(July 3, 2008) A California Chamber of Commerce-supported bill to enact comprehensive reform that increases public access for individuals with disabilities while reducing unwarranted litigation has won approval from two Assembly policy committees.

SB 1608 (Corbett; D-San Leandro) passed on unanimous votes of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on June 17 and the Assembly Judiciary Committee on June 24.

The bill encourages the use of state-certified disability access specialists and establishes a court procedure for early judicial review of lawsuit claims.

SB 1608 responds to a significant ongoing state problem — the small, but widely destructive, atypical group of plaintiffs and lawyers using the disability laws and court system to systematically extract monetary settlements from businesses rather than to improve disability access. Too often these lawsuits result in businesses closing their doors.

SB 1608 sets up a process to encourage business owners to be proactive in complying and to obtain the assistance of state-certified access specialists to determine whether buildings comply.

This bipartisan comprehensive reform measure is designed to address two important goals:

• Promoting and increasing compliance with state and federal civil rights laws providing for equal access for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations; and
• Reducing unwarranted, unnecessary litigation that does not advance the goals of disability access.

Action Needed

SB 1608 will be considered next by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Contact committee members and your Assembly representative; urge them to support SB 1608.

Staff Contact: Kyla Christoffersen

Additional Materials

ADA Reform