China’s proposed legislation stipulates that people’s governments at or above the county level should formulate targeted renovation plans for barrier-free facilities and organize their implementation.

　　BEIJING, Beijing, June 25 (Xie Yanbing, Liang Xiaohui) Zang Tiewei, spokesman of the the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) Law Commission, said in Beijing on the 25th that the third session of the 14th the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) will continue to review the draft law on barrier-free environment construction, and the third review draft of the draft intends to clarify that people’s governments at or above the county level should formulate targeted plans for the renovation of barrier-free facilities and organize their implementation.

　　On the same day, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) Legal Affairs Committee held a press conference. Zang Tiewei said at the press conference that the draft law on barrier-free environment construction has been reviewed twice, and the three drafts submitted to the Standing Committee for consideration are proposed to be revised as follows:

　　First, it is added that the construction of barrier-free environment should be combined with the aging transformation.

　　Second, it is clear that people’s governments at or above the county level should formulate targeted renovation plans for barrier-free facilities and organize their implementation.

　　The third is to improve the regulations for installing elevators and other barrier-free facilities in existing houses. The range of residential buildings equipped with elevators and other barrier-free facilities is clearly defined as "existing multi-storey residential buildings in old urban communities", and at the same time, it is added that "giving play to the role of community grassroots organizations" and "strengthening communication and consultation" by house owners.

　　Fourth, increase the provisions on encouraging the preparation and publication of teaching books in Braille and low vision.

　　Fifth, expand the scope of places that provide barrier-free facilities, equipment and services to museums, cultural centers, science and technology museums and other places.

　　Sixth, improve the provisions for commodity producers and operators to provide labels and instructions in barrier-free formats.

　　Seventh, it is clear that the local standards for barrier-free environment construction shall not be lower than the relevant technical requirements of national standards.

　　Eighth, improve the regulations that encourage and support the development and application of related technologies. (End)