SR 215: Requesting the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, AND the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks.

SENATE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, AND the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks.

     WHEREAS, all people in the State, including keiki, kupuna, and people with disabilities, deserve an equal opportunity to participate in basic civic activities and everyday events; and

     WHEREAS, a person's inability to utilize conventional restroom facilities directly affects their ability to enjoy and fully participate in public activities or access public spaces; and

     WHEREAS, some people with disabilities require help with toileting and are unable to use standard handicap-accessible restrooms; and

     WHEREAS, people with disabilities and their families, friends, and caretakers often face challenges participating in daily activities and outings due to a lack of accessible changing accommodations; and

     WHEREAS, people with disabilities requiring toileting assistance often face the choice of staying home and out of public spaces, being laid down on a restroom floor to be changed by their caregiver, leaving public places or events to be changed inside a vehicle, or returning home; and

     WHEREAS, universal changing accommodations include height-adjustable changing tables that may be used by everyone needing toileting assistance; and

     WHEREAS, universal changing accommodations provide a safe, sanitary, private, and dignified space to be changed and cleaned by a caregiver when participating in public activities; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation are requested to provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation are more specifically requested to provide universal changing accommodations in at least one restroom accessible to women and men, respectively, and in at least one family or gender-neutral restroom, if one exists, in each facility or park; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Comptroller, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Administrator of the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title:

DAGS; DLNR; Equity; Universal Changing Accommodations; Restrooms; State Facilities; State Parks; City and County of Honolulu; Parks and Recreation

SENATE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks.

     WHEREAS, all people in the State deserve an equal opportunity to participate in basic civic activities and everyday events, including keiki, kupuna, and people with disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, a person's inability to utilize conventional restroom facilities directly affects their ability to enjoy and fully participate in public activities or access public spaces; and

     WHEREAS, some people with disabilities require help with toileting and are unable to use standard handicap-accessible restrooms; and

     WHEREAS, people with disabilities and their families, friends, and caretakers often face challenges participating in daily activities and outings due to a lack of accessible changing accommodations; and

     WHEREAS, people with disabilities requiring toileting assistance often face the choice of staying home and out of public spaces, being laid down on a restroom floor to be changed by their caregiver, leaving public places or events to be changed inside a vehicle, or returning home; and

     WHEREAS, universal changing accommodations include height-adjustable changing tables that may be used by everyone needing toileting assistance; and

     WHEREAS, universal changing accommodations provide a safe, sanitary, private, and dignified space to be changed and cleaned by a caregiver when participating in public activities; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is requested to provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation are more specifically requested to provide universal changing accommodations in at least one restroom accessible to women and men, respectively, and in at least one family or gender-neutral restroom, if one exists, in each facility or park; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Comptroller, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Administrator of the Division of State Parks, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and Director of the City and County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Report Title:

DAGS; DLNR; Equity; Universal Changing Accommodations; Restrooms; State Facilities; State Parks; City and County of Honolulu; Parks and Recreation

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1357

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 215

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 215 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL CHANGING ACCOMMODATIONS IN ALL STATE FACILITIES, STATE PARKS, AND CITY AND COUNTY PARKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks. 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

     Your Committee finds that all individuals in the State, including those with disabilities, deserve equal access to basic civic activities, such as visiting local parks.  However, a lack of accessible accommodations in public bathroom facilities often limits the freedom of those with disabilities and their families to access public spaces, as they are faced with limited, uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous options for toileting.  This measure promotes equity and inclusion for all the State's residents by requesting that the relevant authorities of the State and City and County of Honolulu provide universal changing accommodations in all state facilities, state parks, city and county parks. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 215, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 215, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,