Plain English Breakdown
The bill was ordered to inactive file at the request of the sponsor, meaning it has passed the legislature but is not currently active law.
Internet Website Accessibility
This proposed law would give website owners a legal defense against certain damages if they quickly fix accessibility problems, and it would stop paid service providers from knowingly creating or selling inaccessible website parts.
What This Bill Does
- Provides an affirmative defense for entities facing claims about specific website barriers if they act within 30 days of receiving a written pre-lawsuit demand.
- Requires the entity to show evidence that it published a digital accessibility report on its site disclosing the barrier and later updated it after fixing the issue, or prove good faith efforts to meet standards.
- Prohibits paid resource service providers from negligently, recklessly, or knowingly creating website parts they control that cause inaccessibility.
- Bans service providers from falsely claiming their resources are accessible if they do not follow required standards.
- Allows small business entities and certain public attorneys, including the Attorney General, to file civil actions against violating service providers.
Who It Names or Affects
- Entities that operate internet websites
- Resource service providers who build or maintain website parts for money
- Small business entities as defined by law
- Public attorneys and the Attorney General
Terms To Know
- Affirmative defense
- A legal argument that admits facts but provides a reason why the defendant should not be held liable for statutory damages.
- Resource service provider
- A person or company paid to build, license, distribute, or maintain parts of an internet website.
- Accessibility barrier
- A specific problem on a website that prevents people with disabilities from using it fully.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill text does not define the exact 'internet website accessibility standard' mentioned in the law.
- The source material states the bill was ordered to an inactive file, so its effective date is unknown and it may not become active law.
- The definition of a 'small business entity' for enforcement purposes comes from other laws and is not detailed here.