[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 111-256
111th Congress

An Act


 
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. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. <>  SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as ``Rosa's Law''.
SEC. 2. 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
``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 Disability
Employment Partnership Board 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

[[Page 2644]]

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:
``SEC. 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) References.--For <> purposes of each
provision amended by this section--
(1) a reference to ``an intellectual disability'' shall mean
a condition previously referred to as ``mental retardation'', or
a variation of this term, and shall have the same meaning with
respect to programs, or qualifications for programs, for
individuals with such a condition; and
(2) a reference to individuals with intellectual
disabilities shall mean individuals who were previously referred
to as individuals who are ``individuals with mental
retardation'' or ``the mentally retarded'', or variations of
those terms.

[[Page 2645]]

SEC. 3. <> 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.
SEC. 4. <> RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

This Act shall be construed to make amendments to provisions of
Federal law to substitute the term ``an intellectual disability'' for
``mental retardation'', and ``individuals with intellectual
disabilities'' for ``the mentally retarded'' or ``individuals who are
mentally retarded'', without any intent to--
(1) change the coverage, eligibility, rights,
responsibilities, or definitions referred to in the amended
provisions; or
(2) compel <> States to change terminology in
State laws for individuals covered by a provision amended by
this Act.

Approved October 5, 2010.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2781:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 111-244 (Comm. on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010):
Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 22, considered and passed House.