SF 1136

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/24/2015 03:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to accessibility; modifying traffic and parking signs, restroom signs, and
digital media; removing the words "handicap" and "disability" from parking and
traffic signs and state digital media; requiring modification of symbol indicating
accessibility; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section
326B.106, subdivision 9.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 326B.106, subdivision 9, is amended to
read:

Subd. 9.

Accessibility.

(a) Public buildings. The code must provide for making
public buildings constructed or remodeled after July 1, 1963, accessible to and usable by
persons with disabilities, 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 undertaken.

(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. new text begin Except as provided in paragraph (f), new text end 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.

new text begin (f) Women's wheelchair symbol. Any state-owned or wholly state-leased facility or
any facility owned or wholly-leased by a person or an entity receiving a monetary subsidy
or grant from the state shall display on each public women's or unisex restroom that is
accessible a modified version of the wheelchair symbol described in paragraph (e), so that
the modified sign depicts a woman wearing a dress. If the facility displays a sign for a
women's restroom, and the woman in the sign is depicted wearing a dress, the woman
depicted in the accessibility sign must be shown wearing a similar dress. An entity that is
subject to the requirements of this paragraph but does not comply may not receive state
aid during the period of noncompliance.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective October 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ACCESSIBLE PARKING SIGNS.
new text end

new text begin A sign that is posted to identify a parking space reserved for people who qualify
for accessible parking must not display any form of the word "handicap," "disabled," or
"disability." The owner of a parking facility that is owned or wholly leased by the state or by
a private entity that receives any monetary aid from the state shall, no later than January 15,
2016, modify or replace the sign so that it displays a form of the word "accessible" or the
state symbol indicating buildings, facilities, and grounds which are accessible to and usable
by persons with disabilities adopted by the Rehabilitation International's Eleventh World
Congress and does not display a form of the word "handicap," "disabled," or "disability."
The commissioner of transportation shall establish and administer a program to provide
grants to sign owners who meet criteria identified by the commissioner to enable them
to pay for the required sign changes. An entity that is subject to the requirements of this
section but does not comply may not receive state aid during the period of noncompliance.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PRINTED OR DIGITAL MEDIA.
new text end

new text begin The chief information accessibility officer shall require state agencies and private
entities that receive any monetary aid from the state, no later than September 30, 2015, to
remove any form of the word "handicap," "disabled," or "disability" from newly printed
or digital media created or maintained by state agencies or private entities directing the
public to accessible public restrooms and accessible parking and substitute a form of the
word "accessible." An entity that is subject to the requirements of this section but does not
comply may not receive state aid during the period of noncompliance.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2016 and $....... in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of transportation for the purpose of making grants
under section 2.
new text end