Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2984
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-09-28
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Advisory bodies

Civil actions and liability

Computers and information technology

Congressional oversight

Department of Justice

Disability and health-based discrimination

Employment and training programs

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Internet, web applications, social media
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2984 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 28 (legislative day, September 22), 2023 Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Ms. Warren , and Mr. Markey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To establish uniform accessibility standards for websites and applications of employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, joint labor-management committees, public entities, public accommodations, testing entities, and commercial providers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2023 . 2. Findings and purposes (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Section 2(b)(1) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 states that the Act provides a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities ( 42 U.S.C. 12101(b)(1) ). (2) In 1990, websites and applications were essentially nonexistent, but Congress made clear that the ADA should keep pace with the rapidly changing technology of the times (H.R. Rep. No. 101–485, pt. 2, at 381 (1990)), as reprinted in 1990 U.S.C.C.A.N. 303, 391). (3) Section 102 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12112 ), section 202 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12132 ), and section 302 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12182 ) broadly prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in regard to employment, services, programs, or activities of public entities, and of goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, respectively. (4) The Department of Justice has promulgated regulations to address the intersection of the ADA and emerging technologies, including the obligation to ensure effective communication with and by individuals with disabilities by using technologies such as video remote interpreting, real-time computer-aided transcription, open and closed captioning, audio description, videophones, captioned telephones, screen reader software, optical readers, and telephone systems that interact properly with internet-based relay systems. (5) The activities of a vast number of ADA-covered entities now occur in whole or in part through websites and applications, a shift that has been accelerated by a global pandemic. The digital economy accounts for nearly 10 percent of the United States gross domestic product, and 85 percent of United States adults visit the internet at least once per day. (6) Many entities, including those covered by the ADA, rely on third-party technology providers to deliver goods and services via websites and applications, yet these websites and applications are often created and developed in a manner that is inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. (7) Despite the ADA’s clear language covering all services, programs, and activities of public entities, all goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of public accommodations, and all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment and certain actions of employers, including when conducted through websites and applications, most websites and applications contain significant barriers for individuals with disabilities. (8) When Congress enacted the ADA in 1990, Congress intended for the ADA to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. The Department of Justice has rightly acknowledged that the ADA requires covered entities to ensure that their websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities. (9) Some courts have misconstrued the ADA, saying the ADA does not cover websites despite the clear language of the ADA’s provisions. (10) Without equal access to websites and applications, many individuals with disabilities are treated as second-class citizens and are excluded from equal participation in and equal access to all aspects of society. (b) Purpose It is the purpose of this Act— (1) to affirm that the ADA and this Act require that websites and applications used by any covered entity to communicate or interact with applicants, employees, participants, customers, or other members of the public be readily accessible to and useable by individuals with disabilities, whether the entity has a physical location or is digital only; (2) to require the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to set and enforce standards for websites and applications and to periodically update such standards; (3) to address and remedy the systemic nationwide problem of inaccessible websites and applications that exclude individuals with disabilities from equal participation in and equal access to all aspects of society; and (4) to create effective mechanisms to respond to emerging technologies and to ensure that such technologies do not impair the rights and abilities of individuals with disabilities to participate in all aspects of society. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Accessible The term accessible or accessibility , used with respect to a website or application, means a perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust website or application that enables individuals with disabilities to access the same information as, to engage in the same interactions as, to communicate and to be understood as effectively as, and to enjoy the same services as are offered to, other individuals with the same privacy, same independence, and same ease of use as, individuals without disabilities. (2) Accessibility regulations The term accessibility regulations means the regulations issued under section 5 in accordance with this Act. (3) ADA The term ADA means the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ). (4) Application The term application means software that is designed to run on a device, including a smartphone, tablet, self-service kiosk, wearable technology item, or laptop or desktop computer or another device, including a device devised after the date of enactment of this Act, and that is designed to perform, or to help the user perform, a specific task. (5) Commercial provider The term commercial provider means any entity, including a public or private entity— (A) whose operations affect commerce; and (B) that designs, develops, constructs, alters, modifies, or adds an