SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1709        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Robyn K. Kennedy

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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:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1709        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1258 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 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. Section 1 of Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended 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. Section 15 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(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. Section 16 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(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. Section 18 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(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.