Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, § 4566-A: Certification and conformity with rules, 1995

1. Certification of state law. The commission shall take all steps required under 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 36, Subpart F to request federal certification that the State's laws concerning accessibility and usability of places of public accommodation meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. These steps include issuing public notice of an intent to file, conducting a public hearing on record and preparing and filing with the United States Department of Justice the request for certification. If the commission determines that no significant portion of the law is certifiable, the commission may cease its attempts to obtain certification and shall report its determinations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters. The report must include recommendations on changes to the law as necessary to achieve certification of a significant portion of the law. [PL 1995, c. 393, §11 (NEW).] 2. Conformity of rules relating to special use areas. The commission shall amend its rules relating to accessibility of places of public accommodation to include standards contained in the regulations adopted pursuant to Titles I, II, and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Accessibility Guidelines, 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 36, Subpart F, relating to restaurants and cafeterias, medical care facilities, business and mercantile establishments, libraries, accessible transient lodging and other places of public accommodation, but only to the extent that those standards provide greater accessibility than any comparable standards contained in current state law or rules. [PL 1995, c. 393, §11 (NEW).]