Bill > SB786

This bill aims to improve government record accessibility for people with disabilities by requiring all government records to be available in disability-accessible formats starting January 1, 2027. The legislation mandates that the governor, chief justice, and mayors of each county designate at least one agency as a "converting agency" responsible for transforming government documents into formats that can be easily used by individuals with vision, hearing, or speech disabilities. Under the bill, when a person requests a government record in an accessible format, the initiating agency must retrieve the record and submit a conversion request to the designated converting agency, which will then accurately convert the document and return it in the requested format. The bill defines "disability-accessible format" as any communication method that provides equally effective access to information, including formats compatible with assistive technology. To support implementation, the bill appropriates funds for the executive branch, judiciary, and each county to procure necessary equipment, provide training, and establish half-time positions to manage the conversion process. The bill also allows converting agencies to consult with the Disability Communications Access Board and requires relevant government entities to adopt rules for processing these requests, including a five-business-day extension for converting documents to accessible formats.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=786&year=2026