‘Right to Repair’ bill in front of Nevada lawmakers

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - 31-year-old Connor Fogal takes us to his mural on display at the Church of Fine Arts up at UNR.

He has automatic doors and a path down to a science and is more than willing to show us his interpretation of Emerald Bay up at Lake Tahoe.

What’s perhaps even more impressive, Conner painted this and all his other artwork with a special device attached to his head.

He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth and has used a wheelchair to get around for work, his art, or to see friends.

“It is basically my legs to get around,” says Connor. “If I don’t have it, I don’t get around.”

Imagine what it would be like then, when his wheelchair breaks down and it has.

It just gets repaired, right?

But under current law the manufacturer of the chair is the only one who can provide the broken part and select the provider who makes the repairs.

Fair enough but ask Connor how long that took?

“Over six months,” he says.

Connor’s story is not unique.

Many, many patients who use wheelchairs report the same thing. They are pushing for a “Right to Repair” bill currently in the Nevada legislature. The bill, like those in other states, says patients should receive certain documentation, parts, and tools required for the diagnosis and repair of an electric wheelchair from the manufacturer.

“Things as simple as a footplate for him have broken,” says Pam Berek, who spoke for her son during testimony in favor of AB 407. “We’ve waited 10 months to get another footplate. And that is insane.”

Connor tells us sometimes patients wait so long they will just decide to go without, putting their physical health in danger while they operate their broken chairs.

“What people don’t realize is, you guys are making us more disabled,” says Connor.

Fogal also testified in favor of AB 407.

He says he feels a responsibility to speak on behalf of those who are waiting, sometimes up to two years, to get back into life.

“Right to Repair” he said would literally give them the tools. Traditionally ‘Right to Repair” bills have received opposition from manufacturers who are worried about liability, warranty, and proprietary information.

But so far AB 407 has received no opposition.

It is waiting for a full vote of the Nevada Assembly.

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