HOUSE  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  No. 4528

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, April 3, 2024.                         

The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Bill to rename the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, MassAbility, to reflect the self-determination and limitless possibilities of people with disabilities (printed in House, No. 4161), reports recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefor the accompanying bill (House, No. 4528).

For the committee,

AARON MICHLEWITZ.

        FILED ON: 4/3/2024

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4528

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act to rename the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, MassAbility, to reflect the self-determination and limitless possibilities of people with disabilities.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to promote equity and increase opportunities for persons with disabilities by renaming the commission and updating language used to more accurately reflect the values and core mission of the agency, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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 17 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 13, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 2. Section 74 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the words “the rehabilitation of”.

SECTION 3. Said section 74 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 2, 6 and 9, the words “handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.

SECTION 4. Said section 74 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 2 to 3, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 5. Section 75 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 6. Said section 75 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 10, 79, 81 and 88, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- they.

SECTION 7. Said section 75 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 10, 11, 79, 80 and 82, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 8. Said section 75 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 85, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- them.

SECTION 9. Section 76 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 7, the word “handicaps” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- a disability.

SECTION 10. Said section 76 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 11, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.

SECTION 11. Section 77 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 5, 19, 34 and 58, the words “handicapped individual” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- person with a disability.

SECTION 12. Said section 77 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 17, the words “handicapped individual’s family” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- family of the person with a disability.

SECTION 13. Said section 77 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 25, 29 to 30 and 38, the words “handicapped individuals” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.

SECTION 14. Said section 77 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 34, 53 and 59, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 15. Said section 77 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking the definition of “Workshop”.

SECTION 16. Said section 77 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 49, the words “Handicapped person” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Person with a disability.

SECTION 17. Said section 77 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 51, the word “handicap” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- barrier.

SECTION 18. Section 78 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 to 4 and 23, the words “handicapped individual” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- person with a disability.

SECTION 19. Said section 78 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 5 and 24, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 20. Said section 78 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 8 to 9, 15 and 16 to 17, the words “handicapped individuals” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.

SECTION 21. Section 78A of said chapter 6 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 22. Section 79 of said chapter 6, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 20 and 27, the words “handicapped individuals” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.

SECTION 23. Said section 79 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 21 to 22, the words “and workshops”.

SECTION 24. Said section 79 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 25, the words “handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- persons with disabilities.

SECTION 25. Said section 79 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 28, the words “handicapped individual” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- person with a disability.

SECTION 26. Said section 79 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 29, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.

SECTION 27. Section 81 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 8, 10, 14 and 17, the words “handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.

SECTION 28. Section 82 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 5 to 6, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 29. Section 84 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 12 and 13, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 30. Said section 84 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 24, the words “handicapped person” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- person with a disability.

SECTION 31. Section 105 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 16, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 32. Section 125 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 33. Said section 125 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 36, the words “the rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 34. Section 126 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the words “the rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 35. Section 128 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 4 to 5, the words “the rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 36. Section 189 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 37. Section 217 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 14 to 15, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 38. Section 16 of chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 32, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 39. Section 16F of said chapter 6A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 9, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 40. Section 16O of said chapter 6A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 32 to 33, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 41. Section 59 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 15 and 19, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 42. Section 19 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 40 to 41, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 43. Section 30A of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 26, 70 to 71, 102 to 103 and 160 to 161, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 44. Said section 30A of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 113, the words “Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 45. Section 2A of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 14 to 15, 28 to 29 and 44 to 45, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 46. Section 9 of chapter 18A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 7, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 47. Section 4 of chapter 19C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 29 to 30, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 48. Section 13A of chapter 22 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 12, the words “the physically handicapped” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- persons with a physical disability.

SECTION 49. Said section 13A of said chapter 22, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 41, 53, 102 to 103, 109 to 110, 116 to 117, 126, 177, 179 and 187, the words “physically handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with a physical disability.

SECTION 50. Said section 13A of said chapter 22, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 47, 48, 50 and 80 to 81, the words “handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with a disability.

SECTION 51. Said section 13A of chapter 22, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 120 to 121, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 52. Said section 13A of said chapter 22, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 200, the words “Physically handicapped person” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Person with a physical disability.

SECTION 53. Said section 13A of said chapter 22, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 204, the words “Physically handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Persons with a physical disability.

SECTION 54. Section 6 of chapter 23H of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 to 7, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 55. Said section 6 of said chapter 23H, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 7, the words “handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- persons with disabilities.

SECTION 56. Section 7 of said chapter 23H, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 8 to 9, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 57. Section 2RRRRR of chapter 29 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 to 4, the words “the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 58. Said section 2RRRRR of said chapter 29, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 5 and 8 to 9, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 59. Section 1 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 106 to 107, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 60. Section 47 of said chapter 31, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 9 to 10, 16, 21 to 22 and 26 to 27, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 61. Said section 47 of said chapter 31, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 33, the words “mentally retarded person” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- person with an intellectual disability.

SECTION 62. Section 5B of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 68 to 69, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 63. Section 3 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 121, the words “physically handicapped person” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- person with a physical disability.

SECTION 64. Section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1341 to 1342 and 1351 to 1352, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 65. Section 38JJ of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 13 and 22 to 23, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 66. Section 12A of chapter 71B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 17 to 18, the words “sheltered employment,”.

SECTION 67. Section 12B of said chapter 71B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 15, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 68. Section 12C of said chapter 71B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 36 and 42, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 69. Section 17 of said chapter 71B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 48, 85 and 97, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 70. Section 2A of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2 to 3, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 71. Said section 2A of said chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 4 to 5, the words “handicapped person” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- person with a disability.

SECTION 72. Section 4G of said chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 10 to 11, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 73. Section 4 of chapter 111B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 20 to 21, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 74. Section 38B of chapter 121B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 10, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 75. Section 3W of chapter 143 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 to 7, the words “the physically handicapped” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- persons with a physical disability.

SECTION 76. Section 4 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 460 to 461, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 77. Section 15E of chapter 166 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 111 to 112 and 195 to 196, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 78. Section 85V of chapter 231 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 23 to 24, the words “the physically handicapped or mentally retarded” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- persons with a physical, intellectual or developmental disability.

SECTION 79. Section 3 of chapter 234A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 10 to 11, the words “Physically handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Persons with a physical disability.

SECTION 80. The first paragraph of section 1 of chapter 58 of the acts of 2012 is hereby amended by striking out the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.

SECTION 81. Section 28 of chapter 62 of the acts of 2014 is hereby amended by striking out the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission” each time they appear and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.