AN ORDINANCE relating to public accommodations; requiring persons owning or managing a place of public accommodations to activate closed captioning on television receivers; and adding a new Chapter 14.05 to the Seattle Municipal Code.
That. So we are doing it. Any further comments? Those in favor of adopting the resolution please vote i. I. Those oppose vote no. The motion carries the resolution. Resolution is adopted. Chair will sign it. Please read the report of the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Committee. The Report The Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Committee Agenda Item to cancel 119 47 to public accommodations requiring persons owning or managing a place of public accommodations to activate closed captioning on television receivers and adding a new Chapter 14.05 to this out of respect, the committee recommends the bill passes amended. Member Herbold. Thank you very much. Like to first get the amendment before the council and so Amendment One adds a new section two in re numbers. The remaining sections numbers accordingly. Thank you. Speaking to the amendment, the amendment itself is one that my staff worked with the Office of Civil Rights to specifically focus that we get more detail in the form of a report on the racial equity impact within the 180 day outreach and education period, specifically detailing the impact of enforcement of this ordinance on immigrant and or refugee run businesses. The law itself goes into effect 30 days after the mayor signs, but the enforcement of the law does not go into effect for 180 days . And so this amendment, as it's written, allows us to get that information before SOCOM begins enforcement. And just as a as a reminder, the enforcement mechanism and approach that OCR is going to be using for this ordinance is very similar to that used for the all gender restroom ordinance. So it's much more of a an education and outreach approach, seeking compliance rather than seeking violence, the issuance of violations and fines. Very good. Thank you for that. This is just the amendment only. Are there any comments on the amendments articulated by Councilor Herbold to a vote on the amendment? All those in favor of the amendment. Please vote i i those opposed vote no or nay. The nos have the ayes have it. So we have an a minute piece of legislation. We would like to describe the base legislation as a minute customer. Well, please. Thank you. So this ordinance basically puts into law what is currently arguably a already a required accommodation as it relates specifically to to a public accommodation obligation under the ADA. And so what this does is that it shifts the onus, which currently exists in the ADA, where people have to request an accommodation. And instead what it does is it shifts that onus from the individual in the deaf or hearing loss community to request closed captioning as the public accommodation, to instead have the expectation that it be provided in a in advance. And this is again the objective is to shift norms so that people are better able to engage in public life. And so the ordinance itself is modeled in some ways better than similar ordinances in other jurisdictions. Some cities, some states have similar similar ordinances. Portland's Law Passed in 2015. Ann Arbor, Michigan's ordinance took effect in 2017. And there's a similar bill in Rhode Island. And basically what it would require is it would require that in public places that the closed captioning on a television be basically turned on. One of the things I learned through deliberations on this bill is TVs all have the ability to simply turn on the closed captioning with their remote. So this is a simple and easy thing for for businesses to do. The background on this is that the Commission with People with Disabilities adopted a resolution last November to support this ordinance. They identified it as a a priority in their work plan with the intent, again, to ensure full participation and inclusion for members of the hearing loss and deaf community to take place in public activities. The again, the Office of Civil Rights will be the enforcement mechanism, and enforcement will consist of a report of violation and an investigation notification to the business and a request for a written response. And the again, the model is very much replicating that of the all gender bathroom ordinance. The the other benefits of of this bill are there are also benefits not just to the hearing loss community, but folks who are have English as a second language and the really appreciated the opportunity to work with the business community in introducing some amendments that that they had requested. One requested amendment was to create some exceptions for programing that. Is not that is already exempt under state and federal law. Another amendment clarifies that if multiple televisions are for sale in a public area, that at least one of each model must have closed captioning turned on. And, you know, one of the again, one of the things that I've learned through through working with the disabilities community on this is that the, the, the need to have to request a public accommodation really has a psychological impact on groups that have been historically marginalized. And some of some of those studies have been some some of that that experience has been captured in studies that are academic studies and that point to the fact that internalized bias and inferiority inhibit the ability for people to be confident and take advantage of opportunities and activities available for the rest of the public. And I know that we here in Seattle want to make sure that we're removing those barriers whenever we can. Thank you. Very much. Any further comments on the legislation as described by Councilmember Herbold? Okay. If not, please call the role on the passage of the amended bill. Macheda O'Brien High School. John Major Gonzalez Herbold. I was President Harrell high eight in favor and. Unopposed bill passed and chair of the Senate. Please read the next agenda item into the record show title.