HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 163        FILED ON: 1/7/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1941

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to department of mental health patients.

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

Chapter 123 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8 the following section:-

Section 8A.  The chief of police or his designee of any city or town containing a facility of the department shall be a full voting member of any group or panel determining the fitness of any patient requesting or being considered for unescorted privileges.  The medical, psychiatric, forensic, clinical and criminal records and sex offender registry records shall be made available to the chief or his designee.  Unescorted privileges shall be the release of any patient or client while under the direct care or custody of the department into a community without being under the direct supervision or care of a staff person of the department.