| Passed by the House February 12, 2004 Yeas 95 FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate March 11, 2004 Yeas 48 BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate | 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 | March 26, 2004 - 4:33 p.m. Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2004 Regular Session |
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.