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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2382 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 479
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joan B. Lovely
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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 improve transparency and accountability for residents of long-term care.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joan B. LovelySecond EssexJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/31/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2382 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 479
By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 479) of Joan B. Lovely and Joanne
M. Comerford for legislation to improve transparency and accountability for residents of long-
term care. Elder Affairs.
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 improve transparency and accountability for residents of long-term care.
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. Subsection (g) of Section 70E of chapter 111 of the general laws as
2appearing in the 2022 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking the remainder of the
3sentence after the words, “other rendering of care,” and inserting the following:
4 “and in their assigned room, including, but not limited to being the sole resident of such
5room, unless said resident, or their guardian or health care proxy, mutually agrees to share the
6room with a spouse or not more than one other resident, and that in the absence of a second
7resident, the bathroom is not shared with any other person.”
8 SECTION 2. The executive office of health and human services shall, if necessary, seek
9federal approval for any appropriate increase in rates for such single-occupancy rooms.
10 SECTION 3. The department of public health shall promulgate appropriate regulations to
11promote the use of single rooms and single bathrooms in every licensed facility in the
12Commonwealth. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 4. This act shall apply to any new or substantial renovation, of a licensed
14facility. Every facility that holds a valid license as of the effective date of this act shall be
15allowed not more than three years from the date of this act to achieve compliance with the
16provisions herein.
17 SECTION 5. Subsection (e) of said section 35TTT of chapter 10, as amended by chapter
18197 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by inserting after the word, “facilities,” the following
19words, “provided, however, that priority shall be given to projects that are intended to
20reconfigure facilities to provide single occupancy rooms for residents.