[111th Congress Public Law 256] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office] [[Page 124 STAT. 2643]] Public Law 111-256 111th Congress An Act To change references in Federal law to mental retardation to references to an intellectual disability, and change references to a mentally retarded individual to references to an individual with an intellectual disability. <<NOTE: Oct. 5, 2010 - [S. 2781]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Rosa's Law.>> SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 20 USC 1400 note.>> SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as ``Rosa's Law''. SEC. 2. INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. (a) Higher Education Act of 1965.--Section 760(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``mental retardation or''. (b) Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.-- (1) Section 601(c)(12)(C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400(c)(12)(C)) is amended by striking ``having mental retardation'' and inserting ``having intellectual disabilities''. (2) Section 602 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1401) is amended-- (A) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking ``with mental retardation'' and inserting ``with intellectual disabilities''; and (B) in paragraph (30)(C), by striking ``of mental retardation'' and inserting ``of intellectual disabilities''. (c) Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.--Section 7202(16)(E) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7512(16)(E)) is amended by striking ``mild mental retardation,'' and inserting ``mild intellectual disabilities,''. (d) Rehabilitation Act of 1973.-- (1) Section 7(21)(A)(iii) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(21)(A)(iii)) is amended by striking ``mental retardation,'' and inserting ``intellectual disability,''. (2) Section 204(b)(2)(C)(vi) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 764(b)(2)(C)(vi)) is amended by striking ``mental retardation and other developmental disabilities'' and inserting ``intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities''. (3) Section 501(a) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 791(a)) is amended, in the third sentence, by striking ``President's Committees on Employment of People With Disabilities and on Mental Retardation'' and inserting ``President's Disability Employment Partnership Board and the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities''. (e) Health Research and Health Services Amendments of 1976.--Section 1001 of the Health Research and Health Services [[Page 124 STAT. 2644]] Amendments of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 217a-1) is amended by striking ``the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963,''. (f) Public Health Service Act.-- (1) Section 317C(a)(4)(B)(i) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4(a)(4)(B)(i)) is amended by striking ``mental retardation;'' and inserting ``intellectual disabilities;''. (2) Section 448 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 285g) is amended by striking ``mental retardation,'' and inserting ``intellectual disabilities,''. (3) Section 450 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 285g-2) is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 450. RESEARCH ON INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. ``The Director of the Institute shall conduct and support research and related activities into the causes, prevention, and treatment of intellectual disabilities.''. (4) Section 641(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 291k(a)) is amended by striking ``matters relating to the mentally retarded'' and inserting ``matters relating to individuals with intellectual disabilities''. (5) Section 753(b)(2)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294c(b)(2)(E)) is amended by striking ``elderly mentally retarded individuals'' and inserting ``elderly individuals with intellectual disabilities''. (6) Section 1252(f)(3)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 300d- 52(f)(3)(E)) is amended by striking ``mental retardation/ developmental disorders,'' and inserting ``intellectual disabilities or developmental disorders,''. (g) Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998.--Section 419(b)(1) of the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 280f note) is amended by striking ``mental retardation'' and inserting ``intellectual disabilities''. (h) Public Law 110-154.--Section 1(a)(2)(B) of Public Law 110-154 (42 U.S.C. 285g note) is amended by striking ``mental retardation'' and inserting ``intellectual disabilities''. (i) National Sickle Cell Anemia, Cooley's Anemia, Tay-Sachs, and Genetic Diseases Act.--Section 402 of the National Sickle Cell Anemia, Cooley's Anemia, Tay-Sachs, and Genetic Diseases Act (42 U.S.C. 300b-1 note) is amended by striking ``leading to mental retardation'' and inserting ``leading to intellectual disabilities''. (j) Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.--Section 2(2) of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 2000ff note) is amended by striking ``mental retardation,'' and inserting ``intellectual disabilities,''. (k) References.--For <<NOTE: 20 USC 1400 note.>> purposes of each provision amended by this section-- (1) a reference to ``an intellectual disability'' shall mean a condition previously referred to as ``mental retardation'', or a variation of this term, and shall have the same meaning with respect to programs, or qualifications for programs, for individuals with such a condition; and (2) a reference to individuals with intellectual disabilities shall mean individuals who were previously referred to as individuals who are ``individuals with mental retardation'' or ``the mentally retarded'', or variations of those terms. [[Page 124 STAT. 2645]] SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 20 USC 1400 note.>> REGULATIONS. For purposes of regulations issued to carry out a provision amended by this Act-- (1) before the regulations are amended to carry out this Act-- (A) a reference in the regulations to mental retardation shall be considered to be a reference to an intellectual disability; and (B) a reference in the regulations to the mentally retarded, or individuals who are mentally retarded, shall be considered to be a reference to individuals with intellectual disabilities; and (2) in amending the regulations to carry out this Act, a Federal agency shall ensure that the regulations clearly state-- (A) that an intellectual disability was formerly termed mental retardation; and (B) that individuals with intellectual disabilities were formerly termed individuals who are mentally retarded. SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 20 USC 1400 note.>> RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. This Act shall be construed to make amendments to provisions of Federal law to substitute the term ``an intellectual disability'' for ``mental retardation'', and ``individuals with intellectual disabilities'' for ``the mentally retarded'' or ``individuals who are mentally retarded'', without any intent to-- (1) change the coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or definitions referred to in the amended provisions; or (2) compel <<NOTE: States.>> States to change terminology in State laws for individuals covered by a provision amended by this Act. Approved October 5, 2010. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2781: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SENATE REPORTS: No. 111-244 (Comm. on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010): Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate. Sept. 22, considered and passed House. <all>