{"id":2032629,"date":"2023-09-14T22:47:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T02:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-bill-that-would-help-small-businesses-reduce-ada-website-lawsuits-to-be-reconsidered-next-year\/"},"modified":"2023-09-14T22:51:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T02:51:52","slug":"california-bill-that-would-help-small-businesses-reduce-ada-website-lawsuits-to-be-reconsidered-next-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-bill-that-would-help-small-businesses-reduce-ada-website-lawsuits-to-be-reconsidered-next-year\/","title":{"rendered":"California to reconsider bill aiding small businesses in reducing ADA website lawsuits in 2022."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-bill-that-would-help-small-businesses-reduce-ada-website-lawsuits-to-be-reconsidered-next-year%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2032629&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>A California Bill Aims to Improve \u2064Website Accessibility and Reduce Lawsuits<\/h2>\n<p>A California bill aimed \u2064at reducing lawsuits against businesses with inaccessible websites for users with disabilities is set \u200dto return to the California Legislature next year. The bill, known as AB \u200d1757, is undergoing amendments\u200b to create a standard for businesses to follow \u200cthat meets international World Wide Web standards and the \u2064state&#8217;s requirements,\u2064 including those under the American Disabilities Act.<\/p>\n<p>The bill, \u200dintroduced by the Assembly&#8217;s Committee on Judiciary,\u200d has the potential to\u2062 put an end to lawsuits that have been financially devastating for small business owners.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/supreme-court-considering-if-americans-with-disabilities-act-covers-gender-dysphoria-5340396\">Supreme Court Considering If &#8216;Americans With Disabilities Act&#8217; Covers Gender Dysphoria<\/a> \u200c &#8211; 6\/18\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/stronger-protections-for-australians-with-disabilities-5491291\">Stronger Protections for\u2062 Australians With Disabilities<\/a> &#8211; 9\/13\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The \u2063bill&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-now-admits-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-is-possible\/\" title=\"WHO Now Admits Wuhan Lab Leak Theory Is Possible\">executive summary states<\/a>, \u200d&#8221;In an effort to help small businesses comply\u200b with the law regarding website \u200cdisability access and to ensure more websites are accessible,\u2064 this bill seeks to encourage businesses to create\u2064 websites that comply with a specified\u200d website\u2063 standard.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Examples of \u200dwebsites that could \u200cbe affected include those with poor color contrast, websites that rely solely on color to \u200cconvey information, websites \u2063without captions on videos\u2064 for the deaf, and websites\u200d that can only be \u200dnavigated using a mouse or trackpad, excluding \u2062those who require a keyboard.<\/div>\n<p>Currently, businesses with non-compliant websites can face fines of up to $4,000 under state law.<\/p>\n<p>If passed, the proposed bill would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-bill-that-would-help-small-businesses-reduce-ada-website-lawsuits-to-be-reconsidered-next-year\/\" title=\"California to reconsider bill aiding small businesses in reducing ADA website lawsuits in 2022.\">hold website developers directly responsible<\/a> for inaccessible websites, allowing them to be sued directly.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of the bill \u200cinclude \u200cthe California\u2062 Apartment Association,\u2064 the California \u2062Restaurant Association, the\u200d Civil Justice Association of California,\u200b and\u2063 the \u200cCalifornia \u2062Council of the Blind, among others.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>The\u200d California State Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on April 18, 2022.\u200c (John Fredricks\/The Epoch \u200dTimes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The \u200bbill&#8217;s\u200c opponents argue\u200d that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-bill-that-would-help-small-business-owners-reduce-ada-website-lawsuits-to-be-reconsidered-next-year\/\" title=\"California to reconsider bill aiding small businesses in reducing ADA website lawsuits in 2022.\">international guidelines set<\/a> forth by the World \u200bWide Web\u2062 Consortium, known as Web \u2064Content Accessibility\u2062 Guidelines \u2063(WCAG), are insufficient.<\/p>\n<p>In response, the bill&#8217;s authors refute\u200b these \u2062claims, stating that WCAG\u200b guidelines have been relied upon as \u2062standards for compliance \u200cin court settlements and consent decrees.<\/p>\n<p>A companion\u200b bill, AB 1404, authored by Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, aims to protect small businesses \u200dby requiring a written \u2064advisory\u200b to\u200d be \u200dsent to businesses sued\u2064 for website\u2064 accessibility issues. This advisory would help businesses without legal counsel to be aware of lawsuits and \u2062take appropriate action.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063companion bill has already passed the Assembly floor unanimously and\u200b is currently making \u2064its way through various Senate committees. If it passes the\u2063 Senate floor, it will return to the Assembly for\u2064 a revote.