House proposal updates MA statutes by removing offensive terminology
BOSTON – House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) are supporting legislation to update Massachusetts’ General Laws by removing outdated and offensive language used to describe individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
House Bill 4704, An Act amending certain laws relative to individuals with disabilities, was engrossed by the House of Representatives on November 5 by a unanimous vote of 152-0.
Jones and Haggerty noted that House Bill 4704 revises language in multiple sections of the Massachusetts General Laws used to refer to people with disabilities. It strikes phrases such as “handicapped persons,” “disabled individuals,” “disabled American veterans,” and “mentally retarded” and replaces this terminology with phrases such as “persons with disabilities,” “person with an intellectual or developmental disability,” and related wording.
“It is important that the Massachusetts General Laws be updated to eliminate insensitive and derogatory language often used to describe people with disabilities,” said Representative Jones, who co-sponsored an earlier version of the bill filed as Senate Bill 137. “All residents deserve to be treated with the proper dignity and respect, rather than being unfairly labeled with negative stereotypes.”
“Updating the outdated terms for people with disabilities in our state laws is a meaningful step forward that reflects our values and makes our society more respectful,” said Representative Haggerty. “Words have power, and the language we use in our laws matters. Replacing these antiquated terms shows respect and recognizes that every person matters. This bill makes sure our state laws reflect the equality and dignity that all Massachusetts residents are entitled to.”
The Arc of Massachusetts, which has been advocating for these changes for several years, lists the bill among its legislative priorities, noting that “these derogatory words alienate people with disabilities and are used to insult and discriminate.”
This is not the first time the Massachusetts Legislature has acted to remove offensive language from the General Laws. In 2008, the House and Senate enacted legislation to rename the Department of Mental Retardation as the Department of Developmental Disabilities. Last year, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission was rebranded as MassAbility to better reflect the agency’s focus on helping individuals with disabilities live independently.
The Senate previously approved its own version of House Bill 4704 on July 24, which is Senate Bill 2563. The House and Senate will now work to reconcile the differences between the two legislative branches’ proposals to produce a final bill that can be sent to Governor Maura Healey for her review and signature.
