From the Wall Street Journal (registration required):

The U.S. is moving on two fronts this week to expand businesses’ obligations to accommodate disabled people, in a legislative and regulatory push that risks a backlash from millions of businesses worried about costs.

On Wednesday, two House committees will finish crafting a bill that broadens the population entitled to employment rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, reversing Supreme Court decisions narrowing it. The bill could come to a vote before the July 4 recess, if lawmakers reach agreement. Also this week, the Bush administration will begin seeking public comment on 1,000 pages of proposed rules — covering issues from hotel-room doors to theater seating — clarifying existing regulations on physical access for disabled people.

The proposed regulations are expected to cost private and public establishments $22.8 billion, according to a Justice Department analysis …

… some advocates for disability rights are worried that the businesses affected will interpret the two-front push as the government piling on during economic hard times.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 6:27 am and is filed under ADA, accessibility, business, costs, law, politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post