OAR 177-040-0070: Retailer Wheelchair Accessibility Program

(1) Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to require that all new and existing Lottery retailers provide and maintain access to Oregon Lottery® games and related services to persons who use wheelchairs. Access to Video LotterySM games may be achieved by providing access to at least one Video LotterySM game terminal, regardless of slight variations in game theme or play between the different types of Video LotterySM game terminals. (2) General Requirements: All Lottery retailers shall provide and maintain access to all persons who use wheelchairs to enable their full and equal enjoyment of Lottery games and related services. Retailers shall comply with the Retailer Wheelchair Accessibility Program by installing required accessibility features, by removing identified barriers through structural modifications, or by creating alternative methods of providing access to Lottery games and related services. (a) Barrier Removal and Accessibility Features: All barriers must be removed that impede wheelchair access to Lottery games and related services. Examples of barrier removal or accessibility features include, but are not limited to: (A) Installing ramps; (B) Making curb cuts in sidewalks and entrances; (C) Creating designated accessible parking spaces; (D) Widening doors; (E) Rearranging tables, chairs, vending machines, display racks, and other furniture; (F) Installing offset hinges to widen doorways; (G) Installing accessible door hardware; (H) Installing elevators; and (I) Relocating Lottery games and related services within the retailer’s premises to accommodate persons who use wheelchairs. (b) Alternative Methods: Alternative methods of providing access to Lottery games and related services must be appropriate or reasonable for the person using a wheelchair, and will apply only when accessibility to the Lottery game or related service does not require physical access by the person using a wheelchair to a specific area of the premises. (For example, playing Keno does not require physical access to a Lottery terminal if the retailer provides table service to persons who use wheelchairs. Conversely, playing Video LotterySM games does require physical access to the Video LotterySM game terminal.) All alternative methods of providing access must be approved by the Director and will only be permitted when the retailer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Director the necessity of offering alternative methods of access instead of removing barriers or installing accessibility features. The Director’s decision is final. (c) Costs of Modifications: The retailer is responsible for all costs related to removing barriers, installing accessibility features, or offering alternative methods of access for the purpose of making a retailer’s premises wheelchair accessible. (3) Retailer Wheelchair Accessibility Certification: All applicants for a Lottery retailer contract shall submit with the application, a signed Wheelchair Accessibility Certification form certifying that the retail location is wheelchair accessible. The Certification form shall be provided by the Lottery and shall contain the Lottery’s wheelchair accessibility standards. The Wheelchair Accessibility Certification form must be completed and signed by the applicant for the retailer contract. (4) Permitted Exemptions: (a) The Director may grant the following exemptions to the requirements of this rule. The Director shall review the circumstances and supporting documentation provided by a retailer to determine if a retailer’s request for an exemption should be granted. The Director shall determine the type and scope of documentation to be required for each exemption classification. All decisions made by the Director are final. A retailer or applicant whose request for an exemption is denied by the Director is required to satisfy the requirements of this rule as a condition for maintaining its eligibility for a Lottery retailer contract. (A) Historic Properties: To the extent a historic building or facility is exempt under federal law, this rule does not apply to a qualified historic building or facility that is listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under the National Historic Preservation Act or is designated as historic under state or local law. Qualified means exempt from accessibility requirements under the federal historic preservation laws. (B) Legal Impediment to Barrier Removal: Any law, act, ordinance, state regulation, ruling or decision which prohibits a Lottery retailer from removing a structural impediment or for making a required improvement may be the basis for an exemption to this rule. A Lottery retailer requesting an exemption under this subsection will not be required to seek a zoning variance to establish the legal basis for the impediment, but is required to document and attest to the legal impediment. (C) Landlord Refusal: An exemption granted to an existing Lottery retailer based on the refusal of a landlord to grant permission to a Lottery retailer to make the structural improvements required by the Lottery under this rule shall only apply to the retailer’s current lease term. No new landlord refusal exemptions are authorized after August 1, 2000. All existing exemptions granted before August 1, 2000 may be continued until the retailer’s contract expires. (D) Undue Financial Hardship: Undue financial hardship exemptions are not authorized. Any existing exemptions granted before August 1, 2000 may be continued until the retailer’s contract expires. (5) Complaints Relating to Non-Accessibility: The Director will receive and process all accessibility complaints concerning a Lottery retailer as follows: (a) Initial Complaint and Investigation: When possible, complaints must be in writing and submitted to the Lottery on a Lottery retailer wheelchair accessibility complaint form. The Lottery will investigate the complaint. If the retailer is found to be in compliance with this rule, a letter will be mailed to the retailer and complainant. (b) Letter of Impending Rule Violation: If the Lottery determines that there are any violations of this rule, the Lottery shall issue a letter of impending rule violation to the retailer. The retailer shall submit a response no later than 30 days after mailing of the letter of impending rule violation. The Director shall determine if the retailer’s response is acceptable under this rule. If the retailer is found to be in compliance with this rule, a letter will be mailed to the retailer and the complainant. (c) Letter of Rule Violation: If the retailer’s response to the Lottery’s letter of impending rule violation is unacceptable under this rule, or if the retailer does not provide an explanation in the 30 day response period, the Lottery shall issue a letter of rule violation. The letter of rule violation shall describe the violations found at the retailer’s location under the terms of this rule. (d) Corrective Action Plan: The Lottery retailer shall submit a corrective action plan to the Lottery within 30 days of the issuance of the letter of rule violation. The Director may extend the response time for reasons beyond the reasonable control of the retailer. The plan shall describe in detail how the retailer will comply with this rule. The Lottery shall notify the retailer of the Lottery’s acceptance or rejection of the plan. If the plan is rejected, the notification shall contain the reasons for rejection of the plan and the corrections needed to make the plan acceptable to the Lottery. If the retailer agrees to make the required corrections, the Lottery shall accept the plan as modified. If a retailer fails to submit a plan within 30 days of issuance of the letter of rule violation and has not requested an extension of time to submit a plan, or if a retailer has requested an extension but the request is denied by the Lottery, the Lottery may terminate the retailer contract. (e) Time Line for Implementation of Corrective Actions: The retailer must complete corrective actions within 90 days of the date the Lottery accepts the retailer’s corrective action plan. If the retailer has not eliminated the violations cited in the letter of rule violation within 90 days of mailing, but has requested an extension of time, the Lottery may grant an extension of no more than 90 days. The Lottery will send a notice of the extension to the retailer and the complainant. Any extension commences immediately upon expiration of the original 90 day period. In no event shall the total amount of time exceed 180 days from the date the Lottery accepts the retailer’s corrective action plan. (f) Notice of Rule Compliance: If the retailer corrects the violations specified in the letter of rule violation, and the retailer has provided an updated Wheelchair Accessibility Certification form certifying full compliance, the Lottery will issue a notice of rule compliance. Until this notice is issued, a complaint is considered pending. (g) Termination: Failure of the retailer to make timely corrections in compliance with this rule and the retailer’s corrective action plan may result in termination of the retailer contract. (6) Inspections and Audits: The Director may inspect and audit any Lottery retailer’s premises for compliance with this rule at any time including random compliance audits. The Lottery will conduct the audit and inspection during the retailer’s regular business hours or at such other time as agreed upon by the retailer and the Lottery. The burden of proof to establish that a retailer’s premises are in compliance with this rule is on the Lottery retailer.