HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 658        FILED ON: 1/12/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2258

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the possession of firearms by people with dementia..

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 129B of chapter 140 of the General Laws,

as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by:

removing the word “or” in line71, and inserting after the word “jurisdiction” in line73, the following:— or

(x) is or has been under treatment for alzheimer’s dementia or any other form of dementia.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 140 is hereby further amended by

inserting after section 129D the following section:—

Section 129E. A physician treating a person for alzheimer’s

dementia or any other type of dementia shall inquire if such

person possesses any firearms. If the answer is in the affirmative,

the physician shall notify the chief of police of the city or town

where the patient resides. The chief shall take action to revoke

any firearm identification cards and to remove all such firearms.

No physician shall be liable in any civil or criminal action for providing

such information.