Equality law in German federal states

The Disability Equality Law (BGG) is only applicable at federal level. There are appropriate rules at state level.  With the exception of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, all German states have an Equality Law (LGG) which refers to barrier free information technology. In a few German states there exist supplementary regulations which contain concrete technical requirements in support of the BITV.  In some states there are also districts, towns and communities who are obligated to design internet sites as barrier free.

• Baden-Wuerttemberg (Baden-Württemberg)
• Bavaria (Bayern)
• Berlin
• Brandenburg
• Bremen
• Hamburg
• Hesse (Hessen)
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
• Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)
• Northrhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
• Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)
• Saarland
• Saxony (Sachsen)
• Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
• Schleswig-Holstein
• Thuringia (Thüringen)

• Link to Landesgesetz zur Gleichstellung von Menschen mit Behinderungen Baden-Württemberg (L- BGG ) (PDF, 41 kB, 4 pages)
• Came into effect 1st June 2005.
• The law applies to authorities and facilities of the state administration, including the statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation as well as communities, associations of local authorities and others under the control of the state such as legal personnel of the public corporation.    
• The requirements correspond to those in the federal law ( BITV ).
• Short term implementation is not specified.

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Bavaria (Bayern)

• Link to Bayerisches Gleichstellungsgesetz für Menschen mit Behinderungen (Bay BGG )
• Came into effect 1st August 2003.
• The law applies to authorities and public sites as well as communities, associations of local authorities and others under the control of the free-state such as legal personnel of the public corporation. Bavarian Broadcasting (Bayerische Rundfunk), the Bavarian centre for new media as well as the Office of the Public Prosecutor are excluded.
• Supplementary Regulations:
  Bayerische Barrierefreie Informationstechnik-Verordnung
  (BayBITV 1st January 2007)

Short Term Implementation:

• Since the law came into effect, newly established internet providers must at least have an entry page. By 1st January 2013, all internet providers must have an entry page.
• Existing internet providers which are aimed at disabled people: 31st December 2010
• Other internet providers: 31st December 2010

Berlin

• Link to Landesgleichberechtigungsgesetz Berlin (LBGB) (PDF, 47 KB, 9 pages)
• Came into effect 18th May 1999 and was last amended 29th September 2004.
• The law applies to authorities as well as statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation. Furthermore, the obligations apply to businesses and companies which are specified by the state.
• Supplementary Regulations:
  Verwaltungsvorschrift zur barrierefreien Informationstechnik
  (VVBIT 22nd October 2005) (PDF, 19 KB, 2 pages)

Short Term Implementation:

• Newly established internet providers and those aimed at disabled people: since the law came into effect.
• Other internet providers: since 1st January 2007.

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Brandenburg

• Link to Gesetz zur Gleichstellung behinderter Menschen des Landes Brandenburg (Bbg BGG )
• Came into effect 20th March 2003.
• The law applies to the all levels of the federal state authorities, including the statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation.
• Supplementary Regulations:
  Brandenburgische Barrierefreie Informationstechnik-Verordnung
  (BbgBITV 24th May 2004)  (PDF, 109 KB, 11 pages)

Short Term Implementation:

• Since the law came into effect, newly established websites must at least have an entry path. All internet providers had to have an entry path by 1st January 2006.
• Existing internet providers which are aimed at disabled people: 1st January 2006.

Bremen

• Link to Bremisches Gesetz zur Gleichstellung von Menschen mit Behinderung (Brem BGG )
• Came into effect 1st January 2004.
• The law applies to authorities and boroughs as well as statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation.
• Supplementary Regulations:
  Verordnung für die Gestaltung barrierefreier Informationstechnik nach dem Bremischen Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz
  (BremBITV 14th October 2005)

Short Term Implementation:

• New and existing internet providers had to have an entry path within 18 months of the law coming into effect. After this, all internet providers must have an entry path.

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Hamburg

• Link to Hamburgisches Gesetz zur Gleichstellung behinderter Menschen (HmbGGbM)
• Came into effect 21st March 2005.
• The law applies to authorities and certain administration facilities, including statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation. 
• Supplementary Regulations:
  Hamburgische Barrierefreie Informationstechnik-Verordnung
  (HmbBITVO 14th November 2006)

Short Term Implementation:

• Newly established internet providers had to have an entry path since the law came into effect. All providers must have an entry path by 31st December 2007.
• Other internet providers: 31st December 2008

Hesse (Hessen)

• Hessisches Behinderten-Gleichstellungsgesetz (Hess BGG )
• Came into effect 1st January 2005.
• The law applies to the state, its authorities and administration facilities as well as statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation - excluding local authorities.
• A supplementary regulation:
  Link to Hessische Verordnung über barrierefreie Informationstechnik (H VBI T 18th September 2007)
• The requirements correspond to those in the federal law ( BITV ).
• Special purpose solutions are not specified. 

