| TO: | Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2819 by Rose (Relating to access to state electronic and information resources by individuals with disabilities.), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would require state agencies to ensure that state employees and members of the public with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by state employees and members of the public without disabilities. The bill would require state agencies to develop, procure, maintain and use accessible electronic and information technology that ensures the accessibility of electronic and information technology for people with disabilities, if required to do so by the Department of Information Resources. If compliance with the provisions of this bill imposes a significant difficulty or expense, agencies are authorized to provide individuals with disabilities with the timely acquisition of information and data involved by an alternative method of access. Therefore, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated for these provisions.
The bill would require the Department of Information Resources (DIR) to provide training and technical assistance regarding the implementation of the bill. The bill would require DIR to adopt rules and evaluation criteria for the development, procurement, maintenance, and use of electronic and information resources by state agencies to provide access to individuals with disabilities. In addition, DIR must adopt rules regarding the development and monitoring of agencies’ websites, emerging technologies, and the commercial availability of products to provide access to individuals with disabilities. The requirements for DIR to adopt rules, provide training and report on state agency compliance can be met with existing resources
The bill would repeal provisions relating to the development and inclusion of a technology access clause in all state contracts. The bill would repeal provisions requiring state agencies to make its rules available on an Internet site, provide the public with the ability to send a question and receive a response electronically about agency rules, and ensure that the site conforms to generally acceptable standards for Internet accessibility for people with disabilities.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.
| Source Agencies: | 313 Department of Information Resources
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, LB, SR, SMi
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