Requires movie theaters to provide effective communication devices for individuals with visual or hearing impairment; expands protections under "Law Against Discrimination."
Summary
A4230 requires movie theaters in New Jersey that are public accommodations to provide effective communication devices for patrons with visual or hearing impairments. Specifically, theaters must maintain equipment for closed movie captioning and audio description at the patron’s seat when showing digital movies that are made available with those features by the film’s creators. The bill also requires theaters to give public notice about the availability of these devices, have staff available to assist patrons before, during, and after showings, and provide the devices at no extra charge.
The bill sets minimum device requirements based on the number of auditoriums showing digital movies, ranging from four captioning devices and two audio description devices for a one-auditorium theater to twelve captioning devices and nine audio description devices for theaters with 16 or more digital auditoriums. It exempts theaters that show only analog movies and drive-in theaters, and it does not require theaters to convert to digital projection, add open captioning, or alter films that were not created with captioning or audio description. Violations are subject to penalties under the Law Against Discrimination or other applicable law.
Impact
The bill amends the definition section of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and adds a new substantive requirement for movie theaters as places of public accommodation. In practical terms, it expands civil rights protections for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision by making accessible movie-going equipment a statutory obligation rather than a voluntary accommodation. The measure would affect theater owners, operators, and lessees, while leaving analog-only and drive-in theaters outside its scope.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive and accessibility-focused. The sponsor’s statement frames the bill as a straightforward expansion of equal access for patrons with sensory disabilities, and the legislation is written to limit burdens on theaters by tying obligations to features already provided by film creators and by exempting certain theater types. No recorded opposition, amendments, or roll-call votes are provided in the available context.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are operational and cost-related: theaters must purchase, maintain, and staff accessible equipment, and smaller venues may view the device minimums and notice requirements as an added compliance burden. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on whether a digital movie is already made available with captioning or audio description, which may limit access when distributors do not supply those features. The bill attempts to address these concerns by exempting analog-only and drive-in theaters and by stating that theaters are not required to add accessibility features to films that were not provided with them.
Carry Over
Requires movie theaters to provide effective communication devices for individuals with visual or hearing impairment; expands protections under "Law Against Discrimination."