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2013 -- S 0317 | |
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LC01197 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - RIGHTS OF BLIND AND DEAF PERSONS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Walaska, and Felag | |
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Date Introduced: February 13, 2013 | |
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Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services | |
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It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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SECTION 1. Section 40-9.1-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-9.1 entitled "Equal |
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Rights of Blind and Deaf Persons to Public Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
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40-9.1-1. Declaration of policy. -- It is the policy of this state that: |
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(a) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing and otherwise |
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disabled have the same rights as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, |
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walkways, public buildings, public facilities and other public places. |
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(b) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing and otherwise |
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disabled are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges on |
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any public conveyance operated on land or water or in the air, or any stations and terminals |
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thereof, not limited to taxis, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, |
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boats and in any educational institution, not limited to any kindergarten, primary and secondary |
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school, trade or business school, high school, academy, college and university, and in places of |
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public resort, accommodation, assemblage or amusement, not limited to hotels, lodging places, |
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restaurants, theater and in all other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to |
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the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons. |
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(c) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing and otherwise |
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disabled persons shall be entitled to rent, lease or purchase, as other members of the general |
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public, any housing accommodations offered for rent, lease or other compensation in this state, |
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subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons. |
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(d) Effective January 1, 2014, movie theaters with ten (10) or more screens are required |
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to provide captioning on at least one of their screens for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing |
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and to provide audio descriptions for persons who are blind or visually impaired as set forth in |
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regulations established and promulgated by the office of attorney general with the assistance of |
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the Rhode Island commission on the deaf and hard of hearing. |
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2014. |
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LC01197 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
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BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
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OF | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - RIGHTS OF BLIND AND DEAF PERSONS | |
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*** | |
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This act would require movie theaters with ten or more screens to provide captioning on |
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at least one screen for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, and provide audio descriptions for |
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persons who are blind or visually impaired. |
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2014. |
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LC01197 | |
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