SECTION 1: Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 57 the following section:-

Section 57A. (a) For the purposes of this section, “Neurological Learning Disability” shall mean a specific learning disability including, but not limited to, dyslexia, that is neurological in origin with indicators that include, but not limited to, phonemic awareness, rapid automatized naming, and letter sound knowledge.  

(b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall issue guidelines for districts, subject to appropriation, to develop screening procedures or protocols for students for potential indicators of a neurological learning disability including, but not limited to, dyslexia.

SECTION 2:  Section 1 of Chapter 287 of the Acts of 2012 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “assessments”, in line 40, the following words:-- “, identification of reading disabilities including dyslexia”.

SECTION 3:  Said section 1 of said chapter 287 of the Acts of 2012 is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “development”, in line 51, the following:-- “; and (7) action steps to implement the research-based recommendations contained in reports written by experts in early language and literacy development with respect to reading disabilities including dyslexia; provided that, in developing its recommendations, the panel shall solicit input from at least one organization representing families of children with dyslexia”.