SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1074        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1445

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patrick M. O'Connor

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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 the safety of Autistic and Alzheimer's individuals.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1074        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1445

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1503 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 relative to the safety of Autistic and Alzheimer's individuals.

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. For the purposes of this section, “technology-assisted tracking device” shall mean any wearable device that: (i) is waterproof and able to function under water; (ii) is compliant with IP66 and IP68 standards; (iii) is operational indoors or under cover; (iv) does not require direct line of sight to the sky; (v) is independent of third-party public communication networks, cellular, GSM, GPRS or similar; (vi) includes a tamper-resistant wrist or ankle strap directly changeable by a caregiver; (vii) includes system specifics to avoid false alarms in order not to avoid unnecessary law enforcement search and rescue efforts; and (viii) has a patient specific code to avoid mistaken identities.

SECTION 2. The Prevention and Wellness Advisory Board, established under section 2H of chapter 111 of the General Laws, shall make recommendations to the department of public health on the use of technology-assisted tracking devices to mitigate risks associated with wandering for certain populations including, but not limited to, individuals with dementia, autism spectrum disorder or Alzheimer’s disease.

The advisory board shall also review and make recommendations on ways to incorporate the use of technology-assisted tracking devices into a pilot program funded through the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, established under section 2G of chapter 111 of the General Laws to increase the safety of individuals with dementia, autism spectrum disorder or Alzheimer’s disease.

The advisory board shall provide its recommendations to the department not later than December 1, 2023. The department shall forward the board’s recommendations and a summary of action items the department intends to undertake as a result of the board’s recommendations to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public health and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than December 1, 2024.