HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3209        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1518

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Liz Miranda

_________________

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 to facilitate re-entry.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Liz Miranda

5th Suffolk

1/17/2019

Mayor Martin J. Walsh

 

1/18/2019

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

1/31/2019

Joseph A. Boncore

First Suffolk and Middlesex

2/1/2019

Michelle L. Ciccolo

15th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Daniel R. Cullinane

12th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Mindy Domb

3rd Hampshire

1/30/2019

Nika C. Elugardo

15th Suffolk

1/30/2019

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

2/2/2019

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

2/1/2019

Russell E. Holmes

6th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

2/1/2019

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

1/30/2019

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

2/1/2019

Sarah K. Peake

4th Barnstable

1/29/2019

Daniel J. Ryan

2nd Suffolk

1/31/2019

Jon Santiago

9th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Chynah Tyler

7th Suffolk

2/1/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3209        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1518

By Ms. Miranda of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1518) of Liz Miranda and others relative to discharging individuals released from incarceration or residential treatment into homelessness or emergency shelters.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act to facilitate re-entry.

 

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. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Youth Services, the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Correction, and any other office or agency recommended by the Governor shall develop a memorandum of understanding setting forth an action plan to avoid discharges of individuals released from incarceration or residential treatment into homelessness or emergency shelter. The memorandum and plan may include enhanced comprehensive institutional discharge planning, increased availability of community-based supportive services, that may include but need not be limited to, resident service coordination, housing support teams and other models to link individuals  with any services necessary to maintain housing stability.

Further, said memorandum of understanding shall identify and resolve barriers to comprehensive institutional discharge planning and community-based services in order to prevent discharges of individuals into homelessness or emergency shelters. Parties to the memorandum of understanding shall establish model comprehensive institutional discharge housing plan and identify other resources as may be necessary or helpful in furthering the goals of the memorandum of understanding or subsequent agreement. The parties to this memorandum of understanding shall amend rules and regulations wherever necessary or appropriate to carry the objectives of the executed memorandum of understanding or subsequent agreement into effect. The memorandum of understanding, along with any legislative or budgetary action recommended by the parties, shall be filed with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, the Joint Committee on Housing, the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Ways and Means no later than January 1, 2020.