California Code, Government Code - GOV § 14985

The Legislature finds and declares that, despite the fact that state law has provided persons with disabilities the right to full and equal access to public facilities since 1968, and that a violation of the right of any person under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) has also constituted a violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the Civil Code) since 1992, persons with disabilities are still being denied full and equal access to public facilities in many instances. The Legislature further finds and declares that businesses in California have the responsibility to provide full and equal access to public facilities as required in the laws and regulations, but that compliance may be thwarted in some cases by conflicting state and federal regulations, which in turn results in unnecessary litigation. With a view to developing recommendations that will enable persons with disabilities to exercise their right to full and equal access to public facilities, and that will facilitate business compliance with the laws and regulations to avoid unnecessary litigation, the Legislature has created the California Commission on Disability Access within the Department of General Services.