Hearing on House Bill 840 proposes mandatory disability training, certification and fines for private businesses

San Juan — The Comisión de Adultos Mayores y Bienestar Social held a public hearing Sept. 25 on Proyecto de la Cámara 840 (Rivera), a bill that would require private businesses open to the public to provide annual training on interacting with people with disabilities, designate internal points of contact, display approved signage and obtain a certificate of compliance from the Defensoría de las Personas con Impedimentos of Puerto Rico.

The bill, as read into the record during the hearing, would make those trainings mandatory, create a voluntary certificate of inclusion that must be renewed every two years, establish administrative fines up to $5,000 for noncompliance and direct funds collected from fees and fines to the Defensoría’s general fund to support implementation.

Licenciado William Pillot of the Defensoría, who presented the office’s written testimony, told the commission the measure “representa un paso histórico hacia la construcción de una sociedad verdaderamente inclusiva,” while also warning the Defensoría currently lacks the staffing and budget to carry out the new duties the bill would impose. “No podríamos afrontar las responsabilidades que nos recomienda la presente pieza legislativa ... con los recursos con los que contamos al presente,” Pillot said during his remarks.

Pillot’s presentation outlined specific provisions the Defensoría supports and the operational challenges it foresees. The bill’s key provisions presented to the commission include:

- Mandatory annual trainings for employees of private establishments open to the public, including…