HI HB475

Amends section 489-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes to require motion picture theaters with more than two locations in Hawaii to provide either open movie captioning during at least one showing per week (reduced from two showings) or a personal closed captioning system using lightweight eyewear.

Extends the sunset date of Act 39, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015 from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2020, continuing requirements for closed captioning at multi-location theaters.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a survey of affected motion picture theaters to assess the operational and financial impact of Act 39 and submit findings to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2018 regular session.

Provides theaters with flexibility to comply through either traditional open captioning at one weekly showing or alternative personal closed captioning eyewear technology.