HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 299        FILED ON: 1/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1461

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Ruth B. Balser

_________________

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 ensuring quality mental health services in state correctional facilities.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

1/19/2021

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

2/9/2021

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

2/24/2021

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/24/2021

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

5/10/2021

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

5/24/2021

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

5/28/2021

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

6/23/2021

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

9/8/2021

Tommy Vitolo

15th Norfolk

12/2/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 299        FILED ON: 1/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1461

By Ms. Balser of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1461) of Ruth B. Balser and others for legislation to establish the Department of Mental Health as the oversight agency for the mental health system within the state prison system.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1339 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act relative to ensuring quality mental health services in state correctional facilities.

 

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 of Chapter 19 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after the third paragraph:

The commissioner of mental health shall have supervision over the provision of mental health services to prisoners in the custody of the department of correction, including review and approval of any contract between the department of correction and any other entity concerning the provision of mental health services, and shall establish minimum standards for the effective delivery of such services.   At least once each six months the commissioner shall audit each state correctional facility to determine compliance with the minimum standards.