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HJ0004 • 2008

Designation of disabilities.

A JOINT RESOLUTION urging Wyoming state agencies to replace references to "mental retardation" in their documents with a more respectful term or description that reflects increased sensitivity to those who experience this disability; and recommending Wyoming state agencies review and consider language currently used by other states that have previously changed their references.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Esquibel, Floyd
Last action
2008-02-20
Official status
inactive
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2008-02-20 House

    H Placed on General File; Did Not Consider in CoW

  2. 2008-02-20 House

    H01 Recommended Do Pass

  3. 2008-02-15 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H01

  4. 2008-02-11 House

    H Received for Introduction

  5. 2008-01-29 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
WORKING DRAFT
2008
STATE OF
WYOMING
08LSO-0079

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
HJ0004

Designation of disabilities.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Esquibel, F., Buchanan,
Harvey
, Millin, Zwonitzer, Dn. and Zwonitzer, Dv. and Senator(s) Case, Fecht and Massie

A Bill

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION urging
Wyoming
state agencies to replace references to "mental retardation" in their documents with a more respectful term or description that reflects increased sensitivity to those who experience this disability; and recommending
Wyoming
state agencies review and consider language currently used by other states that have previously changed their references.

WHEREAS, the stigma attached to the phrase "mental retardation" creates an unwarranted burden on those who experience this intellectual disability;

WHEREAS, in some cases government agencies inadvertently perpetuate this burden by continuing to use this archaic term;

WHEREAS, this phrase should be changed to reflect a sensitivity to those who experience this disability;

WHEREAS, many government agencies throughout the
United States
have altered their documents to refer to these individuals as persons with a disability;

WHEREAS, the use of the term "persons with a disability" removes a measure of the sting and stigma by those who must struggle with this disability every day of their lives; and

WHEREAS,
Wyoming
state agencies should take deliberate steps to update their documents to reflect this more sensitive reference to characterize those with this disability.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
:

Section 1.
That the
Wyoming
legislature urges
Wyoming
state agencies to review their official documents and replace current references to "mental retardation" with an alternative that reflects increased sensitivity to those who experience this disability.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
Wyoming
legislature encourages
Wyoming
state agencies to review and consider alternative references to this disability that are used by other states.

Section 2.
That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this resolution to the Wyoming governor's planning council on developmental disabilities, the department of health, the department of family services, the early intervention council, and people first of Wyoming.

(END)
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HJ0004