News Access for Consumers Who Are Print-Disabled

The bill authorizes the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado to expand its current offerings for blind and print-disabled Coloradans through the NFB-NEWSLINE and Project Literacy. directs providers of on-demand news and information services to Coloradans who are blind or print-disabled to expand their services and increase the number of Coloradans who are blind or print-disabled who are aware of such services. The expansion of services includes providing an expanded array of information and literacy support services throughout the state, such as a variety of communication-related assistive technologies and blindness-related services; introductory training; and methods to find and use additional resources in or near communities where a person lives . adding a technical assistance line; and adding a full-time staff member. Other expanded services may include information sharing, marketing of expanded services, and other methods for informing persons who are blind or print-disabled about the on-demand news and information services; support services for users to resolve technical questions; and the provision of information about communication-related assistive technologies. The state librarian is authorized to administer money in the reading services for the blind cash fund for the support of privately operated reading services.

(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.)