application or website for a covered entity (including a covered entity described in subparagraph (A) that takes such an action for the covered entity's product) for covered use. (6) Commission The term Commission means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (7) Covered entity The term covered entity means an employment entity, public entity, public accommodation, or testing entity. (8) Covered use The term covered use means— (A) use by a public entity to provide a service, program, or activity, or information related to such service, program, or activity, covered under title II of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq. ), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794 ), or section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1811 ), to an applicant, participant, or other member of the public; (B) use by a public accommodation or testing entity to provide a good, service, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation, or information related to such good, service, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation, to customers or other members of the public, regardless of whether the public accommodation or testing entity owns, operates, or utilizes a physical location for covered use; or (C) use by an employment entity in determining or conducting job application procedures, hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, or other term, condition, or privilege of employment, for employees or applicants to become employees. (9) Department The term Department means the Department of Justice. (10) Disability The term disability has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12102 ). (11) Employee The term employee has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 ). (12) Employer The term employer has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 ). (13) Employment agency The term employment agency has the meaning given the term in section 701 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e ). (14) Employment entity The term employment entity means an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee. (15) Information and communication technology The term information and communication technology — (A) means— (i) any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, used in the automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information; and (ii) other equipment or technology, or another system or process, for which the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of electronic data and information, as well as any associated content; and (B) includes computers and peripheral equipment, information kiosks and transaction machines, telecommunications equipment, customer premises equipment, multifunction office machines, software, applications, websites, videos, and electronic documents. (16) Joint labor-management committee The term joint labor-management committee means a labor management committee established pursuant to section 205A of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 ( 29 U.S.C. 175a ) and engaged in commerce. (17) Labor organization The term labor organization has the meaning given the term in section 701 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e ). (18) Operable The term operable , used with respect to a website or application, means that user interface components and navigation for the website or application can be operated by individuals with disabilities. (19) Perceivable The term perceivable , used with respect to a website or application, means that information and user interface components for the website or application are presentable in ways that individuals with disabilities can perceive. (20) Public accommodation The term public accommodation means a private entity described in paragraph (7) of section 301 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12181 ) who owns, operates, or utilizes a website or application for covered use. (21) Public entity The term public entity has the meaning given the term public entity in section 201 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12131 ). (22) Qualified individual The term qualified individual , used with respect to an employee or an applicant to become an employee, has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 ). (23) Robust The term robust , used with respect to a website or application, means a website or application for which the content can be interpreted by and the interface can be accessed by a wide variety of tools, including assistive technology, used by individuals with disabilities. (24) Small entity The term small entity means an entity or provider defined as a small entity in the regulations issued under subsection (a) or (b) of section 5. (25) Software definitions (A) Platform software (i) In general The term platform software means software— (I) that interacts with hardware or provides services for other software; (II) that may run or host other software, and may isolate the other software from underlying software or hardware layers; and (III) a single component of which may have both platform and non-platform aspects. (ii) Platform For purposes of clause (i), the term platform includes— (I) a desktop operating system; (II) an embedded operating system, including a mobile system; (III) a web browser; (IV) a plugin to a web browser that renders a particular media or format; and (V) a set of components that allows another application to execute, such as an application which supports macros or scripting. (B) Software In subparagraphs (A) and (C), the term software — (i) means a program, a procedure, and a rule (any of which may include related data or documentation), that directs the use and operation of information and communication technology to perform a given task or function; and (ii) includes applications, non-web software, platform software, and software tools. (C) Software tool (i) In general The term software tool means software— (I) for which the primary function is the development of other software; and (II) that usually comes in the form of an Integrated Development Environment and is a suite of related products and utilities. (ii) Integrated Development Environment In clause (i), the term Integrated Development Environment means an application such as— (I) Microsoft® Visual Studio®; (II) Apple® Xcode®; and (III) Eclipse Foundation Eclipse®. (26) State The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States. (27) Testing entity The term testing entity means any person whose operations affect commerce, as defined in section 301 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12181 ) and that offers examinations or courses related to, applying, licensing, certification, or credentialing for secondary or postsecondary education, professional, or trade purposes. (28) Understandable The term understandable , used with respect to a website or application, means that the components of the user interface for the website or application, including any input fields, error messages, and correction opportunities, are predictable and can be understood and used by individuals with disabilities. (29) Website The term website means any collection of related web pages, images, videos, or other digital assets placed in one or more computer server-based file archives so that the collection can be accessed by applicants, employees, participants, customers, or other members of the public over the internet or through a private computer network. 