HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4071 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 558
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carol A. Doherty
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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 to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools, AKA The American Sign Language Inclusion Act.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Carol A. Doherty | 3rd Bristol | 1/17/2025 |
Lindsay N. Sabadosa | 1st Hampshire | 1/17/2025 |
Dawne Shand | 1st Essex | 1/23/2025 |
David T. Vieira | 3rd Barnstable | 1/23/2025 |
Carmine Lawrence Gentile | 13th Middlesex | 1/23/2025 |
Steven George Xiarhos | 5th Barnstable | 1/23/2025 |
Paul McMurtry | 11th Norfolk | 1/23/2025 |
Jessica Ann Giannino | 16th Suffolk | 1/23/2025 |
Susannah M. Whipps | 2nd Franklin | 1/23/2025 |
Steven Owens | 29th Middlesex | 1/23/2025 |
David Paul Linsky | 5th Middlesex | 1/23/2025 |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 1/23/2025 |
Kristin E. Kassner | 2nd Essex | 1/23/2025 |
Dennis C. Gallagher | 8th Plymouth | 1/23/2025 |
Danillo A. Sena | 37th Middlesex | 2/3/2025 |
Natalie M. Higgins | 4th Worcester | 2/3/2025 |
Samantha Montaño | 15th Suffolk | 2/7/2025 |
Jacob R. Oliveira | Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester | 2/7/2025 |
Carlos González | 10th Hampden | 5/23/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4071 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 558
By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 558) of Carol A. Doherty and others relative to courses in American Sign Language. Education. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools, AKA The American Sign Language Inclusion Act.
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 2B of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking out the words, in line 4, “may be taught” and inserting in place thereof the following: “shall be taught in each of the Commonwealth’s secondary schools”
SECTION 2. Section 2B of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby further amended by inserting, after the word “society” in line 8 the following:- “, as many children with autism have been able to learn and communicate successfully via sign language because it is visually based, unaided, and provides a mode of quick communication.”
SECTION 3. Section 2B of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby further amended by striking out the word, in line 8, “may” and inserting in place thereof the following: “shall”.