Landmark Reform Law Advances Disability Access, Helps Business
For a number of years, the business community has been victim to a small but widely destructive, atypical group of plaintiffs and lawyers using the disability laws and court system to seek monetary profits rather than access. The result has been unnecessary, costly litigation for significant numbers of California businesses across the state, and many of them closing their doors for good.
The CalChamber, during the 2007-08 legislative session, worked closely with legislators and their staff, other business groups, disability rights groups and the consumer attorneys to achieve historic, comprehensive reform of California's disability access laws. The bipartisan measure, SB 1608 (Corbett; D-San Leandro, Chapter 549, Statutes of 2008), is designed to promote and increase compliance with laws providing public access to individuals with disabilities, while reducing unwarranted litigation that does not advance that goal.
The CalChamber is working to promote and support successful and effective implementation of SB 1608 within the business community and elsewhere.
See top 10 things about SB 1608 that help business owners.
Goal
Support comprehensive reforms to state disability laws that encourage and facilitate greater compliance by businesses with disability access laws; encourage resolution of access violations without use of litigation; and seek to reduce abusive and unwarranted demands for money and lawsuits under disability laws that seek to extract monetary settlements rather than improve access.
Major Victories
- Collaborated on shaping bipartisan, comprehensive reform increasing public access for individuals with disabilities while reducing unwarranted litigation (SB 1608).
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