MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A legislative committee is set to take comments on a bill that would remove the phrase “mental retardation” from sections of Wisconsin’s administrative code.
The proposal from Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Rep. John Jagler, both Republicans, would substitute “intellectual disability” for “mental retardation” and its derivatives in code governing the Public Service Commission as well as the departments of Health Services; Children and Families; Safety and Professional Services; and Workforce Development.
The Assembly’s Committee on State Affairs is set to hold a public hearing on the measure Wednesday afternoon.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers got ahead of Fitzgerald and Jagler by issuing an executive order Tuesday that requires all state agencies to replace “mental retardation” and its derivatives with “intellectual disability” in their code.
