Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2219 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1470 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2219
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Kathleen R. LaNatra
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 expanding access to mental health services and strengthening risk assessment protocols.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth1/15/2025Michelle L. Badger1st Plymouth2/9/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/6/2025Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/3/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester3/6/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1470 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2219
18	18	By Representative LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2219) of
19	19	Kathleen R. LaNatra and others for legislation to expand access to mental health services and
20	20	strengthen risk assessment protocols. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act expanding access to mental health services and strengthening risk assessment protocols.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 12 of chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof
31	31	3the following subsection:-
32	32	4 (a) A physician who is licensed pursuant to section 2 of chapter 112, an advanced
33	33	5practice registered nurse authorized to practice as such under regulations promulgated pursuant
34	34	6to section 80B of said chapter 112, a qualified psychologist licensed pursuant to sections 118 to
35	35	7129, inclusive, of said chapter 112, a licensed independent clinical social worker licensed
36	36	8pursuant to sections 130 to 137, inclusive, of said chapter 112, or a licensed mental health
37	37	9counselor licensed pursuant to section 165 of chapter 112 who, after examining a person and
38	38	10evaluating the risk of serious harm, has reason to believe that failure to hospitalize such person
39	39	11would create a likelihood of serious harm to themselves or others by reason of mental health
40	40	12issues may restrain or authorize the restraint of such person and apply for the hospitalization of 2 of 3
41	41	13such person for a 3-day period at a public facility or at a private facility authorized for such
42	42	14purposes by the department. If an examination is not possible because of the emergency nature of
43	43	15the case and because of the refusal of the person to consent to such examination, the physician,
44	44	16qualified psychologist, qualified advanced practice registered nurse, licensed independent
45	45	17clinical social worker or licensed mental health counselor on the basis of the facts and
46	46	18circumstances may determine that hospitalization is necessary and may therefore apply. In an
47	47	19emergency situation, if a physician, qualified psychologist, qualified advanced practice
48	48	20registered nurse, licensed independent clinical social worker or licensed mental health counselor
49	49	21is not available, a police officer who believes that failure to hospitalize a person would create a
50	50	22likelihood of serious harm to self or others may restrain such person and apply for an evaluation
51	51	23of the need for hospitalization of such person for a 3-day period at a public facility or a private
52	52	24facility authorized for such purpose by the department. An application for an evaluation of the
53	53	25need for hospitalization shall state the reasons for the referral and possible restraint of such
54	54	26person and any other relevant information related to the degree of risk for serious harm to self or
55	55	27others that may assist the admitting physician or qualified advanced practice registered nurse.
56	56	28Whenever practicable, prior to transporting such person, the applicant shall telephone or
57	57	29otherwise communicate with a facility to describe the circumstances and known clinical history
58	58	30and to determine whether the facility is the proper facility to receive such person and to give
59	59	31notice of any restraint to be used and to determine whether such restraint is necessary.
60	60	32 SECTION 3. Section 22 of said chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
61	61	33inserting after the words “police officers” in line 3 the following words:- , licensed mental health
62	62	34counselors. 3 of 3
63	63	35 SECTION 4. Said section 22 of said chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby further
64	64	36amended by inserting after the words “police officer” in line 9 the following words:- licensed
65	65	37mental health counselor.