HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1608        FILED ON: 2/10/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1462

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ruth B. Balser

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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 treatment, not imprisonment.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1608        FILED ON: 2/10/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1462

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to treatment, not imprisonment.

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 58A of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after subsection (8) the following subsection:-

(9) If, after a hearing under subsection (4), pretrial release subject to conditions under subsection (2) is ordered, and if the person is ordered to refrain from the excessive use of alcohol or use of a narcotic drug or other controlled substance as a condition of release or if drug or alcohol testing is ordered as a condition of release, the judicial officer shall not order drug or alcohol testing to occur more than 4 times per month. Upon motion of the person, the judicial officer shall consider whether the person has an alcohol or substance use disorder in need of treatment. If the person has an alcohol or substance use disorder in need of treatment, the person shall be ordered to engage in such treatment in accordance with clause (x) of paragraph (B) of subsection (2) with a mental health clinic or alcohol or substance use disorder program licensed by the department of public health under chapters 17, 111, 111B,  or 111E or a behavioral, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, or mental health professional who is licensed under chapters 111J and 112 and accredited or certified to provide services consistent with law.

If a person is engaged in treatment, the person shall not be required to submit to any drug or alcohol testing that is not required by such treatment program, and any positive test result or any other indicator of relapse shall not be considered a violation of the person’s conditions of release. For the purposes of this section, a person shall be considered engaged in treatment if the person: (i) is attending a treatment program or regimen; (ii) switches treatment programs voluntarily or at the direction of a health care provider; (iii) is discharged from a treatment program and transitions into a new treatment program or regimen within a reasonable period of time; or (iv) is on a waiting list for a treatment program or regimen.

If a person is not engaged in treatment, any positive test result or any other indicator of relapse shall only be considered a violation of the person’s conditions of release if accompanied by a separate criminal offense. Otherwise, the person shall be ordered to initiate or resume treatment.

If a person has completed treatment and remains subject to pretrial conditions of release, and tests positive for drugs or alcohol, upon motion of the person, the court shall again consider the person’s treatment needs. If the person has an alcohol or substance use disorder in need of treatment, the person shall be ordered to resume treatment with a mental health clinic or alcohol or substance use disorder program licensed by the department of public health under chapters 17, 111, 111B,  or 111E or a behavioral, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, or mental health professional who is licensed under chapters 111J and 112 and accredited or certified to provide services consistent with law, and the positive drug or alcohol test shall not be considered a violation of conditions of release.

SECTION 2. Section 87A of said chapter 276, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraphs:-

If a person is ordered to refrain from the use of alcohol or a narcotic drug or other controlled substance as a condition of probation or if drug or alcohol testing is ordered as a condition of probation, the court shall not order drug or alcohol testing to occur more than 4 times per month. Upon motion of the person, the court shall consider whether the person has an alcohol or substance use disorder in need of treatment. If the person has an alcohol or substance use disorder in need of treatment, the person shall be ordered to engage in such treatment with a mental health clinic or alcohol or substance use disorder program licensed by the department of public health under chapters 17, 111, 111B, or 111E or a behavioral, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, or mental health professional who is licensed under chapters 111J and 112 and accredited or certified to provide services consistent with law.

If a person is engaged in treatment, the person shall not be required to submit to any drug or alcohol testing that is not required by such treatment program, and any positive test result or any other indicator of relapse shall not be considered a violation of the person’s conditions of probation. For the purposes of this section, a person shall be considered engaged in treatment if the person: (i) is attending a treatment program or regimen; (ii) switches treatment programs voluntarily or at the direction of a health care provider; (iii) is discharged from a treatment program and transitions into a new treatment program or regimen within a reasonable period of time; or (iv) is on a waiting list for a treatment program or regimen.

If a person is not engaged in treatment, any positive test result or any other indicator of relapse shall only be considered a violation of the person’s conditions of release if accompanied by a separate criminal offense. Otherwise, the person shall be ordered to initiate or resume treatment.

If a person has completed treatment and remains subject to conditions of probation, and tests positive for drugs or alcohol, upon motion of the person, the court shall again consider the person’s treatment needs. If the person has an alcohol or substance use disorder in need of treatment, the person shall be ordered to resume treatment with a mental health clinic or alcohol or substance use disorder program licensed by the department of public health under chapters 17, 111, 111B,  or 111E or a behavioral, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, or mental health professional who is licensed under chapters 111J and 112 and accredited or certified to provide services consistent with law, and the positive drug or alcohol test shall not be considered a violation of conditions of probation.