This bill amends the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section, 47-11D-5, which mandates that exhibitors of motion pictures operating six or more theaters in multiple locations within the state provide open captioning for at least two showings per week of each film that is available with open captioning. Additionally, the bill stipulates that audio descriptions must be provided upon request for any motion picture that is produced and offered with such descriptions.

The legislation also includes provisions to protect exhibitors from undue financial burden, stating that they cannot be required to purchase new equipment to comply with these requirements if it would result in significant hardship or fundamentally alter their theater operations. Furthermore, the requirements for open captioning and audio description do not apply to drive-in movie theaters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 47-11D-5