2003-01-03 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes

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N. Olesen announced that the new Health Director is Dr. Chiyome Deputy Health Director is Dr. Jane Kadohiro. DCAB is not famili persons so they don't know what direction they will be taking or how they want DCAB to function under the Department of Health. A. Mitchener suggested sending a letter of support for DCAB. N. Olesen mentioned that one issue that may surface back from November 2002 is there are no laws with regards to signage that dictates illegal parking. However, there are laws in effect for illegal parking. He suggested resolving this issue via the rules and/or put in enforcement procedures with regard to the parking signage. N. Olesen reported that a major concern occurring on Oahu is the issue of parking permits to infants. Family and women are coming out of the hospitals and then walking in to obtain a disabled parking permit under this clause "unable to walk without the use of or assistance from another person." Therefore, there is an inundation of infants with parking permits. Mothers are seeing their family doctor who is abiding by the application. A suggestion has been made to prohibit the issues of permits to children under the age of two years, but there may be a medical reason that precludes this issue. He will keep MCPD posted on this topic. J. Souza pointed out that more accessible stalls would need to be installed if more infants will be issued a disabled parking permit. N. Olesen agreed and suggested he will bring it up at the next DCAB board meeting. If this issue cannot be reversed, he felt increasing the quantity of accessible stalls would compensate. N. Olesen explained that the $250 fine for a traffic violation for accessible stalls is not effective. Individuals are appearing in court and telling the judge about the huge fines and the judge then reduces the amount to $25 or dismissing the fine. C. ADA COORDINATOR'S REPORT Î A. LEVIN A. Levin reported that the meeting with DCAB and the Senate on January 8 poses a major problem. They invited the House members to attend and they are not attending. The chairman of the relevant House committee is Representative Joseph Souki, who tried to lower the parking fine from $250 to $50 (his bill was vetoed by the Governor because the disabled community complained so much). There is a unless that's healed, DCAB will have a tough time getting any legislation through. However, F. Wai is aware of this issue. You can get a bill through the Senate, but if you donÓt get it through the House, then it's a waste of time. A. Levin said he would follow up with Jane Larkin, county's training officer, on A. Mitchener's suggestion on training. He thanked A. Mitchener Leong for the training session held on December 19, which was very worthwhile. A. Levin stated that he received a communication from the Department of Justice that they are rethinking whether to come to the Big Island the last week of January. He was unsuccessful in getting a definite answer for today's meeting. 3