2009 Louisiana Laws TITLE 40 Public health and safety :: RS 40:1731 Purposes

PART V.  EQUAL ACCESS TO GOVERNMENTAL AND

PUBLIC FACILITIES FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

§1731.  Purposes

A.  The legislature hereby finds that the physically handicapped are denied access to much of the built environment and that this denial of access often prevents the physically handicapped from exercising their rights and privileges as citizens.  Denial of access further impairs the ability of the physically handicapped to secure an education, to find and maintain gainful employment, to live independently, and to otherwise participate fully in society.  The legislature further finds that a large proportion of the population is physically handicapped and that this state has a moral interest in securing equal rights for all its citizens and an economic interest in the removal of architectural barriers which keep the physically handicapped on public assistance programs and from becoming productive citizens.

B.  It is therefore the policy of this state to bring to an end, as quickly as possible, the undue hardship caused by architectural barriers.  The state shall enable persons who are physically handicapped to achieve maximum personal independence, to become gainfully employed, and to use and enjoy all buildings and facilities.  It is the intent of the legislature to implement the removal or architectural barriers so that the physically handicapped may begin to share equally with the nonphysically handicapped the right to use and enjoy the man-made environment including, but not limited to, places of employment, recreation, entertainment, shopping, and education.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 625, §1.