HOUSE BILL 21-1110

CONCERNING  ADDING  LANGUAGE  TO  RELEVANT  COLORADO  STATUTES RELATED  TO  PERSONS  WITH  DISABILITIES  TO  STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION  1. 

In Colorado  Revised Statutes, 24-34-301,  amend (5.4) as follows:

24-34-301.  Definitions.  As used in parts 3 to 8 of this article 34, unless the context otherwise requires:

Capital  letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added  to existing law; dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part  of the act.

(5.4)  "Public entity" MEANS:

a. ANY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT; OR

b. ANY  DEPARTMENT,  AGENCY,  SPECIAL  DISTRICT,  OR  OTHER

INSTRUMENTALITY OF A STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SECTION  2.

In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-802, amend (1), (2)(a) introductory portion, and (2)(a)(III); and add  (5) as follows:

 24-34-802.  Violations  -  penalties  -  immunity. 

(1)  (a)  It is a discriminatory practice and unlawful for any person, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-34-301,  to  discriminate  against  any  AN  individual  or  group  OF INDIVIDUALS because such THE person or group has opposed any practice, made a discriminatory practice based on disability pursuant to part 5, 6, or 8 of this article ARTICLE 34, or because such THE person has made a  charge,  testified,  assisted,  or  participated  in  any  manner  in  an investigation, proceeding, or hearing conducted pursuant to part 5, 6, or 8 of this ARTICLE 34.

        (c) DISCRIMINATION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION INCLUDES THE FAILURE OF A PUBLIC ENTITY OR STATE AGENCY, AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SECTION 24-34-301, TO DEVELOP AN ACCESSIBILITY PLAN USING THE  ACCESSIBILITY  STANDARDS  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION 24-85-103 (2.5) AND FULLY COMPLY, ON OR BEFORE JULY 1,2024, WITH THE ACCESSIBILITY  STANDARDS  FOR  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  A  DISABILITY ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-85-103 (2.5). LIABILITY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE AS TO CONTENT LIES  WITH THE PUBLIC ENTITY OR STATE  AGENCY THAT MANAGES THE

CONTENT. LIABILITY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE OF THE PLATFORM HOSTING THE CONTENT LIES WITH THE PUBLIC ENTITY OR STATE AGENCY THAT MANAGES THE PLATFORM.

(2) (a)  AN individual with a disability, as defined in section 24-34-301 (5.6), who is subject to a violation of subsection (1) of this section or of section 24-34-502, 24-34-502.2, 24-34-601, or 24-34-803 based on his or her THE INDIVIDUAL'S disability may bring a civil suit in a court  of  competent  jurisdiction  and,  EXCEPT AS  PROVIDED IN  SECTION 24-85-103, is entitled to any of the following remedies:

(III)  A statutory fine not to cxcccd OF three thousand five hundred dollars, PAYABLE TO EACH PLAINTIFF FOR EACH VIOLATION.

(5) AN AGENCY IN THE STATE WITH THE AUTHORITY TO PROMULGATE RULES RELATED TO PROTECTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SHALL NOT PROMULGATE A RULE THAT PROVIDES LESS PROTECTION THAN THAT PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL "AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990", 42 U.S.C. SEC. 12101 ET SEQ., AS AMENDED.

SECTION  3. 

In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend  24-85-101 as follows:

24-85-101.  Legislative  declaration.  The general assembly hereby finds  that the  state  needs  to  improve  rronvisttal access  to  information, whcthcr  by  spc-ccii,  Braille,  or  ether  apprupliatc  incauz  INCLUDING ELECTRONIC INFORMATION, FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY.

SECTION  4.

In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-85-102, amend  the introductory portion; and add (1.5), (2.3), (2.7), (5.3), and (5.5) as follows:

24-85-102.  Definitions. 

As used in this ARTICLE 85, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1.5)  "ACCESSIBLE"  OR  "ACCESSIBILITY"  MEANS  PERCEIVABLE, OPERABLE, AND UNDERSTANDABLE DIGITAL CONTENT THAT ENABLES AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY TO ACCESS THE SAME INFORMATION, ENGAGE IN THE SAME INTERACTIONS, AND ENJOY THE SAME SERVICES OFFERED TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS, WITH THE SAME PRIVACY, INDEPENDENCE, AND EASE OF USE AS EXISTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A DISABILITY.

(2.3)  "DISABILITY" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN THE FEDERAL "AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990", 42 U.S.C. SEC. 12101  ET  SEQ.,  AND  ITS  RELATED  AMENDMENTS  AND  IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS.

(2.7)  "INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS "QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY" AS DEFINED IN SUBSECTION (5.5) OF THIS SECTION.

