FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2490

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

C 94 L 10

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning persons with intellectual disabilities.

Sponsors: Representative Angel; by request of Statute Law Committee.

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code both contain extensive references to various individuals with disabilities. With the exception of language used as a specific term of art for purposes of the criminal code and criminal sentencing, these references are generally not essential to describing the circumstances of the particular individual. 

Recent legislation has adopted terms that emphasize the individuality of people, no matter what their physical characteristics. Older legislative language utilized terms appropriate to the moment, some of which are neither appropriate nor specifically necessary for the law. 

In 2004 legislation was enacted that required the Code Reviser to avoid references to certain words frequently used to describe individuals with disabilities. The specific terms are disabled, developmentally disabled, mentally disabled, mentally ill, mentally retarded, handicapped, cripple, and crippled. 

These terms are to be avoided in future laws as well as to be replaced in existing statutes as those statutes are amended by law. The replacement terms are "individuals with disabilities," "individuals with developmental disabilities," "individuals with mental disabilities," "individuals with mental illness," and "individuals with mental retardation."

Last session, the Legislature changed the preferred term to be used in statutes, memorials, and resolutions from "individuals with mental retardation" to "individuals with intellectual disabilities." The Code Reviser was directed to replace the term "mental retardation" with the term "intellectual disability." The Code Reviser was also required to submit a bill with recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2009, concerning the replacement of the phrase "mental retardation" with the phrase "intellectual disability" as well as any other perfecting changes to the RCW.

Summary:

The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is updated to remove the demeaning term "individuals with mental retardation" and replace it with "individuals with intellectual disabilities." It is not the intent of the Legislature to expand or contract the scope of the RCW. Nothing in the act may be construed to change the application of any provision of the RCW to any person.

"Intellectual disabilities" replaces the term "mental retardation" in statutes pertaining to:

Votes on Final Passage:

House

97

0

Senate

42

0

Effective:

June 10, 2010