HB 991 - Intellectual Disabilities Summary

• Replaces all instances of the term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" throughout Florida Statutes while maintaining the same legal meaning and application

• Clarifies that for criminal law and court rule purposes, "intellectual disability" and "intellectually disabled" are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as "mental retardation" as defined before July 1, 2012

• Substitutes the Arc of Florida for the Association for Retarded Citizens in references throughout various statutes relating to children's proceedings and other matters

• Provides a directive to the Division of Statutory Revision to rename part III of chapter 916 as "Forensic Services for Persons who are Intellectually Disabled or Autistic"

• Takes effect July 1, 2012, with legislative intent that the act does not expand or contract the scope of any existing provisions