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Statement of Need: Section 504 of the ADA requires the Access Board to issue supplemental minimum guidelines and requirements for accessible design of buildings and facilities subject to the ADA, including title II. Section 204(c) of the ADA requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations implementing title II that are consistent with the Access Board's ADA guidelines. Because this rule will adopt standards that are consistent with the minimum guidelines issued by the Access Board, this rule is required by statute. Similarly, the Department's review of its title II regulations is being undertaken to comply with the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA).

Summary of the Legal Basis: The summary of the legal basis of authority for this regulation is set forth above under Legal Authority and Statement of Need.

Alternatives: The Department is required by the ADA to issue this regulation as described in the Statement of Need above. Pursuant to SBREFA, the Department's title II regulation will consider whether alternatives to the currently published requirements are appropriate.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The Administration is deeply committed to ensuring that the goals of the ADA are met. Promulgating this amendment to the Department's ADA regulations will ensure that entities subject to the ADA will have one comprehensive regulation to follow. Currently, entities subject to title II of the ADA (State and local governments) have a choice between following the Department's ADA Standards for title III, which were adopted for places of public accommodation and commercial facilities and which do not contain standards for common State and local government buildings (such as courthouses and prisons), or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). By developing one comprehensive standard, the Department will eliminate the confusion that arises when governments try to mesh two different standards. As a result, the overarching goal of improving access to persons with disabilities will be better served. The Access Board has analyzed the effect of applying its proposed amendments to ADAAG to entities covered by titles II and III of the ADA and has determined that they constitute a significant regulatory action for purposes of Executive Order 12866. The Access Board's determination will apply as well to the revised ADA Standards published by the Department. The Department's proposed procedural amendments will not have a significant impact on small entities. As part of its November 1999 NPRM, the Access Board published a summary of the regulatory assessment that it had prepared, including a cost impact analysis and a discussion of regulatory alternatives considered. The Access Board will prepare and publish in summary form an updated regulatory assessment to accompany the final revised ADAAG. The Access Board's regulatory assessment will also apply to the Department's proposed adoption of revised ADAAG as ADA standards insofar as the standards apply to new construction and alteration. The Department will also prepare an additional regulatory assessment of the estimated annual cost of compliance with the revised standards with regard to existing facilities. The Access Board has made every effort to lessen the impact of its proposed guidelines on State and local governments but recognizes that the guidelines will have some federalism effects. These affects are discussed in the Access Board's regulatory assessment, which also applies to the Department's proposed rule.

Risks: Without this amendment to the Department's ADA regulations, regulated entities will be subject to confusion and delay as they attempt to sort out the requirements of conflicting design standards. This amendment should eliminate the costs and risks associated with that process.