1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to the State Building Code; authorizing adoption of rules to increase
1.3 accessibility for examination rooms; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section
1.4 326B.106, subdivision 9.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326B.106, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 9.Accessibility.(a) Public buildings. The code must require new public buildings
1.8and remodeled portions of existing public buildings to be accessible to and usable by persons
1.9with disabilities.
1.10 (b) Leased space. No agency of the state may lease space for agency operations in a
1.11non-state-owned building unless the building satisfies the requirements of the State Building
1.12Code for accessibility by persons with disabilities, or is eligible to display the state symbol
1.13of accessibility. This limitation applies to leases of 30 days or more for space of at least
1.141,000 square feet.
1.15 (c) Meetings or conferences. Meetings or conferences for the public or for state
1.16employees which are sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency must be held in
1.17buildings that meet the State Building Code requirements relating to accessibility for persons
1.18with disabilities. This subdivision does not apply to any classes, seminars, or training
1.19programs offered by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or the University of
1.20Minnesota. Meetings or conferences intended for specific individuals none of whom need
1.21the accessibility features for persons with disabilities specified in the State Building Code
1.22need not comply with this subdivision unless a person with a disability gives reasonable
1.23advance notice of an intent to attend the meeting or conference. When sign language
1Section 1.
REVISOR SS/ES 25-0261501/22/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 662
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Hicks, Smith and Curran02/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy 2.1interpreters will be provided, meetings or conference sites must be chosen which allow
2.2participants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to see the sign language interpreters clearly.
2.3 (d) Exemptions. The commissioner may grant an exemption from the requirements of
2.4paragraphs (b) and (c) in advance if an agency has demonstrated that reasonable efforts
2.5were made to secure facilities which complied with those requirements and if the selected
2.6facilities are the best available for access for persons with disabilities. Exemptions shall be
2.7granted using criteria developed by the commissioner in consultation with the Council on
2.8Disability.
2.9 (e) Symbol indicating access. The wheelchair symbol adopted by Rehabilitation
2.10International's Eleventh World Congress is the state symbol indicating buildings, facilities,
2.11and grounds which are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. In the interests
2.12of uniformity, this symbol is the sole symbol for display in or on all public or private
2.13buildings, facilities, and grounds which qualify for its use. The secretary of state shall obtain
2.14the symbol and keep it on file. No building, facility, or grounds may display the symbol
2.15unless it is in compliance with the rules adopted by the commissioner under subdivision 1.
2.16Before any rules are proposed for adoption under this paragraph, the commissioner shall
2.17consult with the Council on Disability. Rules adopted under this paragraph must be enforced
2.18in the same way as other accessibility rules of the State Building Code.
2.19 (f) Inclusive examination rooms. The commissioner may adopt rules, using the expedited
2.20rulemaking process in section 14.389, to increase accessibility to examination rooms in
2.21health care and dental facilities for persons with disabilities. The specific accessibility
2.22requirements shall be determined during the rulemaking process.
2Section 1.
REVISOR SS/ES 25-0261501/22/25