Bill Details
S.402 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-05 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced Date
2025-02-05
Policy Area
Law
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (2)
7
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would update outdated language in the District of Columbia code that appears in court rules about certain cases involving people with intellectual disabilities. It does not change who the courts can hear cases about or create new powers; it simply replaces old, offensive wording with more respectful and modern terms.
- It changes the language used in the rules for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
- It makes the same wording change in the rules for the D.C. Superior Court.
- It also updates the language in the rules for the D.C. Family Court.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 402 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 402
To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to revise
references in such title to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 5, 2025
Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to revise
references in such title to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Words Matter for the District of
Columbia Courts Act''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.
(a) Jurisdiction of United States District Court.--Section 11-
501(2)(D), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking
``substantially retarded persons'' and inserting ``persons with
moderate intellectual disabilities''.
(b) Jurisdiction of Superior Court.--Section 11-921(a)(4)(D),
District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking
``substantially retarded persons'' and inserting ``persons with
moderate intellectual disabilities''.
(c) Jurisdiction of Family Court.--Section 11-1101(a)(15), District
of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking ``the at least
moderately mentally retarded'' and inserting ``persons with moderate
intellectual disabilities''.
<all>