BILL NUMBER: S3114A

SPONSOR: MANNION
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state technology law, in relation to requiring state
agencies to conform any of their websites to the most current version of
the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines  adopted by the World Wide Web
Consortium for accessibility

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to require state agencies and entities to
conform any of their websites to the most current version of the Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the World Wide Web Consorti-
um for accessibility.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would amend the State Technology Law to require
state agencies and entities to conform any of their websites to the most
current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by
              

the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility and submit a report no
later than December 31, 2023, to the Governor and the Legislature, and
every two years after.

Section 2 of this bill would amend the State Technology Law to require
the Office of Information Technology Services to issue guidance for
state agencies in their compliance with the Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines.

Section 3 of this bill provides that the effective date shall take
effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a
law; provided that section two of this act shall take effect on the same
date and in the same manner as chapter 658 of the laws of 2022 takes
effect.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Individuals with and without disabilities rely on the state to provide
clear and accessible information. The State currently adopts a protocol
as authorized generally by Executive Order 117 of 2002 and section 103
of the State Technology Law. Both the Executive Order and Section 103
generally authorizes the Office to adopt statewide policies as neces-
sary, by a Chief Information Officer, without explicit reference or a
statutory requirement for accessibility. This adoption of policy by the
State is a critical necessity for many New Yorkers with a disability who
would not be able to access information and state resources without such
protocols.

This legislation, similar to legislation adopted by New York City in
2016, would codify the requirement that the Office of Information Tech-
nology Services creates and updates a protocol for website accessibil-
ity. The World Wide Web Consortium publishes industry standards for
maintaining websites, including web content accessibility guidelines.

This bill would ensure that the State continues to address the needs of
the disabilities community and provide stakeholders with an opportunity

for input when such state protocols may differ from the international
standards.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S.7912 (Mannion) - Passed Senate.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided that section two of this act shall
take effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 658 of
the laws of 2022 takes effect.