Resolve, To Provide Access for Persons with Disabilities to Great Ponds

Sec. 1. Department of Conservation and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to study increasing the number of great ponds with access for persons with disabilities. Resolved: That the Department of Conservation and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall jointly review the geographic and demographic distribution of great ponds in the State with adequate access for persons with disabilities. For the purposes of this resolve, "adequate access" means access for shore-side fishing via a ramp that meets the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Accessibility Guidelines or a trail that meets standards developed in consultation with the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Using this information and recommendations received by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in response to a 2006 federal civil rights audit, the 2 departments shall develop priorities for increasing the number and providing a geographic and demographic distribution of great ponds with adequate access for persons with disabilities; and be it further

Sec. 2. Reporting date established. Resolved: That the Department of Conservation and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall submit a report of their findings and priorities developed under section 1 to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry by January 3, 2008. The departments shall include in the report an assessment on the feasibility of implementing the priorities based on existing funding and resources.