Bill > H4532

This bill, titled "Relative to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and the agencies that serve them," proposes to update legal terminology across various Massachusetts General Laws by replacing outdated and offensive language such as "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with more appropriate and current terms like "intellectual or developmental disability," "intellectually or developmentally disabled," and "developmental services." This change aims to reflect a more respectful and accurate understanding of these conditions, impacting how individuals with these disabilities are referred to in legal statutes concerning various state agencies and services. Notably, Section 36 introduces a new definition for "Person with a developmental disability," outlining specific criteria related to severe, chronic disabilities that manifest before age 22 and result in substantial functional limitations, or for younger children, a significant developmental delay.