HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4666 FILED ON: 11/2/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4161
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
STATE HOUSE · BOSTON, MA 02133
(617) 725-4000
MAURA T. HEALEY KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
GOVERNOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
November 2, 2023
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,
I am filing for your consideration a bill entitled, “An Act to Rename the Massachusetts
Rehabilitation Commission, MassAbility, in order to Reflect the Self Determination and
Limitless Possibilities of People with Disabilities.”
For many decades, people with disabilities have challenged mainstream culture to
recognize disability not as the whole of who they are, but as one important aspect of their lives.
This movement has inspired the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) since its
inception in 1956, shaping the values and programs of an agency committed to breaking down
social barriers and expanding what is possible for people with disabilities across the
Commonwealth.
Since 1956, MRC has provided vocational rehabilitation, job placement, independent
living, and community-based services to empower and support people with disabilities to live life
on their own terms, with equal rights, diversity, and accessibility as the priority. MRC currently
serves approximately 20,000 individuals within the Commonwealth and is leading innovation
through the NextGen program, a STEM focused rapid employment model for young adults with
disabilities.
While expressing pride in MRC’s work and mission, members of the disability
community have also long expressed concern with MRC’s name. The term “rehabilitation” has
come to carry connotations that can feel stigmatizing or misleading. I believe that the name
MassAbility is best suited not only to represent the values and mission of the agency, but to
embody the self-determination, competence, and potential for success intrinsic to all people with
disabilities.
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 This legislation changes the name of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to
MassAbility and removes uses of the term “handicap,” “handicapped,” and “retarded,” replacing
them with “barrier,” “person with a disability,” and “person with intellectual disabilities.” The
legislation further repeals G.L. c. 6 § 78A, providing for the administration of an antiquated, and
now non-existent, program for extended sheltered employment for people with disabilities.
MassAbility is more than just a new name. It is an opportunity to demonstrate our
commitment to tearing down systemic barriers for people with disabilities in the workforce and
in our communities. Changing the words we use when we speak about disability is one more step
toward building more inclusive and equitable communities that amplify the inherent worth and
potential of all their members.
For all these reasons, I urge your favorable consideration of this legislation.
Respectfully submitted,
Maura T. Healey,
Governor
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 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4161
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to rename the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Massability, to reflect the self-
determination and limitless possibilities of people with disabilities.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
promote equity and increase opportunities for persons with disabilities by renaming the
commission and updating language used to more accurately reflect the values and core mission
of the agency, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 17 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 13, the words “Massachusetts
3 Rehabilitation Commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
4 SECTION 2. Section 74 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
5 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
6 establishment; expenditure of funds.
7 SECTION 3. Said section 74 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
8 striking out, in lines 2, 6, and 9, the word “handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof,
9 in each instance, the following: persons with disabilities.
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10 SECTION 4. Said section 74 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
11 striking out, in lines 2 to 3, the words “Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission” and inserting
12 in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
13 SECTION 5. Section 75 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
14 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
15 commissioner; employees; other offices.
16 SECTION 6. Said section 75 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
17 striking out, in line 2, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof the following
18 word:- MassAbility.
19 SECTION 7. Said section 75 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
20 striking out, in lines 10, 79, and 88, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof, in each
21 instance, the following word:- they.
22 SECTION 8. Said section 75 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
23 striking out, in lines 10, 11, 79, 80, and 82, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each
24 instance, the following word: “their”
25 SECTION 9. Said section 75 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
26 striking out, in line 85, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- them.
27 SECTION 10. Section 76 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
28 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
29 advisory council.
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30 SECTION 11. Said section 76 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
31 striking out, in line 7, the word “handicaps” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
32 a disability.
33 SECTION 12. Said section 76 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
34 striking out, in line 11, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.
35 SECTION 13. Section 77 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
36 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
37 definitions applicable to Secs. 74 to 84.
38 SECTION 14. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
39 striking out, in lines 5, 19, 34, and 58 the words “handicapped individual” and inserting in place
40 thereof, in each instance, the following words:- person with a disability.
41 SECTION 15. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
42 striking out, in line 17 the words “handicapped individual’s” and inserting in place thereof, in
43 each instance, the following words:- person’s with a disability.
44 SECTION 16. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
45 striking out, in lines 25, 29 to 30, and 38 the words “handicapped individuals” and inserting in
46 place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.
47 SECTION 17. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
48 striking out, in line 45, the word “handicapped” and inserting in place thereof the following
49 words:- person with a disability.
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50 SECTION 18. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
51 striking out, in line 49, the words “Handicapped person” and inserting in place thereof the
52 following words:- Person with a disability.
