The Department of Information Resources (department) proposes new 1 TAC Chapter 213, §§213.1 - 213.3, 213.10 - 213.17, and 213.30 - 213.37 to align the Texas Accessibility Standards with the §508 standards of the Rehabilitation Act relating to the accessibility of electronic and information resources contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 1194.

The proposed rules underwent the analysis required by §2054.121, Texas Government Code, and were found to have no impact on the mission of higher education, student populations, and federal grant requirements.

Dustin Lanier, Strategic Initiatives Division Director for the department, has determined that there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government if the proposed rules are adopted. Local government is not subject to the rules.

The public and state employees will benefit by the adoption, because the rules are designed to provide accessibility to state agency electronic and information resources to the disabled.

Mr. Lanier believes there will be no different effect on small businesses than there is on large businesses since the rules are inapplicable to businesses, and that there is no additional anticipated economic cost to persons if the rules are adopted.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Renée Mauzy, General Counsel, Department of Information Resources, via mail to P.O. Box 13564, Austin, Texas 78711, or electronically to renee.mauzy@dir.state.tx.us no later than 5:00 p.m. CT, within 30 days after publication.

The rules are proposed under §§2054.451 - 2054.465 and §2054.052(a), Texas Government Code.

These rules are promulgated to implement §§2054.453 - 2054.459, Texas Government Code, which require the department to consider the accessibility provisions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 1194 in the adoption of rules. The rules are authorized by §2054.052(a), Texas Government Code, which authorizes the department to adopt rules necessary to implement its responsibilities under the Information Resources Management Act.