Kansas SB46: Establishing the blind information access act to require the state library to provide on-demand information access services to persons who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled

What the bill says

An act concerning disability services; relating to telecommunications and information access services; establishing the blind information access act; requiring the state librarian to contract with an organization to provide on-demand information access services to persons who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled; establishing the blind information access fund; requiring the transfer of moneys from the Kansas universal service fund to provide for such services; amending K.S.A. 66-2010 and repealing the existing section.

From the introduced text, January 21, 2025:

AN ACT concerning disability services; relating to telecommunications and information access services; establishing the blind information access act; requiring the state librarian to contract with an organization to provide on-demand information access services to persons who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled; establishing the blind information access fund; requiring the transfer of moneys from the Kansas universal service fund to provide for such services; amending K.S.A. 66-2010 and repealing the existing section. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas: New Section 1. (a) This act shall be known and may be cited as the blind information access act. (b) The state librarian shall estimate the cost of entering into a contract with an organization that delivers on-demand information access services to persons who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled. Such services shall provide access to digital content through audio, electronic text and braille-reading technologies and other related services, including, but not limited to, Kansas specific publications, national publications, international publications, breaking news sources and localized emergency weather alerts. Such on-demand information access services shall be provided using telecommunications or internet services. (c) On or before November 1 of each year, the state librarian shall submit a report to the legislature and the state corporation commission that specifies the estimate of the cost …

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