Committee advances travel placards for disabled travelers with misuse safeguards

Chair Greg Takayama moved to advance HB 469 incorporating language from the Disability and Communications Access Board and adding clarifying details requested in testimony.

Christine Faganamo of the Disability and Communications Access Board described the travel placard as a two-sided hang tag issued to eligible people with disabilities and said proof of travel and clear placard validity are important for inter-island and long-distance medical trips. "The travel placard is ... related to the person who is going to be doing this. It's their permit," she said, adding that placards are not intended for a family member to borrow.

Megan Han (intern, State Council on Developmental Disabilities) said HB 469 would reduce travel-related stress and financial burdens for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who must travel for care. Members also noted written support from disability-rights organizations.

Members asked whether emergency travel would be covered; board representatives said the bill will amend Hawaii Administrative Rules regarding travel and that rule amendments could address emergency travel situations. The chair and members urged language and design safeguards to reduce misuse, proposing that travel placards show an expiration date clearly on the front and use a different color from permanent or temporary placards; the board agreed.

The committee adopted the chair's recommendation to pass HB 469 as a house draft with the board's suggested definition, expiration-date and color recommendations and a defective date for further drafting.