LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — A new Michigan bill seeks to help deaf or hard of hearing Michiganders by requiring movie theaters to provide closed captions on a regular basis.

The bill, introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), would compel large movie theaters with eight or more screens, or theaters which show a movie more than five times in a week, to offer Open Movie Captioning (OMC) for at least two screenings of a movie per week. This would continue for at least three weeks after a movie is released.

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“Every Michigander should have the opportunity to experience the entertainment and enjoyment of seeing a film in a theater,” said Chang in a press release. “Recognizing and meeting the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community is vital to ensure that everyone has fair, equitable access to going to the movies — which are often part of memorable family moments and community experiences.”

Under the bill, Senate Bill 764, individuals can also request additional OMC screenings from the movie theater, and any noncompliance on the part of the movie theater can be filed in Michigan courts.

According to the press release, many other states and cities have adopted similar OMC laws, including Maryland, Hawaii, Washington, and New York City.

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee for Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety for further review.