Amendment #1110 to H4000

An amendment relative to the civil commitment of women for alcoholism and substance abuse to MCI-Framingham

Representatives Khan of Newton, Gregoire of Marlborough, Gordon of Bedford, Collins of Boston, Livingstone of Boston, Cronin of Easton, Balser of Newton, Mannal of Barnstable, Sannicandro of Ashland, Garballey of Arlington and Devers of Lawrence move to amend the bill by adding the following section:

SECTION  XXXX.

SECTION 1.  Section 7 of Chapter 111B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 27-28, the following words:  “or to the Massachusetts correctional institution, Framingham”

SECTION 2. Section 35 of Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 50-51 the words “or at Framingham, if a female”; and in line 64 the words “and Framingham; and in line 63 the word “institutions” and inserting in place thereof the word “institution”

SECTION 3. Said Section 35 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in line 53 by inserting after the words “convicted criminals.” the following sentence: “Within 24 hours of completed detoxification the person so committed shall receive a full mental health evaluation performed by a physician board certified in psychology, qualified psychiatric nurse clinical specialist, or licensed psychologist.”

SECTION 4. Said Section 35 of said Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph: “The department of public health shall establish and maintain the necessary number of secure treatment beds for females to meet the requirements of this section.”

SECTION 5. Said Section 35 of said Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph: “The department of public health shall file an annual report on these proceedings with the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Mental Health & Substance Abuse and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.