Overview
Title
To amend Federal law to remove the terms mentally retarded and mental retardation, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
S. 3726 is a plan to change old words in the law books, like "mentally retarded," to kinder words, like "intellectual disability," so that everyone is treated with respect. This won't change what the laws do, just the words we use.
Summary AI
S. 3726, known as the “Words Matter Act of 2024,” seeks to amend federal laws by replacing the outdated terms “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation” with more current and respectful terms like “intellectual disability.” The bill makes numerous adjustments to various sections of U.S. law, impacting areas such as healthcare, housing, education, and criminal justice, to ensure consistency with contemporary language standards. This change aims to modernize the terminology without altering the substance or scope of the affected laws or imposing changes on state terminology.
Published
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AnalysisAI
To amend Federal law to remove the terms “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation”, the bill titled the "Words Matter Act of 2024" aims to update and modernize the language used in various federal legislations. This change reflects a growing understanding and sensitivity towards individuals with intellectual disabilities, recognizing the importance of using respectful and inclusive terminology.
General Summary of the Bill
The bill proposes amendments to several sections of federal law, replacing outdated terms like "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities." This language shift is consistent across a multitude of legal contexts, from health care provisions and criminal justice to housing and education laws. By doing so, the bill seeks to align federal language with current medical and social understandings of intellectual disabilities, ensuring that legislation reflects dignity and respect for the individuals it describes.
Summary of Significant Issues
One key issue with the bill is its lack of specific guidance on which federal agency is responsible for implementing these changes. This absence can lead to confusion and inefficiencies in putting the new language into practice. Moreover, the bill does not detail a process or timeline for updating existing regulations, potentially causing delays or non-compliance. There is also no mechanism outlined to ensure that all relevant regulations consistently adopt the updated terminology.
The "Rule of Construction" section aims to clarify that the language update does not intend to alter the scope or application of existing legal provisions. However, there is ambiguity in determining what "related terms" may include, which could lead to varied interpretations. Additionally, the bill does not address how it impacts existing legal or medical documentation that uses the old terminology, risking inconsistencies during the transition.
Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, this bill can positively impact public perceptions and treatment of individuals with intellectual disabilities. By adopting more respectful language in federal law, it underscores a societal commitment to dignity and equality. For the general public, it's a step toward reducing stigma and promoting inclusivity through the language used in official and influential documents.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families, the bill represents an important acknowledgment of their rights and identities. It aligns federal language with contemporary norms and can foster a more inclusive environment. Professionals in health care, education, and law could see a transition period where old documents and practices shift towards using the new terminology. This requires retraining and updates in documentation, which could be resource-intensive for some organizations.
On the downside, the lack of clarity in implementing these changes might pose challenges for federal agencies, potentially leading to inconsistent application across various domains. States are not compelled to amend their laws, which might result in discrepancies between state and federal language, further complicating legal proceedings and protections under the law.
Ultimately, while the bill makes an admirable effort to modernize federal law in line with evolving societal values, careful consideration and planning in its execution are vital to ensure smooth and effective implementation.
Issues
The bill does not specify which Federal agency is responsible for carrying out the amendments, which could lead to implementation confusion and inefficiencies (Section 3).
The regulations section lacks details about the process or timeline for the amendment of regulations, potentially resulting in delays or non-compliance (Section 3).
There is no identified mechanism for ensuring compliance with the updated terminology across all relevant regulations, which could lead to inconsistent application (Section 3).
The language used in the rule of construction lacks clarity on what 'related terms' encompass, potentially leading to varied interpretations and misunderstandings (Section 4).
While the intent is to update terminology without altering coverage or eligibility, lacking further specification or examples could lead to inconsistent application and interpretation (Section 4).
The amendment does not address potential impacts on existing legal or medical documents using old terminology, which might create confusion during implementation (Section 4).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act states that the official name of the legislation is the "Words Matter Act of 2024."
2. Removal of mentally retarded and mental retardation from Federal law Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section of the bill amends various laws to replace the outdated terms “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” or related phrases, making the language more respectful and accurate throughout federal legislation.
3. Regulations Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section states that any existing regulations mentioning "mental retardation" should now refer to "intellectual disability," and similarly, "the mentally retarded" should be referred to as "individuals with intellectual disabilities." Additionally, agencies must update these regulations to clarify the change in terminology.
4. Rule of construction Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Act updates Federal law to replace the terms “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation” without changing any legal rights, responsibilities, or definitions, and it does not require States to update their own laws in the same way.