Sacramento, CA – Today Assemblyman Marc Steinorth (R-Rancho Cucamonga) passed AB 1342 with bipartisan support from the Assembly Judiciary Committee. AB 1342 provides additional resources and tools to the California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA) to help businesses comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). CCDA acts as a liaison to create a balance between ensuring access for the disabled community, while working with businesses to make compliance feasible.
With the resources and tools provided in AB 1342, CCDA seeks to achieve outreach goals that will allow more businesses to be prepared and compliant instead of dealing with the incredible costs of litigation. For example, the CCDA envisions the ability to eventually offer businesses grants or loans to help with compliance. CCDA believes that better outreach efforts can help business owners understand the myriad of ADA compliance issues that they may not be aware of.
“I am very proud of the broad support from the disability community, business community and legal community for this bill,” said Steinorth. “This is the strongest statement and recognition that the CCDA is an incredibly valuable entity that can play a vital role if they have the resources to help.”
AB 1342 is supported by Disability Rights California, Consumer Attorneys of California, California Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other business groups.
“SB1608 (Corbett) in 2009 crafted into law the California Commission on Disability Access, to begin a historical work in California. Now in 2015, AB 1342 is providing the wings for CCDA to soar a little bit higher toward the goal of access for all,” said Angela Jemmott, Executive Director of the California Commission on Disability Access.
AB 1342 will be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks.
Assemblyman Steinorth represents the 40th Assembly District which includes Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Highland, Loma Linda, and Redlands.
