Legislative Priorities
Each legislative session, MassFamilies establishes legislative priorities to guide our advocacy work.
These priorities are in response to current legislation that affect individuals with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts and their families.
Scroll down to learn more.
2021 Legislative Priorities
An Act Addressing the Inequitable Impact of the Pandemic on Black and Latinx Individuals with Autism
HD 1984 / SD 1904
– Filed by Representative Christine P. Barber and Senator Joan Lovely
🚦 STATUS:
Introduced on March 29 2021. The House concurred.
ABOUT:
This legislation ensures that the Massachusetts Autism Commission addresses the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Latinx individuals with autism. Black and Latino individuals in Massachusetts have been infected with COVID-19 at rates three times higher than White residents. Furthermore, Black and Latinx families are less likely to have the necessary devices and high-speed internet connection necessary to access remote services and are more likely to experience additional barriers related to family illness,
death, and other COVID-19 stressors. Inequities faced by individuals with autism cannot be effectively identified and addressed without gathering race specific data for this population.
This bill directs the Autism Commission to investigate
available data regarding services provided to individuals with autism by racial and ethnic group, primary language, economic status, and gender. The legislation also requires the Autism Commission’s annual report to include recommendations to improve services and address the inequitable impact of the pandemic and recovery process on Black and Latinx individuals who have autism.
An Act to Ensure Equitable Access to Education, Including Special Education Services, for All Students in Massachusetts
HD 1433
– Filed by Representative Marjorie C. Decker
🚦 STATUS:
Introduced on March 29 2021. Virtual hearing scheduled for 07/06/2021 from 12:00 PM-05:00 PM
ABOUT:
This bill will make education data available to the public in a manner that reveals inequities for specific subpopulations of students. Providing the Commonwealth and local communities access to this information is particularly urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery as Black and Latinx communities, and students within these communities, have been significantly and disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. School districts are already required to submit this data to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) pursuant to state and federal law. This legislation would not require the collection of additional data. It would direct DESE to publish data on the delivery of educational opportunities to students in a manner that will provide important information about the range of demographic subgroups facing the most significant inequities, such as low-income Black students, Black males with disabilities, or Latino English Learners with disabilities. With this information, DESE, educators, and local communities will be better positioned to address identified disparities. In the future, this legislation will require that DESE publish data in a similar manner regarding access to special education services for students throughout the Commonwealth.
An Act addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities Turning 22 During the COVID-19 Emergency
HD.2094 / SD.2396
– Filed by Representative Carmine Lawrence Gentile and Senator Michael J. Barrett
🚦 STATUS:
Introduced on March 29 2021. Virtual hearing scheduled for 07/06/2021 from 12:00 PM-05:00 PM.
ABOUT:
This legislation helps to address the needs of students with disabilities who turn 22 during the pandemic and require compensatory special education services to address their regression or lack of progress due to the disruption in IEP services caused by the state of emergency. Consistent with federal and state law and guidance, IEP teams will determine which students ages 3-22 require compensatory services. However, for students with disabilities who turn 22 during COVID-19, circuit breaker funds are not available to help districts pay for the costs of these services. This legislation would amend the circuit breaker statute to allow reimbursement for the costs associated with providing compensatory special education services for students who turn 22 (or who otherwise become ineligible for special education services) during the pandemic.
Disability Commission on the History of State Institutions (Human Rights Framework for public recognition of unnamed graves)
HD3868
An Act establishing a special commission to study and report on the history of state institutions for people with developmental and mental health disabilities
– Filed by Representative Sean Garballey
🚦 STATUS:
Introduced on March 29 2021. Virtual Hearing scheduled for 06/21/2021 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM.
ABOUT:
This would establish a special commission to study and report on the history of state institutions for people with developmental and mental health disabilities in the Commonwealth. The commission would be independent of supervision or control by any executive agency and shall provide objective perspectives on the matters before it.
MA Pediatric Home Nursing Care Campaign
HD.2640 / SD.1568
An Act to Protect Medically Fragile Children
– Filed by Representative Denise C. Garlick and Senator Cindy F. Friedman
🚦 STATUS:
In the docket. Stay tuned for updates when this legislation becomes a bill.
ABOUT:
An Act relative to critical data collection for the medically fragile population that require continuous skilled nursing care in their homes. With this data the legislature can finally address the disparity issues between in-home pediatric nursing care and hospital-based care. This will provide for higher reimbursement rates from MassHealth for in-home continuous skilled nursing services.
