SENATE DOCKET, NO. 853        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joanne M. Comerford

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

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 853        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

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

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2542 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 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) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Blue envelopes”, blue-colored envelopes designed either by the department of state police or the registry of motor vehicles, in consultation with the department of state police, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Incorporated and either Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts or any other organization that advocates for persons with autism spectrum disorder, that

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

(ii) include instructions for ease of access to the envelope, including, but not limited to, attaching the envelope to the sun visor on the driver’s side of the vehicle; and

(iii) can hold a person's motor vehicle operator's license, registration and insurance identification card.

(b) The registrar of motor vehicles shall make available, upon request, said blue envelopes to a person with autism spectrum disorder or the person's parent or guardian.     

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of July 1, 2026.