## U.S. Access Board Budget: $7 million (FY

2013) Staf f: 29 • Of fice of Administrative Services • General Counsel’ s Of fice • Technical & Information Services

# Overview of the Access Board
• 25 members • 13 public members appointed by the President for four year terms • 12 Federal members from various Federal agencies 

### • Board meets every other month in Washington, DC and has one out-of -town event

## Access Board Programs • Guidelines and standards development • Architectural Barriers Act (1968) • Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) • Telecommunications Act (1996) • Rehabilitation Act Amendments (1998) • Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) 

### • Technical assistance and training • Research • ABA enforcement

## Completed Rulemakings
• ADA Accessibility Guidelines (1991) Supplements: • state and government facilities (1998) • children’s environments (1998) • play areas (2000) and recreation facilities (2002)
• Transportation Vehicles (1991) • Telecommunications Access (1998) • Electronic & Information Technology (2000) • Updated ADA-ABA Guidelines (2004) • Outdoor Developed Areas (2013)

## Rulemaking in Development 1. Passenger Vessels 2. Public Rights-of

-Way and Shared Use Paths 3. Transportation Vehicles 4. Information and Communications Technology 5. Self -Service Transaction Machines 6. Emergency Transportable Housing 7. Medical Diagnostic Equipment 8. Classroom Acoustics

## Rulemaking Authority
• New construction and alterations
• Under the ADA and ABA, our guidelines are not enforceable until adopted by a standard setting agency

## Rulemaking Authority
• Under the ADA and ABA, the Board’s authority only extends to the fixed items and equipment of a facility (i.e., items and equipment fixed to the facility through bolts, plumbing, or other structural elements) • Other agencies have authority over non fixed or free-standing equipment

## Required Rulemaking Process
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking • Published in Federal Register • Public comment period – minimum 60 days by Executive Order 

### • Final Rule • Published in Federal Register

## Required Rulemaking Process
• Regulatory assessments required at proposed and final rule stages • Submit to Office of Management and Budget for review • 90 day review process

## Our Rulemaking Process

Enhancements • Extensive public input and involvement • Information meetings • Lengthy comment periods • Public hearings 

### • Based on consensus where possible • Advisory committees • Regulatory negotiation committees

## Advisory Committees
• 14 committees since 1993 representing over 345 organizations

# Board Member’s Role

• Board member liaison – Chris Hart
• Serves as the Board liaison to the committee
• Does not take an official position on behalf of the Board but reports back to the full Board regarding committee activities and to apprise the committee of any issues the Board may have

# Duties of the Designated Federal Official (DFO)
• Approve the agenda • Attend the meeting • Assure that accurate records are kept • Send agenda and related information to members before the meeting • Make logistical arrangements • Prepare Federal Register notices • Support the Chair during the meeting

# Thank you in advance for your work