Provides televisions in State buildings shall display closed captioning for programming.
Summary
S3237 requires televisions located in any portion of a building owned or leased by the State for use by a State agency to continuously display closed captioning whenever closed captioning is available for the programming being shown. The requirement applies to televisions that are available for viewing by members of the public or public employees, and the bill defines both “closed captioning” and “State agency” for purposes of the mandate.
The bill includes a limited exemption for televisions manufactured before the bill’s effective date that cannot accommodate closed captioning. It would take effect immediately upon enactment and would supplement Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, which governs state government administration.
Impact
The bill would impose a new operational requirement on State agencies and other covered State entities that maintain televisions in public- or employee-accessible areas of State-owned or State-leased buildings. In practice, agencies would need to ensure that televisions are set to display captions whenever available, and may need to adjust device settings or replace noncompliant equipment except where older televisions cannot support captioning. The measure would add a new accessibility-related obligation to Title 52 without creating a broad private-sector mandate.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee reported the bill favorably by a 5-0 vote, indicating unanimous support among those voting. No committee transcript or recorded floor debate was provided, so the public record here shows support but little detailed discussion or opposition.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the materials provided. The main practical issue is implementation: State agencies may need to ensure televisions are configured for captioning and determine whether any older equipment qualifies for the exemption. Any concern would likely center on administrative burden or equipment compatibility, but no specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments are reflected in the available record.