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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 627 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 514
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Christine P. Barber
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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 to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with
disabilities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/10/2025Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/13/2025Ryan C. FattmanWorcester and Hampden2/18/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester2/18/2025Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex2/20/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/19/2025Carlos González10th Hampden2/19/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/11/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/5/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/14/2025Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth1/31/2025Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester3/4/2025Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/19/2025John J. Marsi6th Worcester2/13/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk3/10/2025Sean Reid11th Essex2/18/2025Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/18/2025 2 of 2
Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/26/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/19/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/18/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 627 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 514
By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 514) of
Christine P. Barber and others for legislation to improve augmentative and alternative
communication opportunities for school children with disabilities. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 433 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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.