Massachusetts H 721: An Act relative to ensuring quality mental health services in state correctional facilities

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2065 FILED ON: 1/19/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 721

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Ruth B. Balser
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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 quality mental health services in state correctional facilities.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Ruth B. Balser 12th Middlesex 1/19/2017
Kenneth I. Gordon 21st Middlesex 1/19/2017
Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex 1/19/2017
Kay Khan 11th Middlesex 1/19/2017
James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 1/19/2017
Chris Walsh 6th Middlesex 1/19/2017
Jonathan Hecht 29th Middlesex 1/19/2017
Antonio F. D. Cabral 13th Bristol 1/19/2017
Frank I. Smizik 15th Norfolk 1/19/2017
Aaron Vega 5th Hampden 1/19/2017
David M. Rogers 24th Middlesex 1/19/2017
Mary S. Keefe 15th Worcester 1/19/2017
Peter V. Kocot 1st Hampshire 1/19/2017
Linda Dean Campbell 15th Essex 1/19/2017
Angelo M. Scaccia 14th Suffolk 1/19/2017
Paul R. Heroux 2nd Bristol 1/19/2017
Elizabeth A. Malia 11th Suffolk 1/19/2017
Christine P. Barber 34th Middlesex 1/19/2017

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Paul Tucker 7th Essex 1/19/2017
Carlos González 10th Hampden 1/19/2017

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2065 FILED ON: 1/19/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 721
By Ms. Balser of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 721) of Ruth B. Balser
and others for legislation to establish the Department of Mental Health as the oversight agency
for the mental health system within the state prison system. The Judiciary.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1171 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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An Act relative to ensuring quality mental health services in state correctional facilities.

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 of Chapter 19 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after the third
2 paragraph:
3 The commissioner of mental health shall have supervision over the provision of mental
4 health services to prisoners in the custody of the department of correction, including review and
5 approval of any contract between the department of correction and any other entity concerning
6 the provision of mental health services, and shall establish minimum standards for the effective
7 delivery of such services. At least once each six months the commissioner shall audit each state
8 correctional facility to determine compliance with the minimum standards.