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November 22, 2024 Rain | 46°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
  3. Title II EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
  4. Chapter 9A ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM
  5. Section 1 Definitions

Section 1

Section 1: Definitions

Section 1. For the purposes of this chapter the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—

''Abuse'', as provided in section 1 of chapter 209A.

''Address'', a residential street, school or work address of an individual, as specified on the application to be a program participant under this chapter.

''Program participant'', a person certified by the state secretary to participate in the program.

''Application assistant'', an employee of a state or local agency, or of a nonprofit program that provides counseling, referral, shelter or other specialized service to victims of domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, or stalking and who has been designated by the respective agency, and trained, accepted and registered by the state secretary to assist individuals in the completion of program participation applications.

''Gender-affirming health care services'', all supplies, care and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative or supportive nature relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria.

''Legally-protected health care activity'', (i) the exercise and enjoyment, or attempted exercise and enjoyment, by any person of rights to reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services secured by the constitution or laws of the commonwealth or the provision of insurance coverage for such services; or (ii) any act or omission undertaken to aid or encourage, or attempt to aid or encourage, any person in the exercise and enjoyment, or attempted exercise and enjoyment, of rights to reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services secured by the constitution or laws of the commonwealth or to provide insurance coverage for such services; provided, however, that the provision of such a health care service by a person duly licensed under the laws of the commonwealth and physically present in the commonwealth and the provision of insurance coverage for such services shall be legally protected if the service is permitted under the laws of the commonwealth, regardless of the patient's location; and provided further, that ''legally-protected health care activity'' shall not include any service rendered below an applicable professional standard of care or that would violate anti-discrimination laws of the commonwealth.

''Reproductive health care services'', all supplies, care and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative or supportive nature relating to pregnancy, contraception, assisted reproduction, miscarriage management or the termination of a pregnancy.

''Secretary'', the state secretary.

''Rape'', as provided in sections 22, 22A, 22B, 22C and 23, 23A, 23B of chapter 265 and sections 2, 4 and 17 of chapter 272.

''Sexual assault'', as provided in sections 13B, 13B1/2, 13B3/4, 13F, 13H, 24, 24B, 26D and 50 of chapter 265 and sections 4A, 17, 29A, 29B and 35A of chapter 272.

''Stalking'', as provided in section 43 of chapter 265.