Bill Text: CA ACR222 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-06-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 92, Statutes of 2018. [ACR222 Detail]

Download: California-2017-ACR222-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Concurrent Resolution

No. 222

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Introduced by Assembly Member Gray

April 16, 2018

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Relative to Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 222, as introduced, Gray. Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

This measure would call on all state agencies to advance with great urgency the task of making all online information on their Internet Web sites accessible to California citizens, would call on all businesses providing goods or services to the citizens of the State of California to advance with great urgency the task of making their online content accessible to their customers, and would recognize May 17, 2018, as Global Accessibility Awareness Day in the State of California.

Digest Key

Fiscal Committee: NO  

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Bill Text

WHEREAS, California is the birthplace of the high-tech revolution and has always been a leader in development of innovative technological solutions to problems of all kinds; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 6.8 percent of California’s population, or 2,688,492 people, have a disability; and

WHEREAS, Cornell University detailed in its 2015 Disability Status Report that 2 percent of Californians had a visual disability and 2.9 percent had a hearing disability; and

WHEREAS, Access to public and commercial Internet Web sites has become an essential tool and for nearly all Americans to conduct everyday life to and have access to government, schools, businesses, and healthcare; and

WHEREAS, Full and timely access to online financial, employment, housing, and healthcare information is essential in daily life to compete for employment opportunities and achieve educational advancement, secure affordable housing, and to succeed in most aspects of the modern world; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with ambulatory disabilities may rely on online information to a greater extent than those without physical challenges; and

WHEREAS, Limited access to online information is a significant barrier to equal access for those with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, the United States Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), authored by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), shepherded through the House of Representatives by California’s own Representative Tony Coelho (D-CA15), and signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, as a significant effort to reduce and eliminate as many barriers as possible for those with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, the United States Congress passed the updated ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), authored by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), and signed into law by President George W. Bush, reaffirming and expanding the scope of the original legislation; and

WHEREAS, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 defines standards, assistance, and accommodation that businesses and government should provide to individuals with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, State law mandates that all California state agencies report their level of accessibility compliance by 2019; and

WHEREAS, May 17 is recognized as Global Accessibility Awareness Day; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature calls on all state agencies, including subdivisions of the state, such as counties, cities, schools, transit agencies, universities, and utilities, to advance with great urgency the task of making all online information on their Internet Web sites accessible to California citizens; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls on all businesses providing goods or services to the citizens of the State of California to advance with great urgency the task of making their online content accessible to their customers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes May 17, 2018, as Global Accessibility Awareness Day in the State of California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.