4. Access to websites and applications (a) General rules for covered entities (1) Employment entity No employment entity shall subject to discrimination, related to a website or application owned, operated, or utilized for covered use by the employment entity, an individual with a disability in regard to an activity described in section 102 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12112 ). (2) Public entity No individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability— (A) be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities, or information related to such services, programs, or activities, offered through a website or application owned, operated, or utilized, for a covered use, by a public entity; or (B) be otherwise subjected to discrimination related to a website or application owned, operated, or utilized for covered use by a public entity. (3) Public accommodation and testing entity No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations, or information related to such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations, offered through a website or application owned, operated, or utilized for covered use by a public accommodation or testing entity. (b) Covered entities In order to comply with subsection (a), a covered entity shall meet the following requirements: (1) Accessibility A covered entity that engages in an activity described in section 102 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12112 ), or that provides goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations, programs, activities, or information related to such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations, programs, or activities, through a website or application shall ensure that such website or application is accessible. (2) Effective communications A covered entity shall ensure that covered uses through websites and applications with applicants, employees, participants, customers, and other members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications and interactions with individuals without disabilities. (c) Commercial providers No commercial provider shall design, develop, construct, alter, modify, or add to a website or application for a covered entity for covered use in a manner that results in the website or application that is not accessible, or otherwise provide a website or application to a covered entity for covered use that is not accessible. (d) Defenses and exemptions (1) Employment entities With respect to a claim that an employment entity violated this section, the entity shall not be considered to have violated this section if compliance with this section— (A) would impose an undue burden on the entity; or (B) would fundamentally alter the nature of the employment provided by the entity. (2) Public entities With respect to a claim that a public entity violated this section, the entity shall not be considered to have violated this section if compliance with this section— (A) would impose an undue burden on the entity; or (B) would fundamentally alter the nature of the services, programs, activities, or information provided by the entity. (3) Public accommodations or testing entities With respect to a claim that a public accommodation or testing entity violated this section, the accommodation or entity shall not be considered to have violated this section if compliance with this section— (A) would impose an undue burden on the accommodation or entity; or (B) would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations, or information provided by the accommodation or entity. (4) Commercial providers With respect to a claim that a commercial provider violated this section, the commercial provider shall not be considered to have violated this section if compliance with this section— (A) would impose an undue burden on the commercial provider; or (B) would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations, programs, activities, or information provided by the covered entity served. 5. Rulemaking (a) Public entities, public accommodations, and testing entities (1) Notice of proposed rulemaking (A) Accessibility Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall issue, for purposes of section 4, a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the accessibility of websites and applications applicable to covered entities that are public entities or public accommodations or testing entities, and the commercial providers for the three types of covered entities, for covered use. Such notice shall propose regulations to implement the accessibility obligations of this Act, and include standards for accessible websites and applications that offer equally effective experiences for users with disabilities and users without disabilities. (B) Small entities In proposing the regulations, the Attorney General shall— (i) define the smaller entities, and providers, described in subparagraph (A) as small entities for purposes of this Act; and (ii) propose regulations that take into account the capabilities of small entities, such as small businesses, to comply with standards for accessible websites and applications. (2) Final rule (A) In general Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall issue, for purposes of section 4, a final rule regarding the accessibility of websites and applications applicable to the covered entities, and the commercial providers, described in paragraph (1), for covered use. Such final rule shall implement the accessibility obligations of this Act, include standards for accessible websites and applications that offer equally effective experiences for users with disabilities and users without disabilities, and take into account the capabilities of small entities, as described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii). (B) Effective date The final rule shall take effect— (i) for small entities, 2 years