FILED ON: 11/20/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3804

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to rights of persons receiving services from program or facilities of 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 2010 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 clinician, and with the ability of such facilities to safely provide 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)