1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1709 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1408
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Robyn K. Kennedy
_________________
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 providing appropriate care for certain populations.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Robyn K. KennedyFirst WorcesterMichael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/27/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1709 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1408
By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1408) of Robyn K. Kennedy and
Michael D. Brady for legislation to provide appropriate care for certain populations. Mental
Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1258 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act providing appropriate care for certain populations.
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. Section 1 of Chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following definition:-
3 “Forensic Unit”, a physically separate unit from other units. These units shall have in
4place restrictions consistent with those present when an individual is incarcerated. These units
5shall include appropriate staffing levels to address the needs of the patient population and who
6have undergone specialized training to work effectively with this patient population. The
7physical environment of the unit shall be conducive to meeting the needs of the patient
8population. 2 of 2
9 SECTION 2. Section 15 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
10adding the following paragraph:-
11 (g) any individual admitted to a facility under the conditions described in paragraph (b) or
12paragraph (e) shall be initially admitted to a forensic unit.
13 SECTION 3. Section 16 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
14adding the following paragraph:-
15 (g) any individual admitted to a facility under the conditions described in paragraph (a),
16(c) or paragraph (e) shall be initially admitted to a forensic unit.
17 SECTION 4. Section 18 of said Chapter 123, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
18adding the following paragraph:-
19 (e) any individual admitted to a facility under the conditions described in paragraph (a) or
20paragraph (b) shall be initially admitted to a forensic unit.