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Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
(Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)

• Link to Gesetz zur Gleichstellung, gleichberechtigten Teilhabe und Integration von Menschen mit Behinderungen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (L BGG M-V)
• Came into effect 10th July 2006.
• The law applies to the state administration and the statutory corporations as well as the subordinate statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation.
• Supplementary regulation:
  Link to Verordnung zur Schaffung Barrierefreier Informationstechnik nach dem Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz ( BITV O M-V 17th July 2007)
  Special purpose solutions are not specified. 

Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)

• Link to Entwurf eines Niedersächsischen Behindertengleichstellungsgesetzes (N BGG ) (PDF, 41 KB, 9 Seiten)
• There is no disability equality law in Lower Saxony although there was a plan outlined in 2002.

North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)

• Link to Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz Nordrhein-Westfalen (BGG NRW)
• Came into effect 1st January 2004.
• The law applies to the administration and facilities of the state, the communities and associations of local authorities and well as the control of the subordinate statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation.
• Supplementary Regulations:
  Barrierefreie Informationstechnik-Verordnung Nordrhein-Westfalen
  (BITV NRW vom 25th June 2004) (PDF, 8 KB, 2 Seiten)

Short Term Implementation:

• Newly established internet providers had to have an entry path since the law came into effect
• Existing internet providers which are aimed at disabled people: 1st January 2006.
• Other internet providers: 31st December 2008

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Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)

• Link to: Landesgesetz zur Gleichstellung behinderter Menschen Rheinland-Pfalz ( LGG BehM)
• Came into effect: 4th December 2002.
• The law applies to public authorities including the state courts, the communities and associations of local authorities, the control of the state and legal personnel of the public corporation.
• A supplementary regulation has not been passed.
• Special purpose solutions are not specified. 

Saarland

•  Link to  Saarländisches Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (S BGG ) (PDF, 80 KB, 12 Seiten)
• Came into effect 26th November 2003.
• The law applies to the state administration, communities, local authorities as well as statutory corporations, establishments and foundations of the public corporation.
• Supplementary Regulation: 
  Saarländische Behindertengleichstellungsverordnung (SBGVO): 19th September 2006

Short Term Implementation:

• Newly established internet providers had to at least have an entry path by the cut of date (8 weeks after the law came into effect). 
• Existing internet providers which are aimed at disabled people: 31st December 2007
• Other internet providers: 31st December 2010

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Saxony (Sachsen)

• Link to Gesetz zur Verbesserung der Integration von Menschen mit Behinderungen im Freistaat Sachsen (SächsIntegrG)
• Came into effect 23rd March 2004.
• The law applies to authorities and certain public positions as well as companies of the state.
• A supplementary regulation is not intended
• Special purpose solutions are not specified. 

Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)

• Link to Gesetz für Chancengleichheit und gegen Diskriminierung behinderter Menschen in Sachsen-Anhalt (BGStG LSA)
• Came into effect 21st November 2001.
• The law applies to the state and the statutory corporations, their authorities and services as well as companies who are part of the statutory corporation.
• The law contains no ruling on information technology. It was already in place before the federal Disability Equality Law and has not been amended.

Schleswig-Holstein

• Link to Gesetz zur Gleichstellung behinderter Menschen in Schleswig-Holstein (L BGG )
• Came into effect 21st December 2002.
• The law applies organisations of public administration.
• A supplementary regulation is not intended
• Special purpose solutions are not specified. 

Thuringia (Thüringen)

• Thüringer Gesetz zur Gleichstellung und Verbesserung der Integration von Menschen mit Behinderungen (ThürGIG)
• Came into effect 24th December 2005.
• The law applies to the state and the local authorities as well as the public corporation.
• Supplementary regulation:
  Verordnung zur Ausführung des Thüringer Gesetzes zur Gleichstellung und Verbesserung der Integration von Menschen mit Behinderungen (ThürGIGAVO): 4th May 2007
• The requirements correspond to those in the federal law ( BITV ).

Short Term Implementation:

• Internet providers established before 4th August 2007: 1st May 2011 
• Internet providers established before 4th August 2007 which are aimed at disabled people: 1st December 2008
• Internet providers established after the 4th August 2007 had to assure accessibility since the law came into effect.