SENATE DOCKET, NO. 267        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2204

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joanne M. Comerford

_________________

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 facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

 

Mindy Domb

3rd Hampshire

1/18/2023

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

2/2/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

2/7/2023

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Norfolk

2/7/2023

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

2/8/2023

Carmine Lawrence Gentile

13th Middlesex

2/15/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/15/2023

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

2/23/2023

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

3/1/2023

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

4/27/2023

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

5/10/2023

Jessica Ann Giannino

16th Suffolk

6/19/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

7/11/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 267        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2204

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2204) of Joanne M. Comerford, Mindy Domb, Michael O. Moore, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to facilitate better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder.  Transportation.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2285 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder.

 

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. Chapter 6C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 56 the following section:-

Section 56A. (a) The registry of motor vehicles, in consultation with the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and organizations that advocate for persons with autism spectrum disorder, shall design and make available blue envelopes that:

(1) provide written information and guidance on the outside of the envelopes regarding ways to enhance effective communication between a police officer and a person with autism spectrum disorder; and

(2) are capable of holding a person's motor vehicle operator's license, registration and insurance identification card.

Upon request by a person with autism spectrum disorder or if such person is a minor, the person's parent or guardian, the registrar of motor vehicles shall provide a blue envelope designed pursuant to this section to such person, parent or guardian.

(b) The guidance on the outside of the blue envelopes shall include an instruction to attach the envelope to the driver's sunvisor on the side facing the driver for easy and safe access.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024