ASSEMBLY AGING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3636

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 12, 2024

      The Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 3636.

      This bill requires that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

(WCAG) 2.0 AA, or the most up-to-date version of the guidelines, be the accessibility standard for the websites of all State agencies, and requires that each website be configured in such a way that it can be navigated, viewed, and accessed on a smartphone, tablet computer, or similar mobile device.

      The WCAG guidelines make content accessible for people with disabilities.

      Under the bill, the Chief Technology Officer is required to establish the protocol by which a State agency can determine that its websites comply with the requirements. The Chief Technology Officer is required to certify each website’s compliance two years after the bill’s effective date and recertify compliance once every two years thereafter.

      As used in this bill, “State agency” means the Executive and

Legislative Branch of the State, including, but not limited to, any department, board, bureau, commission, division, office, council, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or independent agency, public authority, or public benefit corporation.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 3636 is identical to Senate Bill No. 1016, which was also reported by the committee on this date.