An Act relative to the training, assessment, and assignment of qualified school interpreters in educational settings
HD.1883 / SD.392
– Filed by Representative Antonio F. D. Cabral and Senator Brendan P. Crighton
🚦 STATUS:
Introduced on March 29 2021.
ABOUT:
This legislation directs the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE) to create standards and
competencies for the hiring and assignment of school interpreters to provide parents and students with limited English
proficiency (LEP) competent interpretation services. This bill
incorporates the recommendations of DESE’s School Interpreter
Task Force, formed pursuant to section 81 of chapter
154 of the acts of 2018. School districts are already required
to provide interpreter services for families with LEP pursuant
to state and federal law. Unfortunately, many school districts
rely on employees or volunteers who are often unqualified as
interpreters and unprepared to adequately interpret information
vital to a child’s growth and development. As a result,
too many parents are provided inaccurate information, are
unable to participate meaningfully in their child’s education,
and are unable to access equal education opportunities for
their children. To aid in providing competent services, DESE
is directed to develop and administer a system for training,
assessing, and determining qualifications of interpreters;
develop a training curriculum; and maintain a publicly accessible
mechanism to identify the interpreters with the highest
level of training and skill. Implementation of the bill would
be phased in at the direction of the Department, subject to
appropriation.
An Act creating higher education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities
HD.3072 / SD.1763
– Filed by Representatives Patricia A. Haddad , Sean Garballey and Senator Joan B. Lovely
🚦 STATUS:
Introduced on March 29 2021. Senate concurred.
ABOUT:
This legislation allows persons with intellectual disabilities
(ID), autism, and other developmental disabilities to access
state colleges and universities in order to gain skills necessary
to work and live independently in the community as
adults, implementing key recommendations of the legislative
Task Force on College Inclusion. Access to college improves
the rates of employment, wages, self-determination skills,
and independent living for adults with significant disabilities.
The bill removes barriers, allowing individuals with ID and
autism to participate in courses and campus life, as nonmatriculating
students, if they have not passed MCAS. The
bill also codifies the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment grant
program, provides consideration of higher education for
older students through the special education process, and
includes this population in the mission of our state higher
education system.
An Act to Improve Augmentative and Alternative Communication Opportunities for Children with Disabilitie
HD.815 / SD.860
- Filed by Representative Christine P. Barber and Senator Patrick O'Connor
🚦 STATUS:
Introduced on March 29 2021. House and Senate Concurred. Referred to the Joint Committee on Education.
ABOUT:
This legislation amends teacher license regulations to require
that all teachers who apply for an initial Massachusetts
educator license receive instruction on the appropriate use
of augmentative and alternative communication devices for
children with disabilities who are nonspeaking or who have
limited speech. This bill will enhance the lives of thousands
of children, including children with autism, cerebral palsy,
and acquired brain injury who rely on augmentative and
alternative communication methods to interact with others.
This legislation builds upon Chapter 299 of the Acts of 2010,
which required only certain special education teachers
to have training on the appropriate use of augmentative
and alternative communication. This bill will help improve
outcomes for students as well as reduce costs for school
districts by facilitating inclusion and supporting placement
of children with disabilities who are nonspeaking or who have
limited speech in the least restrictive environment.
KATIE'S LAW
HD.4022 / SD.2466
An Act relative to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities
– Filed by Representative Kay Khan and Senator Patricia Jehlen
🚦 STATUS:
In the docket. Stay tuned for updates when this legislation becomes a bill.
ABOUT:
This bill would strike out certain phrases/words and outdated language (mentally retarded, handicapped)
An Act relative to persons with developmental disabilities
HD.2007 / SD.1744
– Filed by Representative James J. O’Da and Senator Joan Lively
🚦 STATUS:
In the docket. Stay tuned for updates when this legislation becomes a bill.
ABOUT:
This bill adopts the federal definition of developmental disability
in place of the current state definition of developmental
disability and will amend the definition to include all adult
individuals with a developmental disability, e.g. cerebral
palsy and fetal alcohol syndrome.
Your voice is needed for positive change in Massachusetts! Contact your legislators and make your voice heard!
Find your legislators at https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Thank you to the representatives and senators who filed these important pieces of legislation for recognizing the value and importance of supporting
for supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families!
Be sure and reach out to the filers of the bills and show your gratitude as well!
