SECTION 1. Section 165 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after clause (6) the following clause:-

(7) the establishment of training and on-going education courses that allow for basic understanding of American Sign Language by all levels of fire service personnel.

SECTION 2. Section 20 of chapter 22C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “program”, in line 5, the following words:- ; provided that such training program shall include courses that allow for basic understanding of American Sign Language.

SECTION 3. Said section 20 of said chapter 22C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “police”, in line 6, the following words:- ; provided that such in-service training program shall include courses that allow for basic understanding of American Sign Language.

SECTION 4. Section 9 of chapter 111C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “chapter”, in line 17, the following words:- ; and unless such person or any person providing, operating or participating in an ambulance service has successfully completed courses that allow for basic understanding of American Sign Language."

SECTION 5. Said chapter 111C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 26. The department shall designate certain American Sign Language courses as eligible for continuing education credits required pursuant to this chapter.