Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S491 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. 183 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 491
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bruce E. Tarr
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 improve resilience in older adults and people with disabilities during public health,
13	13	environmental or technological emergencies.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 2
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 183 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 491
19	19	By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 491) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to
20	20	improve resilience in older adults and people with disabilities during public health,
21	21	environmental or technological emergencies. Elder Affairs.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE SENATE, NO. 403 OF 2023-2024.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
27	27	(2025-2026)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act to improve resilience in older adults and people with disabilities during public health,
30	30	environmental or technological emergencies.
31	31	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
32	32	of the same, as follows:
33	33	1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, whenever
34	34	2a state of emergency is declared pursuant to section 5, of chapter 630 of the acts of 1950, and in
35	35	3preparation for such declaration, the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of
36	36	4elder affairs shall direct that health, public safety, and emergency management professionals
37	37	5shall provide for the care of older adults and people with disabilities based on resilience factors
38	38	6including, but not limited to (1) demographic, (2) physical, (3) psychological, (4) spiritual, and
39	39	7(5) socio-cultural factors.
40	40	8 SECTION 2. A council on aging, established pursuant to section 8B of chapter 40 of the
41	41	9general laws, as appearing in the 2022 edition, which receives an annual grant, and a local 2 of 2
42	42	10housing authority established pursuant to section 3 of chapter 121B of the general laws as
43	43	11appearing in said 2022 edition shall develop an inventory of the service and support needs of
44	44	12older adults and people with disabilities who may require essential services in the event of
45	45	13emergencies or disasters that occur within their jurisdiction.
46	46	14 For the purposes of this chapter, the term “essential services” is defined as follows:
47	47	15 “Essential services” means social, medical, psychiatric, or legal services necessary to
48	48	16safeguard the disabled adult’s or elder person’s rights and resources and to maintain the physical
49	49	17and mental well-being of such person. These services shall include, but not be limited to, the
50	50	18provision of medical care for physical and mental health needs, assistance in personal hygiene,
51	51	19food, clothing, adequately heated and ventilated shelter, and protection from health and safety
52	52	20hazards but shall not include the taking into physical custody of a disabled adult or elder person
53	53	21without that person’s consent.
54	54	22 Said inventory of needs, which shall be shared with state health, public safety and
55	55	23emergency management professionals, in compliance with any relevant privacy laws and shall
56	56	24not be public record, shall Include:
57	57	25 a) Name and contact information of any adult over age 60 or any person with a disability
58	58	26regardless of age,
59	59	27 b) Identification of the specific needs of each person such as cane, walker, wheelchair,
60	60	28medications, oxygen or other medical equipment of supplies. Said needs assessment shall
61	61	29identify, needs for electrical power, communications system, protection from flooding, a
62	62	30designated shelter location and an alternative location capable of serving older adults, people
63	63	31with disabilities, and their pets.