An Act relative to protective custody

This bill amends Massachusetts law regarding protective custody by clarifying that custody must continue "for the duration of necessary transport, screening, and evaluation for treatment" and adding "and evaluation" to the existing text. It directly affects individuals placed in protective custody for emergency mental health evaluations, ensuring custody remains in place during medical screening and assessment. The key change specifies that protective custody does not end before these evaluation steps are completed. The amendment makes the existing process clearer without altering eligibility or treatment protocols. (3 sentences)