SF 525

2nd Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; changing terminology for
mentally retarded, mental retardation, physically
handicapped, and similar terms.

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

Section 1. new text begin REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin (a) The revisor of statutes shall change the terms in
column A to the terms in column B, wherever they appear in
Minnesota Statutes,
new text end

new text begin Column A new text end new text begin Column B
"mental retardation" new text end new text begin "developmental disability"
"mental retardation or new text end new text begin "developmental disability"
a related condition";
"mental retardation
and related condition"
"mentally retarded" new text end new text begin "developmentally disabled"
"handicapped persons" new text end new text begin "disabled persons"
"handicapped children" new text end new text begin "disabled children" or
"children with disabilities,"
whichever term is most appropriate
in the context of the sentence
"handicapped dependents" new text end new text begin "disabled dependents"
"handicapped" new text end new text begin "disabled," "disability," or
"people with disabilities,"
whichever term is most appropriate
in the context of the sentence
"handicaps" new text end new text begin "disabilities"
"idiots" new text end new text begin "developmentally disabled"
new text end

new text begin (b) Where the terms in column B are substituted in statute,
insert "person" or "people" if not already used in the existing
sentence structure.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin MINNESOTA RULES.
new text end

new text begin The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, in
consultation with the Department of Administration and the
Department of Human Services, shall review Minnesota Rules and
provide to the revisor of statutes a list of Minnesota Rules
containing outdated language specified in section 1 and the
appropriate terminology changes that must be made in each of the
rules. The revisor of statutes shall make the indicated changes
in Minnesota Rules.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin STATE AGENCIES.
new text end

new text begin State agencies shall use the terminology changes specified
in section 1 when printed material and signage are replaced and
new printed material and signage are obtained. State agencies
do not have to replace existing printed material and signage to
comply with sections 1 and 2. Language changes made according
to sections 1 and 2 shall not expand or exclude eligibility to
services.
new text end