SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2566        FILED ON: 5/10/2010

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2415

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Ten

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An Act concerning the abilities of persons receiving services from the Department of Mental Health.

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 daily access to the outdoors,  at inpatient facilities in a manner consistent with such person’s clinical condition and safety, as determined by the treating physician, and with the ability of such facilities to safely provide for said access.

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)