SB 396/ HB 849 Comments

• Line 789: intent is the same as FS 553.502 except they are incorporating the amendments but some changes weaken Florida’s accessible building code.
• Lines 827 – 833: preface for exceptions to ADAAG
• Lines 845 – 846: "…such toilet room must have a clear opening of at least 29 inches.". I recommend at least 32 inches. It is very difficult if not impossible to get most wheelchairs through a 29 inch opening.
• Lines 847 – 851: see above
• Lines 852 – 855: Florida has a 72 inch straight and level landing requirement at the bottom of ramps. The extra foot provides greater stopping distance for people who use wheel chairs. This can be a critical safety factor for someone who has limited arm/wrist/hand strength.
• Lines 856 – 862: ADAAG specifies 12 inch handrail extension; Florida Accessibility Code (FAC) specifies 18 inches. The additional 6 inches could be a safety factor for the elderly and others who may have mobility disabilities.
• Lines 863 – 865: curb ramps FAC 11-4.3.3 requires curb ramps to be 36 inches wide so this reference is out of context. FAC 11-4.8.3 requires ramps on a required means of access to be 44 inches wide. Again, this is a safety factor. If someone using a wheelchair must evacuate on a 36 inch wide ramp, there is only 2 – 4 inches of maneuvering clearance and others would not be able to pass by. A 44 inch width would provide 12 – 14 inches clearance.
• Lines 866 – 870: a slope greater than 1:12 slope for flared sides of a curb ramp poses a problem for people who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes or have other mobility problems. Also, a steeper slope may pose a greater trip hazard to other pedestrians.
• Lines 875 – 901: deleting this section really weakens the requirement to provide accessibility to wheelchair users.
• Lines 911 – 916: I don’t see any problem with this.
• Lines 925 – 928: Detectable Warnings – if this section is deleted, only truncated domes will be allowed as detectable warnings (section 705 2010 Amendments).
• Lines 929 – 932: No problem with deleting this if FPSC standards meet accessibility standards
• Line 950: The accessible stall door should be self-closing. It is very difficult for a person using a wheelchair to reach behind to close the door.
• Lines 951 – 953: Deleting this section would limit access to checkout aisles. By doing so, if the accessible aisle has numerous customers lined up and other aisles are not as full, a person using a wheelchair and who needs a 32 inch aisle would have to wait in the longer line. That’s providing the accessible aisle is open.
• Lines 954 – 959: Deleting this citation should have no effect on accessibility to venues.
• Lines 988 – 990: This removes the requirement of providing accessible parking spaces in visitor’s and employee’s parking areas for self-parking. I think it weakens the force of the parking space requirement.
• Line 1022 – 1024: Removing the "shortest safely route" clause will potentially allow for accessible parking spaces to be put further away from accessible entrances. This is a safety issue and a dangerous suggestion.
• Lines 1038 – 1041: Redacting this definition makes the location of parking access aisles ambiguous. Is it possible this could be construed that every accessible parking space would be required to have its own access aisle?
• Lines 1062 – 1065: Redacting this clause will allow accessible parallel parking in the middle of a block. This is dangerous for people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices as there are few (if any) curb cuts in the middle of a block.
• Lines 1073 – 1075: Deleting this will weaken the responsibility to provide accessible parallel parking. Again, this is a safety issue for people with mobility disabilities.
• Lines 1112 – 1115: Lowering the sign height may not seem like a critical issue. However, a sign at 60 inches above ground surface may not be seen by a parking enforcement officer.
• Lines 1207 – 1315: This appears to lessen the standards for provision of emergency power to elevators. If this is so, it will have a negative impact on emergency evacuations in the case of fire or other disasters for people with mobility disabilities residing on upper floors.
• Lines 1422 – 1429: This seems to weaken the commission’s ability to adapt and/or modify other model codes and standards to fit the needs of Florida’s citizens.
• END OF CHIP WILSON COMMENTS.

Governor Scott socks it to the

people who elected him!

After a state wide veto effort, Gov. Scott signed HB 849

designed to cut the "heart" out of the Florida Access Law

in Chapter 553, Part 2. Wicked people did it with stealth

amendments.

B. Denny Wood's Apology:

"I am apologizing to all people with disabilities,

their families and their supporters for helping

elect Governor Scott in his race against ADA

Violator Sink, as set forth in the two articles

to the left: "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"

and "CAMPAIGN 2010".

In our efforts to remove ADA Violator Sink,

our web site was instrumental in the election of

Scott as Governor. What Scott did by signing

HB 849 into law is absolutely disgusting. It is

by far, the blackest event in the history of the

disabled civil rights movement in Florida. This

apology will remain on the front page until all

the wrong in HB 849 is made right at the next

legislature(s).

-Denny Wood, Publisher, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it