SENATE DOCKET, NO. 11 FILED ON: 1/9/2015
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 80
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Brian A. Joyce
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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 the humane treatment of disabled persons.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
Brian A. Joyce | Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth |
Tom Sannicandro | 7th Middlesex |
Paul McMurtry | 11th Norfolk |
Sean Garballey | 23rd Middlesex |
Patricia D. Jehlen | Second Middlesex |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester |
Paul W. Mark | 2nd Berkshire |
James Arciero | 2nd Middlesex |
Todd M. Smola | 1st Hampden |
Anne M. Gobi | Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex |
Michael D. Brady | Second Plymouth and Bristol |
Mary S. Keefe | 15th Worcester |
Robert L. Hedlund | Plymouth and Norfolk |
Sal N. DiDomenico | Middlesex and Suffolk |
Mark J. Cusack | 5th Norfolk |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 11 FILED ON: 1/9/2015
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 80
By Mr. Joyce, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 80) of Brian A. Joyce, Tom Sannicandro, Paul McMurtry, Sean Garballey and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the humane treatment of disabled persons. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 30 OF 2013-2014.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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An Act relative to the humane treatment of disabled persons.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 16 of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 official edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following text:-
Disabled citizens, as all other citizens of the Commonwealth, are entitled to equal protection under Article CXIV of the Massachusetts Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap, and the full protection of the laws of the Commonwealth, which prohibit the use of corporal punishment on school children and prisoners.
No program funded, operated, licensed, or approved by any agency or subdivision of the Commonwealth shall administer to any person with a physical or mental disability any procedure which causes obvious signs of physical pain, including, but not limited to, hitting, pinching, and electric shock for the purposes of changing the behavior of the person.
No such program may employ any form of physical contact or punishment that is otherwise prohibited by law, or would be prohibited if used on a non-disabled person.
No such program may employ any procedure which denies a person with a physical or mental disability adequate sleep, food, shelter, bedding or bathroom facilities.