Washington State Human Rights Commission

The following legislation was passed this session requiring the use of respectful people first language in all statutes and regulations mentioning people who have disabilities.

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
HOUSE BILL 2663
58th Legislature
2004 Regular Session
Passed by the House February 12, 2004
Yeas 95 Nays 0
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Passed by the Senate March 11, 2004
Yeas 48 Nays 0
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.

Chief Clerk
Approved
Governor of the State of Washington
FILED
                                              Secretary of State
                                              State of Washington
            _____________________________________________
                           HOUSE BILL 2663
            _____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2004 Regular Session
State of Washington 58th Legislature 2004 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

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.
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