(5.3) "OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY" MEANS THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CREATED IN SECTION 24-37.5-103.

(5.5)  "QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY" OR "INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN THE FEDERAL "AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990", 42 U.S.C. SEC. 12101 ET SEQ., AND ITS RELATED AMENDMENTS AND IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS.

SECTION  5. 

In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend  24-85-103 as follows:

24-85-103.  Accessibility  standards  for  individuals  with  a disability.  (1)  The chief information officer in the office of information technology created-hrsectiorr24-35-6-1-FJ; shall maintain nonvisual access ACCESSIBILITY  standards  FOR  AN  INDIVIDUAL  WITH  A  DISABILITY  for information technology systems employed by state agencies that:

  (a) Provide AN INDIVIDUALWITH A DISABILITY with access to information stored electronically by state agencies by ensuring compatibility with adaptive technology systems so that blirrel—antl--vistraltrimp-aired—individuats—have  AN  INDIVIDUAL  WITH  A DISABILITY HAS full and equal access when needed; and

  (b) Are designed to present information, including prompts used for interactive  communications,  in  formats  intended  for  both  visual  and nonvisual use, such as the use of text-only options.

(1.5)  THE  CHIEF  INFORMATION  OFFICER  IN  THE  OFFICE  OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHALL, CONSISTENT WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE  OFFICE,  PROMOTE  AND MONITOR THE  ACCESS  STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY IN THE STATE'S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ARCHITECTURE. EACH STATE AGENCY IS DIRECTED TO COMPLY WITH THE ACCESS STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS  WITH  A  DISABILITY,  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  OFFICE  OF INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  PURSUANT  TO  SUBSECTION  (2.5)  OF  THIS SECTION, IN THE CREATION AND PROMULGATION OF ANY ONLINE CONTENT AND MATERIALS USED BY SUCH STATE AGENCY.

(2.5)  THE  CHIEF  INFORMATION  OFFICER  IN  THE  OFFICE  OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHALL ESTABLISH ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY USING THE MOST RECENT WEB CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES PROMULGATED AND PUBLISHED BY THE WORLD WIDE  WEB  CONSORTIUM  WEB  ACCESSIBILITY  INITIATIVE  OR  THE INTERNATIONAL  ACCESSIBILITY  GUIDELINES  WORKING  GROUP,  OR  ANY SUCCESSOR GROUP OR ORGANIZATION, OR ANY SUBSEQUENT UPDATES OR REVISIONS  TO  SUCH  GUIDELINES  BY  ANY  SUCCESSOR  GROUP  OR ORGANIZATION.

      I. ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2022, THE STATE AGENCY SHALL SUBMIT ITS  WRITTEN  ACCESSIBILITY  PLAN  TO  THE  OFFICE  OF  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHALL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE STATE AGENCY TO REVIEW THE SECTIONS OF THE  AGENCY'S  PLAN  RELATED  TO  ACCESSIBILITY  STANDARDS  FOR INDIVIDUALS  WITH  A  DISABILITY  AND  ESTABLISH  IMPLEMENTATION METHODOLOGY; AND

SECTION  6. 

In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend  24-85-104 as follows:

24-85-104.  Procurement  requirements  -  criteria  - implementation. 

(1)  The office  of  information  technology  crcatcd  in SA.A,tiuil  24-37.5-103, shall approve minimum standards and criteria to be used in approving or rejecting procurements by state agencies for adaptive technologies for nonvisual OR OTHER DISABILITY access uses.

(2) Nothing in this  ARTICLE 85 REQUIRES the installation  of software  or peripheral  devices used for nonvisual  acccss ACCESSIBILITY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY when the information technology  is being  used  by individuals  who are not DISABLED. Nothing  in this ARTICLE 85 REQUIRES the purchase of adaptive equipment by a state agency.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section,the applications, programs, and underlying operating systems, including the format  of  the  data,  used  for  the  manipulation  and  presentation  of information shall MUST permit the installation and effective use of and shall be  compatibit,  BE  COMPATIBLE  with  nonvisual  acccss  software  and peripheral devices THAT PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY TO AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY.

(4) Compliance with the procurement requirements of this section MUST be achieved at the time of procurement of an upgrade or replacement of existing information technology equipment or software.

SECTION  7. 

Appropriation. For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $312,922 is appropriated to the office of the governor for use by the office of information technology. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an assumption that the office will require an additional 0.9 FTE. To implement this act, the office may use this appropriation for enterprise solutions. 

SECTION  8. 

Safety  clause.  The general assembly hereby finds, determines,  and  declares  that  this  act  is  necessary  for  the  immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.