SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2424        FILED ON: 2/25/2010

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2280

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Ten

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An Act concerning the right of persons receiving services from programs or facilities of the Department of Mental Health to daily access to fresh air and the outdoors.

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 23 of chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following subparagraph:-

(f) reasonable access to daily fresh air at inpatient facilities in a manner consistent with such person’s clinical condition and safety.  The department shall promulgate regulations defining what shall constitute reasonable access.

SECTION 2. Said section 23, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 68, the word “(e)” and inserting the following word:- (f)

SECTION 3. Said section 23, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “(c)”, in line 71, the following words:- and (f)