Pursuant to sections 91-3 and 92-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), notice is hereby given that the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Disability and Communication Access Board will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on the proposed amendments and compilation of existing rules, chapter 11-218, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), entitled “Communication Access Services for Persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind.”

The proposed amendments include changes to amend the Recommended Fee Schedule for Interpreters that is attached as an appendix to chapter 11-218, HAR. The amendments include adding three new national credentials by the National Council on Interpreting, rate increases for Real-Time Captioners, and recommendations that communication access providers be paid at the current federal or state mileage rate for travel, including any documented parking charges. The proposed amendments may also include housekeeping amendments to the rules and amendments, deletions, or additions suggested by oral or written testimony.

A public hearing for chapter 11-218, HAR, will be held in accordance with the following schedule:
Date: October 23, 2008
Place: Disability and Communication Access Board
919 Ala Moana Boulevard
Conference Room 103
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Time: 9:00 a.m.

A copy of the proposed amendments is available for review at the address below, or can be mailed to any interested person who requests a copy from the Disability and Communication Access Board, or is available online at http://www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/.

Disability and Communication Access Board
919 Ala Moana Boulevard
Room 101
Hours: 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Phone: (808) 586-8121 V/TTY
Fax: (808) 586-8129

Toll-free from Neighbor Islands (V/TTY):
Hawaii – 974-4000 ext. 68121
Kauai – 274-3141 ext. 68121
Maui – 984-2400 ext. 68121
Molokai and Lanai – 1-800-468-4644

Written testimony will be accepted until October 23, 2008, at the above address. Any person requiring a special accommodation (i.e., large print materials, sign language interpreter) is asked to call the Disability and Communication Access Board at least two weeks before the hearing.