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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 827 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 180
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Danielle W. Gregoire
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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 regarding the use of aversive therapy.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Danielle W. Gregoire4th Middlesex1/17/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/31/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/9/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/9/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/15/2023William C. Galvin6th Norfolk2/15/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 827 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 180
By Representative Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 180) of
Danielle W. Gregoire and others for legislation to prohibit the use of procedures which cause
physical pain or deny a reasonable humane existence to persons with disabilities. Children,
Families and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 225 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act regarding the use of aversive therapy.
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 16 of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010
2official edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following text:-
3 No program, agency, or facility funded, operated, licensed, or approved by any agency or
4subdivision of the Commonwealth shall administer or cause to be administered to any person
5with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability any procedure which causes obvious
6signs of physical pain, including, but not limited to, hitting, pinching, and electric shock for the
7purposes of changing the behavior of the person.
8 No such program may employ any form of physical contact or punishment that is
9otherwise prohibited by law, or would be prohibited if used on a non-disabled person. 2 of 2
10 No such program may employ any procedure which denies a person with a physical,
11intellectual, or developmental disability reasonable sleep, food, shelter, bedding, bathroom
12facilities, and any other aspect expected of a humane existence in the Commonwealth.