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Committees approve study of health-care communication needs for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf‑blind
Summary
The House committees on Human Services and Health unanimously adopted HCR 67 and HR 61, asking the Disability and Communication Access Board to study communication needs in health-care settings and develop guidelines for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf‑blind. The resolution had four written supporters and one in-person DCAB representative who declined live testimony.
The House committees on Human Services and on Health met jointly on April 7, 2026, and voted to adopt HCR 67 and HR 61, which request that the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) study communication needs in health‑care settings for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf‑blind and propose guidelines to address them.
The chair introduced the joint resolutions and noted four written testimonies in support from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, the Disability and Communication Access Board, Local Independent Living Hawaii, and one individual. A DCAB representative appeared and said the board would stand on its written testimony rather than give extended oral remarks.
A committee member asked whether the resolutions duplicated other bills that might require referral to the House Committee on Finance (Ways and Means). The chair encouraged the committee to move the study forward as a backup in case similar measures do not progress through other committees.
The committee proceeded to decision‑making. The chair recommended passing HCR 67 and HR 61 unamended. Members present—led by the chair and vice chair and including Representatives Amato, Artsfield, Keohokalole, Takayama, Tokioka, Alcos, and Garcia—voted aye and the chair's recommendation was adopted. The Committee on Health recorded a similar unanimous recommendation with the committee’s listed members voting aye.
Because the resolutions request a study and guidelines rather than create a new statutory requirement or funding stream, no budget or implementation details were specified in the committee record. The committees adopted the recommendations and recessed; the resolutions proceed as committee referrals indicate.
