2013 -- S 0277

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LC00993

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - RIGHTS OF BLIND AND DEAF PERSONS

     Introduced By: Senators Cool Rumsey, Sosnowski, Walaska, Ottiano, and Pichardo

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 40-9.1-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-9.1 entitled "Equal

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Rights of Blind and Deaf Persons to Public Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40-9.1-1. Declaration of policy. -- It is the policy of this state that:

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      (a) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing and otherwise

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disabled have the same rights as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways,

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walkways, public buildings, public facilities and other public places.

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      (b) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing and otherwise

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disabled are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges on

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any public conveyance operated on land or water or in the air, or any stations and terminals

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thereof, not limited to taxis, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars,

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boats and in any educational institution, not limited to any kindergarten, primary and secondary

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school, trade or business school, high school, academy, college and university, and in places of

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public resort, accommodation, assemblage or amusement, not limited to hotels, lodging places,

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restaurants, theater and in all other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to

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the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.

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      (c) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing and otherwise

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disabled persons shall be entitled to rent, lease or purchase, as other members of the general

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public, any housing accommodations offered for rent, lease or other compensation in this state,

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subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.

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     (d) Effective January 1, 2014, movie theaters with ten (10) or more screens are required

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to provide captioning on at least one of their screens for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing

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and to provide audio descriptions for persons who are blind or visually impaired as set forth in

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regulations established and promulgated by the office of attorney general with the assistance of

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the Rhode Island commission on the deaf and hard of hearing.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2014.

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LC00993

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - RIGHTS OF BLIND AND DEAF PERSONS

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     This act would require movie theaters with ten or more screens to provide captioning on

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at least one screen for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, and provide audio descriptions for

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persons who are blind or visually impaired.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2014.

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LC00993

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