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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 267 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2204
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Joanne M. Comerford
_________________
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 facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum
disorder.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and WorcesterMindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/18/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/2/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/7/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/7/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/8/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/15/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/15/2023Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex2/23/2023Hannah Kane11th Worcester3/1/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 267 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2204
By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2204) of Joanne M. Comerford,
Mindy Domb, Michael O. Moore, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court
for legislation to facilitate better interactions between police officers and persons with autism
spectrum disorder. Transportation.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2285 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum
disorder.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 56 the following section:-
3 Section 56A. (a) The registry of motor vehicles, in consultation with the Massachusetts
4Chiefs of Police Association and organizations that advocate for persons with autism spectrum
5disorder, shall design and make available blue envelopes that:
6 (1) provide written information and guidance on the outside of the envelopes regarding
7ways to enhance effective communication between a police officer and a person with autism
8spectrum disorder; and 2 of 2
9 (2) are capable of holding a person's motor vehicle operator's license, registration and
10insurance identification card.
11 Upon request by a person with autism spectrum disorder or if such person is a minor, the
12person's parent or guardian, the registrar of motor vehicles shall provide a blue envelope
13designed pursuant to this section to such person, parent or guardian.
14 (b) The guidance on the outside of the blue envelopes shall include an instruction to
15attach the envelope to the driver's sunvisor on the side facing the driver for easy and safe access.
16 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024