MEMORANDUM TO SENATOR DOLE 
Date: January 30, 1995
From: Alec Vachon
RE: UPDATE/ADA AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS-­WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS? HOW CAN YOU HELP? 

* As you know, I have contacted state & local government associations, asking questions like: How is ADA going? What kind of help do you need? Groups contacted: National Assn. of Counties, National Assn. of Towns, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Assn., National League of Cities, and U.S. Conference of Mayors. 

* Have also spoken to key ADA co-sponsors: Kennedy, Hatch, Harkin, and McCain. 

GOOD AND BAD NEWS--AND SOME SURPRISING ANSWERS 
* Everyone has heard of ADA, and most communities have begun to move. Incidentally, no one call ADA an "unfunded mandate"--U.S. Conference of Mayors: "ADA got tagged as an unfunded mandate because it showed up on top of an undoable agenda--ADA last one through." But staffer noted, "On a personal basis, ADA is a good thing. Should have been done a longtime ago."
 
* Generally pleased with ADA regs. The National Assn. of Towns called them a "model of flexibility." 

* Problems:
1. Biggest single capital expense is curb cuts--and deadline for compliance passed on Thursday, 1/26. 

2. Getting fast, definitive answers from the Justice Department. Complain ADA regs are not detailed enough. 

EXPLORING THREE ACTIONS--FINAL OPTIONS NEXT WEEK 
* CURB CUTS--Drafting letter to Justice w/ ADA co-sponsors to extend deadline 5-10 years. Kennedy & Harkin support this action--Harkin says disability groups will not oppose. 

* PROCESS FOR QUICK ANSWERS AND SOLVING FUTURE PROBLEMS. Letter to Tony Coelho at President's Committee asking him to set up regular meeting of state & local government associations, Justice, and disability groups to get kinks worked out. President's Committee affiliates in most states are the state agency for ADA implementation. 

* SIMPLIFY REGULATORY BURDEN. Example: Rather than each jurisdiction apply for ADA certification of building code, Justice would certify model codes--jurisdictions would be deemed in compliance unless vary from model codes.