1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2016 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2363
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
John C. Velis
_________________
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 to improve health and safety standards at state-operated veterans' homes.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2016 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2363
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2363) of John C. Velis for legislation
to improve health and safety standards at state-operated veterans' homes. Veterans and Federal
Affairs.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to improve health and safety standards at state-operated veterans' 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 14A of Chapter 115A of the General Laws, as appearing in the
22022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
3 Each state-operated veterans’ home shall employ a full-time infection control specialist
4and a full-time emergency preparedness specialist, both of whom shall report to the
5superintendent and shall ensure their respective state-operated veterans’ home maintains
6standards and protocols for infection control and emergency preparedness consistent with
7applicable state and federal rules and regulations.
8 SECTION 2. Said chapter 111 is hereby amended by inserting after section 73B the
9following section:
10 (a) The department of public health shall conduct inspections of all state-operated
11veterans’ homes as the department deems necessary but not less than twice annually; provided,
12however, that during emergency operations, as declared by the secretary of veterans’ services or 2 of 2
13the governor, the department shall conduct inspections of all state-operated veterans’ homes not
14less than once every 30 days.
15 (b) After an inspection, the department shall notify the superintendent of the state-
16operated veterans’ home and the secretary of veterans’ services in writing of every violation of
17applicable rules and regulations and specify a reasonable period of time, not exceeding 30 days
18after receipt of the notice, for the superintendent to provide a plan to remediate any such
19violation. After the specified period of time has passed, the department shall conduct a follow-up
20inspection of the home to ensure compliance. If the superintendent of the state-operated veterans’
21home has failed to remedy the violation at the time of the follow-up inspection, the
22superintendent shall report weekly to the department detailing steps taken towards, and the
23expected date of, remediation. Not less than 30 days after the superintendent notifies the
24department that a violation has been remedied, the department shall conduct an inspection of the
25state-operated veterans’ home to verify that the violation has been remedied.
26 (c) Not later than 30 days after each inspection, the department shall report its findings to
27the Massachusetts Veterans’ Home Advisory Council, the regional council of the inspected
28home, the executive director of veterans’ homes and housing, the secretary of veterans’ services,
29the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs and the joint committee on public health.
30Inspection reports and corrections of violations shall be made available to the public on the
31department’s website.