November 1, 2005, Introduced by Reps. Kolb, Spade, Accavitti, Tobocman, Cushingberry, Plakas, Kathleen Law, Bieda, Gillard, Brown, Meisner, Sheltrown and Sak and referred to the Committee on Energy and Technology.
A bill to establish an accessible electronic information
service program for blind and disabled individuals; to prescribe
the powers and duties of certain departments, commissions, and
telecommunications providers in relation to that program; and to
impose a surcharge on telecommunications access lines.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"accessible electronic information act".
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Accessible electronic information" means news and other
timely information, including newspapers, delivered through high-
speed computers and telecommunication technology in a form
appropriate for use by blind and disabled individuals.
(b) "Blind and disabled individuals" means those individuals
who meet the eligibility requirements for library loan services
under former 36 CFR 701.10(b) (2003).
(c) "Department" means the department of labor and economic
growth, commission for the blind.
(d) "Program" means the accessible electronic information
service program created in section 5.
Sec. 5. (1) The accessible electronic information service
program is created under the auspices of the department.
(2) The program shall do all of the following:
(a) Provide intrastate service to blind and disabled persons
that allows them to receive accessible electronic information by
means of a touch-tone telephone, computer, or other electronic
means.
(b) Provide for internet registration for blind and disabled
individuals who choose to participate in the program.
(c) Make maximum use of state, federal, and other sources of
funds that are available to promote accessible electronic
information, including seeking grants and in-kind support, and by
securing low-cost interstate telecommunications rates or
reimbursements.
Sec. 7. The department shall oversee the program, which may be
administered under a contract with a nonprofit entity. Any contract
for program administration shall be let through the state
competitive bidding process and may provide a preference for an
entity that has previously provided accessible electronic
information services to blind and disabled individuals in this
state or that has the existing technological infrastructure to
provide accessible electronic information.
Sec. 9. The entity administering the program shall submit an
annual report to the legislative subcommittee that has jurisdiction
over appropriations to the department by October 1 of each year.
The annual report shall include all of the following:
(a) A description of the accessible electronic information
services provided.
(b) An accounting of any money received or expended.
(c) The number of blind and disabled individuals accessing
each type of service.
(d) The frequency with which each type of service was
accessed.
(e) Recommendations for improvements in the program.
Sec. 11. (1) The public service commission may impose a
surcharge of up to $0.01 per access line per month on customers of
telecommunication providers of basic local exchange service as
those terms are defined in section 102 of the Michigan
telecommunications act, 1991 PA 179, MCL 484.2102, to support the
program.
(2) Each year after consultation with any entity that
administers the program and the department, the public service
commission shall determine the amount of money reasonably needed to
operate the program for the year. The public service commission
shall establish the surcharge for the succeeding year in an amount
expected to produce revenue equal to the anticipated cost of the
program.
(3) Telecommunication providers of basic local exchange
service shall remit the money generated by the surcharge to the
state treasurer for deposit into an account in the state treasury
designated for receipt of the surcharge imposed under this act.