SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1196        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1482

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

William N. Brownsberger

_________________

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:

 

William N. Brownsberger

Suffolk and Middlesex

 

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

1/31/2024


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1196        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1482

By Mr. Brownsberger, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1482) of William N. Brownsberger 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. 2451 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

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.