Rep. Elizabeth reintroduces bill to create state ADA coordinator, citing federal requirement

Representative Elizabeth Burrows reintroduced H.861 on Feb. 11, asking the House General & Housing committee to create a statewide Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator to oversee program and facility accessibility across state government.

Burrows told committee members the ADA’s Title II requires any public entity with 50 or more employees to designate at least one employee to coordinate ADA compliance and to publish grievance procedures. "This position is actually required by federal law," she said, adding the state’s statutes currently track ADA rules only through 2013 and that agencies without a central coordinator apply standards inconsistently.

She argued a coordinator could offer uniform interpretations, direct cross-agency training on the supremacy of federal ADA requirements, and address systemic failures before they become litigation. "Without a coordinator, people with disabilities bounce between offices," Burrows said.

Committee members voiced general support and asked procedural questions about the bill’s form and cost. The chair and members noted the position would likely require an appropriation and agreed Legislative Council should flesh out duties and placement. Office members suggested the coordinator could be housed in an independent office, but members left the final placement open pending drafting and a cost estimate.

No formal motion or vote was recorded on H.861 at this meeting. The bill remains in short form and the committee asked the sponsor and staff to return with a redraft and appropriation details that identify whether the position will be a single full-time equivalent and what funding would be required.

The committee moved on to other agenda items after the presentation.