Rosa's Law
PL 111-256 (S.2781), enacted 10/05/2010

124 STAT. 2643 
PUBLIC LAW 111–256—OCT. 5, 2010 
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. 
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 ‘‘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 
20 USC 1400 
note. 
Rosa’s Law. 
Oct. 5, 2010 
[S. 2781] 
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07:50 Dec 07, 2012
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124 STAT. 2644 
PUBLIC LAW 111–256—OCT. 5, 2010 
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/develop-
mental 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 Part-
nerships 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 Dis-
eases Act (42 U.S.C. 300b–1 note) is amended by striking ‘‘leading 
to mental retardation’’ and inserting ‘‘leading to intellectual disabil-
ities’’. 
(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 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. 
20 USC 1400 
note. 
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124 STAT. 2645 
PUBLIC LAW 111–256—OCT. 5, 2010 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2781: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 111–244 (Comm. on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010): 
Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 22, considered and passed House. 
SEC. 3. 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 intellec-
tual 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. 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 disabil-
ities’’ 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 States to change terminology in State laws 
for individuals covered by a provision amended by this Act. 
Approved October 5, 2010. 
States. 
20 USC 1400 
note. 
20 USC 1400 
note. 
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