SENATE DOCKET, NO. 348        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1283

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Thomas M. McGee

_________________

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 providing for HIV testing for at risk police officers.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Thomas M. McGee

Third Essex

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 348        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1283

By Mr. McGee, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1283) of Thomas M. McGee, Brian M. Ashe, Paul R. Heroux, Bruce E. Tarr and others for legislation to provide for HIV testing for at risk police officers.  Public Safety and Homeland Security.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1148 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act providing for HIV testing for at risk police officers.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, every person who receives an appointment to a position on a permanent full-time basis or on a reserve or intermittent basis in which said person will exercise police powers in a municipal police department, the Massachusetts bay transportation authority police, the department of correction, the state police, University of Massachusetts police, Massachusetts Port Authority police, the sheriffs and their employees, or the division of law enforcement within the department of fisheries, wildlife and environmental law enforcement shall, upon exposure to any known risk factor associated with HIV or AIDS as those terms are defined in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 111, Section 2D, while exercising police powers, whether in the line of duty or as a good Samaritan, be eligible for testing to determine whether such person has contracted an HIV infection or its associated illnesses. Such testing shall be at the option of the exposed person and any portion of cost for three such tests undergone within eighteen months immediately following the date of exposure that is not covered under an insurance policy issued for the benefit of the exposed person shall be paid for by the Commonwealth. The exposed person shall also be eligible for psychiatric counseling in relation to such exposure. Such counseling shall be at the option of the exposed person and any portion of the cost for such counseling that is approved by the department of public health and the department of public safety that is not covered under an insured policy issued for the benefit of the exposed person shall be paid for by the Commonwealth.