Directs the department of transportation to conduct a study of the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles, by county, in New York state outside of the city of New York; defines accessibility; requires a report to identify any existing local guidelines for accessible vehicles; directs development of benchmarks for increasing wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Impact
This bill seeks to create a more standardized approach toward wheelchair accessibility in transportation services in New York State. By defining what constitutes a wheelchair accessible vehicle, the legislation will lay the groundwork for uniform standards. This move is anticipated to empower local authorities with the information needed to implement effective policies that improve transportation options for individuals reliant on wheelchair accessible vehicles. The study outcomes will aid in the identification of accessibility deserts, which may signal insufficient vehicle availability for the disabled community.
Summary
Bill S07611 aims to enhance the availability and accessibility of wheelchair accessible vehicles across New York State, especially in counties outside of New York City. The legislation mandates the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the current availability of these vehicles by collecting data from each county. The intent is to establish a clear understanding of existing local guidelines regarding accessible vehicles and identify any inadequacies in the number of such vehicles in various locales.
Contention
One notable point of contention surrounding S07611 could be the potential financial implications for local authorities tasked with implementing the new standards and procedures. The requirement for counties to create and submit plans to meet the benchmarks set by the state may strain resources, especially if funding mechanisms are not well established. Concerns have also been raised regarding how quickly and effectively local governments can adapt to new regulations, including the incorporation of best practices for wheelchair accessibility into existing transportation frameworks.
Requires state agencies to conform any of their websites to the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility; requires the office of information technology services to provide training on such guidelines.
Requires state agencies to conform any of their websites to the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility; requires the office of information technology services to provide training on such guidelines.
Requires electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle capable parking spaces to have handicap accessible spaces that are large enough to accommodate such wheelchair accessible electric vehicles, including but not limited to, vans and minivans.
Requires electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle capable parking spaces to have handicap accessible spaces that are large enough to accommodate such wheelchair accessible electric vehicles, including but not limited to, vans and minivans.
Establishes the senior housing accessibility study group to examine and make recommendations for amending the New York state uniform fire prevention and building code to improve and enhance accessibility requirements for all newly constructed or substantially reconstructed senior housing developments.
Requires state agencies to conform any of their websites to the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility; requires the office of information technology services to provide a report to the governor and legislature every two years.
Requires state agencies to conform any of their websites to the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility; requires the office of information technology services to provide a report to the governor and legislature every two years.