CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

HOUSE BILL 2663

Chapter 175, Laws of 2004

58th Legislature
2004 Regular Session



STATE LAWS AND RULES--RESPECTFUL LANGUAGE



EFFECTIVE DATE: 6/10/04

Passed by the House February 12, 2004
  Yeas 95   Nays 0

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


Passed by the Senate March 11, 2004
  Yeas 48   Nays 0


BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
 
CERTIFICATE

I, Richard Nafziger, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 2663 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.


RICHARD NAFZIGER
________________________________________    
Chief Clerk
Approved March 26, 2004.








GARY F. LOCKE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
March 26, 2004 - 4:33 p.m.







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

HOUSE BILL 2663
_____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2004 Regular Session
State of Washington58th Legislature2004 Regular Session

By Representatives Haigh, Armstrong, McCoy, Holmquist, O'Brien, Boldt, Morrell, Jarrett, Wallace, Delvin, Moeller, Priest, Darneille, Conway, D. Simpson, Kagi, Hunter, Clements, Wood, Sullivan, Dickerson, G. Simpson, Hunt, Skinner, Cody, Ormsby, Chase, Hankins, Pettigrew, Kenney, Tom, Nixon, Kessler, Miloscia, Linville, Romero, Roach and Hudgins

Read first time 01/19/2004.   Referred to Committee on State Government.



     AN ACT Relating to use of respectful language in the Revised Code of Washington and the Washington Administrative Code; adding a new section to chapter 44.04 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 34.05 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature recognizes that language used in reference to individuals with disabilities shapes and reflects society's attitudes towards people with disabilities. Many of the terms currently used diminish the humanity and natural condition of having a disability. Certain terms are demeaning and create an invisible barrier to inclusion as equal community members. The legislature finds it necessary to clarify preferred language for new and revised laws by requiring the use of terminology that puts the person before the disability.
     (2)(a) The code reviser is directed to avoid all references to: Disabled, developmentally disabled, mentally disabled, mentally ill, mentally retarded, handicapped, cripple, and crippled, in any new statute, memorial, or resolution, and to change such references in any existing statute, memorial, or resolution as sections including these references are otherwise amended by law.
     (b) The code reviser is directed to replace terms referenced in (a) of this subsection as appropriate with the following revised terminology: "Individuals with disabilities," "individuals with developmental disabilities," "individuals with mental illness," and "individuals with mental retardation."
     (3) No statute, memorial, or resolution is invalid because it does not comply with this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 34.05 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) All agency orders creating new rules, or amending existing rules, shall be formulated in accordance with the requirements of section 1 of this act regarding the use of respectful language.
     (2) No agency rule is invalid because it does not comply with this section.


         Passed by the House February 12, 2004.
         Passed by the Senate March 11, 2004.
         Approved by the Governor March 26, 2004.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 26, 2004.