Bill > HB2182

This bill amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to add a new chapter establishing the Office of Information Technology (Office). The key provisions are: 1. The Office is responsible for maintaining accessibility standards for information technology systems used by public entities (state agencies, municipalities, etc.) to ensure individuals with disabilities have full and equal access. This includes requiring compatibility with adaptive technology and presenting information in formats for both visual and non-visual use. 2. Public entities must develop and implement plans to comply with the accessibility standards set by the Office, working collaboratively with the Office to establish an implementation methodology. 3. The Office is required to approve minimum standards and criteria for public entities to use when procuring adaptive technologies for non-visual or other disability access uses. 4. The chapter specifies that while accessibility requirements apply to the applications, programs, and operating systems used by public entities, individual users without disabilities are not required to install accessibility software or peripheral devices. The bill aims to improve accessibility and usability of information technology systems for individuals with disabilities when interacting with Pennsylvania's state and local government.