[Blindtlk] Fwd: AB 768 California

[David Andrews]

>
>Hello David,
>
>Good evening. My name is Chad Allen and I have been a member of the NFB for
>over 5 years. I currently am working as the new acting Legislative
>Representative for the NFB of California and our most recent bill has been
>enrolled in the governor's office. If possible, could you post my letter to
>some of the other list-serves besides NFB of California's? Please reply at
>your earliest convenience.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Chad Allen
>Legislative Representative
>NFB California
>cfallen at sbcglobal.net
>
>Hello fellow Federationists,
>
>Recently, AB 768 (Nation) was enrolled in Governor Schwarzenegger's office
>for review. Once again, the NFB of California, the most influential
>organization assembled to promote a greater quality of life for blind
>Californians successfully followed another bill through both the state
>Assembly and the state Senate.
>
>AB 768 addresses the need to have non-visual access to electronic
>self-check-in devices utilized by airlines and hotels operating in our
>state. Self-check-in is quickly becoming standard practice throughout
>California and rarely do manufacturers consider implementing non-visual
>access to these machines. 
>
>We as members of the NFB of California, now must ensure our right to
>non-visual access by informing Governor Schwarzenegger of our position. We
>must be clear in our message to relay the importance for the blind to be
>able to interact with these machines the same way blind people have been
>using for decades; synthesized speech out-put, audio tutorials, and tactile
>display panels on front of units. Manufacturers of these self-check-in
>devices will eventually begin the process of developing accessibility
>features into standard units purchased by hotels and airlines and begin
>presenting effective solutions to non-visual access for everyone. The NFB of
>California will continue to pioneer and help forge a path to independence
>and equal access to all public facilities including self-check-in devices
>used by the public.  
>
>Please voice your strong approval of the passage of AB 768 (Nation) to
>Governor Schwarzenegger so that we may send AB 768's message to California
>State leaders and the hotel and airline industries. Below you will find a
>copy of the language for AB 768 as it appears on the state's legislative
>website www.leginfo.ca.gov.
>
>Your letters should be sent to governor at governor.ca.gov and carbon copied to
>ryan.spencer at asm.ca.gov so we may keep an accurate count of letters sent in
>AB 768's support. You may also call Governor Schwarzenegger's Sacramento
>office in our State Capitol at 916-445-2841 Faxes can be sent to the
>Governor's Sacramento office at 916-445-4633.
>
>If you have any questions about the bill, please feel free to contact me at
>cfallen at sbcglobal.net. I encourage all of you send your support for AB 768
>and please ask friends, family, co-workers and anyone else who appreciates
>the example you show in making it respectable to be blind. 
>
>Thank you,
>
>Chad F. Allen
>NFB California Legislative Representative
>
> 
>BILL NUMBER: AB 768     ENROLLED
>BILL TEXT
>PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 22, 2006
>PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 21, 2006
>AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 16, 2006
>AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 12, 2006
>AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 23, 2006
>AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 23, 2006
>AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 31, 2005
>AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 10, 2005
>AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 4, 2005
>INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Nation
>(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bermudez, Koretz, and Levine)
>(Coauthors: Senators Cedillo and Figueroa) FEBRUARY 18, 2005 An act to add
>Section 54.9 to the Civil Code, relating to touch-screen devices.
>LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
>AB 768, Nation  Touch-screen devices.
>Under existing law, individuals with certain disabilities are entitled to
>equal access rights to various facilities.  Existing law requires certain
>existing point-of-sale systems that include a video touch-screen or
>nontactile keypad to be equipped, on or before January 1, 2010, with a
>tactually discernible numerical keypad meeting specified requirements that
>enables a visually impaired person to enter personal information necessary
>to process a transaction.
>This bill would require, on and after January 1, 2009, a manufacturer or
>distributor of touch-screen devices used for the purpose of self-service
>check-in at a hotel, as defined, or at a facility providing passenger
>transportation services to offer for availability touch-screen self-service
>check-in devices that enable a person with a visual impairment to enter any
>personal information, as specified, and to use the device independently and
>without the assistance of others in the same manner afforded to those
>without visual impairments.
>THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
>SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
>(a) While the advancement of digital technology has provided numerous
>conveniences and expediencies in many aspects of our personal and
>professional lives, it has also introduced numerous obstacles.
>(b) Touch-screen devices, especially point-of-sale devices in most retail
>outlets, transportation facilities, and entertainment venues, present
>hindrances to blind and visually impaired people. They have created an
>environment in which blind and visually impaired citizens are not allowed to
>shop independently and are often put in situations where their safety and
>security are severely compromised.
>(c) The widespread implementation of touch-screen devices is completely
>inaccessible to the estimated 10 million blind and visually impaired people
>currently living in the United States.
>(d) The number of people excluded from using this technology will grow
>sharply in the next few decades as the aging population increases and more
>people experience vision loss due to complications of diabetes and other
>ailments.
>(e) The use of this rapidly expanding technology requires the consumer to
>possess well functioning eyesight, particularly when tactile keypads are
>replaced with smooth, touch-screen windows.
>(f) Recent laws have been approved to address the need for accessibility to
>touch-screen devices in several different industries; however, the growth of
>touch-screens in many other industries continues.
>SEC. 2.  Section 54.9 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
>54.9.  (a) On and after January 1, 2009, a manufacturer or distributor of
>touch-screen devices used for the purpose of self-service check-in at a
>hotel or at a facility providing passenger transportation services shall
>offer for availability touch-screen self-service check-in devices that
>contain the necessary technology.
>(b) For purposes of this section, "necessary technology" means technology
>that enables a person with a visual impairment to do the
>following:
>(1) Enter any personal information necessary to process a transaction in a
>manner that ensures the same degree of personal privacy afforded to those
>without visual impairments.
>(2) Use the device independently and without the assistance of others in the
>same manner afforded to those without visual impairments.
>(c) For purposes of this section, "hotel" means any hotel, motel, bed and
>breakfast inn, or other similar transient lodging establishment, but it does
>not include any residential hotel as defined in Section 50519 of the Health
>and Safety Code.
>(d) This section shall not be construed to preclude or limit any other
>existing right or remedy as it pertains to self-service check-in devices and
>accessibility.