Bill
S 150
Recasts eligibility by redefining developmental disability for ages 5+ (and under 5), tying criteria to specific functional limits and lifelong supports.
Status: Referred to Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; reported favorably to Senate Rules (see timeline below)
Introduced: January 16–17, 2025
Sponsor (filed in MA Senate): Joan B. Lovely (with Michael J. Barrett listed on petition)
Effective date (if enacted): January 1, 2027
Note on source material: the bill text provided pertains to amending the statutory definition of “person with a developmental disability” in Massachusetts General Laws chapter 123B, §1. (There is an apparent mismatch between the top-line title you supplied — “Allows lifetime orders of protection in certain cases” — and the actual bill text, which updates the definition of developmental disability. This summary is based on the bill text.)
Purpose / Intent
- To revise and clarify the statutory definition of “person with a developmental disability” in chapter 123B, §1, to specify age thresholds, diagnostic and functional criteria, service needs, and the relationship (and distinction) between developmental disability and mental illness.
Key provisions (what the bill changes)
- Replaces existing text in chapter 123B, §1 with a two-part definition:
1. For individuals aged 5 or older:
- Requires a severe, chronic disability attributable to a mental or physical impairment (or both).
- Must be manifested before age 22.
- Must be likely to continue indefinitely.
- Must result in substantial functional limitations in at least 3 of these 7 major life areas:
- self‑care;
- receptive and expressive language;
- learning;
- mobility;
- self‑direction;
- capacity for independent living;
- economic self‑sufficiency.
- Must reflect a need for a combination/sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic services, individualized supports, or other assistance that are lifelong or of extended duration and individually planned/coordinated.
2. For children under age 5:
- Covers those with a substantial developmental delay or a specific congenital/acquired condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental disability if services are not provided.
- Adds a clarifying sentence about mental illness: a person with a developmental disability may also be considered mentally ill; however, no one shall be considered mentally ill solely by virtue of having a developmental disability.
Who would be affected
- Individuals in Massachusetts who are seeking eligibility determination for services and supports under chapter 123B (state programs for persons with developmental disabilities) — including children under 5 and persons 5 or older.
- State agencies and programs that determine eligibility, plan services, allocate supports, and make legal or clinical distinctions between developmental disability and mental illness (for example, the Department of Developmental Services and related provider networks).
- Families, guardians, clinicians, and local service providers who apply statutory criteria to assessments, individual service plans, and access to long‑term or coordinated supports.
Potential impacts / implications
- Clarifies eligibility thresholds and the functional domains used in assessment, which could affect who qualifies for services and the scope/duration of those services.
- The explicit carve‑out regarding mental illness may influence clinical determinations, recordkeeping, and cross‑system coordination between developmental disability and mental health services.
- The under‑5 provision emphasizes early identification and prescriptive eligibility for services based on developmental delay or high‑risk conditions.
Procedural timeline (select)
- 2025-01-16/17: Bill filed/introduced in the Senate; read twice and referred to committee.
- 2025-01-08 / 2025-02-27: Records show referrals to committees on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities (some duplication in entries).
- 2025-06-03: Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025.
- 2025-06-23: Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Rules.
- Related/companion measures: HR 488, A 5222; prior-session bills listed (e.g., S 7908, S 2275).
Notes and caveats
- This summary is based on the bill text amending chapter 123B, §1. The metadata you provided includes other items (a different title about orders of protection and a list of U.S. Senators as sponsors) that appear inconsistent with the Massachusetts state bill text; those items were not reflected in the statute language and are not discussed here except as a noted discrepancy.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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