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

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ujifusa, Quezada, Miller, Zurier, Lawson, Valverde, DiMario,
Acosta, Mack, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-6 of the General Laws entitled "Departments of State

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Government" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-6-16. Website accessibility.

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     (a) State departments enumerated in § 42-6-1 and state boards, divisions, bureaus,

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commissions and agencies shall, when designing or creating new public access websites, ensure

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design and code be in compliance with the web content accessibility guidelines 2.2 ("WCAG 2.2"),

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or a subsequent version published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web

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Consortium at a level AA success criteria.

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     (b) State departments enumerated in § 42-6-1 and state boards, divisions, bureaus,

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commissions and agencies shall, on or before July 1, 2026, design or redesign and code or recode

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existing public access websites to be in compliance with WCAG 2.2 or a subsequent version

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published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium at a level AA

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success criteria. Websites providing access to healthcare, human services, open government, and

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benefits shall be prioritized.

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     (c) Upon creation or activation of a website subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of

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this section and, on or before July 1, 2026, for a website subject to the provisions of subsection (b)

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of this section, the director of each state department and/or the executive or administrative head of

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each state agency or entity, and the information technology project manager assigned pursuant to

 

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§ 42-6-15 to manage compliance with the provisions of this section, shall obtain certification by a

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recognized expert and shall post on the home page of the website the signed certification of the

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recognized expert that the website is in compliance with the standards provided in this section.

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Recertification shall occur at least once every two (2) years or anytime a major redesign or major

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structural change to the website is undertaken.

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     (d) Any state contract or request for proposals, issued after January 1, 2025, that includes

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development or provision of web-based services or sites shall include a requirement of certification

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of WCAG 2.2 level AA compliance as set forth in subsection (c) of this section.

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     (e) Municipalities are strongly encouraged and recommended to adopt and implement a

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program to make municipal websites more accessible by adoption of standards consistent with the

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provisions of this section.

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     (f) The governor’s commission on disabilities shall provide a recognized expert for

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certification and recertification of state websites as well as public websites upon request.

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     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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     This act would require all newly established public access websites to be in compliance

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with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG 2.2) for accessibility in compliance with

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the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Existing state websites would be required

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to comply no later than July 1, 2026. Municipalities would be strongly encouraged to adopt

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consistent standards with the WCAG 2.2 provisions.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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