H 5438

HOUSE . . . . . . . No. 5438
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  ______________________________________
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 19, 2026.
    The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate
Bill facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with
autism spectrum disorder (Senate, No. 2565), reports recommending that
the same ought to pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting
clause and inserting in place thereof the text contained in House document
numbered 5438.
  For the committee,
  AARON MICHLEWITZ.
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5438
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
  By striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the following:–
1SECTION 1. Chapter 6C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2 section 56 the following section:-
3Section 56A. (a) The department of state police, in consultation with the registrar of
4 motor vehicles, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Incorporated and Advocates for
5 Autism of Massachusetts or any other organization that advocates for persons with autism
6 spectrum disorder, shall design blue envelopes that:
7(i) provide written information and guidance on the outside of the envelope regarding
8 ways to enhance effective communication between a police officer and a person with autism
9 spectrum disorder;
10(ii) include instructions for ease of access to the envelope, including, but not limited to,
11 attaching the envelope to the sun visor on the driver’s side of the vehicle; and
12(iii) can hold a person’s motor vehicle operator’s license and registration.
13(b) The registrar of motor vehicles shall make available, upon request, the blue envelopes
14 to any person with autism spectrum disorder or such person’s parent or guardian.
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15 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2026.
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