Committee passes resolution to engage disability community on 9‑1‑1 access with proposed SD1 amendments

The Senate Government Operations committee, in a joint hearing with Public Safety & Military Affairs, took up SCR 62 (proposed SD1), a resolution requesting the Hawaii 9‑1‑1 board to establish or utilize an appropriate working group to engage the disability community on continuing access issues in the state's emergency and 9‑1‑1 response system.

Dainty Bartolos, executive director of the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, testified in strong support and said the council has been working with the 9‑1‑1 board and will be included on upcoming agendas. Bartolos thanked senators for creating a formal vehicle to ensure disability concerns are represented. Lou Ertushek of the Hawaii Disability Rights Center also expressed appreciation and support, noting the resolution formalizes engagement and asks the board to consider specific needs within the disability community.

The committee clarified that because the resolution was a proposed SD1, the recommendation was to adopt with amendments; both committees then recorded aye votes and adopted the SD1 with amendments. The resolution is intended as the committee’s commitment to ensure issues raised in prior bills are addressed collaboratively by the 9‑1‑1 board.