Promote affordable access throughout the State to
enhanced government information and services, including education, health care,
public safety, and other government services[.]; and
(6) Provide access for visually or otherwise impaired individuals to civic and community information, including timely news media through telecommunications infrastructure.
The commission shall administer the universal
service program, including [the establishment of criteria by which] by
establishing criteria to effectuate the purposes of the program [are met]."
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the universal service fund established pursuant to section 269-42, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $ 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 to establish and maintain a telephone-based audible information access service.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the public utilities commission for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Telephone-based Audible Information Access Service; Public Utilities Commission; Appropriation
Description:
Directs the public utilities commission to establish and maintain a telephone-based audible information access service to provide access to daily newspapers and other periodicals in an audio medium; amends the purpose of the universal service program to include information access; makes appropriation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
