(a) The commissioner shall develop nonvisual technology access standards. The standards must be included in all contracts for the procurement of information technology by, or for the use of, agencies, political subdivisions, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The University of Minnesota is encouraged to consider similar standards.

(b) The nonvisual access standards must include the following minimum specifications:

(1) that effective, interactive control and use of the technology including the operating system, applications programs, prompts, and format of the data presented, are readily achievable by nonvisual means;

(2) that the nonvisual access technology must be compatible with information technology used by other individuals with whom the blind or visually impaired individual must interact;

(3) that nonvisual access technology must be integrated into networks used to share communications among employees, program participants, and the public; and

(4) that the nonvisual access technology must have the capability of providing equivalent access by nonvisual means to telecommunications or other interconnected network services used by persons who are not blind or visually impaired.

(c) Nothing in this section requires the installation of software or peripheral devices used for nonvisual access when the information technology is being used by individuals who are not blind or visually impaired.

(d) Executive branch state agencies subject to section 16E.03, subdivision 9, are not required to include nonvisual technology access standards developed under this section in contracts for the procurement of information technology.