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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 828 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2705
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Priscila S. Sousa
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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 health education in women's correctional institutions.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Priscila S. Sousa6th Middlesex1/13/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/17/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/22/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex3/7/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 828 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2705
By Representative Sousa of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2705) of
Priscila S. Sousa and others relative to health education in women's correctional institutions.
Public Safety and Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2349 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to health education in women's correctional institutions.
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. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2Section 16A the following new sections:-
3 Section 16B. Upon admission to a correctional institution and at any time thereafter, the
4health services unit in each correctional institution where women are incarcerated shall make
5available to all prisoners written information on women’s health, contraception, and sexually
6transmitted infections. A user-friendly, culturally competent, and linguistically diverse brochure
7containing the aforementioned information shall be created and distributed by the department of
8public health. 2 of 3
9 Section 16C. Not less than 4 months prior to the date of release for a female prisoner of
10child-bearing age, the medical director of the correctional institution where the prisoner is
11incarcerated shall offer the prisoner contraception counseling and a gynecological exam
12including a Pap Test. Following said counseling, the medical director shall offer to provide her
13with the form of contraception she so chooses including but not limited to: female condoms,
14male condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, intra-uterine device, prescription birth control, or
15contraceptive sponges. If the prisoner selects a type of contraception that must be taken for a
16period of time before it becomes effective, then the prisoner shall begin the regimen not less than
17three months prior to her date of release. Said medication shall be distributed during regular
18medication distribution. Upon her release, the medical director shall furnish the woman with a 12
19month prescription to refill her medication, a referral to a pharmacy or doctor where said
20prescription can be refilled, a referral to a primary care physician or gynecologist for follow up
21care, and a MassHealth card with access to Medicaid. The foregoing notwithstanding, no
22prisoner shall be required to undergo a gynecological exam or accept or utilize any type of
23contraception.
24 SECTION 2. Said chapter 127, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting
25after Section 96B the following new section:-
26 Section 96C. The superintendent of each correctional institution where women are
27incarcerated shall offer a curricula on health education open to all eligible incarcerated people in
28said institutions. A curricula shall be created and shall include, but not be limited to, the
29following topics: general health, nutrition, mental health, women’s health concerns, domestic
30violence, substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections, contraception, emergency
31contraception, sex education, pregnancy, infant care, and child development. Said curricula shall 3 of 3
32be developed in consultation with the department of public health, shall be reevaluated annually,
33and offered regularly on a monthly basis.