HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 541        FILED ON: 1/13/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 93

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Danielle W. Gregoire

_________________

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 regarding the use of aversive therapy.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Danielle W. Gregoire

4th Middlesex

1/13/2017

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

 

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

 

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

 

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 541        FILED ON: 1/13/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 93

By Miss Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 93) of Danielle W. Gregoire and others for legislation to prohibit the use of procedures which cause physical pain or deny a reasonable humane existence to persons with disabilities.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 89 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act regarding the use of aversive therapy.

 

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 16 of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting  the following text:-

No program, agency, or facility funded, operated, licensed, or approved by any agency or subdivision of the Commonwealth shall administer or cause to be administered to any person with a physical, intellectual, or developmental 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, intellectual, or developmental disability reasonable sleep, food, shelter, bedding, bathroom facilities, and any other aspect expected of a humane existence in the Commonwealth.