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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1886 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 126 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Paul R. Feeney |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act requiring licensure for use of graduated electronic decelerators. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1886 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 126 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 126) of Paul R. Feeney for |
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| 19 | 19 | | legislation relative to licensure for the use of graduated electronic decelerators to alter behavior |
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| 20 | 20 | | of persons with disabilities. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. |
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| 21 | 21 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
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| 22 | 22 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 81 OF 2023-2024.] |
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| 23 | 23 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
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| 25 | 25 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 27 | 27 | | _______________ |
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| 28 | 28 | | An Act requiring licensure for use of graduated electronic decelerators. |
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| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 31 | 31 | | 1 Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2 Section 244. (a) As used in this section, the term “graduated electronic decelerator” shall |
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| 33 | 33 | | 3mean a device that applies a noxious electrical stimulus or electric shock to the skin of a person |
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| 34 | 34 | | 4with a disability to alter behavior. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 5 (b) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the training, certification |
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| 36 | 36 | | 6and licensing of individuals to administer or cause to be administered a procedure using a |
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| 37 | 37 | | 7graduated electronic decelerator. The regulations shall require a comprehensive training program |
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| 38 | 38 | | 8that includes, but is not limited to: (i) appropriate and necessary use; (ii) prohibited uses; (iii) |
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| 39 | 39 | | 9alternatives to use, including de-escalation strategies, positive reinforcement, non-aversive 2 of 2 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 10measures and less intrusive procedures; (iv) safe administration, including ways to minimize |
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| 41 | 41 | | 11pain and injury; (v) health and safety risks of use and misuse; (vi) signs of abuse; (vii) evidence |
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| 42 | 42 | | 12of trauma; (viii) requirements for approval and supervision of use; (ix) penalties for unauthorized |
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| 43 | 43 | | 13use or misuse; (x) policies and procedures for reporting of unauthorized use or misuse; and (xi) |
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| 44 | 44 | | 14an examination approved by the department testing the applicant’s professional skills, judgment |
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| 45 | 45 | | 15and fitness to administer or cause to be used a graduated electronic decelerator. |
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| 46 | 46 | | 16 (c) No person shall administer, cause to be administered or supervise a person who |
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| 47 | 47 | | 17administers a procedure using a graduated electronic decelerator without a license. No person |
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| 48 | 48 | | 18with a license shall misuse, cause a graduated electronic decelerator to be misused or supervise a |
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| 49 | 49 | | 19person who misuses a graduated electronic decelerator. |
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| 50 | 50 | | 20 (d) No entity operating within the commonwealth shall permit an individual without a |
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| 51 | 51 | | 21license granted pursuant to this section to administer or cause to be administered a procedure |
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| 52 | 52 | | 22using a graduated electronic decelerator. No entity operating within the commonwealth shall |
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| 53 | 53 | | 23permit an individual with a license granted pursuant to this section to misuse or cause a |
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| 54 | 54 | | 24graduated electronic decelerator to be misused. |
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| 55 | 55 | | 25 (e) A violation of this section shall be punishable of a fine not to exceed $500. |
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