According to the DOJ website, On Friday, May 30, 2008, Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey signed proposed regulations to revise the Department’s ADA regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. On Tuesday, June 17, 2008, the proposed regulations were published in the Federal Register. The proposed regulations consist of a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the ADA regulation for State and local governments, a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the ADA regulation for public accommodations and commercial facilities, a Regulatory Impact Analysis, and two supporting appendices. These proposals are part of the Department’s comprehensive review of its regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act. On September 30, 2004, the Department issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking announcing its intention to adopt design standards that are consistent with the revised ADA Accessibility Guidelines published by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (also known as the Access Board) on July 23, 2004. The ADA requires the Department to publish regulations that include accessibility standards that are consistent with the Access Board’s guidelines. Until the Department’s rulemaking is complete, the revised ADA Guidelines are effective only as guidance to the Department and the public.

The Department will accept comments on the proposals through www.regulations.gov. Interested parties will have sixty days to comment on them.

For more information: http://www.ada.gov/NPRM2008/ADAnprm08.htm

 

Special thanks to Professor Alan C. Weinstein of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law for bringing this announcement to my attention.