| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 143 FILED ON: 1/10/2023 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 170 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | William C. Galvin |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | An Act requiring licensure for use of graduated electronic decelerators. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:William C. Galvin6th Norfolk1/10/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol2/7/2023 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 143 FILED ON: 1/10/2023 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 170 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Galvin of Canton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 170) of |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | William C. Galvin and Carol A. Doherty relative to licensure for the use of graduated electronic |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | decelerators to alter behavior of persons with disabilities. Children, Families and Persons with |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | Disabilities. |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | SEE HOUSE, NO. 4956 OF 2021-2022.] |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (2023-2024) |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | An Act requiring licensure for use of graduated electronic decelerators. |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 1 Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 2 Section 244. (a) As used in this section, the term “graduated electronic decelerator” shall |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 3mean a device that applies a noxious electrical stimulus or electric shock to the skin of a person |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 4with a disability to alter behavior. |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 5 (b) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the training, certification |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 6and licensing of individuals to administer or cause to be administered a procedure using a |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 7graduated electronic decelerator. The regulations shall require a comprehensive training program |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 8that includes, but is not limited to: (i) appropriate and necessary use; (ii) prohibited uses; (iii) |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 9alternatives to use, including de-escalation strategies, positive reinforcement, non-aversive 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 10measures and less intrusive procedures; (iv) safe administration, including ways to minimize |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 11pain and injury; (v) health and safety risks of use and misuse; (vi) signs of abuse; (vii) evidence |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 12of trauma; (viii) requirements for approval and supervision of use; (ix) penalties for unauthorized |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 13use or misuse; (x) policies and procedures for reporting of unauthorized use or misuse; and (xi) |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 14an examination approved by the department testing the applicant’s professional skills, judgment |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 15and fitness to administer or cause to be used a graduated electronic decelerator. |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 16 (c) No person shall administer, cause to be administered or supervise a person who |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | 17administers a procedure using a graduated electronic decelerator without a license. No person |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | 18with a license shall misuse, cause a graduated electronic decelerator to be misused or supervise a |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | 19person who misuses a graduated electronic decelerator. |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | 20 (d) No entity operating within the commonwealth shall permit an individual without a |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | 21license granted pursuant to this section to administer or cause to be administered a procedure |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | 22using a graduated electronic decelerator. No entity operating within the commonwealth shall |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | 23permit an individual with a license granted pursuant to this section to misuse or cause a |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | 24graduated electronic decelerator to be misused. |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | 25 (e) A violation of this section shall be punishable of a fine not to exceed $500. |
|---|