PS 029 SIMM 25 – IT Web Accessibility Resource Guide and SAM 4833 – IT Accessibility Policy and Exceptions

TO:

Agency Chief Information Officers (AIO)
Agency Information Security Officers (AISO)
Chief Information Officers (CIO)
Information Security Officers (ISO)

SUBJECT:

SIMM 25 – IT Web Accessibility Resource Guide and SAM 4833 – IT Accessibility Policy and Exceptions

BACKGROUND:

Assembly Bill (AB) 434, chaptered in 2017, added Section 11546.7 to the California Government Code (GC). This section requires the Director and Chief Information Officer of every agency/state entity to display a signed certification on their internet website’s homepage, stating that the website is compliant with Sections 7405 and 11135, as well as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0, or any subsequent version with a minimum of Level AA success criteria. The first certification must be posted before July 1, 2019, and biennially thereafter, on or before July 1.

The State Information Management Manual (SIMM) 25A IT Accessibility Resource Guide and SIMM 25B Web Accessibility Certification have been updated to align with WCAG version 2.2, which includes new guidelines that address some of the gaps in the previous version, making it easier for people with disabilities to access and use digital content. The updated SIMM 25A and SIMM 25B will help agencies/state entities in California ensure that their digital content meets the latest accessibility standards.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Procedures/Standards update is to announce:

• SIMM 25A, IT Accessibility Resource Guide, has been updated to:
  • Use plain language where possible.
  • Include updated links and references.
  • Remove outdated information.
  • Include WCAG 2.2 links.

• SIMM 25B, Web Accessibility Certification, has been updated to include WCAG 2.2
  • Compliance to WCAG 2.2 is effective July 1, 2025.

• SAM 4833, Information Technology Accessibility Policy, has been updated to use plain language where possible.

• SAM 4833.1, Exceptions to Accessibility, has been updated to:
  • Use plain language where possible.
  • Include updated links and references.

REFERENCES:

The SIMM 25 documents are available on the California Department of Technology (CDT) website located at CDT Policy – SIMM. Additional references related to this release include:

• GC 11546.7
• GC 7405 and 11135
• State Administration Manual (SAM) 4833, 1, and 4833.2
• WCAG 2.2

QUESTIONS:

Direct questions regarding this announcement to the CDT, Statewide Information Technology (IT) Policy Office at ITpolicy@state.ca.gov.