Pub. L. 116-213 - Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019

116th Congress

Affects: 29 U.S.C. §§ 794d

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

(a) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study of all websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine whether such websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d).

(b) Not later than 90 days after completing the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on such study.

(c) The report required by subsection (b) shall include the following:

(c)(1) A list of each website described in subsection (a) that is not accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d).

(c)(2) For each website identified in the list under paragraph (1)—

(c)(2)(A) the plan of the Secretary to bring the website into compliance with the requirements of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d); and

(c)(2)(B) a description of the barriers to bringing the website into compliance with the requirements of such section, including any barriers relating to vacant positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(d) In this section, the term “website” includes the following:

(d)(1) A file attached to a website.

(d)(2) A web-based application.

(d)(3) A kiosk at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the use of which is required to check in for scheduled appointments.

Legislative History

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3587:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):

Mar. 25, considered and passed Senate.

Nov. 16, considered and passed House.