WILKES-BARRE — Sen. Bob Casey’s new Section 508 amendment bill would require federal agencies to take several steps to ensure that people with disabilities can use federal technology, including websites.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that federal technology be accessible to people with disabilities, but a 2022 investigation by Senator Casey found that agency technology remains inadequate.
“We don’t ask someone in a wheelchair to climb the courthouse steps, but we do the same thing when we ask a person with a disability to use a federal website, app, kiosks or other technology that is inaccessible to them,” said Casey, a Scranton Democrat.
Senator Casey, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Aging, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) have introduced a new bill, the Section 508 Renewal Act, that would require federal agencies to take a series of steps to ensure that people with disabilities can use federal technology.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires government agencies to make federal technology available, but a 2022 investigation by Chairman Casey of the Senate Committee on Aging found that technology within departments and agencies, particularly within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is often not compliant.
In her research, Casey revealed how these accessibility gaps create barriers for people with disabilities who rely on federal technology for critical services, including health care, employment services and Social Security benefits.
Casey’s new bill would make the first significant changes to Section 508 since 1998, introducing a framework for holding government agencies accountable for accessibility requirements.
“The federal government has an obligation to make federal services, including websites and technology, accessible to people with disabilities,” said Chairman Casey. “I will introduce legislation to amend Section 508 to require federal agencies to make technology accessible and ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded from important government services and resources.”
“It’s clear that the federal government is not doing enough to ensure access to services for people with disabilities,” said Senator Fetterman. “People with disabilities deserve better. This bill would amend Section 508 to establish long-overdue requirements to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to federal services. I am proud to co-sponsor this bill.”
The last time Congress made significant changes to Section 508 was in 1998, when many federal agencies were just beginning to use the Internet, post online content, and allow all government employees to use computers.
The Section 508 Renewal Act implements long-awaited changes to the law. Specifically, the bill:
• Require Federal departments and agencies to include individuals with disabilities who use government services or information or work as government employees in the acquisition and accessibility testing of Federal technology.
• Reform the Section 508 complaint process and establish a new process for making Federal technology purchasing decisions with strict accountability requirements to ensure that technology is accessible.
• Require regular testing of technology used by Federal departments and agencies to ensure it is accessible to Federal employees and all Americans who use Federal programs and information.
• Directs each Federal department and agency to appoint a qualified, full-time Section 508 compliance officer to ensure that the technology they purchase and use is accessible.
Pennsylvania Turnpike warns of a resurgence in smishing scams
The Pennsylvania Toll Road Commission (PTC) is warning that smishing scams are again being sent randomly to individuals attempting to trick them into providing personal financial information to settle outstanding tolls.
The text messages purport to be from “Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Service” and center around an urgent request regarding an account, stating that additional fees will be incurred if past due balances are not paid.
Similar scams have been reported from toll booths across the country over the past few days.
Anyone who receives an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from the PA Turnpike or another toll collection agency should not click on any links. E-ZPass account holders and Toll By Plate customers can verify their account using any approved secure method, such as the official PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app available from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Anyone who receives a fraudulent text message can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov), a site dedicated to sharing information about Internet crimes among law enforcement agencies.
For more information on how to protect yourself from scams, visit Security and Fraud | PA Turnpike.
Pennsylvania Turnpike begins tolling on eastern roads
The Pennsylvania Toll Road Commission has formally announced plans to change the toll collection system in eastern Reading and the Northeast Extension to Open Road Tolling (ORT) in January 2025.
This anniversary marks the culmination of a 15-year transition to better meet customer expectations for safe, convenient and seamless travel.
“The implementation of Open Road Tolling will improve safety and ensure vehicular traffic moves safely throughout our network. Pennsylvania is a great American vacation destination, and Open Road Tolling will allow travelers to safely and efficiently reach their destinations throughout our great state,” said Pennsylvania Turnpike Chairman and Penn Transportation Commissioner Michael Carroll. “This is a great day for Pennsylvania and another major step forward for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.”
In an ORT system, tolls are charged electronically when customers driving at freeway speeds do not slow down or stop under elevated structures called gantries located between interchanges. Equipment on the gantries and on the road processes E-ZPass or Toll-By-Plate transactions.
Other than properly installing their E-ZPass transponders, customers don’t need to do anything special to prepare for the launch.
“In January, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will once again solidify its position as a national leader in transportation by bringing the future of toll collection to Pennsylvania through Open Road Tolling,” said Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “This move reaffirms our commitment to customer and employee safety while modernizing our operations and meeting customer expectations for seamless, nonstop travel.”
“Safe Harbor” Bill Introduced to Protect Sexually Exploited Children
State Senators Dan Laughlin (R-49th District) and Chris Dash (R-25th District) introduced legislation this week to update existing “safe harbor” laws to address shortcomings in current law regarding the protection and assistance of minors who are victims of sexual exploitation.
“We need to change how the law treats sexually exploited children and implement provisions that will reverse the long-term impacts on victims of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking,” Laughlin said. “Minors should not be charged with prostitution. These children should be recognized as victims and provided with the support services they need to help them recover from exploitation.”
The Senate Majority Policy Committee held a hearing on human trafficking in January of this year and found that not only does the prosecution of offenders need to be uniform across regions and states, but that more needs to be done to protect victims of human trafficking. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 1299, was developed based on information gained during that hearing.
“Sex trafficking rings are by no means confined to far-flung foreign countries or remote private islands, but are active in our communities, often close to home,” said Dash, lead sponsor of Bill 39 of 2023, which was signed into law to ensure that child trafficking victims who are sexually exploited always have full access to the right services and support. “Knowing the statistics and horrors of human trafficking is meaningless if we don’t take serious legislative action.”
SB 1299 covers all criminal activity related to the sexual exploitation of children, not just specific crimes. Its broader scope ensures that all victims, regardless of the circumstances of their exploitation, receive the help and protection they need.
County agencies will play a key role in improving coordination and response efforts, identifying and supporting sexually exploited children, and strengthening the overall effectiveness of the program.
The Act also seeks to ensure the privacy and safety of children who have been sexually exploited, as confidentiality is paramount to protect them from further harm.
Additionally, SB 1299 creates alternative intervention and support mechanisms for children who have been sexually exploited. These victims should not be subject to the juvenile justice system. The focus should be on addressing the underlying factors that lead to their exploitation to prevent further victimization.
Bill O’Boyle can be reached at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
