On the recordFebruary 15, 2018
The Americans with Disabilities Act is landmark civil rights legislation. Americans with disabilities face real challenges every day. We should strive to support them every way we can. When Congress passes a law, we have an obligation to make sure that legislation is working and see if improvements can be made. Under the ADA, business owners are responsible to make sure their business is fully accessible to those with disabilities. However, in some cases, business owners are unaware they are in violation of the ADA. Most Americans can agree: rather than immediately face lawsuits for violations, business owners should be given time to actually fix what is wrong. This solution advances our shared goal of improved access for all members of the community. But in listening to my constituents in Sacramento County, many are concerned that the timeframe for fixing these violations was too long. And I agree. In response, my amendment would cut the time businesses have to fix violations in half. This means, after the notification period, a business has 60 days to fix violations, instead of 120 days in the current bill. In some cases, these barriers can and should be immediately addressed. But in a State like California, which is prone to earthquakes, construction permits can take time. Small businesses should be given a reasonable amount of time to make changes and better serve their customers.…
