{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr620-115/featured_ada-education-and-reform-act-of-2017-1518480951.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr620-115/featured_large_ada-education-and-reform-act-of-2017-1518480951.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr620-115.png"},"introduced_on":"2017-01-24","title_override":"Should the Process For Filing Lawsuits Under the Americans with Disabilities Act be Reformed?","summary_override":"

This bill would require the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) to establish a program to educate state and local governments on strategies for promoting access to public accommodations for persons with disabilities. It would also specify the circumstances under which civil lawsuits can be filed related to architectural barriers that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and require the development of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that can be used to resolve such claims.

Civil actions based on the failure to remove an architectural barrier to access into an existing public accommodation would be prohibited unless:

The aggrieved person has provided the owners or operators with a written notice specific enough to identify the barrier. The notice must specify: 1) the property address; 2) the specific ADA sections violated; 3) whether a request for assistance in removing the barrier was made; and 4) whether the barrier was permanent or temporary.
The owners or operators fail to provide the person with a written description outlining improvements that will be made to improve the barrier or they fail to remove the barrier or make substantial progress after providing the description.

The Judicial Conference of the U.S. would be required to develop a model program to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve such claims. The model program would be directed to include an expedited method for determining relevant facts related to such barriers and steps to resolve accessibility issues before litigation.

","official_title":"To amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to promote compliance through education, to clarify the requirements for demand letters, to provide for a notice and cure period before the commencement of a private civil action, and for other purposes.","short_title":"ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017\n\n(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice to develop a program to educate state and local governments and property owners on strategies for promoting access to public accommodations for persons with a disability. The program may include training for professionals to provide a guidance of remediation for potential violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.\n\n(Sec. 3) The bill prohibits civil actions based on the failure to remove an architectural barrier to access into an existing public accommodation unless: (1) the aggrieved person has provided to the owners or operators a written notice specific enough to identify the barrier, and (2) the owners or operators fail to provide the person with a written description outlining improvements that will be made to improve the barrier or they fail to remove the barrier or make substantial progress after providing such a description. 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How dare you? Making access to education and each and every persons ability basically optional is irreverent and, frankly, mean! Explain how this improves the lives of children, veteran and elderly. Remove this bill now!","show_argument_for":false,"show_argument_against":true,"upvote_count":1,"upvotes_for_count":null,"upvotes_against_count":1,"has_upvoted":false,"endorsement_count":1,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/positions/988e0683-3d9a-4292-9022-9fd22eddabd4"},"body":"This is NOT representing the people of Texas!! How dare you? Making access to education and each and every persons ability basically optional is irreverent and, frankly, mean! Explain how this improves the lives of children, veteran and elderly. 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Should the Process For Filing Lawsuits Under the Americans with Disabilities Act be Reformed?