Airport Accessibility Requirements

The bill imposes a set of the following duties on each large hub airport (airport), as defined by federal law, in Colorado for accessibility-related functions at the airports:

• To establish an advisory committee for the cross-disabled community;
• To consult with the disabled community and confer with the advisory committee during the construction of walkways and other facilities at the airport;
• To incorporate wayfinding technology to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired to navigate the airport;
• To create, maintain, and update an electronic dashboard to report and track basic access shortcomings and violations throughout the travel process;
• To develop and provide ongoing, comprehensive training programs for staff employed directly by the airport on the handling of mobility devices, including power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, medical equipment, and adaptive sports equipment;
• To include in each agreement between the airport and any third party a provision that the third party must adhere to all applicable legal requirements regarding accessibility for individuals with disabilities;
• To install and maintain restrooms for individuals with disabilities that include companion care changing tables, including at least one accessible public restroom in every terminal; and
• To use elevators to transport power wheelchairs from the tarmac to the jetway and give priority usage of an elevator to power wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

The airport shall monitor the completion and ongoing upkeep of compliance with the duties and functions according to the timelines for each duty established in the bill.

An individual alleging damages resulting from a violation of the duties required by an airport , excluding the duties related to consultation with the disabled community and to the advisory committee, may bring a civil suit against the airport and may seek a court order requiring compliance and any other remedy available under law.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)