An Act relative to more accessible 911 disability indicator forms

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Natalie Higgins and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a statewide disability indicator form for 911 calls to inform responders of a caller’s needs, with multilingual, accessible, and annually updated details.

Overview

HD 1488 is a proposed Massachusetts bill introduced in the 2025-2026 session. The bill would create a new section to Chapter 6A requiring the State 911 Department to develop and publish a statewide disability indicator form. The form is intended to help notify primary and regional public safety answering points (PSAPs) of an individual's disabilities and needs during 911 calls. The measure emphasizes accessibility, multilingual availability, and ongoing updates.

Purpose and Intent

Improve accessibility and accuracy in emergency communications by enabling individuals to convey critical disability information to 911 dispatchers.

Ensure that PSAPs have advance insight into a caller’s needs and constraints to guide responders appropriately.

Establish a regular (annual) review process to keep the form current with evolving needs and technologies.

Key Provisions

Creation and publication: The State 911 Department must create a statewide disability indicator form in consultation with organizations representing mobility, hearing, speech, and sight impairments, and publish it on the department’s website.

Availability: The form must be accessible to subscribers of wireless carriers, wireline carriers, and prepaid wireless services.

Accessibility standards: The form must use clear language (comprehensible to someone with English at a fifth-grade level) and be accessible to persons with visual disabilities.

Language accessibility: If a language spoken by 5% or more of Massachusetts residents (per ACS data) is identified, the form must be translated into that language.

Information captured: The form may include indicators for:

Life-sustaining medical equipment
Mobility impairment (e.g., bedridden, wheelchair)
Legal blindness
Deaf or hard of hearing (including TTY communication)
Speech impairment
Cognitive impairment
Service animals
Need for translation services
Any potential triggers first responders should be aware of

Modification/withdrawal: The form shall include space for individuals to remove or change any disability indicators.

Annual review: The department, with disability organizations, shall annually review and amend the form as needed.

Affected Parties and Impact

Individuals with disabilities who may benefit from clearer communication of needs to 911 responders.

Public safety agencies and PSAPs by providing standardized, pre-identified information about callers.

Wireless, wireline, and prepaid wireless subscribers who access the form through carrier-provided channels.

Disability-focused organizations that participate in the form’s development and periodic updates.

Implementation and Timeline

Section insertion: A new section, 18D½, would be added to Chapter 6A.

Review cycle: Annual updates to the form, guided by consultative input from disability organizations.

No explicit effective date is provided in the available text; the form would be published on the department’s website upon enactment and implementation.

Bill