Words Matter Act of 2023

To amend Federal law to remove the terms mentally retarded mental retardation 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Words Matter Act of 2023 2. Removal of mentally retarded mental retardation (a) Contracts for medical care for spouses and children Section 1079(d)(3)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking is moderately or severely mentally retarded, has a serious physical disability, or has has a moderate to severe intellectual disability, a serious physical disability, or (b) Mortgage insurance for nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, and board and care homes Section 232(d)(4)(A) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1715w(d)(4)(A) the mentally retarded or developmentally disabled individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (c) Implementation of a sentence of death Section 3596(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking is mentally retarded has an intellectual disability (d) Fetal alcohol syndrome definition Section 4(9)(A) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1603(9)(A) mental retardation intellectual disability (e) General programs definitions Section 701 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1665 mental retardation intellectual disability (f) Grant authority Section 2201 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10471 (1) in paragraph (1) by striking mental retardation intellectual disabilities (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking a mentally ill or mentally retarded offender an offender who has a mental illness or intellectual disability (B) in subparagraph (C) by striking of a mentally ill or mentally retarded defendant’s cases cases of a defendant who has a mental illness or intellectual disability (g) Mental health courts definitions Section 2202(2) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10472(2) mental retardation intellectual disability (h) Donation of personal property through state agencies Section 549(c)(3)(B)(iv) of title 40, United States Code, is amended by striking the mentally retarded or physically handicapped individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities (i) Training opportunities for direct care workers Section 747A(a) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 293k–1(a) mental retardation intellectual disabilities (j) Criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs Section 1128B of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (k) Long-Term care facility or provider Section 6201(a)(6)(E)(ix) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7l(a)(6)(E)(ix)) is amended by striking the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (l) Grants for planning comprehensive action To respond to the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities Title XVII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1391 et seq. (1) in the title heading by striking combat mental retardation meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities (2) in section 1701, by striking combat mental retardation meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities (3) in section 1702— (A) by striking needed to combat mental retardation needed to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities (B) by striking the mental retardation problem and of the need for combating it such needs (C) by striking relating to the various aspects of mental retardation and its prevention, treatment, or amelioration to meet such needs (D) by striking community action to combat mental retardation community action to meet such needs (4) in section 1703 by striking the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (m) Requirements for, and assuring quality care in, skilled nursing facilities Section 1819(b)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(b)(4) (1) in subparagraph (A)(vii) by striking mentally ill and mentally retarded residents residents with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities (2) in subparagraph (C)(ii)(IV) by striking the mentally ill and the mentally retarded individuals with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities (n) Grants to States for medical assistance programs Title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. (1) by striking intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (2) by striking intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (3) in section 1905(d)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking the mentally retarded or persons with individuals with intellectual disabilities or (B) in paragraph (1) by striking mentally retarded individuals individuals with intellectual disabilities (C) in paragraph (2) by striking mentally retarded individual individual who has an intellectual disability (4) in the section heading of section 1910 by striking the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (5) in section 1915(c)(7)(C) by striking mental retardation or a related condition intellectual disabilities or related conditions (6) in section 1919— (A) in subsection (b)(3)— (i) in subparagraph (E)— (I) by striking mental retardation intellectual (II) by striking is mentally ill or mentally retarded has a mental illness or intellectual disability (ii) in subparagraph (F)— (I) in the subparagraph heading by striking mentally ill and mentally retarded individuals individuals who have mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities (II) by striking State mental retardation State intellectual (III) in clause (i) by striking is mentally ill has a mental illness (IV) in clause (ii)— (aa) by striking is mentally retarded has an intellectual disability (bb) by striking for mental retardation for such intellectual disability (B) in subsection (b)(4)— (i) in subparagraph (A)(vii) by striking mentally ill and mentally retarded residents residents with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities (ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii)(IV) by striking the mentally ill and the mentally retarded individuals with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities (C) in subsection (e)(7)— (i) in subparagraph (A)(i) by striking mentally ill and mentally retarded individuals individuals with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by striking State mental retardation State intellectual (II) in clause (ii)— (aa) in the clause heading by striking mentally retarded residents residents with intellectual disabilities (bb) in the matter preceding clause (I) by striking is mentally retarded has an intellectual disability (cc) in subclause (II) by striking mental retardation an intellectual disability (III) in clause (iii) by striking mentally ill or mentally retarded resident resident who has a mental illness or intellectual disability (iii) in subparagraph (C) by striking mental retardation intellectual disability (iv) in subparagraph (E)— (I) by striking are mentally retarded or mentally ill have an intellectual disability or mental illness (II) by striking mental retardation intellectual disability (v) in subparagraph (G)— (I) in clause (i) by inserting or have a mental illness mentally ill (II) in clause (ii) by striking be mentally retarded have an intellectual disability (7) in the section heading of section 1922 by striking the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (o) Payments to States Section 2002(a)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397a(a)(2)(A) the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (p) Miscellaneous provisions Section 12(d)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(d)(5) the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (q) Child nutrition definitions Section 15(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1784(3) the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (r) Institutionalized persons definitions Section 2(1)(B) of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1997(1)(B) (1) in clause (i) by striking disabled, or retarded, or chronically ill or handicapped physically or intellectually disabled, or chronically ill (2) in clause (iv)(III) by striking mentally ill or disabled, mentally retarded, or chronically ill or handicapped mentally ill, physically or intellectually disabled, or chronically ill (s) Programs for individuals with developmental disabilities Title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 ( 42 U.S.C. 15001 et seq. (1) by striking Intermediate Care Facility (Mental Retardation) intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (2) in section 109(a)(4)(B)(i) by striking the mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (3) in section 125(c)(7)(F)(i) by striking Intermediate Care Facilities (Mental Retardation) intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities 3. Regulations For the purposes of a regulation issued to carry out a provision amended by this Act— (1) before the regulation is amended to carry out this Act— (A) a reference in the regulation to mental retardation an intellectual disability (B) a reference in the regulation to the mentally retarded individuals who are mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities (2) in amending a regulation to carry out this Act, a Federal agency shall ensure that the regulation clearly states— (A) that an intellectual disability mental retardation (B) that individuals with intellectual disabilities the mentally retarded individuals who are mentally retarded 4. Rule of construction This Act shall be construed to amend Federal law to remove the term mentally retarded mental retardation (1) change the coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or definitions referred to in the amended provisions; or (2) compel States to change terminology in State laws for individuals covered by a provision amended by this Act.

Summary: Words Matter Act of 2023 This bill removes outdated terminology in specified statutes by replacing references to mentally retarded and mental retardation with intellectual disability.