The Honorable Anna Caballero
Chair, Appropriations Committee
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Room 2200
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: AB 1757 (Kalra) as amended June 12, 2024 – SUPPORT

Dear Chair Caballero:

On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we write in support of Assembly Bill 1757. This bill is the result of negotiation between disability advocates and the business community. It presents a balanced, reasoned approach to website accessibility litigation that promotes access for people with disabilities while also protecting businesses from frivolous litigation and unscrupulous providers of website products and services.

The undersigned organizations envision a world where all disabled people have power and are treated with dignity and respect. Such a world is only possible when people with disabilities have equal access to the information, resources, services, and products that are available to others. In today’s world, website accessibility is a critical component of equal access.

AB 1757 advances the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act and California’s civil rights laws. Equity, inclusion, and access are key principles that disability advocates continue to hold as central to our work. Ensuring that websites are accessible to people with disabilities—and that aggrieved individuals have an avenue for recourse when they are not—advances these principles.

AB 1757 brings us closer to the world we seek to bring into fruition. In this world, people with disabilities are supported, valued, included in their communities, afforded the same opportunities as people without disabilities, and make their own decisions.

AB 1757 has been carefully crafted to minimize any costs to the state or to local governments. Moreover, when everyone – including the roughly 25% of Californians with disabilities – have equal access to web-based products and services, they are able to participate fully in the economy. That provides a fiscal benefit that can be felt statewide.

For these reasons, we are pleased to support AB 1757.

Sincerely,

California Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired 
California Council of the Blind
Californians for Disability Rights, Inc.
Community Resources for Independent Living
Consumer Attorneys of California
Disability Rights Advocates
Disability Rights California
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
National Federation of the Blind of California
Valley Center for the Blind 

Cc: Honorable Members, Senate Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Ash Kalra, California State Assembly
Liah Burnley, Consultant, Senate Appropriations Committee
Alison Merrilees, Chief Counsel, Assembly Judiciary Committee
Eric Dang, Counsel, Office of proTem McGuire
Emelyn Rodriguez, General Counsel, Office of Speaker Rivas