On Thursday, June 25, Governor Maura Healey signed The Arc’s priority Blue Envelope bill – “An Act Facilitating Better Interactions Between Police Officers and Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder” – into law.
“Every person deserves to feel safe and understood during an interaction with law enforcement,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This law will help improve communication, reduce uncertainty and support better outcomes for individuals with autism, their families and the officers who serve our communities. I’m grateful to the advocates, families and legislators who worked to make this important legislation a reality, as well as the Massachusetts State Police and the many local police departments that have already embraced Blue Envelope programs and helped lead the way.”
“The passage of the Blue Envelope bill is a monumental step forward for safety, inclusivity, and peace of mind within our community. The Arc of Massachusetts and Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts are profoundly grateful to Governor Healey, whose visionary leadership in rolling out this program early paved the way for this historic milestone. We are equally thankful to our legislative leaders in the House and Senate for their overwhelming support in codifying the Blue Envelope into law,” said Maura Sullivan, CEO of The Arc of Massachusetts. “This simple, common-sense tool provides immediate, essential context to law enforcement, ensuring interactions involving autistic drivers and passengers are rooted in clarity, patience, and mutual safety. We look forward to working alongside the administration and lawmakers to educate the public and ensure this powerful tool reaches everyone who needs it.”
