S3334 —

S3334 SSG Statement 3/22/21 SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE   STATEMENT TO   SENATE, No.

3334  STATE OF NEW JERSEY 219th LEGISLATURE   INTRODUCEDDATED: JANUARY 11, 2021     Sponsored by:

Senator  MARCH LINDA22, R.2021         The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No.

GREENSTEIN3334. District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex) Senator  JAMES BEACH District 6 (Burlington and Camden)   Co-Sponsored by:

Senator      TurnerThis  bill  requires  the  Web SYNOPSISContent     Accessibility RequiresGuidelines State(WCAG) agencies2.0 toAA, makeor theirthe websitesmost accessibleup-to-date version of the guidelines, to peoplebe withthe disabilitiesaccessibility andstandard onfor mobileall devices.State agency websites.

 The CURRENTbill VERSIONalso OFrequires TEXTeach     such Aswebsite introduced.to be configured in such a way that it can be navigated, viewed, and accessed on a smartphone, tablet computer, or similar mobile device.

        AnThe ActWCAG concerningguidelines themake websitescontent ofaccessible Statefor governmentpeople agencieswith anddisabilities. amending of P.L.2007, c.56.

           The BeChief ItTechnology EnactedOfficer bymust establish the Senateprotocol andby Generalwhich Assemblya ofState theagency Statecan ofdetermine Newthat Jersey:its websites comply with the requirements.

 The      1.    Section 16 of P.L.2007, c.56 (C.52:18A-234) is amended to read as follows:       16.  a.   All Executive Branch departments and State agencies are directed to cooperate fully with the Office of Information Technology and the Chief Technology Officer tomust implementcertify theeach provisionswebsite’s ofcompliance sectionstwo 6years throughafter 16the ofbill’s P.L.2007,effective c.56date (C.52:18A-224 through C.52:18A-234) and torecertify ensurecompliance effectiveonce useevery oftwo informationyears technologythereafter. within the Executive Branch of State Government.

          TheAs Governorused shallin definethis andbill, establish“State theagency” overallmeans direction,the standards,Executive and prioritiesLegislative forBranch of the informationState, technologyincluding, communitybut innot thelimited Executiveto, Branchany ofdepartment, Stateboard, Government.bureau, commission, division, office, council, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or independent agency, public authority, or public benefit corporation.

     b.    The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, or the most up-to-date version of the guidelines, shall be the accessibility standard for the web pages, sites, and services of all State agencies.  Each web page, site, and service shall be configured in such a way that it can be navigated, viewed, and accessed on a smartphone, tablet computer, or similar mobile device.       The Chief Technology Officer shall establish the protocol by which a State agency can determine that its web pages, sites, and services comply with the requirements in this subsection.  Compliance shall be certified by the Chief Technology Officer.  A web page, site, or service that is in operation on the effective date of P.L.     , c.    (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be certified by the Chief Technology Officer no later than two years from that effective date as being in compliance with the requirements.  A web page, site, or service created after the effective date of P.L.   , c.       (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not be considered operational until it has been certified by the Chief Technology Officer as being in compliance with the requirements.

 The Chief Technology Officer shall recertify the compliance of each web page, site, and service every two years after initial certification.

     As used in this subsection, “State agency” means the Executive and Legislative Branch of the State, including, but not limited to, any department, board, bureau, commission, division, office, council, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or independent agency, public authority, or public benefit corporation.

(cf:

P.L.2013, c.253, s.47)        2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT        This bill requires that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA, or the most up-to-date version of the guidelines, must be the accessibility standard for the websites of all State agencies, and each website must be configured in such a way that it can be navigated, viewed, and accessed on a smartphone, tablet computer, or similar mobile device.

     The WCAG guidelines make content accessible for people with disabilities.

     The Chief Technology Officer must establish the protocol by which a State agency can determine that its websites comply with the requirements.  The Chief Technology Officer must certify each website’s compliance two years after the bill’s effective date and recertify compliance once every two years thereafter.

     As used in this bill, “State agency” means the Executive and Legislative Branch of the State, including, but not limited to, any department, board, bureau, commission, division, office, council, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or independent agency, public authority, or public benefit corporation.