Overview

Title

To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to revise references in such title to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

ELI5 AI

S. 402 wants to use nicer words to describe people with intellectual disabilities in Washington, D.C.'s official rules, changing old words to updated ones like calling someone "a person with moderate intellectual disabilities" instead.

Summary AI

S. 402 is a bill that aims to update the language used in the District of Columbia Official Code to describe individuals with intellectual disabilities. It proposes changing outdated terms like "substantially retarded persons" to more respectful and current language, such as "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities," in various legal sections pertaining to the jurisdictions of the United States District Court, the Superior Court, and the Family Court in Washington, D.C. This change reflects a broader effort to use more inclusive and accurate terminology.

Published

2025-02-05
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2025-02-05
Package ID: BILLS-119s402is

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
276
Pages:
2
Sentences:
8

Language

Nouns: 93
Verbs: 19
Adjectives: 17
Adverbs: 6
Numbers: 7
Entities: 21

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.80
Average Sentence Length:
34.50
Token Entropy:
4.34
Readability (ARI):
21.69

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed bill, titled the "Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act," is a legislative measure introduced in the United States Senate with the purpose of amending Title 11 of the District of Columbia Official Code. The primary focus of this bill is to update and modernize the terminology used in this legal code concerning individuals with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, the bill aims to replace outdated terms that may be considered insensitive or inaccurate with more respectful and contemporary language.

Summary of Significant Issues

This bill addresses one major issue: the use of outdated language when referring to individuals with intellectual disabilities within the legal framework of the District of Columbia. By replacing terms such as "substantially retarded persons" with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities," the bill seeks to align legal terminology with current standards of dignity and respect. The change is primarily concerned with ethical considerations and enhancing the inclusivity of legal language.

Impact on the Public

The passage of this bill would have a broad and largely positive impact on the public by contributing to the ongoing efforts to update language that reflects modern understanding and acceptance. By revising the terminology, the bill helps to foster an environment of inclusivity and respect for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This kind of measure can also raise public awareness about the importance of using language that acknowledges the dignity and humanity of all individuals, particularly those who are often marginalized.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For individuals with intellectual disabilities, this bill represents a positive step toward societal inclusion and recognition. It reflects an acknowledgment of their rights to be addressed and referred to with respect and accuracy. Families and advocates for people with intellectual disabilities may view this legislative change as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the need for respectful language, which can improve social attitudes and reduce stigma.

For legal practitioners and those involved in the administration of justice in the District of Columbia, this change necessitates adjustments to ensure language used in courts and legal documents aligns with the revised terminology. However, this adjustment is a minor inconvenience in light of the broader ethical benefits of using respectful language.

Overall, the "Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act" underscores a critical commitment to inclusivity and respect. By refining legal language to better reflect contemporary standards, the bill promotes an important step toward greater societal acceptance and integration for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Issues

  • Section 2: The bill primarily involves updating language in the District of Columbia Official Code to replace outdated terminology concerning individuals with intellectual disabilities. This change has significant ethical implications because it aims to provide more respectful and accurate terms for individuals with intellectual disabilities, aligning with modern standards for language that respects all persons.

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 section states that this piece of legislation will be officially known as the “Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act.”

2. References to individuals with intellectual disabilities Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section describes changes in the terminology used in the District of Columbia Official Code. It updates several legal sections to replace outdated terms for individuals with intellectual disabilities with the phrase "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities."