Richmond, VA - Legislation to erase the terms “mentally retarded” and “mentally retardation” from state laws has won final General Assembly approval. Sort of.
The legislation includes a re-enactment clause, which means it will become law only if the General Assembly passes it again next year and Governor Tim Kaine signs it.
Advocates say the word “retarded” hurts the self-esteem of those with mental disabilities. The legislation would replace the retardation terms with “intellectually disabled” and “intellectual disability.”
Advocates say the word “retarded” hurts the self-esteem of those with mental disabilities.
The only difference between the House and Senate versions of the bill was the re-enactment clause. That clause was included in a final version passed by both chambers Saturday.

Who voted for this bill–Well in the Senate we had the following votes!

SB 620 Mentally retarded; replaces term with intellectually disabled.

floor: 03/08/08 House: VOTE: — ADOPTION (100-Y 0-N)

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YEAS–Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bouchard, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Hugo, Hull, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Loupassi, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, Mathieson, May, McClellan, Melvin, Merricks, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Moran, Morgan, Morrissey, Nichols, Nixon, Nutter, O’Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Poisson, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Vanderhye, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Wright, Mr. Speaker–100.NAYS–0.

ABSTENTIONS–0.

NOT VOTING–0.

Here are the votes from the House:

HB 760 Mentally retarded; replaces term with intellectually disabled.

floor: 03/08/08 House: VOTE: — ADOPTION (99-Y 1-N)

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YEAS–Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bouchard, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Hugo, Hull, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Loupassi, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, Mathieson, May, McClellan, Melvin, Merricks, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Moran, Morgan, Morrissey, Nichols, Nixon, Nutter, O’Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Poisson, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Vanderhye, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Wright, Mr. Speaker–99.NAYS–Gilbert–1.

ABSTENTIONS–0.

NOT VOTING–0.

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This is very exciting! We are getting calls from around the United States asking us how “we did this…got rid of the ‘R’ word!” The bill passed this year, almost unanimously–and will need to be voted on again next year. During the year all the logistics need to be worked out–