HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2884        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 209

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Nika C. Elugardo

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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 discharge plans across the Commonwealth (Re-Entry).

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2884        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 209

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 discharge plans across the Commonwealth (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, the 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 (collectively, “parties”) 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. Said memorandum of understanding and plan may include but need not be limited to enhanced comprehensive institutional discharge planning, increased availability of community-based supportive services , 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 models of comprehensive institutional discharge housing plan and identify other resources as 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 out 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, the 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, 2022.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.