WASHINGTON—The Justice Department would be required to clarify website accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) according to a provision added to a House Appropriations measure.
House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson (R-TX) added the provision to the fiscal 2019 subcommittee's appropriations measure. Specifically, the added language requests that the DOJ clarify its ADA language regarding website compliance in fiscal 2019, NAFCU reported.
In December, the DOJ withdrew four advance notices of proposed rulemaking (ANPRs) related to the ADA – including two that dealt with the accessibility of web information – citing the need for further review.
As CUToday.info has reported, lack of clarity from the DOJ around website accessibility standards has opened the door for many of the ADA lawsuits that are hitting CUs across the country.
Last week, NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger met with Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) to discuss the ongoing issue of credit unions being targeted by lawsuits related to unclear website accessibility requirements under the ADA. NAFCU has worked closely with Poe to get relief on website accessibility demand letters.
Both NAFCU and CUNA have filed a number of amicus briefs in support credit unions targeted by ADA website accessibility litigation. To date, five of the lawsuits have been dismissed.