LAC 46:LXIII.1907. ADA Accommodations

A. Any member of the public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or a designated caregiver of such a person, who wishes to request participation in the open meeting portions of any board meeting through a viable alternative method is encouraged to contact the board office to discuss available alternative methods of access. Requests must be received at least five business days, exclusive of weekends and holidays, prior to the scheduled public meeting. B. For purposes of this Section, people with disabilities include any of the following: 1. a member of the public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); 2. a designated caregiver of such a person; or 3. a participating member of the agency with an ADA-qualifying disability. C. Viable alternative accommodations for board meetings include participation by teleconference. 1. If additional accommodations are needed, the requestor is encouraged to contact the board office to begin the interactive process to determine available reasonable accommodations. Unless the requested accommodation imposes an undue hardship on the board, the board shall make reasonable efforts to accommodate the request utilizing available resources. 2. Notices a. Except as provided by law for emergency meetings, notice of future board meeting dates shall be posted on the website of the board. b. Board meeting agendas shall be posted on the website of the board and distributed via the board’s electronic public distribution list. c. ADA policies and procedures shall be posted on the website of the board and contain the name(s) and contact information for the board’s ADA coordinator. 3. The requestor shall be provided with instructions for utilizing the viable alternative method, or information regarding available alternative accommodations, as soon as practicable following receipt of the request, but no later than the start of the scheduled meeting. Participation by a member of the public through a viable alternative method shall be limited to observation of the open meeting and public comment on agenda items in accordance with the board’s established public comment procedures, and shall not include participation in board deliberations or other discussion of the board. 4. A board member who has a disability recognized by the ADA may participate and vote in a meeting by electronic means and shall be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. This provision shall not apply to participation by electronic means in executive session discussion, disciplinary hearings, or adjudications.