2024 -- S 2037 | |
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LC003840 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE | |
GOVERNMENT | |
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Introduced By: Senators Ujifusa, Quezada, Miller, Zurier, Lawson, Valverde, DiMario, | |
Date Introduced: January 12, 2024 | |
Referred To: Senate Commerce | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 42-6 of the General Laws entitled "Departments of State |
2 | Government" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 42-6-16. Website accessibility. |
4 | (a) State departments enumerated in § 42-6-1 and state boards, divisions, bureaus, |
5 | commissions and agencies shall, when designing or creating new public access websites, ensure |
6 | design and code be in compliance with the web content accessibility guidelines 2.2 ("WCAG 2.2"), |
7 | or a subsequent version published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web |
8 | Consortium at a level AA success criteria. |
9 | (b) State departments enumerated in § 42-6-1 and state boards, divisions, bureaus, |
10 | commissions and agencies shall, on or before July 1, 2026, design or redesign and code or recode |
11 | existing public access websites to be in compliance with WCAG 2.2 or a subsequent version |
12 | published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium at a level AA |
13 | success criteria. Websites providing access to healthcare, human services, open government, and |
14 | benefits shall be prioritized. |
15 | (c) Upon creation or activation of a website subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of |
16 | this section and, on or before July 1, 2026, for a website subject to the provisions of subsection (b) |
17 | of this section, the director of each state department and/or the executive or administrative head of |
18 | each state agency or entity, and the information technology project manager assigned pursuant to |
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1 | § 42-6-15 to manage compliance with the provisions of this section, shall obtain certification by a |
2 | recognized expert and shall post on the home page of the website the signed certification of the |
3 | recognized expert that the website is in compliance with the standards provided in this section. |
4 | Recertification shall occur at least once every two (2) years or anytime a major redesign or major |
5 | structural change to the website is undertaken. |
6 | (d) Any state contract or request for proposals, issued after January 1, 2025, that includes |
7 | development or provision of web-based services or sites shall include a requirement of certification |
8 | of WCAG 2.2 level AA compliance as set forth in subsection (c) of this section. |
9 | (e) Municipalities are strongly encouraged and recommended to adopt and implement a |
10 | program to make municipal websites more accessible by adoption of standards consistent with the |
11 | provisions of this section. |
12 | (f) The governor’s commission on disabilities shall provide a recognized expert for |
13 | certification and recertification of state websites as well as public websites upon request. |
14 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE | |
GOVERNMENT | |
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1 | This act would require all newly established public access websites to be in compliance |
2 | with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG 2.2) for accessibility in compliance with |
3 | the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Existing state websites would be required |
4 | to comply no later than July 1, 2026. Municipalities would be strongly encouraged to adopt |
5 | consistent standards with the WCAG 2.2 provisions. |
6 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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