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SD 2528

An Act relative to life saving treatment

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

The bill tightens life-saving care by requiring social-work evaluation and recovery-coach meeting before discharge for overdose patients and expands remote participation in hospita

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 2528

Summary of Senate Bill 2528 (An Act relative to life saving treatment)

Overview

  • Bill number and title: Senate Docket No. 2528, "An Act relative to life saving treatment."
  • Sponsor: Nick Collins.
  • Purpose: To tighten and streamline life-saving procedures for overdose patients and to update certain civil-commitment processes involving hospital-based settings.
  • Status: House concurred. Introduced February 27, 2025; referred to The Judiciary (2/27/2025).

Key Provisions

1) Remote participation in civil commitment proceedings for hospital-based petitions
- If a petition for civil commitment under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 123, Section 35 is filed while the individual is in a hospital, the patient and their independent counsel may participate in the ensuing court hearing remotely.
- A court-ordered evaluation under this section may be conducted remotely.

2) Discharge requirements for overdose cases
- No discharge from a medical facility (where the overdose occurred or where an opioid antagonist was administered) may occur until:
- An evaluation by a licensed social worker has taken place; and
- A meeting with a recovery coach and a navigator has occurred.
- These provisions apply notwithstanding any conflicting general or special law.

3) Discharge authorization for public health facilities
- The discharge of a patient from a public health facility licensed under Chapter 123, Section 35 may not be granted without the approval of the judge who issued the civil-commitment order.

4) General framing
- The opening language emphasizes that these changes override any contrary laws to ensure life-saving treatment and continuity of care for overdose patients.

Who is Affected

  • Overdose patients admitted to medical facilities (including those who required an opioid antagonist).
  • Patients undergoing civil commitment proceedings under Ch. 123, Sec. 35, while in hospital settings.
  • Hospitals, public health facilities, independent counsel, licensed social workers, recovery coaches, and navigators.
  • Judges issuing civil-commitment orders.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Filing date: January 17, 2025 (Senate Bill/Senate Docket No. 2528).
  • Legislative action: Referred to The Judiciary (2/27/2025).
  • Status update: House concurred (2/27/2025), indicating alignment between the Senate-passed and House actions at that time.

Potential Implications

  • Increased requirements before discharging overdose patients, emphasizing social-work evaluation and engagement with recovery support personnel.
  • Expanded use of remote participation for hospital-based civil-commitment hearings and evaluations, potentially reducing the need for in-person appearances.
  • Discharge decisions for patients in public health facilities would require judicial involvement, potentially affecting timelines and coordination between medical and judicial entities.
  • Overall aim: enhance life-saving treatment and continuity of care for overdose patients while aligning civil-commitment procedures with hospital-based realities.

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

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