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| Public Act 095-0307 |
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AN ACT concerning information technology access.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Information Technology Accessibility Act. | ||||
Section 5. Findings; policy.
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(a) The Legislature finds that: | ||||
(1) The advent of the information age throughout the | ||||
United States and around the world has resulted in dramatic | ||||
increases in the importance of information technology in | ||||
employment, education, and the receipt of services. | ||||
(2) While information technology is increasingly being | ||||
used as a means of providing information, communications, | ||||
and services, the State is not consistently or | ||||
cost-effectively ensuring that these technologies are | ||||
accessible to individuals with disabilities. | ||||
(3) The lack of accessible information technology can | ||||
prevent individuals with disabilities from participating | ||||
on equal terms in crucial areas of life, such as education | ||||
and employment. | ||||
(4) Techniques and products exist that can ensure that | ||||
information technology can be made accessible to | ||||
individuals with disabilities in consistent and | ||||
cost-effective manners. | ||
(5) By proactively addressing accessibility in its | ||
information technology development and procurement | ||
processes, the State can cost-effectively ensure that its | ||
information technology will be accessible to individuals | ||
with disabilities. | ||
(b) It is the policy of the State of Illinois that | ||
information technology developed, purchased, or provided by | ||
the State is accessible to individuals with disabilities.
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Section 10. Definitions.
As used in this Act: | ||
"Accessibility" means the ability to receive, use, and | ||
manipulate data and operate controls included in electronic and | ||
information technology in a manner equivalent to that of | ||
individuals who do not have disabilities. | ||
"Electronic and information technology" means electronic | ||
information, software, systems, and equipment used in the | ||
creation, manipulation, storage, display, or transmission of | ||
data, including internet and intranet systems, software | ||
applications, operating systems, video and multimedia, | ||
telecommunications products, kiosks, information transaction | ||
machines, copiers, printers, and desktop and portable | ||
computers. | ||
"Individuals with disabilities" means individuals with | ||
impairments that limit their ability to use information | ||
technology. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals | ||
with low vision, blindness, hardness of hearing, deafness, | ||
limited use of their hands, no use of their hands, or other | ||
similar impairments. | ||
"State entity" means the executive, legislative, and | ||
judicial branches of State of Illinois, including its | ||
departments, divisions, agencies, constitutional offices, | ||
public bodies, and public universities. The term does not | ||
include units of local government, school districts, or | ||
community colleges.
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Section 15. Development of standards.
Not later than 6 | ||
months after the effective date of this Act, the Department of | ||
Human Services shall develop and publish accessibility | ||
standards for electronic and information technology for State | ||
entities. The Secretary of Human Services shall convene a | ||
working group of appropriate State entity representatives, | ||
stakeholders, and other appropriate individuals and officials | ||
to advise and assist the Department in this process. The | ||
standards shall address, at a minimum, the following: | ||
(1) functional performance criteria and technical | ||
requirements for accessibility; | ||
(2) recommendations for procurement language that can be | ||
incorporated into existing State procurement processes to | ||
ensure compliance with accessibility standards; and | ||
(3) recommendations for planning, reporting, monitoring, | ||
and enforcement of the accessibility standards by State | ||
entities.
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Section 20. Implementation of standards.
Not later than 6 | ||
months after the development and publication of accessibility | ||
standards by the Department of Human Services, the Director of | ||
Central Management Services and each State entity shall review | ||
the standards and make revisions to existing procurement or | ||
development rules, policies, and procedures under their | ||
control to incorporate the standards. The accessibility | ||
standards shall apply to electronic and information technology | ||
developed or procured by a State entity, or to substantial | ||
modifications made to electronic and information technology by | ||
a State entity, after the Department of Central Management | ||
Services and other State entities incorporate the | ||
accessibility standards into their procurement policies and | ||
procedures. The accessibility standards shall not require (i) | ||
the installation of specific accessibility-related software or | ||
peripheral devices at a workstation of an employee who is not | ||
an individual with a disability or (ii) equipment made | ||
available for access at a location where the electronic and | ||
information technology is not customarily available to the | ||
public. | ||
Section 25. Review and amendment of standards.
The | ||
Department of Human Services shall, at a minimum, review the | ||
accessibility standards every 3 years after the date of initial | ||
publication and, as appropriate, amend the standards to reflect | ||
technological advances or changes in electronic and | ||
information technology. The Secretary of Human Services may | ||
convene a working group of appropriate State entity | ||
representatives, stakeholders, and other appropriate | ||
individuals and officials to advise and assist in the process | ||
of reviewing and amending the standards. Within 6 months after | ||
the publication by the Department of Human Services of | ||
amendments to the standards, the Director of Central Management | ||
Services and other State entities shall review the amended | ||
standards and make any necessary changes to their existing | ||
procurement policies and procedures to incorporate amendments | ||
to the accessibility standards into their procurement policies | ||
and procedures. The amended accessibility standards shall | ||
apply to electronic and information technology developed or | ||
procured by a State entity, or to substantial modifications | ||
made to electronic and information technology by a State | ||
entity, after the Department of Central Management Services and | ||
other State entities incorporate the amended accessibility | ||
standards into their procurement policies and procedures.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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