S 1461 Massachusetts Senate · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to liability protection for disaster volunteers

This bill extends liability protection to licensed registered nurses who volunteer their services during declared disasters or public health emergencies in Massachusetts. It shields these volunteers from licensure board discipline, civil lawsuits, and criminal prosecution for injuries or harm caused to patients, provided their actions do not amount to criminal negligence. Additionally, the legislation ensures that volunteer nurses who are injured, disabled, or die while serving are treated as state employees for the purpose of receiving workers' compensation benefits. The law specifically applies to nurses in good standing who provide care without expectation of payment when local resources are insufficient to meet community needs.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
House Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Feb 15, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Public Health
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors