HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2370        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1965

 

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

1/19/2023

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/17/2023

Tommy Vitolo

15th Norfolk

3/22/2023

Erika Uyterhoeven

27th Middlesex

5/16/2023

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

7/19/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2370        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1965

By Representative Balser of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1965) of Ruth B. Balser and Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to quality mental health services in state correctional facilities.  Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

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: 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. 

SECTION 2: Section 17A of Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended in paragraph (a) by inserting after the words “qualified mental health professional”, the following:- “, and shall be under the supervision of the department of mental health”