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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a |
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wide-ranging civil rights law, prohibits discrimination based on |
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disability under certain circumstances; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Title III of the ADA, no individual may be |
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discriminated against on the basis of disability with regard to the |
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full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, or |
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accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person |
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who owns, leases, or operates a place of public accommodation; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas State Capitol building clearly falls into |
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the category of "public accommodations," which encompasses |
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everything from hotels and restaurants to educational facilities |
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and recreation spots; moreover, it is in the interest of the state |
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to ensure that its most public building is easily accessible to all |
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citizens, including people with disabilities, veterans, parents |
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with small children, and the elderly; and |
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WHEREAS, Currently, persons whose mobility is impaired are |
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limited to entering the Capitol through the north doors, a |
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limitation that causes added inconvenience for people who park in |
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the visitor's parking garage and that can result in delays when |
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large numbers of people are coming to the Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, There may be other features that present additional |
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barriers for Texans who want to meet their legislators or attend |
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legislative proceedings, and an assessment of Capitol access is |
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warranted; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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2nd Called Session, hereby direct the State Preservation Board to |
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conduct a study on improving access to the Capitol building for |
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persons with mobility impairments and to prepare a report, |
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including findings and recommendations, within six months of the |
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passage of this resolution; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the board include in its report a list of |
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enhancements that can be accomplished with existing resources, as |
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well as a list of those improvements that require the appropriation |
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of additional funds, and that on completion of the report, the board |
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immediately commence implementation of those enhancements for |
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which resources are already available. |