HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 374        FILED ON: 1/10/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2057

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Shawn Dooley

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to American Sign Language Training.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Shawn Dooley

9th Norfolk

1/10/2019

Michael J. Soter

8th Worcester

1/27/2019

Todd M. Smola

1st Hampden

1/31/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 374        FILED ON: 1/10/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2057

By Mr. Dooley of Norfolk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2057) of Shawn Dooley, Michael J. Soter and Todd M. Smola for legislation to provide sign language training for public safety personnel and emergency medical personnel.  Public Safety and Homeland Security.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1250 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to American Sign Language Training.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

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.