SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2542

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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SENATE, January 2, 2024.

The committee on Senate Ways and Means to whom was referred the Senate Bill facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder (Senate, No. 2204), - reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2542).

For the committee,

Michael J. Rodrigues

        FILED ON: 1/2/2024

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2542

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 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) The registrar of motor vehicles, in consultation with the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Incorporated and Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts or any other organization that advocates for persons with autism spectrum disorder, shall design blue envelopes 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.

The registrar shall make available, upon request, said blue envelopes to a person with autism spectrum disorder or, if such person is a minor, the person's parent or guardian.             

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of July 1, 2024.