after the date of issuance of the final rule; and (ii) for other entities, 30 days after that date of issuance. (3) Public posting of enforcement actions Not later than 6 months after such issuance, the Attorney General shall, to the extent permitted by law, post publicly on the Department website any and all settlement documents and documents specifying other resolutions, resulting from the initiation of enforcement actions, or filing of administrative or civil actions, by the Attorney General pursuant to this Act concerning the covered entities, and the commercial providers, described in paragraph (1). (b) Employment entities (1) Notice of proposed rulemaking (A) Accessibility Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue, for purposes of section 4, a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the accessibility of websites and applications applicable to employment entities, and the commercial providers for employment entities, for covered use. Such notice shall propose regulations to implement the accessibility obligations of this Act, and include standards for accessible websites and applications that offer equally effective experiences for users with disabilities and users without disabilities. (B) Small entities In proposing the regulations, the Attorney General shall— (i) define the smaller entities, and providers, described in subparagraph (A) as small entities for purposes of this Act; and (ii) propose regulations that take into account the capabilities of small entities, such as small businesses, to comply with standards for accessible websites and applications. (2) Final rule (A) In general Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue, for purposes of section 4, a final rule regarding the accessibility of websites and applications applicable to the employment entities, and the commercial providers, described in paragraph (1), for covered use. Such final rule shall implement the accessibility obligations of this Act, include standards for accessible websites and applications that offer equally effective experiences for users with disabilities and users without disabilities, and take into account the capabilities of small entities, as described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii). (B) Effective date The final rule shall take effect— (i) for small entities, 2 years after the date of issuance of the final rule; and (ii) for other entities, 30 days after that date of issuance. (3) Public posting of enforcement actions Not later than 6 months after such issuance, the Commission shall, to the extent permitted by law, post publicly on the Commission website any and all settlement documents, and documents specifying other resolutions, resulting from the initiation of enforcement actions, or filing of administrative or civil actions, by the Commission pursuant to this Act concerning the employment entities, and the commercial providers, described in paragraph (1). 6. Periodic review (a) Review For each of the first 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, each Federal agency receiving complaints or engaging in enforcement (including compliance reviews and investigations), administrative (including administrative resolution of a claim of a violation), or civil actions under this Act shall submit a report on the complaints and activities to the Department and the Commission. The Attorney General and the Commission shall, for each of the first 3 years and every 2 years thereafter, review complaints received and enforcement, administrative, or civil actions taken under this Act, to determine whether the purpose of this Act is being achieved. In conducting such reviews, the Attorney General and the Commission may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to entities that have documented experience and expertise in collecting and analyzing data associated with implementing reviews of complaints, and enforcement, administrative, and civil actions. (b) Report The Attorney General and the Commission shall prepare a report containing the results of each such review of complaints and actions described in subsection (a), and shall submit the report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (c) Updated regulations The Attorney General and the Commission shall issue, in accordance with this Act, updated accessibility regulations every 3 years following the date of issuance of the initial accessibility regulations issued under this Act. 7. Enforcement and administrative action, and private right of action (a) Public entities, public accommodations, and testing entities (1) Civil action by Attorney General (A) In general (i) Investigation after a complaint On receiving a complaint filed by an individual with a disability, a class of individuals with disabilities, or an entity representing an individual with a disability or such a class, of a violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a), as the case may be, or a complaint filed by a covered entity that is a public entity, public accommodation, or testing entity of a violation of subsection (c), of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(a)), the Attorney General may conduct an investigation. The investigation shall consist of a review of the corresponding website or application owned, operated, or utilized for covered use by such a covered entity, or provided to such a covered entity by a commercial provider, to determine whether the covered entity or commercial provider has violated the corresponding provision of section 4. (ii) Other investigation and review In addition, the Attorney General shall, on the Attorney General's own authority, investigate practices that may be violations of, and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of such covered entities and commercial providers with, the corresponding provision of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(a)). (iii) Determination of violation If, after investigation or review under this subparagraph, the Attorney General determines that such a covered entity or commercial provider has violated the corresponding provision of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(a)), the Attorney General may take administrative action (including administrative resolution of a claim of such a violation) or bring a civil action in a district court of the United States. (B) Intervention If the Attorney General brings such a civil action based on a complaint filed by an individual, class of individuals, or entity, described in subparagraph (A), including a covered entity described in subparagraph (A) alleging a violation by a commercial provider, such individual, class, or entity shall have the right