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H1749 • 2025

An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis

An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Natalie M. Higgins
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis

An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1749) of Natalie M.
  • Higgins and Lindsay N.
  • Sabadosa relative to applications for 3-day commitments to facilities of persons with mental illness.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-11-18 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  3. 2025-11-07 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis
By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1749) of Natalie M. Higgins and Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to applications for 3-day commitments to facilities of persons with mental illness. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1749

Section 12 of Chapter 123 is hereby amended by striking the following paragraph (e):-

(e) Any person may make an application to a district court justice or a justice of the juvenile court department for a 3-day commitment to a facility of a person with a mental illness if the failure to confine said person would cause a likelihood of serious harm. The court shall appoint counsel to represent said person. After hearing such evidence as the court may consider sufficient, a district court justice or a justice of the juvenile court department may issue a warrant for the apprehension and appearance before the court of the alleged person with a mental illness if in the court's judgment the condition or conduct of such person makes such action necessary or proper. Following apprehension, the court shall have the person examined by a physician or a qualified advanced practice registered nurse designated to have the authority to admit to a facility or examined by a qualified psychologist in accordance with the regulations of the department. If the physician, qualified advanced practice registered nurse or qualified psychologist reports that the failure to hospitalize the person would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental illness, the court may order the person committed to a facility for a period not to exceed 3 days; provided, however, that the superintendent may discharge said person at any time within the 3-day period. The periods of time prescribed or allowed under this section shall be computed pursuant to Rule 6 of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure.

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