Governor Signs Job Creator Promoting Disability Access

JobCreator

A California Chamber of Commerce-supported job creator bill that incentivizes disability access and education was signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. this week.

SB 269 (Roth; D-Riverside), which won unanimous bipartisan approval as it moved through the legislative process, will limit frivolous litigation and claims regarding construction-related accessibility violations by providing businesses that have proactively sought to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act with an opportunity to resolve any identified violations.

As an urgency measure, SB 269 took effect immediately upon being signed on May 10.

Balanced Approach

SB 269 is a balanced approach between preserving the civil rights of those who are disabled to ensure their access to all public accommodations, while limiting the number of frivolous lawsuits threatened or filed against businesses that do not improve accessibility.

The bill seeks to incentivize businesses to proactively take steps to become accessible by providing them with 120 days from receipt of a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) report to resolve any violations identified without being subject to statutory penalties or litigation costs. This proposal will assist businesses who are trying to ensure they are compliant from being subject to frivolous claims or litigation.

SB 269 also provides a limited time for businesses to resolve violations of minor, technical construction-related standards that do not actually impede access to the public accommodation.

For updates on the remaining job creator bills, visit calchamber.com/jobcreators.

Staff Contact: Jennifer Barrera

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Jennifer Barrera took over as president and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce on October 1, 2021. She has been part of the CalChamber team since 2010 and stepped into the top position after serving as CalChamber executive vice president, overseeing the development and implementation of policy and strategy for the organization, as well as representing the CalChamber on legal reform issues. Barrera is well-known for her success rate with the CalChamber’s annual list of job killer legislation, efforts to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and leadership working with employers on critical issues, including most recently those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she advises the business compliance activities of the CalChamber on interpreting changes in employment law. Barrera earned a B.A. in English from California State University, Bakersfield, and a J.D. with high honors from California Western School of Law. See full bio