Bill
Bill > A3468
NJ A3468
NJ A3468Requires each State cabinet level department to establish office dedicated to language and disability access.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires each cabinet level department in the State to establish a division to address potential barriers and gaps in language and disability access in order to support full inclusion and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities who work for, or receive services from, the department. The division administrator and head will be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the division and is to devote his or her entire time to the performance of those duties. The division is to be responsible for the following: developing a language and disability access plan reflecting the principles of full inclusion and equal access for persons with disabilities who work for, or receive services from, the department in which the division is established in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.; implementing and coordinating the use of strategies, identified by the language and disability access plan, for effective communication, including but not limited to, language interpretation, sign language interpretation, and language translation for persons who are blind, low vision, deaf, or hard of hearing, and program accessibility, physical accessibility, and reasonable accommodations and modifications for persons with physical disabilities; and providing an annual report to the commissioner of the department in which the division is established, and the public on the department's progress in removing barriers and gaps in language and disability access for persons with disabilities who work for, or receive services from, the department.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that every cabinet-level department within the State establish a dedicated division to address and eliminate barriers related to language and disability access, ensuring full inclusion and equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities who are either employees or recipients of services. This new division will be led by an administrator qualified by their training and experience, who will dedicate their full time to this role. The division's responsibilities include creating a comprehensive plan that aligns with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in programs receiving federal funding, and then implementing strategies outlined in this plan. These strategies will focus on improving effective communication through services like language interpretation, sign language interpretation, and translation for individuals with sensory disabilities (blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing), as well as ensuring program and physical accessibility and providing reasonable accommodations for those with physical disabilities. Finally, the division will be required to submit an annual report to the department's commissioner and the public detailing their progress in removing these access barriers.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A3468 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3500/3468_I1.HTM |
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