H.R. 5

1

RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR HEARING
2 DISABILITIES
3 2001 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Loraine T. Pace
6 This resolution of the House of Representatives urges places of public accommodation to
7 more fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure that persons who are
8 deaf or hard of hearing receive the assistance required by the act.
9 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
10 WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law aimed at stopping
11 discrimination against people with disabilities;
12 WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act governs a wide variety of public
13 accommodations including hotels, restaurants, movie and other theaters, auditoriums, offices of
14 doctors, lawyers, and other professionals, hospitals, nursing homes, drug stores, insurance
15 agencies, retail stores, museums, banks, libraries, parks, private schools and colleges, amusement
16 and recreation facilities, and day care centers;
17 WHEREAS, many places of public accommodation throughout the state of Utah do not
18 have services and equipment that are adequate to meet the communication access needs of persons
19 who are deaf or hard of hearing;
20 WHEREAS, those who are deaf or hard of hearing often retreat from society rather than
21 struggle to have their unique needs heard and understood;
22 WHEREAS, places of public accommodation should work quickly and decisively to meet
23 the communication access needs of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and comply with
24 federal laws and regulations;
25 WHEREAS, places of public accommodation may choose among various alternatives,
26 including assistive listening systems, captioning, and interpreting, to meet the communication
27 access needs of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing so long as the result is effective

28 communication for the individual with hearing loss; and
29 WHEREAS, it is vital that places of public accommodation comply more fully with the
30 Americans with Disabilities Act as it applies to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing:
31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the state
32 of Utah urges places of public accommodation to more fully comply with the provisions of the
33 Americans with Disabilities Act governing services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
34 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the House of Representatives urge that places of public
35 accommodation comply with federal law to ensure that Utahns who are deaf or hard of hearing are
36 more firmly connected to society.
37 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah State
38 Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-30-01 9:42 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel