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S 1042

An Act relative to life saving treatment

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nick Collins

Requires in-hospital social work evaluation and recovery-coach meeting before discharge for overdose patients, with remote participation/evaluations allowed in civil-commitment cas

Accompanied a study order, see S2931
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Bill Summary · S 1042

Summary — S.1042: "An Act relative to life saving treatment" (Massachusetts)

Note: The materials provided include multiple, unrelated bills labeled S 1042 (including an Idaho landlord-tenant measure). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts bill titled “An Act relative to life saving treatment” (Senate Docket No. 2528), filed by Senator Nick Collins.

Main purpose / intent

To strengthen post-overdose care and civil-commitment procedures by requiring in-hospital connection to social work and recovery services before discharge, and by permitting remote participation and remote evaluations in certain civil-commitment proceedings under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 123, Section 35.

Key provisions

  • Overrides conflicting laws where necessary (“Notwithstanding any special or General law to the contrary”).
  • Remote participation and evaluation:
    • If a petition for civil commitment under M.G.L. c.123, §35 is filed while the individual is in a hospital, the individual and their independent counsel may participate in the subsequent court hearing remotely.
    • Court-ordered evaluations under this section may be performed remotely.
  • Required in-hospital evaluation and engagement before discharge:
    • A patient who has suffered an overdose or who required administration of an opioid antagonist (e.g., naloxone) may not be discharged from a medical facility until:
    • They have been evaluated by a licensed social worker; and
    • They have had a meeting with a recovery coach and navigator.
  • For patients in public health facilities licensed under §35, discharge cannot be granted unless approved by the judge who issued the civil-commitment order.

Who is affected

  • Patients treated for an overdose (and those who received an opioid antagonist) — will receive mandated evaluation and recovery supports before discharge.
  • Hospitals, emergency departments, and other medical facilities — must arrange licensed social worker evaluations and recovery-coach/navigator meetings prior to discharge when applicable.
  • Licensed social workers, recovery coaches, and navigators — increased role and demand for timely in-hospital engagement.
  • Courts and counsel involved in §35 civil-commitment matters — authorized/required to allow remote participation and remote evaluations in hospital-initiated cases.
  • Public health facilities subject to §35 — judge must approve discharge in civil-commitment cases.

Potential impacts and implementation considerations

  • Clinical workflow: may extend in-hospital stays or require faster on-site/telehealth availability of social workers and recovery coaches.
  • Resource needs: facilities may need to staff or contract licensed social workers and recovery navigators; increased coordination with community treatment providers.
  • Legal/administrative: courts will need processes and technology to support remote hearings and remote evaluations; judges retain discharge authority in §35 cases.
  • Public health outcomes: intended to improve linkage to treatment, reduce risk of immediate post-discharge overdose, and enhance continuity of care.

Procedural status / timeline

  • Filed (Senate Docket No. 2528) on 1/17/2025 by Senator Nick Collins (First Suffolk).
  • Referred to the Judiciary (per docket notes).
  • Hearing scheduled: 06/03/2025, Room A-2 (01:00 PM–09:00 PM per provided schedule).
  • No effective date included in the text as provided.

If you’d like, I can:
- Extract the exact statutory language references for incorporation into facility policies;
- Draft a short checklist hospitals could use to comply with the bill’s discharge requirements; or
- Compare this proposal to existing Massachusetts regulations and typical hospital discharge practices.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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