HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3001 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1978
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker
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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 to improve mental health services in places of incarceration.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 1/19/2023 |
Lindsay N. Sabadosa | 1st Hampshire | 1/19/2023 |
Bud L. Williams | 11th Hampden | 2/22/2023 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3001 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1978
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1978) of Marjorie C. Decker, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Bud L. Williams for legislation to authorize the Commissioner of Mental Health to have supervision over the provision of mental health services to prisoners. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2085 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to improve mental health services in places of incarceration.
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, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the third paragraph the following 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 or any House 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 and House of Correction to determine compliance with the minimum standards. In exercising its supervisorial authority, the commissioner shall collect data regarding the provision of mental health services as necessary to promote improvements in such provision, including such data as may be required in order to obtain funding from the federal government for services to prisoners with mental health needs.