Amendment #1073 to H4200

Aversive Therapy Study

Representatives Gregoire of Marlborough, Ashe of Longmeadow and Dwyer of Woburn move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION XX:         For the study of the programs, agencies, or facilities funded, operated, licensed, or approved by any agency or subdivision of the Commonwealth which administer to any person with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability any procedure which causes obvious signs of physical pain, including, but not limited to, hitting, pinching, and electric shock for the purposes of changing the behavior of the person and the cost thereof to the Commonwealth.  The purpose of this study is to determine if any of these programs employ any form of physical contact or punishment that is otherwise prohibited by law, or would be prohibited if used on a non-disabled person, or if these procedures would deny a person with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability reasonable sleep, food, shelter, bedding, bathroom facilities, and any other aspect expected of a human existence in the Commonwealth”.