An act to amend Sections 4502 and 17206.1 of the Business and Professions Code, to amend Section 1761 of the Civil Code, to amend Sections 8769, 16191, 16195, 16196, 16200, 41306, 41401, and 51765 of the Education Code, to amend Sections 854.2, 6514, 12428, 12926, 14670.1, 14670.2, 14670.3, 14670.5, 14672.1, 14672.92, 16813, 16814, and 16816 of the Government Code, to amend Sections 1275.5, 1337.1, 1337.3, 13113, 51312, 110403, 123935, 125000, 127260, and 129395 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend Sections 10118, 10124, and 10203.4 of the Insurance Code, to amend Sections 1001.20, 1346, 1370.1, 1376, and 2962 of the Penal Code, to amend Section 1420 of the Probate Code, to amend Section 25276 of the Vehicle Code, and to amend Sections 4417, 4426, 4512, 4801, 5002, 5008, 5325, 5585.25, 6250, 6505, 6513, 6551, 6715, 6717, 6740, 6741, 7275, 7351, and 11014 of, to amend the heading of Article 2 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 2 of, to amend the heading of Article 4 (commencing with Section 6715) of Chapter 3 of, and to amend the heading of Article 4 (commencing with Section 6740) of Chapter 4 of, Part 2 of Division 6 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to intellectual disabilities.
Summary
SB 1381 replaces the term “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” throughout the California Codes.
Status
Approved by Governor September 22, 2012. Filed Secretary of State September 22, 2012.
Our Position: Support
SB 1381 is a simple measure that provides an important terminology change to the disabled community throughout California. The term “mentally retarded” is outdated, pejorative, and not in current professional use in agencies, associations, and other countries. When it was originally introduced, the term “mentally retarded” or “mental retardation” was a medical term with a specific clinical connotation. However, today, the “R-word” is most commonly used to degrade or insult people.