Effective September 1, 2006, all electronic and information resources developed, procured or changed by a state agency shall comply with the standards and specifications of Chapter 206 and/or Chapter 213 of this title, unless an exception is approved by the executive director of the agency, or an exemption is granted by the department. (1) Each state agency shall include in its accessibility policy standards and processes for handling exception requests. (2) An exception request shall be submitted to the executive director of an agency for each development or procurement, including outsourced development, which does not comply with the standards and specifications described in Chapter 206 and/or Chapter 213 of this title, pursuant to §2054.460, Texas Government Code. (3) An approved exception shall include the following: (A) a date of expiration; (B) a plan for alternate means of access for persons with disabilities; (C) justification for the exception including relevant cost avoidance estimates; and (D) signature of the executive director of the agency. (4) Agencies shall maintain records of exception requests according to that agency's internal accessibility policy. (5) The department shall establish and maintain a list of electronic and information technology resources which are determined to be exempt from the standards and specifications of all or part of Chapter 206 and/or Chapter 213 of this title. (6) The list of exempt electronic and information resources will be posted under the Accessibility section of the department's Web site. (7) The following information shall be provided for each exemption listed: (A) a date of expiration; (B) a plan for alternate means of access for persons with disabilities; and (C) justification for the exemption including relevant cost avoidance estimates. (8) The department shall establish and publish a policy under the Accessibility section of its Web site which defines the procedures and standards used to determine which electronic or information resources are exempt from the standards and specifications described in Chapter 206 and/or Chapter 213 of this title. |
| Source Note: The provisions of this §213.17 adopted to be effective April 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 3379; amended to be effective September 16, 2008, 33 TexReg 7744; amended to be effective November 17, 2009, 34 TexReg 8027 |