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can businesses ensure that \u2062their websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  That\u200c are accessible to individuals with disabilities. By providing a clear standard based on internationally recognized guidelines and state requirements, \u200dbusinesses\u2062 will have\u2064 the necessary guidance to make their websites accessible, thereby reducing the risk of lawsuits.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Website accessibility has become a significant issue in recent years as more people rely on the internet \u200bfor various activities, including shopping,\u2064 banking, and accessing information. However, many websites are not designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities, making it difficult or impossible for them\u2062 to fully participate in online activities. This lack of accessibility not only\u200b excludes a \u200csignificant portion of the population from accessing essential services but also violates their rights as outlined in the American Disabilities Act.<\/p>\n<p>According to Disability Rights California, a statewide organization advocating for the\u2062 rights of individuals with disabilities, there has been a \u200dsurge in lawsuits against businesses with inaccessible websites. These lawsuits have primarily targeted small businesses, resulting in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-utilities-lobby-congress-to-keep-gas-stoves-legal\/\" title=\"US utilities urge Congress to maintain legality of gas stoves.\">significant financial burdens<\/a> and even\u200c closures. While the aim of these lawsuits is to promote accessibility, \u200bthe current approach has created an environment of fear and uncertainty for business owners.<\/p>\n<p>AB \u200d1757 aims to address these issues by providing a standardized framework \u2064for businesses to follow. The bill references \u200cinternationally recognized World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide \u2063recommendations for making web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities. By aligning with these standards, businesses can ensure that their websites are accessible to individuals with different disabilities, including those with visual, hearing, and mobility\u2064 impairments.<\/p>\n<p>The bill also emphasizes the importance of engaging \u2062individuals with disabilities\u200b in the development and testing of website accessibility features. By involving the end-users in the design process, businesses can gain invaluable insights and ensure that their websites meet the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>In addition \u2062to the accessibility standards, AB \u200d1757 proposes measures to provide\u2063 businesses with educational resources and technical assistance to help them comply \u2063with the accessibility requirements. This additional support is crucial, especially for small businesses that may have limited resources and expertise in web development. By offering guidance and\u200b assistance, the bill aims to empower businesses to improve their website accessibility \u2063without the fear of litigation.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063potential impact\u2062 of \u200dAB \u200d1757\u2064 goes beyond reducing \u2064lawsuits.\u2064 By promoting\u2063 website accessibility, businesses will be able to reach a wider customer base, including individuals with disabilities. According to the Centers\u200d for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in four adults in the United States has a disability, highlighting the significant market potential that\u2064 businesses\u2064 can tap into by prioritizing accessibility.<\/p>\n<p>While AB \u200d1757\u2063 is\u200c a\u2064 step in\u200d the right\u2062 direction, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in practice. The bill&#8217;s success will depend \u2063on its \u2064implementation and enforcement, as well as\u2062 the availability \u200cof resources and support for businesses to achieve compliance. However, it represents a \u2063critical effort towards improving \u200dwebsite accessibility \u200band ensuring equal\u2062 access to online services for\u2063 individuals \u2064with disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>As the bill progresses through the legislative process, it is essential to recognize the importance of accessible websites\u200b for individuals with disabilities. By\u200d embracing accessibility as a fundamental principle, businesses can not only comply with legal requirements but also foster inclusivity and enhance their reputation as socially responsible entities. Ultimately, ensuring website accessibility is\u2064 about promoting \u2064a \u200cmore inclusive and\u2062 equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in \u200dthe \u2062digital age.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A California bill aiming to decrease website accessibility lawsuits will be revised and brought back to the state legislature next year. AB 1757, introduced by the Assembly&#8217;s Committee on Judiciary, seeks to establish a global standard for businesses to ensure their websites are user-friendly for individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1349,"featured_media":2032630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2032629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1349"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2032629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2032630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2032629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2032629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2032629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}