I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4544 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 27, 2010 Mr. McMahon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To change references in Federal law to mental retardation to references to an intellectual disability, and change references to a mentally retarded individual to references to an individual with an intellectual disability.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Elizabeth A. Connelly Act.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)The Honorable Elizabeth A. Connelly was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1973 as the first woman from Staten Island, New York, elected to public office. (2)Ms. Connelly retired in 2000 making her the longest serving female legislator in the history of New York State. (3)Through her work on the New York State Assembly Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Developmental Disabilities, Alcoholism, and Substance Abuse Committee, Elizabeth A. Connelly was a champion for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. (4)As an Assemblywoman, Ms. Connelly was instrumental in securing funds for mental health programs and in creating the New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled. (5)She worked together with parents, advocates, and government leaders to make New York State a leader in providing high-quality services and programs for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. (6)Ms. Connelly was known as the guardian angel of the mentally disabled in New York State. (7)Her personal commitment and leadership helped redefine how individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities are treated today throughout the United States.

3.

Individuals with intellectual disabilities

(a)

Higher education act of 1965

Section 760(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140(2)(A)) is amended by striking with mental retardation or. (b)

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act

(1)Section 601(c)(12)(C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400(c)(12)(C)) is amended by striking having mental retardation and inserting having intellectual disabilities. (2)Section 602 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1401) is amended— (A)in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking with mental retardation and inserting with intellectual disabilities; and (B)in paragraph (30)(C), by striking of mental retardation and inserting of intellectual disabilities. (c)

Elementary and secondary education act of 1965

Section 7202(16)(E) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7512(16)(E)) is amended by striking mild mental retardation, and inserting mild intellectual disabilities,. (d)

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

(1)Section 7(21)(A)(iii) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(21)(A)(iii)) is amended by striking mental retardation, and inserting intellectual disability,. (2)Section 204(b)(2)(C)(vi) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 764(b)(2)(C)(vi)) is amended by striking mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and inserting intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. (3)Section 501(a) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 791(a)) is amended, in the third sentence, by striking President’s Committees on Employment of People With Disabilities and on Mental Retardation and inserting President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. (e)

Health research and health services amendments of 1976

Section 1001 of the Health Research and Health Services Amendments of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 217a–1) is amended by striking the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963,. (f)

Public Health Service Act

(1)Section 317C(a)(4)(B)(i) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–4(a)(4)(B)(i)) is amended by striking mental retardation; and inserting intellectual disabilities;. (2)Section 448 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 285g) is amended by striking mental retardation, and inserting intellectual disabilities,. (3)Section 450 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 285g–2) is amended to read as follows:

450.

Research on intellectual disabilities

The Director of the Institute shall conduct and support research and related activities into the causes, prevention, and treatment of intellectual disabilities.

. (4)Section 641(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 291k(a)) is amended by striking matters relating to the mentally retarded and inserting matters relating to individuals with intellectual disabilities. (5)Section 753(b)(2)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294c(b)(2)(E)) is amended by striking elderly mentally retarded individuals and inserting elderly individuals with intellectual disabilities. (6)Section 1252(f)(3)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 300d–52(f)(3)(E)) is amended by striking mental retardation/developmental disorders, and inserting intellectual disabilities or developmental disorders,. (g)

Health professions education partnerships act of 1998

Section 419(b)(1) of the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 280f note) is amended by striking mental retardation and inserting intellectual disabilities. (h)

Public law 110–154

Section 1(a)(2)(B) of Public Law 110–154 (42 U.S.C. 285g note) is amended by striking mental retardation and inserting intellectual disabilities. (i)

National Sickle Cell Anemia, Cooley’s Anemia, Tay-Sachs, and Genetic Diseases Act

Section 402 of the National Sickle Cell Anemia, Cooley’s Anemia, Tay-Sachs, and Genetic Diseases Act (42 U.S.C. 300b–1 note) is amended by striking leading to mental retardation and inserting leading to intellectual disabilities. (j)

Genetic information nondiscrimination act of 2008

Section 2(2) of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 2000ff note) is amended by striking mental retardation, and inserting intellectual disabilities,. (k)

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000

(1)Section 109(a)(4)(B)(i) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15009(a)(4)(B)(i)) is amended by striking the mentally retarded and inserting individuals with intellectual disabilities. (2)Sections 124(c)(3)(C)(vii) and 143(a)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15024(c)(3)(C)(vii), 15043(a)(3)(A)) are amended— (A)by striking (a)(30)(C) each place it appears and inserting (a)(31); and (B)by striking Intermediate Care Facility (Mental Retardation) and inserting intermediate care facility described in that section. (l)

References

For purposes of each provision amended by this section— (1)a reference to an intellectual disability shall be considered to refer to mental retardation, as defined for that provision on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; and (2)a reference to individuals with intellectual disabilities shall be considered to refer to the mentally retarded, or individuals who are mentally retarded, as defined for that provision on that day.

4.

Regulations

For purposes of regulations issued to carry out a provision amended by this Act— (1)before the regulations are amended to carry out this Act— (A)a reference in the regulations to mental retardation shall be considered to be a reference to an intellectual disability; and (B)a reference in the regulations to the mentally retarded, or individuals who are mentally retarded, shall be considered to be a reference to individuals with intellectual disabilities; and (2)in amending the regulations to carry out this Act, a Federal agency shall ensure that the regulations clearly state— (A)that an intellectual disability was formerly termed mental retardation; and (B)that individuals with intellectual disabilities were formerly termed individuals who are mentally retarded.

5.

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the eligibility for services or the rights or responsibilities, under a provision amended by this Act, of individuals covered by the provision on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.