,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbij ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #be1 #bjai,ms4 ,duckworth 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,markey1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf to expand the credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,disabled ,access ,credit ,expansion ,act4 #b4 ,expansion of credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals 7a7 ,increase in dollar limitation 7#a7 ,in general ,subsection 7a7 of section #dd of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended by striking #aj1bej and inserting #bj1ejj4 7#b7 ,inflation adjustment ,section #dd of such ,code is amended by redesignating subsection 7e7 as subsection 7f7 and by inserting after subsection 7d7 the following new subsection3 7e7 ,inflation adjustment 7#a7 ,in general ,in the case of any taxable year beginning after #bjbj1 the #bj1ejj amount in subsection 7a7 shall be increased by an amount equal to-- 7,a7 such dollar amount1 multiplied by 7,b7 the cost of living adjustment determined under section #a7;f77#c7 for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins1 determined by substituting calendar year #bjai for calendar year #bjaf in subparagraph 7,a77ii7 thereof4 7#b7 ,rounding ,any amount determined under paragraph 7#a7 which is not a multiple of #ej shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of #ej4 4 7b7 ,increase in gross receipts limitation ,subparagraph 7,a7 of section #dd7;b77#a7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended by striking #a1jjj1jjj and inserting #b1ejj1jjj4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after ,december #ca1 #bjai4 #c4 ,alternative means of dispute resolution involving disability rights 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,congress does not directly appropriate funds for the ,,ada ,mediation ,program of the ,disability ,rights ,section of the ,civil ,rights ,division of the ,department of ,justice4 7#b7 ,the ,civil ,rights ,division receives funds for the ,,ada ,mediation ,program from the ,office of ,alternative ,dispute ,resolution of the ,office of ,legal ,policy of the ,department of ,justice4 ,the ,office of ,alternative ,dispute ,resolution receives appropriations through the appropriations account of the ,department of ,justice appropriated under the heading ,fees and ,expenses of ,witnesses under the heading ,legal ,activities 7referred to in this subsection as the ,,few appropriations account74 7#c7 ,the total amount appropriated to the ,office of ,alternative ,dispute ,resolution through the ,,few appropriations account for fiscal year #bjai is #d1ejj1jjj4 7#d7 ,out of this amount1 the ,office of ,alternative ,dispute ,resolution funds mediation for all of the litigating units within the ,department of ,justice4 7#e7 ,the ,civil ,rights ,division requests funding for the ,,ada ,mediation ,program on a quarterly basis and is limited in its ability to use funds to increase personnel and provide training concerning the program4 7#f7 ,voluntary mediation1 under section #ead of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abbab71 of disputes between individuals and entities covered by the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47 requires specific expertise4 7#g7 ,to best serve the disability community1 and entities covered by that ,act1 the ,,ada ,mediation ,program should be able to use funds to increase personnel and provide training concerning the program4 7b7 ,,ada ,mediation ,program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general shall carry out an ,,ada ,mediation ,program 7referred to in this section as the ,program74 7#b7 ,duties and authorities ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,attorney ,general-- 7,a7 shall facilitate voluntary mediation to resolve disputes arising under the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq472 7,b7 may hire or enter into contracts with personnel for the ,program1 including increasing the number of such personnel beyond the number of individuals who provided services through the ,program on the date of enactment of this section2 and 7,c7 provide training for mediators who provide services through the ,program4 7#c7 ,authorization of appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the appropriations account of the ,department of ,justice appropriated under the heading ,fees and ,expenses of ,witnesses under the heading ,legal ,activities1 to carry out this section1 #a1jjj1jjj 7in addition to any other amounts appropriated to that account7 for fiscal year #bjba4 7,b7 ,availability of funds ,funds appropriated under subparagraph 7,a7 may be used to pay for obligations incurred through the ,program prior to the date of enactment of this section4 #d4 ,,ada ,information ,line data collection report 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,as of ,june #bh1 #bjai1 during fiscal year #bjai1 accessibility specialists have answered approximately #bc1hee calls to the ,,ada ,information ,line4 7#b7 ,the ,,ada ,information ,line receives on average approximately #fjj calls per week1 and does not typically collect data about the kinds of calls it receives4 7#c7 ,the ,,ada ,information ,line takes calls from a variety of individuals and entities interested in the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij1 including-- 7,a7 employers covered by such ,act2 7,b7 architects and others who work with such employers2 7,c7 public entities1 such as schools and public service providers2 7,d7 individuals with disabilities2 and 7,e7 entities that provide public accommodations4 7#d7 ,,ada4gov provides many resources to individuals and entities1 public or private1 looking for information on such ,act4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term ,,ada ,information ,line means the toll-free line operated by the ,attorney ,general to provide information and materials to the public about the requirements of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 including regulations issued under the ,act and technical assistance in accordance with section #ejg of the ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abbjf72 and 7#b7 the term disability1 with respect to an individual1 has the meaning given such term in section #c of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb74 7c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,attorney ,general shall submit a report to each committee of ,congress-- 7#a7 outlining the kinds of calls the ,,ada ,information ,line receives2 7#b7 detailing the efforts of the ,department of ,justice to educate individuals and entities about the existence of the ,,ada ,information ,line2 and 7#c7 providing recommendations on improvements that can be made to provide additional support to individuals with disabilities1 and entities covered by the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij1 seeking information on such ,act4