to intervene in such civil action. (2) Civil action by others An individual, class, or entity, described in paragraph (1)(A), including a covered entity described in paragraph (1)(A) alleging a violation by a commercial provider, may bring a civil action alleging a violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a), or subsection (c), as the case may be, of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(a)) in an appropriate State or Federal court without first filing a complaint with the Department or exhausting any other administrative remedies. (b) Employment entities (1) Civil action by Commission and Attorney General (A) In general (i) Investigation after a complaint On receiving a complaint filed by a qualified individual, a class of qualified individuals, or an entity representing a qualified individual or such a class, of a violation of subsection (a)(1), or a complaint filed by an employment entity of a violation of subsection (c), of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(b)), the Commission may conduct an investigation. The investigation shall consist of a review of the corresponding website or application owned, operated, or utilized for covered use by an employment entity, or provided to an employment entity by a commercial provider, to determine whether the employment entity or commercial provider has violated the corresponding provision of section 4. (ii) Other investigation and review In addition, the Commission shall, on the Commission's own authority, investigate practices that may be violations of, and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of employment entities and commercial providers with, the corresponding provision of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(b)). (iii) Determination of violation If, after investigation or review described in this subparagraph, the Commission determines that an employment entity or commercial provider has violated the corresponding provision of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(b)), the Commission may take administrative action (including administrative resolution of a claim of such a violation) or bring a civil action in a district court of the United States. (B) Intervention If the Commission brings such a civil action based on a complaint filed by a qualified individual, class of qualified individuals, or entity, described in subparagraph (A), including an employment entity alleging a violation by a commercial provider, such qualified individual, class, or entity shall have the right to intervene in such civil action. (2) Civil action by others A qualified individual, class, or entity, described in paragraph (1)(A), including an employee or employment entity alleging a violation by a commercial provider, may bring a civil action alleging a violation of subsection (a)(1) or subsection (c), as the case may be, of section 4 (including a related provision of the final rule issued under section 5(b)) in an appropriate State or Federal court without first filing a complaint with the Commission or exhausting any other administrative remedies. (3) Functions of the Attorney General The Attorney General shall carry out any function of the Commission under this subsection that the Attorney General carries out under section 107 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12117 ). (c) Relief (1) Civil action by Attorney General or Commissioner In a civil action brought under subsection (a)(1) or (b)(1), the Attorney General or Commissioner may seek— (A) a civil penalty and all appropriate injunctive relief to bring the affected website or application into compliance with section 4; and (B) on behalf of affected individuals, all economic and noneconomic damages including compensatory and punitive damages. (2) Civil action by others In a civil action brought under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2), the plaintiff may seek all appropriate injunctive relief described in paragraph (1)(A) and the damages described in paragraph (1)(B). (3) Attorney’s fees The prevailing plaintiff (other than the United States) shall also be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. 8. Recommendations (a) Advisory committee (1) In general The Attorney General and the Commission shall establish a standing advisory committee (referred to in this section as the Committee ) on accessible websites and applications. The Committee shall be operated and receive resources in accordance with the provisions of chapter of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Advisory Committee Act ), as an advisory committee under the authority of the Attorney General and Commission. (2) Composition In establishing the Committee, the Attorney General and the Commission— (A) shall include on the Committee— (i) individuals with disabilities (comprising a majority of the members of the Committee) who are— (I) individuals who are blind (including who have low vision), deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind; (II) individuals who have speech disabilities; (III) individuals with physical disabilities including those with limited to no manual dexterity; and (IV) individuals who have disabilities not specified in any of subclauses (I) through (III); and (ii) experts regarding accessible websites and applications for individuals with disabilities; and (B) may include on the Committee representatives of— (i) State and local government; (ii) covered entities, including such entities who are small entities; (iii) commercial providers; (iv) testing entities; and (v) other entities determined to be appropriate by the Attorney General and the Commission. (3) Functions The Committee shall provide responsive advice and guidance to the Attorney General and the Commission, for purposes of carrying out this Act, by— (A) conducting public meetings twice per year, at a minimum; (B) submitting reports and recommendations to the Attorney General and Commission, and making the reports and recommendations publicly available, every 2 years at a minimum; and (C) otherwise assisting the Attorney General and Commission in identifying and understanding the impact and implications of innovations with regard to accessible websites and applications. (b) Conferring The Attorney General and the Commission, in carrying out this Act, may confer with the National Council on Disability, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, or any other Federal department or agency that may have relevant expertise or experience. 