HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 221

BYRepresentatives Lux, Barnes, Belcher, Unsoeld, Nealey, Jacobsen, Day, B. Williams, May, Schoon, Pruitt, Ferguson, Fuhrman, Doty, Madsen, Betrozoff, Dellwo, Amondson, Moyer, Miller, Chandler, Brough, Todd and Silver

Providing access for hearing impaired to telecommunications devices.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

     Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Brooks, Gallagher, Hankins, Jacobsen, Jesernig, Madsen, May, Miller, Sutherland and Unsoeld.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113) and Deborah Senn (786-7450)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (21)

     Signed by Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:    Ron Morrison (786-7178)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

MARCH 7, 1987

BACKGROUND:

There are approximately 7,000 deaf people in the state of Washington, and several hundred thousand that can be classified as hearing impaired.  The state legislature has generally mandated that there be access to all public facilities for those that are handicapped or hearing impaired.  Deaf, hearing impaired, and deaf-blind individuals do not now have equal access to state services. Telephone access for the deaf, and deaf-blind community can be provided through equipment known as telecommunications devices for the deaf.  This equipment is more costly than the normal telephone, but is imperative in order for a deaf person to communicate with the outside world.  Fourteen states have already enacted programs that provide for the distribution of telecommunications devices for the deaf.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Department of Social and Health Services, Office of Deaf Services, will provide telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) to citizens who are certified to be hearing impaired.

The office shall appoint a TDD advisory committee to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of implementing a statewide relay system.  A statewide relay system enables a hearing person to call a nonhearing person and vice versa via a third party operator who translates the message.  In addition, the TDD advisory committee will conduct another study to determine the number of hearing impaired people who have party lines and the cost of converting to single lines.  The findings will be reported to the state utilities and transportation commission (UTC).  The TDD advisory committee will establish criteria for distribution of TDDs to other statewide organizations representing the deaf, monitor the monies and activities for the program, and establish policies and procedures regarding responsibility for and portability of TDDs.

The Office of Deaf Services in conjunction with the UTC shall establish a telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) excise tax not to exceed 10 cents per month per access line of a subscriber to fund the program.  The estimate for the cost of the program is approximately $.07 per subscriber line. The act expires June 30, 1990.

SECOND SUBSTITUTE COMPARED TO FIRST SUBSTITUTE:  Adds a financial means test to program eligibility and deletes the $25,000 general fund appropriation.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  An expiration date of June 30, 1990 is provided.  A TDD excise tax is substituted for a surcharge, with the amount remaining the same.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS: Second substitute proposed.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Energy & Utilities)  Representative Gene Lux, sponsor; Leon Curtis, Department of Social and Health Services; Patty Hughes, Larry Petersen, Matthew Burns, Benny Dockter, Washington State Association for the Deaf; Janie Neal, Linda Williamson, Washington State Deaf-Blind Service Center; Sharon Schira, Deaf Services Coordinator, Tacoma; Dale Vincent, Pacific Northwest Bell; Larry Stevens, Continental Telephone Company.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as in Committee on Energy & Utilities.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Energy & Utilities)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Energy & Utilities)  Hearing impaired persons should be enabled to have the same communications access as other citizens.  To provide this access, relatively expensive equipment is required, beyond the reach of many hearing impaired persons.  There are valid emergency reasons for needing communications access as well as such considerations as improving employment prospects.  Over half of deaf persons are below federal poverty income level.  Telebraillers are needed for deaf-blind and are provided for in the bill.  The pioneering work of Clyde Ketchum in promoting TDDs was described.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as in Committee on Energy & Utilities.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Energy & Utilities)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.