SENATE DOCKET, NO. 499        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jacob R. Oliveira

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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:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 499        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 338 OF 2023-2024.]

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 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.”