SB0511eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0511 Engrossed LRB095 06720 JAM 26833 b

AN ACT concerning information technology access.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Information Technology Accessibility Act.

Section 5. Findings; policy.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) The advent of the information age throughout the United States and around the world has resulted in dramatic increases in the importance of information technology in employment, education, and the receipt of services.

(2) While information technology is increasingly being used as a means of providing information, communications, and services, the State is not consistently or cost-effectively ensuring that these technologies are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

(3) The lack of accessible information technology can prevent individuals with disabilities from participating on equal terms in crucial areas of life, such as education and employment.

(4) Techniques and products exist that can ensure that information technology can be made accessible to individuals with disabilities in consistent and cost-effective manners.

(5) By proactively addressing accessibility in its information technology development and procurement processes, the State can cost-effectively ensure that its information technology will be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

(b) It is the policy of the State of Illinois that information technology developed, purchased, or provided by the State is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Accessibility" means the ability to receive, use, and manipulate data and operate controls included in electronic and information technology in a manner equivalent to that of individuals who do not have disabilities.

"Electronic and information technology" means electronic information, software, systems, and equipment used in the creation, manipulation, storage, display, or transmission of data, including internet and intranet systems, software applications, operating systems, video and multimedia, telecommunications products, kiosks, information transaction machines, copiers, printers, and desktop and portable computers.

"Individuals with disabilities" means individuals with impairments that limit their ability to use information technology. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals with low vision, blindness, hardness of hearing, deafness, limited use of their hands, no use of their hands, or other similar impairments.

"State entity" means the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of State of Illinois, including its departments, divisions, agencies, constitutional offices, public bodies, and public universities. The term does not include units of local government, school districts, or community colleges.

Section 15. Development of standards. Not later than 6 months after the effective date of this Act, the Department of Human Services shall develop and publish accessibility standards for electronic and information technology for State entities. The Secretary of Human Services shall convene a working group of appropriate State entity representatives, stakeholders, and other appropriate individuals and officials to advise and assist the Department in this process. The standards shall address, at a minimum, the following:

(1) functional performance criteria and technical requirements for accessibility;

(2) recommendations for procurement language that can be incorporated into existing State procurement processes to ensure compliance with accessibility standards; and

(3) recommendations for planning, reporting, monitoring, and enforcement of the accessibility standards by State entities.

Section 20. Implementation of standards. Not later than 6 months after the development and publication of accessibility standards by the Department of Human Services, the Director of Central Management Services and each State entity shall review the standards and make revisions to existing procurement or development rules, policies, and procedures under their control to incorporate the standards. The accessibility standards shall apply to electronic and information technology developed or procured by a State entity, or to substantial modifications made to electronic and information technology by a State entity, after the Department of Central Management Services and other State entities incorporate the accessibility standards into their procurement policies and procedures. The accessibility standards shall not require (i) the installation of specific accessibility-related software or peripheral devices at a workstation of an employee who is not an individual with a disability or (ii) equipment made available for access at a location where the electronic and information technology is not customarily available to the public.

Section 25. Review and amendment of standards. The Department of Human Services shall, at a minimum, review the accessibility standards every 3 years after the date of initial publication and, as appropriate, amend the standards to reflect technological advances or changes in electronic and information technology. The Secretary of Human Services may convene a working group of appropriate State entity representatives, stakeholders, and other appropriate individuals and officials to advise and assist in the process of reviewing and amending the standards. Within 6 months after the publication by the Department of Human Services of amendments to the standards, the Director of Central Management Services and other State entities shall review the amended standards and make any necessary changes to their existing procurement policies and procedures to incorporate amendments to the accessibility standards into their procurement policies and procedures. The amended accessibility standards shall apply to electronic and information technology developed or procured by a State entity, or to substantial modifications made to electronic and information technology by a State entity, after the Department of Central Management Services and other State entities incorporate the amended accessibility standards into their procurement policies and procedures.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.