1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/28/2018 01:55pm
A bill for an act
relating to construction codes; modifying accessibility requirements for public
buildings; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 326B.106, subdivision 9.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 326B.106, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
(a) Public buildings. The code must deleted text begin provide for makingdeleted text end new text begin require
newnew text end public buildings deleted text begin constructed or remodeled after July 1, 1963,deleted text end new text begin and existing public
buildings when remodeled to benew text end accessible to and usable by persons with disabilitiesdeleted text begin ,
although this does not require the remodeling of public buildings solely to provide
accessibility and usability to persons with disabilities when remodeling would not otherwise
be undertakendeleted text end .
(b) Leased space. No agency of the state may lease space for agency operations in a
non-state-owned building unless the building satisfies the requirements of the State Building
Code for accessibility by persons with disabilities, or is eligible to display the state symbol
of accessibility. This limitation applies to leases of 30 days or more for space of at least
1,000 square feet.
(c) Meetings or conferences. Meetings or conferences for the public or for state
employees which are sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency must be held in
buildings that meet the State Building Code requirements relating to accessibility for persons
with disabilities. This subdivision does not apply to any classes, seminars, or training
programs offered by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or the University of
Minnesota. Meetings or conferences intended for specific individuals none of whom need
the accessibility features for persons with disabilities specified in the State Building Code
need not comply with this subdivision unless a person with a disability gives reasonable
advance notice of an intent to attend the meeting or conference. When sign language
interpreters will be provided, meetings or conference sites must be chosen which allow
participants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to see the sign language interpreters clearly.
(d) Exemptions. The commissioner may grant an exemption from the requirements of
paragraphs (b) and (c) in advance if an agency has demonstrated that reasonable efforts
were made to secure facilities which complied with those requirements and if the selected
facilities are the best available for access for persons with disabilities. Exemptions shall be
granted using criteria developed by the commissioner in consultation with the Council on
Disability.
(e) Symbol indicating access. The wheelchair symbol adopted by Rehabilitation
International's Eleventh World Congress is the state symbol indicating buildings, facilities,
and grounds which are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. In the interests
of uniformity, this symbol is the sole symbol for display in or on all public or private
buildings, facilities, and grounds which qualify for its use. The secretary of state shall obtain
the symbol and keep it on file. No building, facility, or grounds may display the symbol
unless it is in compliance with the rules adopted by the commissioner under subdivision 1.
Before any rules are proposed for adoption under this paragraph, the commissioner shall
consult with the Council on Disability. Rules adopted under this paragraph must be enforced
in the same way as other accessibility rules of the State Building Code.