The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register. HUD is considering revising the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) implementing regulation at 24 C.F.R. part 8 and requests public comment to assist HUD in considering potential revisions. Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance from HUD. Today’s announcement follows through on HUD’s commitment in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, announced earlier this year.
HUD’s Section 504 ANPRM acknowledges the need to align HUD’s Section 504 regulation with environmental, societal, and technological advances and emerging issues. Therefore, HUD is providing this notice to seek the public’s input on potential changes to its regulation implementing Section 504 for recipients of HUD federal financial assistance.
“Inclusive communities and accessible, affordable housing are at the core of HUD’s mission,” said Demetria L. McCain, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Modern standards for accessible program design must reflect advances in building practices and technology. Hearing from the public, particularly stakeholders most directly impacted, is an integral part of HUD’s rulemaking process.”
HUD’s Section 504 ANPRM asks the public to respond to several questions that relate to HUD’s existing Section 504 regulation which was originally published in 1988. The Department is seeking information on what it should consider relating to Recipients’ obligations, including how to account for advances in accessible design, the use of websites and other technology, and auxiliary aids and services including assistive technologies. In addition, the Department is considering whether to adopt an updated Federal accessibility standard for purposes of compliance with HUD’s Section 504 regulation.
HUD invites all members of the public, including individuals with disabilities, HUD recipients, such as public housing agencies, States, or local governments, Tribes, housing providers, and social service providers, to provide input before HUD proposes regulatory changes for comment. Comments may be submitted electronically through www.regulations.gov, or through the methods described in the advance notice of proposed rulemaking. For more information, please visit www.hud.gov/504.