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1999 SESSION

993734323
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 738
Offered January 21, 1999
Requesting the Department of General Services, in consultation with the Department for the Rights of Virginians with Disabilities, to study the physical and sensory accessibility of state-owned buildings and features within the Capitol square complex.
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Patrons-- Landes, Bloxom and Tate; Senators: Gartlan, Miller, Y.B. and Woods
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Referred to Committee on General Laws
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WHEREAS, the Commonwealth seeks to make its capitol fully accessible to all people, ensuring that all of its citizens may participate in the legislative, administrative, and judicial functions of state government; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth supports the spirit of the Americans With Disabilities Act which requires that the services, programs, and activities of state government be accessible to its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Disability Commission, in Senate Document No. 9 (1998), found that “agencies need to be proactive in order to ensure that facilities and services are fully accessible”; and

WHEREAS, testimony delivered to the Disability Commission during the 1998 interim indicates that individuals with disabilities still encounter barriers to full physical and sensory accessibility to the buildings and features of the Capitol Square; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of General Services, in consultation with the Department for the Rights of Virginians with Disabilities, be requested to study the physical and sensory accessibility of the state-owned buildings and features within the Capitol Square complex, including the provision of sufficient handicapped parking spaces, curb cuts, automatic doors, and internal and external paths of travel. Recommendations shall be developed for the purpose of enhancing physical and sensory accessibility by individuals with disabilities throughout the Capitol Square complex.

The Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Disability Commission prior to November 1, 1999, and complete its work in time to report to the Governor and the 2000 General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.