Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 095-0307
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Public Act 095-0307


 

Public Act 0307 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY



 


 
Public Act 095-0307
 
SB0511 Enrolled 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.

Effective Date: 8/20/2007