SR 42 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

URGING THE COUNTIES OF THE STATE TO INSTALL A MINIMUM SET OF ACCESSIBLE RECREATIONAL PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN EACH PLAYGROUND LOCATED IN A COUNTY PARK AND TO ESTABLISH COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLANS THAT ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SAFETY, CLEANLINESS, AND FUNCTIONALITY OF EACH PLAYGROUND.

Senate Resolution 42 urges all Hawaii counties to install at least one wheelchair-accessible swing and other basic accessible playground equipment in every county park playground, while requiring counties to create detailed maintenance plans. These plans must include weekly inspections, regular cleaning, safety surfacing upkeep, emergency repair protocols, and community engagement to ensure long-term safety and accessibility. The resolution specifically references compliance with federal ADA accessibility standards for equipment and mandates counties to develop these plans for all public playgrounds. As a non-binding resolution, it does not impose legal requirements but encourages counties to adopt these practices to make play spaces inclusive for children with disabilities.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SR42 → SR42_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reformatted from a standard Senate Resolution to a Senate Memorandum Amendment (SD1) format, adding a requirement for counties to create comprehensive maintenance plans for accessible playgrounds and requesting state agencies to conduct an inventory and cost analysis of playground equipment. The substantive policy change is the addition of a maintenance requirement and a request for a state-led inventory study.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from simply urging counties to install equipment to also requiring them to establish maintenance plans and requesting state agencies to study equipment costs and availability.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for counties to establish comprehensive maintenance plans that include regular inspections, preventive maintenance, cleaning, accessibility assurance, emergency repairs, and community engagement.

Added a request for the Department of Education and Department of Accounting and General Services to convene a working group to inventory existing and planned playgrounds and analyze costs for accessible equipment.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the description of the target youth population from 'physically disabled' to 'youth with disabilities' including physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from EIG/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1583) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Fevella.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 04-01-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Referred to EIG/HHS.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered.

upper

7 primary · 1 co-sponsor