Bill > A1137

Introduced Session

This bill requires movie theaters to provide effective communication devices for individuals with a visual or hearing impairment, and expands protections under the "Law Against Discrimination" for these individuals. The devices must be provided to movie patrons at no additional fee. Movie theaters with at least one auditorium showing movies are required to provide ample closed movie captioning and audio description devices for patrons. The minimum number of required devices is dependent upon the total number of auditoriums showing digital movies at the movie theater. Movie theaters also must provide notice to the public about the availability of these devices and ensure theater staff is capable of assisting patrons with the devices. This bill imposes no other obligations onto movie theaters. Movie theaters exempt from the requirements set forth in this bill are movie theaters that show only analog movies in all of its auditoriums, as well as any drive-in movie theaters. Closed movie captioning is the written display of a movie's dialogue and non-speech information, such as the music, the identity of the character who is speaking, and other sounds or sound effects, made available only to those movie patrons who request it. When requested, the captions are delivered via individual captioning devices used by patrons at their seats. Audio description is a technology that enables movie patrons who are blind or have low vision to enjoy movies by providing the spoken narration of a movie's key visual elements, such as the action, settings, facial expressions, costumes, and scene changes. Audio description fills in information about the visual content of a movie where there are no corresponding audio elements. It involves a separate script that is recorded and synchronized with the movie as it is projected. The oral delivery of the script is typically transmitted to the user through infra-red or FM transmission to wireless headsets.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Carol Murphy (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document