HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3206        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

David Allen Robertson

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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 providing appropriate care for certain populations.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3206        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act providing appropriate care for certain populations.

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: Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended in section 1 by inserting the following definition:-

“Forensic Unit” a physically separate unit from other units. These units shall have in place restrictions consistent with those present when an individual is incarcerated. These units shall include appropriate staffing levels to address the needs of the patient population and who have undergone specialized training to work effectively with this patient population. The physical environment of the unit shall be conducive to meeting the needs of the patient population.

SECTION 2: Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding at the end of Section 15 the following section:-

(g) any individual admitted to a facility under the conditions described in paragraph (b) or paragraph (e) shall be initially admitted to a forensic unit.

SECTION 3: Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding at the end of Section 16 the following section:-

(g) any individual admitted to a facility under the conditions described in paragraph (a), (c) or paragraph (e) shall be initially admitted to a forensic unit.

SECTION 4: Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding at the end of Section 18 the following section:-

(e) any individual admitted to a facility under the conditions described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) shall be initially admitted to a forensic unit.