Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1027 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. 2552 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1027
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	John C. Velis
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 establish community notification standards for group homes.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and HampshirePatricia A. Duffy5th Hampden 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2552 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1027
18	18	By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1027) of John C. Velis and Patricia A.
19	19	Duffy for legislation to require group homes to notify municipalities and abutting property
20	20	owners prior to commencing operations. Housing.
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 to establish community notification standards for group homes.
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. Chapter 40A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
30	30	2section 3 the following section:-
31	31	3 Section 3A. (a) The following words as used in this section, unless the context clearly
32	32	4requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:-
33	33	5 “Group home”, any residential facility licensed or operated by the commonwealth or a
34	34	6contracted agency that provides housing and support services for individuals with disabilities,
35	35	7mental health needs, or other vulnerable populations.
36	36	8 “Municipality”, any city or town within the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
37	37	9 “Abutting property owner”, any individual or entity owning property directly adjacent to
38	38	10a group home. 2 of 3
39	39	11 (b) Any entity establishing a new group home shall provide written notice to the host
40	40	12municipality and abutting property owners at least 60 days prior to commencing operations. The
41	41	13notice shall include:
42	42	14 (1) the address of the group home;
43	43	15 (2) the type of services provided at the group home; and
44	44	16 (3) contact information for the operator or managing entity.
45	45	17 (c) Any group home failing to comply with the PILOT or notification requirements may
46	46	18be subject to penalties, including but not limited to:
47	47	19 (1) financial penalties up to $5,000 per violation; and
48	48	20 (2) suspension of state funding or licensing.
49	49	21 (d) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall submit an annual
50	50	22report to the legislature detailing:
51	51	23 (1) compliance rates with the notification requirements; and
52	52	24 (2) the number of group homes in each municipality.
53	53	25 (e) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall oversee the
54	54	26implementation and enforcement of this section.
55	55	27 SECTION 2. Existing group homes shall, within six months of the passage of this act,
56	56	28submit notification to their host municipality and abutting property owners in compliance with
57	57	29subsection (b) of section 1 of this act. 3 of 3
58	58	30 SECTION 3. If any provision of this act is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the
59	59	31remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
60	60	32 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.