Disability access requirements: information.

Existing law establishes the California Commission on Disability Access within the Department of General Services. The commission is charged with preventing or minimizing problems of compliance by California businesses by providing educational services and recommending programs to enable persons with disabilities to obtain full and equal access to public facilities. Existing law requires the State Architect to establish a program for the voluntary certification by the state of any person who meets criteria as a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) . This position requires certain knowledge and training on standards governing access to buildings for persons with disabilities. Existing law also requires each city, county, or city and county to provide applicants for a business license or equivalent instrument or permit with certain information regarding compliance with disability access provisions under federal and state law, including information on legal obligations from specified state agencies. This bill would additionally require the above local jurisdictions issuing building permits for commercial construction or business licenses to make available a notice containing specified information regarding disability access. The bill would also require a local agency to provide the informational notice to an applicant for a commercial building permit or a business license. The bill, among other things, would require this informational notice to be translated into specified languages and to include specified information on compliance requirements under both state and federal law and an advisory strongly encouraging the applicant to obtain a CASp consultation and inspection. The bill would define "commercial property" for these purposes. The bill would require the State Architect to develop a model notice for local agencies to use to comply with these provisions, as specified. The bill would include related legislative findings. By imposing new requirements on local government agencies, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.