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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 587 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 196
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication
impairments.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/13/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex2/16/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 587 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 196
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 196) of
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, Vanna Howard and Colleen M. Garry relative to public
accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments. Children, Families
and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4027 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication
impairments.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 6B the
2following section:-
3 Section 6C. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
5 “Department”, the department of public health.
6 “Photographic or visual menu”, a menu that contains a written description accompanied
7by a photograph each food and drink item to assist individuals with communication impairments
8with ordering food and drink. 2 of 2
9 (b) A person licensed as an innholder or common victualler, when serving food, shall: (i)
10maintain on the premises for availability upon customer request a set of photographic or visual
11menus and (ii) include on all menus a notice to customers informing them of the availability of a
12photographic or visual menu for customers with communication impairments, the language of
13the notice shall be developed by the department in consultation with the department of
14developmental services, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and Arc Massachusetts, Inc..
15 (c) The department shall develop a program for restaurants to be designated as
16“Communication Impairment Friendly” and shall maintain a listing of restaurants receiving that
17designation on its website. Participation in the program shall be voluntary and the department, in
18consultation with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, shall issue guidelines and
19requirements for restaurants to receive the designation; provided that the requirements shall
20include, but not be limited to, maintaining on the premises and making available to the public, a
21set of photographic or visual menus.
22 (d) The department may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.