9. Technical assistance (a) Purpose It is the purpose of this section to establish a technical assistance center to provide, to covered entities, commercial providers, individuals with disabilities, and other members of the public, information, resources, training, and technical assistance regarding— (1) the design, development, construction, alteration, modification, or addition of accessible websites and applications in accordance with this Act; and (2) the rights of individuals with disabilities, covered entities, and commercial providers to access websites and applications in accordance with the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ) and this Act. (b) Support for training and technical assistance From amounts made available under section 13, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Commission, the Secretary of Education, and other heads of Federal agencies, as appropriate shall award, on a competitive basis, at least 1 grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to a qualified training and technical assistance provider to support the development, establishment, and procurement of accessible websites and applications. (c) Application (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, an entity shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may require. (2) Input In awarding a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section and in reviewing the activities proposed under the applications described in paragraph (1), the Attorney General, in coordination with the Commission, the Secretary of Education, and other heads of Federal agencies, as appropriate— (A) shall consider the input of— (i) individuals with disabilities who are— (I) individuals who are blind (including individuals who have low vision), deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind; (II) individuals who have speech disabilities; (III) individuals with physical disabilities, including individuals with limited to no manual dexterity; and (IV) individuals who have disabilities not specified in any of subclauses (I) through (III); and (ii) experts regarding accessible websites and applications for use by individuals with disabilities; and (B) may consider the input of— (i) State and local government; (ii) covered entities; (iii) commercial providers; (iv) testing entities; and (v) other entities determined to be appropriate by the Attorney General, in coordination with the Commission, the Secretary of Education, and other heads of Federal agencies, as appropriate. (d) Authorized activities (1) Use of funds (A) Requests for information An entity receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall support a training and technical assistance program that addresses information requests, concerning accessible websites and applications, from covered entities and commercial providers, including requests for information regarding— (i) effective approaches for developing, establishing, and procuring accessible websites and applications; (ii) state-of-the-art, or model, Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, and organizational structures, that facilitate, and overcome barriers to, receipt of funding for, and access to, accessible websites and applications; and (iii) examples of policies, practices, procedures, regulations, or judicial decisions that have enhanced or may enhance access to and receipt of funding for accessible websites and applications. (B) Coordination An entity receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section may also provide technical assistance and training, concerning accessible websites and applications, for covered entities and commercial providers by— (i) facilitating onsite and electronic information sharing using state-of-the-art internet technologies such as real-time online discussions, multipoint video conferencing, and web-based audio or video broadcasts, on emerging topics regarding accessible websites and applications; (ii) convening experts to discuss and make recommendations with regard to national emerging issues regarding accessible websites and applications; (iii) sharing best practices and evidence-based practices in developing, establishing, and procuring accessible websites and applications; (iv) supporting and coordinating activities designed to reduce the financial costs of purchasing technology needed to access accessible websites and applications; and (v) carrying out such other activities as the Attorney General, in coordination with the Commission, the Secretary of Education, and other heads of Federal agencies, as appropriate may require. (C) Collaboration In developing and providing training and technical assistance under this section, an entity receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall collaborate with— (i) organizations representing individuals with disabilities; (ii) organizations or entities that provide services for individuals with disabilities, such as centers for independent living, as defined in section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 796a ); (iii) entities, such as the World Wide Web Consortium and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, that develop international standards for accessible websites and applications; (iv) existing (existing as of the date of the application for the award involved) technical assistance entities, such as the ADA National Network; (v) Federal, State, and territorial agencies that provide assistance to small businesses; (vi) organizations or entities representing State or local government, and educational website and technology professionals; (vii) entities or individuals with expertise and experience in enforcing disability rights law; and (viii) other entities and technical assistance providers determined to be appropriate by the Attorney General, in coordination with the Commission, the Secretary of Education, and other heads of Federal agencies, as appropriate. (D) Grant administration An entity receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section may use funds made available under section 13 to administer a program to make subgrants to small entities, pursuant to section 11. 10. Study and report on emerging technologies (a) Study and report (1) In general The National Council on Disability (in this section referred to as the Council ) shall conduct a study and prepare a report on— (A) the effect that emerging technologies have on the ability of individuals with disabilities to participate in employment, education, government, health care, commerce, culture, and other aspects of society; and (B) the effectiveness of this Act in achieving its purpose. (2) Consideration of effect on individuals with particular barriers In conducting the study and preparing the report, the Council shall consider the effect of emerging technologies on individuals with disabilities who use those technologies and have particular barriers to such participation and communication, such as individuals with disabilities using those technologies— (A) who have limited language or limited English language; (B) who have significant or targeted disabilities (including people who are blind, deaf, or deafblind); (C) who have disabilities limiting communication; (D) whose household income is at or below 200 percent of the poverty line, as defined by the Federal poverty guidelines of the Department of Health and Human Services; (E) who lack access to broadband services and technology; or (F) who are multiply marginalized due to race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status. (b) Submission of report Five years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council shall submit the report required under subsection (a) to the appropriate committees of Congress, which shall at minimum include the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. 11. Grants to small entities (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to award grants to provide assistance to small entities to enable the entities to remediate existing (as of the date of application for the award) websites and applications to enable the small entities to comply with the regulations established under this Act. (b) Support for remediation activities (1) In general From amounts made available under section 13, for each of the first 5 years after the date of issuance, the recipient of the award under section 9 (relating to a technical assistance center), in coordination with the Attorney General and the Commission, shall award grants, in amounts not to exceed $10,000, to small entities to support auditing, testing, and remediating inaccessible websites or applications or to support procurement of accessible websites and applications to replace inaccessible websites or applications, in accordance with this Act. (2) Date of issuance In this subsection, the term date of issuance means the date that is the earlier of the first day on which a final rule is issued under section 5(a) and the first day on which a final rule is issued under section 5(b). (c) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a small entity shall submit an application to the Attorney General and the Commission (or the recipient of the award under section 9) at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General and the Commission (or the recipient of the award under section 9) may require. At a minimum, the applicant shall demonstrate— (1) that the entity is a small entity; (2) (A) if the entity is a covered entity, that it owns, operates, or utilizes an inaccessible website or application that requires remediation or replacement for the entity to comply with this Act; or (B) if the entity is a commercial provider, that it provides, to a covered entity, an inaccessible website or application that requires remediation for the provider to comply with this Act; and (3) that the small entity has a plan to remediate or replace, as appropriate, the inaccessible website or application, so that the entity complies with this Act. (d) Authorized activities A small entity receiving a grant under this section— (1) may use the grant funds, directly or through a subgrant, to audit, test, or remediate the inaccessible website or application or procure a new accessible website or application to replace the inaccessible website or application; (2) shall use the grant funds to demonstrate that the resulting website or application is accessible; and (3) may not use the grant funds to design, develop, or procure an inaccessible website or application. 12. Rules of construction (a) Other provisions of law Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect the scope of obligations imposed by any other provision of law, including— (1) section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794 ), title II or III of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq. ), and section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18116 ), that, consistent with this Act, prohibit an exclusion, denial, or any other discrimination described in section 4(a) by a covered entity, including any public accommodation, whether or not the entity has a physical location or is digital only, and whether or not such exclusion, denial, or discrimination takes place in a physical or digital location; and (2) section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794d ) and section 255 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 255 ). (b) Relationship to other laws Nothing in this Act shall be construed to invalidate or limit the remedies, rights, and procedures of any Federal law or law of any State or political subdivision of any State or jurisdiction, that provides greater or equal protection for the rights of individuals with disabilities than is afforded by this Act. (c) Consistent regulations Regulations promulgated under this Act shall be consistent with, and shall not contain a standard less protective of individuals with disabilities than, the standards contained in— (1) any regulations issued by the Attorney General or the Commission pursuant to— (A) title I of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq. ) for digital access to an item related to an activity described in section 102 of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12112 ), by covered entities; (B) title II of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq. ) for digital access to services, programs, or activities, or information related to such services, programs, or activities of covered entities; or (C) title III of the ADA ( 42 U.S.C. 12181 et seq. ) for digital access to goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations, or information related to such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of covered entities; and (2) the regulations issued by the Federal Communications Commission for video programming and communications services provided via websites and applications. (d) Prohibition on notification requirement The Attorney General and the Commission shall not include, in the accessibility regulations, any requirement that an individual shall notify a covered entity of an allegation of a violation of this Act prior to commencing a civil action under this Act. 13. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated $35,150,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2033 to carry out this Act. 14. Effective date This Act shall take effect 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, except that section 4 shall apply to covered entities or commercial providers 12 months after that date of enactment.