Massachusetts HD 3824: An Act relative to ensuring the privacy of the residents living in sober homes

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3824 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2239

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Andres X. Vargas and Kate Donaghue
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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 relative to ensuring the privacy of the residents living in sober homes.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Andres X. Vargas 3rd Essex 1/17/2025
Kate Donaghue 19th Worcester 1/17/2025
Steven George Xiarhos 5th Barnstable 10/20/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3824 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2239
By Representatives Vargas of Haverhill and Donaghue of Westborough, a petition (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 2239) of Andres X. Vargas and Kate Donaghue relative to addresses of sober
homes. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

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 relative to ensuring the privacy of the residents living in sober homes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 SECTION 1. Section 18 of chapter 17 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof
3 the following subsection:-
4 (c) The bureau shall establish a website that informs the public of acute treatment service
5 facilities and transitional support service facilities that have open beds. The bureau shall update
6 the website daily. The website shall provide the following information about each facility that
7 has an open bed: (i) the name, city or town, telephone number and website of the facility; (ii)
8 information about the types of payment that the facility accepts; and (iii) a description of the
9 types of programs and services provided at the facility. The website shall also provide
10 information about services available in each region of the commonwealth including, but not
11 limited to, alcohol and drug free housing as defined in section 18A, outpatient services and

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12 community based services; provided, that each alcohol and drug free housing and service shall
13 list the city or town that they are located in and not their full address on their website.
14 SECTION 2. Subsection (f) of section 18A of said chapter 17, as so appearing, is hereby
15 amended by adding the following sentence:- Each alcohol and drug free housing listed by the
16 bureau shall list the city or town that they are located in and not their full address on their
17 website.