Time and again, the state of California has proven to be a pioneer where consumer rights are concerned, for example, with strict data privacy regulations being passed and enforced, and web accessibility is no different. On top of the ADA Title III and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which apply all over the United States, California has two state-level pieces of legislation which mandate compliance with web accessibility guidelines for both businesses and state agencies, namely the Unruh Act and Assembly Bill (AB) 434.
Having already discussed the Unruh Act in our overview page for this law, in this article, we are looking at AB 434’s requirements.
Assembly Bill AB 434, is California's Web Accessibility Law, which mandates that websites and web applications operated by the state of California are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
It was signed into law back in 2017 and it became effective on July 1, 2019, aligning with the broader goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, both of which state that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government has to be accessible to people with disabilities.
A few key points about California’s web accessibility law include the following:
(1) For purposes of this section, “state agency” means the Transportation Agency, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs, Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, Natural Resources Agency, California Health and Human Services Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and Department of Food and Agriculture.
(2) For purposes of this section, “state entity” means an entity within the executive branch that is under the direct authority of the Governor, including, but not limited to, all departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, councils, and offices that are not defined as a “state agency” pursuant to paragraph (1).
In order to understand the above, we thought an example would help, and what better example to use than that of the California Department of Technology (CDT)?
Here’s what their website accessibility certification looks like:
Although Assembly Bill 434 is merely a state-level piece of legislation, directly impacting California state websites, it has broader impact by serving as a model for other US states looking to enhance web accessibility and inclusivity for all. In its being passed into law, California’s accessibility law showed the growing recognition of the importance of accessibility in the digital age, setting a precedent for similar laws and policies in other jurisdictions, such as Colorado’s accessibility law, House Bill (HB) 21-1110, which is at this time the only web accessibility law that sets out clear guidelines for compliance and penalties for violations.
If you want to learn more about making websites easy to use for everyone, there are lots of resources you can access, from the detailed WCAG guidelines to specialized services that focus on accessibility compliance. Engaging with these resources can provide your business with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of web accessibility and particularly ADA compliance and contribute to a more inclusive digital environment.
To help you get started, our team has compiled a series of articles on web accessibility and the various web accessibility regulations currently in place around the world which we are including below:
Clym offers a comprehensive tool designed to facilitate data privacy and web accessibility compliance with the WCAG 2.1 standards for websites while providing customizable settings for users.
By leveraging Clym's solution, your business can not only improve its website traffic and conversion rates but also mitigate the risk of accessibility-related legal challenges, such as those posed by the ADA Title III and the many web accessibility lawsuits being filed against businesses found to be non-compliant.
Our user-friendly platform simplifies the management of compliance requirements, seamlessly integrating these features to meet both legal compliance and business needs effectively.
Interested in finding out how Clym can help you transform your website into an accessible website?
Start today by scheduling a demo or reaching out to us for a discussion tailored to your unique needs.