HF 1744 Summary

• Chief information officer shall develop and enforce technology accessibility standards for state agencies covering software, hardware, websites, online forms, and online surveys, excluding infrastructure hardware, effective July 1, 2009.

• Accessibility standards must incorporate Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, unless the chief information officer determines compliance poses an undue burden to the state.

• Advisory Committee for Technology Standards for Accessibility and Usability established with ten members including representatives from State Services for the Blind, Commission of Deaf DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans, and various state commissioners, with committee expiring June 30, 2011.

• Agencies must incorporate accessibility measures into professional and technical services contracts exceeding $5,000 and evaluate technology projects for accessibility compliance during the approval process.

• $600,000 appropriated from telecommunications access Minnesota fund for fiscal years 2010-2011 distributed to the chief information officer ($100,000 annually), Commission of Deaf DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans ($100,000 annually), and Legislative Coordinating Commission for captioning pilot program ($100,000 annually).