SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1174        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

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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 ensure resident safety within assisted living facilities.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1174        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 390 OF 2023-2024.]

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 to ensure resident safety within assisted living 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.  Chapter 19D of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 197 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by inserting after section 19 the following section:-

Section 20.  (a) Each assisted living residence shall ensure twenty-four hour per day coverage of at least one on-site AED provider, as defined by section 12V½ of chapter 112.  Each assisted living residence shall ensure that at least one automated external defibrillator is readily available on site.  The department shall not issue certification to any assisted living residence in violation of this section.

(b) Each assisted living residence shall not prohibit a staff person trained in the proper administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or use of an automated external defibrillator, in accordance with the definition of “AED provider” in section 12V½ of chapter 112, from administering such emergency assistance to a resident who does not have a documented or clearly visible do not resuscitate order.  An assisted living residence may require documentation of proper training from such staff person before such person is permitted to render emergency care in the facility.  An assisted living residence may prohibit a staff person not adequately trained in the proper administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or use of an automated external defibrillator from administering such emergency assistance to a resident.  Such facility shall not retaliate against any trained staff person for rendering emergency assistance, including but not limited to, threatened suspension, demotion or loss of employment.