TDPH Monthly Newsletter

This month, the TDPH highlights recent legislative actions concerning emergency communications. The Next Generation 9-1-1 Advancement Act of 2012 [P.L. 112-96] was recently signed into law in order to establish a 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office responsible for the coordination of 9-1-1 services as well as the facilitation of grant programs for state, local and tribal entities providing these services.

This month, U.S. Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-MA), introduced new legislation, The Prescription Drug Labeling Promotion Act of 2012 [H.R. 4087], regarding making information on drug labels accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.

This month the Department of Justice issued new ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The standards revise regulations for both Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and ensure accessibility of “newly designed and constructed or altered State and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities.” The new standards will become effective March 15, 2012.

This winter issue reviews the many technology and disability policy developments from the months of December 2011 and January 2012. The Department of Labor issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [RIN 1250-AA02] seeking comment on revisions of non-discrimination and affirmative action regulations for qualified workers with disabilities. The proposed ruling would include a hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors as well as better record keeping of job applicants with disabilities.

This month marked the first national test of the new Emergency Alert System (EAS) conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In response to this event, Senator Susan Collins called for new legislation to update the system to include the dissemination of alerts via new technologies.