HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2555        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1938

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the civil commitment of women for alcoholism and substance abuse to MCI Framingham..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Section 7 of Chapter 111B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following:  The department shall ensure that no female is committed to the Massachusetts correctional institution, Framingham for rehabilitative purposes pursuant to this section or pursuant to section 35 of chapter 123 of the General Laws.

SECTION 2.  Said Section 7 of said Chapter 111B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 27-28, the following words:— or to the Massachusetts correctional institution, Framingham

SECTION 3.  Section 35 of Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in line 43 the words “or at Framingham, if a female”.

SECTION 4.  Section 35 of Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out in line 60, the words “and Framingham”

SECTION 5.  Said Section 35 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 59, the word “institutions” and inserting in place thereof the word “institution”.

SECTION 6.  Said Section 35 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in line 46 by inserting after the words “convicted criminals.” the following sentence:--

Within 24 hours of completed detoxification the person so committed shall receive a full mental health evaluation performed by a physician board certified in psychology, qualified psychiatric nurse clinical specialist or licensed psychologist.

SECTION 7.  Said Section 35 of said Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:--

The department of public health shall establish and maintain the necessary number of secure treatment beds for females to meet the requirements of this section.

SECTION 8.  Said Section 35 of said Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:--

The department of public health shall file an annual report on these proceedings with the house committee on ways and means, the senate committee on ways and means, the joint committee on mental health & substance abuse and the joint committee on health care financing.