What's happening
This bill requires state and local government contracts for information and communication technologies to meet accessibility standards for people with disabilities.
Why it matters
Expands accessibility obligations to a wide range of technologies. The bill covers not just websites or computers, but all information and communication technologies (ICTs)—including phones, software, video systems, and more—so it broadens the impact to many types of digital tools and platforms used by governments.
Makes accessibility a deciding factor in contract awards. Contractors bidding for state and local government ICT projects must demonstrate their products or services are accessible to people with disabilities. This could shift procurement priorities and incentivize companies to design with accessibility in mind from the start.
Creates consistency across all levels of government. By applying these requirements to state agencies, public authorities, and all municipalities, the legislation sets a single standard across New York, helping prevent patchwork or inconsistent accessibility practices.
Encourages long-term systemic change. The requirement to consider accessibility in both commodity and service contracts could gradually reshape the market, as vendors adapt to meet these standards, potentially leading to broader improvements in accessibility even outside government contracts.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Require Accessible Tech Contracts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
15 Co-sponsors
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Accessible Tech in Contracts
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Tony Avella
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2439
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SEPULVEDA, LAWRENCE, SIMON, BLAKE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to accessibility requirements in certain procurement contracts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 139-l to read as follows:
§ 139-l. Accessibility requirements in certain procurement contracts. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, where a contract that includes information and communication technologies (ICTs) is to be awarded by a state agency, public authority or municipality pursuant to a competitive bidding process or a request for proposal process, such competitive bidding process or request for proposal and the subsequent awarded contract shall require that such ICTs are accessible to people with disabilities. The ability of a prospective contractor to meet such an accessibility requirement shall be considered in making the contract award.
2. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following definitions:
(a) "information and communication technologies (ICTs)" includes, but shall not be limited to, any communication device or application including radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, and satellite systems as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning.
(b) "municipality" shall mean any city, town, village, county, municipal corporation, district corporation, district or any office, department or agency, thereof.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08065-01-7
A. 2439 2
(c) "state agency" shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, mean any state department, board, bureau, division, office, council, committee or officer of the state, or the state university of New York, or the senior colleges of the city university of New York, or any public benefit corporation or commission at least one of whose members are appointed by the governor.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 163 of the state finance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 1 to read as follows:
l. "Information and communication technologies (ICTs)" shall have the same meaning as set forth in section one hundred thirty-nine-l of this chapter.
§ 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 163 of the state finance law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (viii) to read as follows:
(viii) When the purchase of commodities involves ICTs, commodities contracts shall be awarded to prospective contractors who are able to meet accessibility requirements pursuant to section one hundred thirtynine-l of this chapter.
§ 4. Subdivision 4 of section 163 of the state finance law is amended by adding a new paragraph h to read as follows:
h. When the purchase of services involves ICTs, service contracts shall be awarded to prospective contractors who are able to meet accessibility requirements pursuant to section one hundred thirty-nine-l of this chapter.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, the provisions of this act shall be applied to all contracts to be entered into on or after the first of April next succeeding the date on which this act shall have become a law; and provided, further, that the amendments to the provisions of section 163 of the state finance law made by sections two, three and four of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.