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Bill

S 8210

Requires documents utilized by state agencies, public authorities and municipalities to replace the term "emotionally disturbed person"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Samra Brouk

Proposes replacing the term 'emotionally disturbed person' in state/local gov docs with non-stigmatizing language, folding S8210 into companion A4762B for consistent usage.

SUBSTITUTED BY A4762B
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 8210

Summary of Bill S 8210 (Substituted by A4762B)

Overview

  • Bill number: S 8210
  • Title: Requires documents utilized by state agencies, public authorities and municipalities to replace the term "emotionally disturbed person"
  • Purpose: To replace the use of the term "emotionally disturbed person" in official documents used by state agencies, public authorities, and municipalities with language deemed more appropriate or non-stigmatizing.
  • Primary sponsor: Samra Brouk
  • Current status: Substituted by A4762B (i.e., the provisions of S 8210 have been incorporated into the companion bill A4762B)

What the bill would do

  • The core requirement is a modernization of terminology in documents produced or used by government entities at the state and local levels.
  • Specifically, it would prohibit or replace the phrase "emotionally disturbed person" in official documents and related materials, substituting wording defined by the bill (the exact replacement language would appear in the enacted text of the companion bill A4762B).
  • The intent is to adopt language that reduces stigma and aligns with contemporary practices for describing individuals experiencing emotional or mental health challenges.

Scope and impact

  • Affected entities: State agencies, public authorities, and municipalities, including the forms, policies, manuals, reports, or other documents these bodies produce or rely upon.
  • Practical effects:
    • Administrative updates to existing documents to remove or replace the term.
    • Potential changes to standardized wording across agencies and jurisdictions.
    • Possible need for ongoing review and updates to new documents to maintain consistent terminology.

Procedural/timeline context

  • Introduction date: May 21, 2025
  • Early actions: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations (May 21, 2025)
  • Subsequent actions: Amended and recomitted; print version 8210A issued (June 9, 2025)
  • Committee actions: Committee discharged and committed to Rules; ordered to third reading CAL.1858 (June 11, 2025)
  • Final status: On June 12, 2025, S 8210 was substituted by A4762B, meaning the substantive provisions were folded into the companion bill and are advanced under that vehicle.

Related and companion legislation

  • Related bill: A 4762 (companion) – the active vehicle carrying the substantive provisions after substitution of S 8210.
  • The sponsor remains Samra Brouk.

Summary for readers

S 8210 sought to modernize official state and local government documentation by removing the term "emotionally disturbed person" and replacing it with language defined in the bill (to be finalized in the companion A4762B). The bill progressed through standard committee and statutory procedures and was ultimately substituted by a companion measure, indicating a concordant update across both chambers under the A4762B vehicle. This change would affect how government documents describe individuals experiencing emotional or mental health challenges, with the aim of reducing stigma and improving respectful state and local government communications.

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

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