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SD 2552

An Act to establish community notification standards for group homes

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Pat Duffy and 1 co-sponsor

Requires new group homes to give 60-day written notice to host municipalities and abutting property owners before opening, boosting local oversight.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 2552

Summary: SD 2552 — An Act to establish community notification standards for group homes

Purpose and scope

This proposed Massachusetts bill would require certain group homes to provide advance written notification to the host municipality and to abutting property owners before beginning operations. The goal is to improve community awareness and oversight of group homes that serve individuals with disabilities, mental health needs, or other vulnerable populations.

Key provisions

  • Definitions (Section 1A)

    • “Group home”: a residential facility licensed or operated by the Commonwealth or a contracted agency that offers housing and support services for designated vulnerable populations.
    • “Municipality”: any city or town in Massachusetts.
    • “Abutting property owner”: any owner of property directly adjacent to the group home.

  • Notification requirements (Section 1B)

    • New group homes must provide written notice at least 60 days before commencing operations.
    • Notice must include:
    • the group home’s address;
    • the type of services provided;
    • contact information for the operator or managing entity.

  • Penalties (Section 1C)

    • Noncompliance with notification requirements (and related PILOT requirements) can trigger penalties, including:
    • financial penalties up to $5,000 per violation; and
    • suspension of state funding or licensing.

  • Oversight and reporting (Section 1D)

    • The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) would oversee implementation and enforcement.
    • The EOHLC must annually report to the Legislature on:
    • compliance rates with notification requirements; and
    • the number of group homes in each municipality.

  • Transition for existing group homes (Section 2)

    • Existing group homes must submit the required notification to host municipalities and abutting property owners within six months of passage.

  • Miscellaneous (Section 3)

    • Severability: if part of the act is invalid, the remainder remains in effect.

  • Effective date (Section 4)

    • The act would take effect on January 1, 2026.

Affected parties

  • Group home operators and managing entities.
  • Host municipalities and town/city officials.
  • Abutting property owners and nearby residents.
  • State agencies, notably the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Timeline and procedural status

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Referred to the House Committee on Housing (same date in the record).
  • Status: House concurred (per the provided information).
  • Effective date: January 1, 2026.
  • Compliance deadline for existing group homes: within six months after enactment.

Potential impact

  • Increased local transparency and community awareness of new group homes.
  • Administrative requirements and potential costs for operators to prepare and deliver notices.
  • Possible penalties and withholding of state funding/licensing for noncompliance.
  • A mechanism for state-level tracking and reporting on group home distribution and compliance.

Note: The bill text references compliance with “PILOT” requirements in penalties, though PILOT details are not expanded within the summary.

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

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