File #: Int 0163-2024    Version: * Name: Establishing accessibility guidelines for print documents.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction
On agenda: 2/28/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing accessibility guidelines for print documents
Sponsors: Eric Dinowitz, Joseph C. Borelli, Linda Lee, Gale A. Brewer, Crystal Hudson
Council Member Sponsors: 5
Summary: This bill would require the mayor or mayor’s designee to establish accessibility guidelines for print documents. These guidelines would contain, but need not be limited to, guidance regarding formatting, visual appearance, and readability. Print documents produced by a city agency for dissemination to the public would be required to adhere to these guidelines to the extent practicable.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 163, 2. Int. No. 163, 3. February 28, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 2-28-24, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - February 28, 2024

Int. No. 163

 

By Council Members Dinowitz, Borelli, Lee, Brewer and Hudson

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing accessibility guidelines for print documents

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. The title of Chapter 8 of title 23 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 25 for the year 2016, is amended to read as follows:

Chapter 8 - CITY WEBSITES AND PRINT MATERIALS

§ 2. Subdivision a of section 23-802 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 26 for the year 2016, is amended to read as follows:

a. The mayor or the mayor's designee shall adopt a protocol for websites maintained by or on behalf of the city or a city agency relating to website accessibility for persons with disabilities. Such protocol shall provide for agency websites to use either of the following standards: 36 CFR § 1194.22 or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, developed by the Worldwide Web Consortium, or any successor standards, provided that the adopted protocol may differ from these standards in specific instances when the mayor or mayor's designee determines, after consulting with experts in website design and reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, and the holding of a public hearing, that such differences will provide effective communication for people with disabilities, and that such differences are documented in such protocol. Such protocol shall be made available online. [This section does not require an agency to take any action that would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens.]

§ 3. Section 23-802 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 26 for the year 2016, is amended by adding new subdivisions c and d to read as follows:

c. The mayor or the mayor’s designee shall establish guidelines relating to the accessibility of print documents for persons with disabilities, and such guidelines shall be made available online. Such guidelines shall contain, but need not be limited to, guidance regarding formatting, visual appearance, and readability. Wherever practicable, print documents that are produced by an agency for dissemination to the public shall adhere to these guidelines.

d. This section does not require an agency to take any action that would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens.

§ 4. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.

PS

LS #12122/15191

1/10/23 4:30pm