Bill > AB649

This bill introduces the Small Business Right to Cure Program, which provides legal protections for small businesses facing construction-related accessibility claims. The bill allows businesses with 25 or fewer employees to qualify for a program that gives them 120 days to correct accessibility violations without incurring full statutory damages. To participate, businesses must have a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) inspection, post a notice of participation, and promptly respond to and correct any identified violations. The program is designed to help small businesses become compliant with accessibility standards without facing prohibitive legal costs. Key provisions include limiting statutory damages, requiring businesses to correct violations within a specified timeframe, and mandating transparency by making CASp reports available for public inspection. The bill also modifies requirements for attorneys filing accessibility claims, requires the California Commission on Disability Access to track and report on these claims, and adjusts how attorney's fees can be assessed in such cases. The program is set to expire on January 1, 2034, allowing lawmakers to evaluate its effectiveness over time. Overall, the legislation aims to balance protecting the rights of people with disabilities with providing small businesses a reasonable opportunity to address accessibility issues.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB649