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Committee approves study group to draft universal-design standards, narrows membership and asks for hybrid meeting option
Summary
The committee reviewed a proposed study to develop universal-design standards, trimmed a proposed 27-member roster down to a smaller working group, and asked that meetings be permitted to occur remotely or hybrid to ensure accessibility.
The House General and Housing Committee reviewed draft language creating a study group to develop universal-design standards and discussed membership, meeting format and estimated staff support.
Committee members said the study is intended to bring expertise to an area where the state lacks a single body with dedicated knowledge. Draft language set the group’s membership at a broad set of stakeholders; committee members proposed trimming the roster and keeping a smaller, more workable panel while retaining the ability to solicit outside stakeholders for testimony.
Committee members asked that the statute explicitly allow remote or hybrid participation for the study group, citing accessibility and the subject matter’s focus on design and access. One member said explicitly: "I'd really like to, thank Maura Collins and Chad Simmons for their help on this... 1 thing that I think needs to be added is the ability to have remote or hybrid meetings." The committee chair noted that adding hybrid attendance would help make the group accessible.
The chair proposed a reduced membership list in which several organizational slots would be omitted from the initial advisory group; committee members said the smaller group could still solicit stakeholder input as needed. Members indicated they would ask counsel to redraft the membership list and would finalize the roster in a follow-up meeting. The committee also discussed a modest budget line for an initial study (the draft included $15,000) and whether members not otherwise compensated should receive stipends.
The committee did not take a final vote but indicated support for a smaller study group with hybrid meeting authority and requested a redrafted membership list from counsel.
