HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 627        FILED ON: 1/10/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Christine P. Barber

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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 improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 627        FILED ON: 1/10/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 433 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities.

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

Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the board of elementary and secondary education shall repromulgate 603 CMR 7.03(3) as necessary to establish the requirement that all approved programs for teachers include instruction on the appropriate use of augmentative and alternative communication and other assistive technologies; provided further the board may require that individual professional development plans required by section 38G of chapter 71 address the learning needs of students who are nonverbal or have limited speech requiring augmentative and alternative communication.