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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 319 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1398
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Dylan A. Fernandes
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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 to create intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of Mental
Health.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Dylan A. FernandesPlymouth and Barnstable 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 319 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1398
By Mr. Fernandes, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1398) of Dylan A. Fernandes for
legislation to create intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of Mental
Health. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
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 to create intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of Mental
Health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by adding the following section at the end thereof: -
3 Section 25. There shall be, within the department of mental health, at least two intensive
4stabilization and treatment units for patients who exhibit persistently aggressive or self-
5destructive behavior or exhibit atypically, intensively violent behavior that requires specialized
6care. One unit shall be designated for men and one unit shall be designated for women. Said
7units shall be located at a specific and central location and be secured and physically separate
8from other units. These units shall provide comprehensive evaluation, stabilization and
9psychiatric treatment which shall include, but not be limited to: violence assessments, behavioral
10management consultation, interpersonal conflict resolution strategies, critical incident
11debriefings and transfer evaluations. These units shall include appropriate staffing levels to
12address the needs of the patient population with an interdisciplinary staff, including but not 2 of 2
13limited to registered nurses, clinical social workers, mental health workers, psychiatrists, clinical
14psychologists and rehabilitation specialists, who have undergone specialized training to work
15effectively with this patient population. Upon behavior stabilization, the staff on the unit shall
16develop a plan for the safe and timely transfer of the patient out of the intensive stabilization and
17treatment unit.