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HD 75

An Act relative to American Sign Language training

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Marcus Vaughn

Requires basic ASL training for public safety and EMS personnel (fire, police, ambulance) and recognizes ASL courses for continuing education credits to improve Deaf access.

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Bill Summary · HD 75

Summary: An Act Relative to American Sign Language Training (House Docket No. 75)

Overview

This Massachusetts bill would require public safety and emergency medical personnel to receive training in American Sign Language (ASL) to achieve at least a basic understanding of ASL. It adds ASL training requirements to multiple existing public safety and EMS training programs and creates a framework for recognizing ASL courses for continuing education credits.

Key Provisions (by section)

  • Section 1 – Chapter 6, Section 165: Adds a new clause (7) authorizing the establishment of training and ongoing education courses that provide basic ASL understanding for all levels of fire service personnel.

  • Section 2 – Chapter 22C, Section 20: Amends to require that the public safety training program include courses that provide basic ASL understanding.

  • Section 3 – Chapter 22C, Section 20 (police): Further amendments to require in-service police training to include courses that provide basic ASL understanding.

  • Section 4 – Chapter 111C, Section 9: Adds a requirement that ambulance service personnel have completed courses that provide basic ASL understanding.

  • Section 5 – New Section 26 (Chapter 111C): Directs the Department to designate certain ASL courses as eligible for continuing education credits required under this chapter.

Affected Parties

  • Public safety personnel, including firefighter personnel at all levels, police personnel, and ambulance/EMS personnel.
  • Training program administrators responsible for fire, police, and EMS continuing education.
  • Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, who may benefit from improved communication with responders.

Implementation and Compliance

  • Focuses on establishing ASL training and ongoing education within existing public safety and EMS training frameworks.
  • Creates a mechanism to recognize ASL-focused courses for continuing education credits, potentially affecting credentialing and licensing renewals.
  • Specific funding, implementation timelines, and enforcement details are not provided in the text provided.

Legislative History and Status

  • Filed as House Docket No. 75, House No. 2723, with Representative Marcus S. Vaughn (Wrentham) listed as sponsor.
  • The bill references a similar measure from the 2023-2024 session (H. 2414).
  • Status in the provided materials is “proposed bill”; no enacted status or Senate companion is indicated here.

Notes

  • The bill emphasizes a baseline ASL understanding rather than full proficiency.
  • If enacted, departments may need to partner with ASL educators and organizations to develop standardized, accessible courses and to determine which courses qualify for continuing education credits.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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