SENATE DOCKET, NO. 29        FILED ON: 1/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 878

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Diana DiZoglio

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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 establishing a task force on elderly and disabled persons residing in public housing.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 29        FILED ON: 1/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 878

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 791 OF 2019-2020.]

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 establishing a task force on elderly and disabled persons residing in public housing.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 31. There shall be within the department a joint task force on the safety and welfare of elderly and disabled persons residing in public housing. The task force shall consist of 9 members 1 of whom shall be the undersecretary for housing and economic development or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the undersecretary for elder affairs or their designee; 3 of whom shall be members of the Massachusetts Psychological Association, who specialize in at-risk mental illness patients; 4 of whom shall be directors of housing authorities representing geographic and population diversity. The joint task force shall advise the secretary of housing and economic development and the secretary of health and human services on best practices to ensure the safety and welfare of elderly and disabled persons residing in public housing, including investigating efforts to maximize overall facility and individual apartment safety and security.

The joint task force shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and any recommendations by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall forward the same to the chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery on or before January 1, 2022.