SECTION 1. Chapter 45 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 14 the following new section:

Section 15. Playground Safety and Enclosures.

(a) For the purposes of this section, “public playground” shall mean any outdoor recreational area owned, maintained, or operated by a city or town that contains playground equipment intended for use by children.

(b) Every public playground constructed, substantially renovated, or newly designated after January 1, 2026 shall be fully enclosed by a secure perimeter fence with self-closing and self-latching gates to ensure the safety of children, including those with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities who may be at risk of elopement.

(c) All existing public playgrounds shall be brought into compliance with subsection (b) no later than January 1, 2030.

(d) The Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Department of Developmental Services, shall promulgate regulations establishing minimum safety standards for such enclosures, including but not limited to height, materials, and gate mechanisms.

(e) Municipalities shall be eligible to apply for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the reasonable costs of compliance under this section through a Playground Safety Grant Program to be administered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, subject to appropriation.

(f) Nothing in this section shall prevent a municipality from adopting stricter playground safety standards than those required under this section.

SECTION 2. The provisions of this act are hereby declared to be severable, and if any such provision or its application to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the remainder of this act and its application to persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.