HB 357-STATUTORY REFERENCES TO DISABILITIES 3:11:04 PM CHAIR DYSON announced CSHB 357(FIN) to be up for consideration. REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, Sponsor of HB 357, said the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Governor's Council on Disabilities requested the bill, which eliminates demeaning terminology pertaining to disabled persons that exists in Alaska statute. She read the following from the Southeast Alaska Independent Group (SAIL): American culture consistently redefines itself through language and subcultures also use language to redefine themselves. Negros became Blacks and then African Americans. Homosexuals choose the term 'gay' for themselves, and people with disabilities have done the same over the years, attempting to fight stereotypes and negative imagery. Representative Wilson said that the term 'handicapped' originated as a slur and a reference to begging and it is time for Alaska to make this change. 3:13:50 PM KEVIN GADSEY, SAIL representative, supported SB 242 and HB 357. He said that SB 357 eliminates the term 'handicapped' from statute and replaces instances of it with the term 'people with disabilities' which is the term adopted under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 3:15:49 PM KELLY DONNELLY, Partners in Policy Project, said that her organization supports SB 242 and HB 357 with some minor changes. She said in section 1, under AS.14.36.30B, item 1 should say "students who have been classified under Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)". The reason being that the term "mentally retarded" still appears in federal statute and the aforementioned change would reflect that while the state acknowledges the use of the term for classification, it does accept it as an appropriate term for general reference. 3:19:03 PM FAITH MYERS, Mental Health Advocate, supported SB 242 and HB 357. 3:20:40 PM DORRANCE COLLINS, Mental Health Advocate from Anchorage, testified in support of SB 242 and HB 357. CHAIR DYSON asked the sponsor about the aforementioned suggestion. REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she didn't have a problem with it. AARON DANIELSON, Staff to Representative Wilson, said he would have to consult with Department of Education to determine how the amendment may impact the bill. 3:22:59 PM SENATOR WILKEN moved to report CSHB 357(FIN), the letter of intent, and attached fiscal notes from committee with individual recommendations. There was no objection, and it was so ordered.