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House unanimously backs bill to help visually impaired use touchscreen payment systems
Summary
The House passed House Bill 432 to require accessible overlays or separate keypads on new touchscreen point-of-sale devices so visually impaired customers can enter PINs; sponsor said the technology is available and the measure passed 61-0.
The Utah House voted unanimously to pass House Bill 432 on Feb. 23, a measure requiring retail merchants that install new touchscreen point-of-sale devices to provide an accessible means for visually impaired customers to enter personal identification numbers.
Representative Roger Barras, sponsor of the bill, described a constituent who is visually impaired and cannot use modern video touch-screen registers that lack tactile keypads. "It just says if you are a retail merchant and you are going to install the newer technology with the video touch screens after 01/01/2007, then you would be asked to or required to provide an overlay or have an overlay available or a keypad available that could be used by the visually impaired," Barras said on the floor.
Barras said the technology is inexpensive and widely available; he referenced California’s earlier enactment and said manufacturers already have hardware available. Colleagues spoke in support, noting that the bill builds on federal disability standards and would make routine transactions accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
House Bill 432 passed the House by voice and recorded as 61 yes, 0 no. The bill will be referred to the Senate for further action.
