Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act

Summary: Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act  This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for expenditures by an eligible small business to provide access to disabled individuals, to: (1) increase from $10,250 to $20,500 the annual dollar limitation for eligible access expenditures, (2) require the $20,500 limit to be adjusted for inflation after 2018, and (3) increase from $1 million to $2.5 million the gross receipts limitation for an eligible small business.  The bill also requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to carry out an ADA Mediation Program to: (1) facilitate voluntary mediation to resolve disputes arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (2) train mediators who provide services through the program. DOJ may hire or enter into contracts with personnel for the program.  DOJ must also report to Congress on the ADA Information Line, which is a toll-free line operated by DOJ to provide information and materials to the public about the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

INVOLVING DISABILITY 
              RIGHTS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Congress does not directly appropriate funds for the 
        ADA Mediation Program of the Disability Rights Section of the 
        Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
            (2) The Civil Rights Division receives funds for the ADA 
        Mediation Program from the Office of Alternative Dispute 
        Resolution of the Office of Legal Policy of the Department of 
        Justice. The Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution receives 
        appropriations through the appropriations account of the 
        Department of Justice appropriated under the heading ``fees and 
        expenses of witnesses'' under the heading ``Legal Activities'' 
        (referred to in this subsection as the ``FEW appropriations 
        account'').
            (3) The total amount appropriated to the Office of 
        Alternative Dispute Resolution through the FEW appropriations 
        account for fiscal year 2018 is $3,659,544.
            (4) Out of this amount, the Office of Alternative Dispute 
        Resolution funds mediation for all of the litigating units 
        within the Department of Justice.
            (5) The Civil Rights Division requests funding for the ADA 
        Mediation Program on a quarterly basis and is limited in its 
        ability to use funds to increase personnel and provide training 
        concerning the program.
            (6) Voluntary mediation, under section 514 of the Americans 
        with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12212), of disputes 
        between individuals and entities covered by the Americans with 
        Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) requires 
        specific expertise.
            (7) To best serve the disability community, and entities 
        covered by that Act, the ADA Mediation Program should be able 
        to use funds to increase personnel and provide training 
        concerning the program.
    (b) ADA Mediation Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall carry out an 
        ADA Mediation Program (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Program'').
            (2) Duties and authorities.--In carrying out the Program, 
        the Attorney General--
                    (A) shall facilitate voluntary mediation to resolve 
                disputes arising under the Americans with Disabilities 
                Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);
                    (B) may hire or enter into contracts with personnel 
                for the Program, including increasing the number of 
                such personnel beyond the number of individuals who 
                provided services through the Program on the date of 
                enactment of this section; and
                    (C) provide training for mediators who provide 
                services through the Program.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    (A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated to the appropriations account of the 
                Department of Justice appropriated under the heading 
                ``fees and expenses of witnesses'' under the heading 
                ``Legal Activities'', to carry out this section, 
                $1,000,000 (in addition to any other amounts 
                appropriated to that account) for fiscal year 2019.
                    (B) Availability of funds.--Funds appropriated 
                under subparagraph (A) may be used to pay for 
                obligations incurred through the Program prior to the 
                date of enactment of this section.

SEC. 4. ADA INFORMATION LINE DATA COLLECTION REPORT.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) As of August 10, 2018, during fiscal year 2018, 
        accessibility specialists have answered approximately 38,135 
        calls to the ADA Information Line.
            (2) The ADA Information Line receives on average 
        approximately 1,000 calls per week, and does not typically 
        collect data about the kinds of calls it receives.
            (3) The ADA Information Line takes calls from a variety of 
        individuals and entities interested in the Americans with 
        Disabilities Act of 1990, including--
                    (A) employers covered by such Act;
                    (B) architects and others who work with such 
                employers;
                    (C) public entities, such as schools and public 
                service providers;
                    (D) individuals with disabilities; and
                    (E) entities that provide public accommodations.
            (4) ADA.gov provides many resources to individuals and 
        entities, public or private, looking for information on such 
        Act.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``ADA Information Line'' means the toll-free 
        line operated by the Attorney General to provide information 
        and materials to the public about the requirements of the 
        Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et 
        seq.), including regulations issued under the Act and technical 
        assistance in accordance with section 507 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 
        12206); and
            (2) the term ``disability'', with respect to an individual, 
        has the meaning given such term in section 3 of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 12102).
    (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report to each committee 
of Congress--
            (1) outlining the kinds of calls the ADA Information Line 
        receives;
            (2) detailing the efforts of the Department of Justice to 
        educate individuals and entities about the existence of the ADA 
        Information Line; and
            (3) providing recommendations on improvements that can be 
        made to provide additional support to individuals with 
        disabilities, and entities covered by the Americans with 
        Disabilities Act of 1990, seeking information on such Act.