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Disability Access Bill supports small businesses and citizens with disabilities
http://alpenhornnews.com/disability...sses-and-citizens-with-disabili-p7184-155.htm
May 26, 2016
Earlier this month SB269, the Disability Access Bill championed by Riverside Senator Richard Roth was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown. The legislation eliminated minimum statutory damages for certain minor and technical violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and now allows small business owners around the state four months to fix disability access issues before having to pay the state’s minimum civil liability of $4,000 for each violation—liabilities incurred when certain disability access requirements are not met. The legislation also included certain caveats that cap the liabilities at a maximum of $2,000 under certain conditions. SB269 also reduced the employee ceiling for qualifying businesses from 100 to 50 employees and made other miscellaneous clarifications. The bill, designed to protect small businesses, as well as, the disabled community, passed both state houses with full bi-partisan support by a vote of 38 to 0. It is the first significant reform to the State’s disability access regulations since 2012. “This is a major victory for all Californians,” Roth said. “SB 269 is a bipartisan, commonsense solution that will guarantee access for disabled Californians by providing small businesses with the tools and resources necessary to comply with state and federal disability access regulations.” He added, “I am glad the Governor agrees with the critical need for this reform and I am proud to have delivered this victory for California’s small businesses and disability community.” SB 269 was in part a response to approximately 48 lawsuits filed in Riverside County Superior Court between 2013 and 2014. Two plaintiffs brought the suits against small businesses located in the downtown area of Riverside. The litigation focused on various failures on the part of the businesses to provide full and equal access to their facilities and services for members of the disability community. SB 269 is considered by many as a good first step toward addressing the issue of ADA lawsuit abuse; however much remains to be done. Disability Rights California (DRC) a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights of Californians with disabilities claimed the bill treats people with disabilities as second-class citizens by denying them civil-rights damages for access violations they encounter for between 120 to 180 days after the business is officially notified of the violation(s) via a CASp report. A CASp report is completed subsequent to an ADA inspection. It entitles an owner to a temporary halting of all litigation preventing attorneys from engaging in motions, discovery or other activities that compound legal fees. -
http://alpenhornnews.com/disability...sses-and-citizens-with-disabili-p7184-155.htm
May 26, 2016
Earlier this month SB269, the Disability Access Bill championed by Riverside Senator Richard Roth was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown. The legislation eliminated minimum statutory damages for certain minor and technical violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and now allows small business owners around the state four months to fix disability access issues before having to pay the state’s minimum civil liability of $4,000 for each violation—liabilities incurred when certain disability access requirements are not met. The legislation also included certain caveats that cap the liabilities at a maximum of $2,000 under certain conditions. SB269 also reduced the employee ceiling for qualifying businesses from 100 to 50 employees and made other miscellaneous clarifications. The bill, designed to protect small businesses, as well as, the disabled community, passed both state houses with full bi-partisan support by a vote of 38 to 0. It is the first significant reform to the State’s disability access regulations since 2012. “This is a major victory for all Californians,” Roth said. “SB 269 is a bipartisan, commonsense solution that will guarantee access for disabled Californians by providing small businesses with the tools and resources necessary to comply with state and federal disability access regulations.” He added, “I am glad the Governor agrees with the critical need for this reform and I am proud to have delivered this victory for California’s small businesses and disability community.” SB 269 was in part a response to approximately 48 lawsuits filed in Riverside County Superior Court between 2013 and 2014. Two plaintiffs brought the suits against small businesses located in the downtown area of Riverside. The litigation focused on various failures on the part of the businesses to provide full and equal access to their facilities and services for members of the disability community. SB 269 is considered by many as a good first step toward addressing the issue of ADA lawsuit abuse; however much remains to be done. Disability Rights California (DRC) a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights of Californians with disabilities claimed the bill treats people with disabilities as second-class citizens by denying them civil-rights damages for access violations they encounter for between 120 to 180 days after the business is officially notified of the violation(s) via a CASp report. A CASp report is completed subsequent to an ADA inspection. It entitles an owner to a temporary halting of all litigation preventing attorneys from engaging in motions, discovery or other activities that compound legal fees. -