HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4495

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 5, 2020.

The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 158) of Elizabeth A. Poirier  relative to continuously monitoring the entrances, exits and common areas of all facilities operated under the authority of the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Developmental Services, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4495) ought to pass [Representative Elugardo of Boston dissents].

For the committee,

KAY KHAN.

        FILED ON: 2/4/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4495

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to ensuring the safety of residents of facilities under the authority of the Department of Developmental Services.

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. Chapter 19B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof, the following new section:-

Section 21. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meaning:

“Common areas”, an area of a facility that all residents share, including but not limited to dining areas, recreational areas, meeting areas, and hallways.”

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, video cameras may be installed at all entrances, exits, and common areas of private facilities under the authority of the department of developmental services, including community-based residential homes, and group homes, for the purposes of continuously monitoring the entrances, exits, and common areas of these facilities.

(c) The department of developmental services shall promulgate rules and regulations detailing under what circumstances video cameras may be used in accordance with this section. The commissioner of the department of developmental services, in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security, shall establish a system for maintaining the recorded images produced by continuous video monitoring.