Resolve, To Increase the Effectiveness of Accessibility Requirements for Persons with Disabilities

Sec. 1. Study and recommendations. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, referred to in this resolve as "the departments," shall convene a broadly representative working group to study increasing the effectiveness of accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities for public buildings, public accommodations, restaurants and eating establishments, colleges and hospitals. The departments shall invite to the working group's meetings representatives of county and municipal governments, public accommodations, restaurants and eating establishments, colleges, hospitals, the State Fire Marshal, state agencies and the Disability Rights Center. All meetings of the working group must be held in public buildings that are accessible to persons with disabilities. The working group shall consider and make recommendations regarding suggested legislation with the purpose of improving access, including but not limited to requirements for parking and physical access to buildings and all rooms and areas of buildings, dimensional requirements within buildings and rooms, dimensional requirements for assistive devices and technology and caregiver access and the provision of assistive devices and technology. The departments shall provide staffing assistance to the working group and shall report to the Legislature with recommendations for suggested legislation pursuant to this section by November 1, 2011.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to convene a working group to study increasing the effectiveness of accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities for public buildings, public accommodations, restaurants and eating establishments, colleges and hospitals. The departments are required to provide staffing assistance to the working group and to report to the Legislature with recommendations for suggested legislation by November 1, 2011.