SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 947

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 27, 2023

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 947.

     This bill provides that every television that is located in any portion of a building owned or leased by the State that is available for viewing by members of the public or public employees will be required to display closed captioning for all programming for which closed captioning is available.  Under the bill, “closed captioning” is the visual display of written words on a television screen of the audio portion of video programming. The bill will not apply to any television manufactured before the bill’s effective date that cannot accommodate closed captioning.

     The purpose of this bill is to enable persons who are deaf and hard of hearing to more easily understand television programs in State buildings.