1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1093 FILED ON: 1/18/2023 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 326 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Patrick M. O'Connor _________________ 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 to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and NorfolkBrian M. Ashe2nd Hampden2/8/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/8/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/9/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/13/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/15/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/24/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/24/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/24/2023Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester2/28/2023 1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1093 FILED ON: 1/18/2023 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 326 By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 326) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Brian M. Ashe, Vanna Howard, Anne M. Gobi and other members of the General Court for legislation to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities. Education. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court (2023-2024) _______________ An Act to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the board 2of elementary and secondary education shall repromulgate 603 CMR 7.03(3) as necessary to 3establish the requirement that all approved programs for teachers include instruction on the 4appropriate use of augmentative and alternative communication and other assistive technologies; 5provided further the board may require that individual professional development plans required 6by section 38G of chapter 71 address the learning needs of students who are nonverbal or have 7limited speech requiring augmentative and alternative communication.