Ted Poe: “This amendment will make it easier for a disabled American to provide a business with a notice of an ADA violation.…”

“This amendment will make it easier for a disabled American to provide a business with a notice of an ADA violation. Violations of the ADA can be very technical. The Department of Justice has hundreds, if not thousands, of pages of regulations and guidance documents on complying with the public accommodation requirements of title III of the ADA. Given that the Department of Justice will not certify whether a business' property is ADA compliant, these ADA requirements are often left to the interpretation of plaintiffs' lawyers. The notice provisions of H.R. 620 require that those who allege a business is violating the ADA must provide the business with a description of ``the specific sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act alleged to have been violated.'' This provision was designed to ensure that businesses have a clear picture of the alleged violation with the business. However, this requirement may go too far. Accordingly, the amendment removes this requirement, making clear that written notices provided by disabled individuals can be written in plain English, without legalese. Removing this requirement will also facilitate a dialogue between the individual and the business. Additionally, it may avoid any need for a disabled individual to hire a lawyer. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”