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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 583 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1268
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marc R. Pacheco
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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 creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of
Mental Health.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Marc R. PachecoThird Bristol and PlymouthAdam Scanlon14th Bristol1/30/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/30/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk1/30/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/10/2023Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk2/10/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 583 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1268
By Mr. Pacheco, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1268) of Marc R. Pacheco, Adam
Scanlon, Jack Patrick Lewis, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General Court for
legislation relative to creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department
of Mental Health. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1310 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of
Mental Health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by adding the following section at the end thereof:-
3 Section 25. There shall be, within the department of mental health, at least two intensive
4stabilization and treatment units for patients who exhibit persistently aggressive or self-
5destructive behavior or exhibit atypically, intensively violent behavior that requires specialized
6care. One unit shall be designated for men and one unit shall be designated for women. Said
7units shall be located at a specific and central location and be secured and physically separate
8from other units. These units shall provide comprehensive evaluation, stabilization and
9psychiatric treatment which shall include, but not be limited to: violence assessments, behavioral 2 of 2
10management consultation, interpersonal conflict resolution strategies, critical incident de-
11briefings and transfer evaluations. These units shall include appropriate staffing levels to address
12the needs of the patient population with an interdisciplinary staff, including but not limited to
13registered nurses, clinical social workers, mental health workers, psychiatrists, clinical
14psychologists and rehabilitation specialists, who have undergone specialized training to work
15effectively with this patient population. Upon behavior stabilization, the staff on the unit shall
16develop a plan for the safe and timely transfer of the patient out of the intensive stabilization and
17treatment unit.