An Act strengthening the Attorney General’s tools to protect nursing home residents and other patients from abuse and neglect

This bill empowers the Massachusetts Attorney General to file civil lawsuits against individuals who abuse, mistreat, neglect, or steal from nursing home residents and other patients. It establishes specific monetary penalties for these offenses, ranging from $25,000 for cases without injury to $250,000 if the abuse results in death. Additionally, the legislation sets a four-year time limit for the Attorney General to initiate these civil actions. The law clarifies that these new penalties do not replace existing legal options available to private parties or other government departments.