S 1268 Massachusetts Senate · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of Mental Health

This bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to establish at least two specialized units for patients displaying persistently aggressive, self-destructive, or unusually violent behaviors. These facilities will be gender-specific, physically separate from other units, and located at a central site to provide intensive care. The units will offer comprehensive services such as violence assessments and behavioral management, staffed by an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals including nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists. Once a patient's behavior is stabilized, the staff will create a plan to safely transfer them out of the unit.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
Senate Passage
Apr 2024
House Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Jul 1, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
2
May 30, 2024
Upper · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
upper
Apr 11, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
upper
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors

Sponsors