HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1174        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3805

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act addressing LGBT elder inclusion..

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.  Chapter 19A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 official edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:

Section 6A:  The department shall contract with appropriate individuals and community agencies to develop a curriculum for the delivery of accessible and appropriate services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders and caregivers.  Said curriculum shall focus on the prevention and elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, as well as on improving access to services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders.  The department shall require that such training be completed by all providers of services who contract with or receive funding from the department, from Aging Service Access Points and/or from the MassHealth Office of Long Term Care, or whose services are certified by the department.

The department shall subcontract with appropriate community agencies or programs to conduct said training and shall promulgate regulations for its provision, including expected time frames for its completion and any penalties that may apply to providers for failure to comply.