HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 555        FILED ON: 1/13/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 141

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Elizabeth A. Poirier

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to ensuring the safety of residents of facilities under the authority of the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Developmental Services.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Elizabeth A. Poirier

14th Bristol

1/13/2013

Stephen L. DiNatale

3rd Worcester

1/14/2013


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 555        FILED ON: 1/13/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 141

By Ms. Poirier of North Attleborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 141) of Elizabeth A. Poirier and Stephen L. DiNatale relative to continuously monitoring the entrances, exits, and common areas of all facilities operated under the authority of the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Developmental Services.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4181 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act relative to ensuring the safety of residents of facilities under the authority of the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Developmental Services.

 

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 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof, the following new section:-

Section 25.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following word shall have the following meaning: “common areas”, an area of a facility that all residents share, including but not limited to dining areas, recreational areas, meeting areas, and hallways.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, video cameras shall be installed at all entrances, exits, and common areas of private facilities licensed by the department of mental health, pursuant to section 19, and at the entrances, exits, and common areas of all facilities under the authority of the department of mental health and the department of developmental services, including community-based residential homes, group homes, and inpatient facilities, for the purposes of continuously monitoring the entrances, exits, and common areas of these facilities. The commissioners of the department of mental health and the department of developmental services, in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security, shall establish a system for maintaining the recorded images produced by continuous video monitoring and shall coordinate in promulgating rules and regulations consistent with this section.