S1173 • 2025

An Act relative to minimizing suffering during the commitment process

Active

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

Sponsor: Joan B. Lovely
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means
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 minimizing suffering during the commitment process

An Act relative to minimizing suffering during the commitment process By Ms.

What This Bill Does

An Act relative to minimizing suffering during the commitment process By Ms.
Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
1173) of Joan B.
Lovely for legislation relative to minimizing suffering during the commitment process.

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

2026-04-02 Senate
Committee recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
2026-02-05 Senate
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
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
2025-11-07 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
2025-02-27 Senate
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
2025-02-27 House
House concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to minimizing suffering during the commitment process
By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1173) of Joan B. Lovely for legislation relative to minimizing suffering during the commitment process. The Judiciary.
Status:
Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill S.1173

Section 35 of chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking, in lines 43-45 the words:- "The court shall order examination by a qualified physician, a qualified psychologist or a qualified social worker”, and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Upon appearance or apprehension, the court shall have the individual examined by a physician or a qualified advanced practice registered nurse designated to have the authority to admit to a facility. If the physician or qualified advanced registered nurse reports that the failure to hospitalize or provide medical treatment to the individual would create a likelihood of serious harm, the court shall order the individual with alcohol or substance use disorder to be committed to a facility designated by the department of public health for treatment during the pendency of the petition.

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