§ 6-1-401 — Legislative intent

(1) It is the intent of the general assembly to
encourage and promote independent living and self-sufficiency for persons with
disabilities and to reduce their need to rely on publicly funded supports. Of an
estimated forty-nine million Americans with disabilities, approximately seventy
percent of them are unemployed or underemployed. Having safe, reliable assistive
technology represents a most essential need given the many barriers to
independent living and self-sufficiency people with disabilities face.

(2) The goal of meeting this essential need can be furthered by assuring that
assistive technology provided to persons with disabilities is of quality and is
covered by adequate warranties to maintain their assistive technology in proper
working condition, to assure availability of appropriate loaner replacement assistive
technology while their own is being repaired, and to encourage manufacturers and
dealers to cooperatively pool assistive technology resources for loaner purposes to
assure availability without an undue burden.

(3) The general assembly finds and declares it is in the state's best interest
to adopt this part 4.

Legislative History

Source: L. 97: Entire part added, p. 604, � 1, effective July 1.