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House approves tech-accessibility bill to set accessibility standards for state systems
Summary
HB122 requires the chief information office to adopt accessibility standards for executive-branch information technology; sponsor cited DOJ guidance and disability statistics, and the bill passed 61–5.
Representative Marrow presented HB122, which urges the state to adopt a comprehensive accessibility policy for executive-branch information technology and requires the chief information office to set standards that include persons with disabilities in standards-setting.
Marrow cited national data and guidance: "8.5 percent of people in America have an acknowledged disability," and noted the U.S. Department of Justice has stated that state and local government websites are covered by Title II of the ADA. He argued that Utah’s 2005 Technology Governance Act reorganized state IT services but did not comprehensively address accessibility across systems.
Proponents said the bill would make state websites and software more usable for visually impaired, blind, deaf and other users, and require transparent standards. The House passed HB122 by a roll-call vote of 61–5; the bill will go to the Senate for further consideration.
Next steps: HB122 will be transmitted to the Senate and the chief information office will be responsible for drafting standards if the bill becomes law.
