Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S403 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2338 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 403
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bruce E. Tarr
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 to improve resilience in older adults and people with disabilities during public health,
13	13	environmental or technological emergencies.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and MiddlesexJames B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/6/2023 1 of 2
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2338 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 403
19	19	By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 403) of Bruce E. Tarr and James B.
20	20	Eldridge for legislation to improve resilience in older adults and people with disabilities during
21	21	public health, environmental or technological emergencies. Elder Affairs.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act to improve resilience in older adults and people with disabilities during public health,
28	28	environmental or technological emergencies.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, whenever
32	32	2a state of emergency is declared pursuant to section 5, of chapter 630 of the acts of 1950, and in
33	33	3preparation for such declaration, the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of
34	34	4elder affairs shall direct that health, public safety, and emergency management professionals
35	35	5shall provide for the care of older adults and people with disabilities based on resilience factors
36	36	6including, but not limited to (1) demographic, (2) physical, (3) psychological, (4) spiritual, and
37	37	7(5) socio-cultural factors.
38	38	8 SECTION 2. A council on aging, established pursuant to section 8B of chapter 40 of the
39	39	9general laws, as appearing in the 2020 edition, which receives an annual grant, and a local
40	40	10housing authority established pursuant to section 3 of chapter 121B of the general laws as
41	41	11appearing in said 2020 edition shall develop an inventory of the service and support needs of 2 of 2
42	42	12older adults and people with disabilities who may require essential services in the event of
43	43	13emergencies or disasters that occur within their jurisdiction.
44	44	14 For the purposes of this chapter, the term “essential services” is defined as follows:
45	45	15 “Essential services” means social, medical, psychiatric, or legal services necessary to
46	46	16safeguard the disabled adult’s or elder person’s rights and resources and to maintain the physical
47	47	17and mental well-being of such person. These services shall include, but not be limited to, the
48	48	18provision of medical care for physical and mental health needs, assistance in personal hygiene,
49	49	19food, clothing, adequately heated and ventilated shelter, and protection from health and safety
50	50	20hazards but shall not include the taking into physical custody of a disabled adult or elder person
51	51	21without that person’s consent.
52	52	22 Said inventory of needs, which shall be shared with state health, public safety and
53	53	23emergency management professionals, in compliance with any relevant privacy laws and shall
54	54	24not be public record, shall Include:
55	55	25 a)Name and contact information of any adult over age 60 or any person with a disability
56	56	26regardless of age,
57	57	27 b)Identification of the specific needs of each person such as cane, walker, wheelchair,
58	58	28medications, oxygen or other medical equipment of supplies. Said needs assessment shall
59	59	29identify, needs for electrical power, communications system, protection from flooding, a
60	60	30designated shelter location and alternative location capable of serving older adults, people with
61	61	31disabilities, and their pets.