53 SECTION 19. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
54 striking out, in line 51, the word “handicap” and inserting in place thereof the following word:-
55 barrier.
56 SECTION 20. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
57 striking out, in lines 34, 53, and 59, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each
58 instance, the following word:- their.
59 SECTION 21. Said section 77 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
60 striking out lines 42 to 48.
61 SECTION 22. Section 78 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
62 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
63 vocational rehabilitation services; independent living services.
64 SECTION 23. Said section 78 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
65 striking out, in lines 3 to 4 and 23, the words “handicapped individual” and inserting in place
66 thereof, in each instance, the following words:- person with a disability.
67 SECTION 24. Said section 78 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
68 striking out, in lines 8 to 9, and 16 to 17, the words “handicapped individuals” and inserting in
69 place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.
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70 SECTION 25. Said section 78 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
71 striking out, in line 15, the words “handicapped individuals” and inserting in place thereof, in
72 each instance, the following words:- person with a disability.
73 SECTION 26. Said section 78 of chapter 6, as s appearing, is hereby further amended by
74 striking out, in lines 5 and 24, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the
75 following word:- their.
76 SECTION 27. Section 78A of chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.
77 SECTION 28. Section 79 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
78 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
79 powers and duties.
80 SECTION 29. Said section 79 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
81 striking out, in lines 20 and 27, the words “handicapped individuals” and inserting in place
82 thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.
83 SECTION 30. Said section 79 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
84 striking out, in line 25, the words “handicapped persons” and inserting in place thereof the
85 following words:- persons with disabilities.
86 SECTION 31. Said section 79 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
87 striking out, in line 28, the words “handicapped individual” and inserting in place thereof the
88 following words:- person with a disability.
89 SECTION 32. Said section 79 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
90 striking out, in line 29, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.
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 91 SECTION 33. Section 80 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
92 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
93 additional powers and duties.
94 SECTION 34. Section 81 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
95 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility
96 cooperation with state agencies; agreements.
97 SECTION 35. Said section 81 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
98 striking out, in lines 8, 10, 14, and 17, the words “handicapped persons” and inserting in place
99 thereof, in each instance, the following words:- persons with disabilities.
100 SECTION 36. Section 82 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
101 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
102 federal funds; custodian; expenditure.
103 SECTION 37. Said section 82 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
104 striking out, in line 5, the words “Massachusetts rehabilitation”.
105 SECTION 38. Section 83 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
106 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility;
107 gifts to commission; acceptance; investment.
108 SECTION 39. Section 84 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
109 amended by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title:- MassAbility:
110 information or records confidential.
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111 SECTION 40. Said section 84 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
112 striking out, in line 24, the words “handicapped person” and inserting in place thereof the
113 following words:- person with a disability.
114 SECTION 41. Said section 84 of chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
115 striking out, in lines 12 and 13, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance,
116 the following word:- their.
117 SECTION 42. Section 105 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
118 amended by striking out, in line 16, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission”
119 and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
120 SECTION 43. Section 125 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
121 amended by striking out, in lines 6 and 36, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place
122 thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.
123 SECTION 44. Section 126 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
124 amended by striking out, in line 4, the words “the rehabilitation commission” and inserting in
125 place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
126 SECTION 45. Section 128 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
127 amended by striking out, in lines 4 to 5, the words “the rehabilitation commission” and inserting
128 in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
129 SECTION 46. Section 189 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
130 amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof the
131 following word:- MassAbility.
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132 SECTION 47. Section 217 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
133 amended by striking out, in lines 14 to 15, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation
134 commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
135 SECTION 48. Section 16 of chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
136 amended by striking out, in line 32, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission”
137 and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
138 SECTION 49. Section 16F of chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
139 amended by striking out, in line 9, the words “Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission” and
140 inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
141 SECTION 50. Section 16O of chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
142 amended by striking out, in lines 32 to 33, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation
143 commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
144 SECTION 51. Section 59 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
145 amended by striking out, in lines 15 and 19, the word “rehabilitation” and inserting in place
146 thereof, in each instance, the following word:- MassAbility.
147 SECTION 52. Section 19 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
148 amended by striking out, in lines 40 to 41, the words “the Massachusetts rehabilitation
149 commission” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- MassAbility.
150 SECTION 53. Section 30A of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is
151 hereby amended by striking out, in lines 26, 102 to 103, 113, and 160 to 161, the words “the
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152 Massachusetts rehabilitation commission”, and inserting in place, in each instance, thereof the
153 following word:- MassAbility.
154 SECTION 54. Section 2A of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
155 amended by striking out, in lines 14 to 15, 28 to 29, and 44 to 45, the words “the Massachusetts
156 rehabilitation commis