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S 491

Relates to including the basis of religious attire and facial hair in the definition of unlawful discriminatory practice

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Samra Brouk and 3 co-sponsors

The bill directs state and local agencies to create confidential inventories of essential needs for adults 60+ and people with disabilities to guide emergency care during crises.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 491

Summary — S.491 (2025): An Act to improve resilience in older adults and people with disabilities during public health, environmental or technological emergencies

Note on metadata: the bill text below S.491 is a Massachusetts state bill filed by Senator Bruce E. Tarr concerning emergency resilience for older adults and people with disabilities. Some provided metadata (title about religious attire/facial hair and a list of federal sponsors) appears inconsistent with the bill text; this summary is based on the bill text as filed in the Massachusetts Senate.

Purpose / Intent

To strengthen emergency preparedness and response for older adults (age 60+) and people with disabilities by directing state agencies and local entities to assess and plan for “resilience factors” and to create confidential inventories of individuals’ essential service needs so responders can provide appropriate care during declared emergencies.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 — State-level directive:

    • When a state of emergency is declared under chapter 630, §5 (or in preparation for such a declaration), the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Elder Affairs shall direct health, public safety, and emergency management personnel to provide care to older adults and people with disabilities using resilience factors, including: demographic, physical, psychological, spiritual, and socio‑cultural factors.
    • This directive is applied notwithstanding any other law to the contrary.

  • Section 2 — Local inventories and needs assessments:

    • Councils on aging (per G.L. c.40 §8B that receive an annual grant) and local housing authorities (per G.L. c.121B §3) must develop an inventory of service and support needs of older adults and people with disabilities who may require essential services during emergencies in their jurisdiction.
    • “Essential services” is defined broadly to include social, medical, psychiatric, and legal services needed to protect rights/resources and maintain physical/mental well‑being — e.g., medical care, assistance with personal hygiene, food, clothing, adequately heated/ventilated shelter, and protection from hazards. The definition explicitly excludes involuntary physical custody without consent.
    • The inventory must include: name and contact information for adults 60+ and persons with disabilities; specific needs (e.g., mobility aids, medications, oxygen, other medical equipment), needs for electrical power, communications, flood protection, and designated and alternative shelter locations capable of serving older adults, people with disabilities, and their pets.
    • Inventories are to be shared with state health, public safety and emergency management professionals, must comply with applicable privacy laws, and are not public records.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: adults aged 60+ and persons with disabilities of any age.
  • Obligated entities: local councils on aging that receive grants and local housing authorities; state agencies (Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Executive Office of Elder Affairs), and emergency response/public safety organizations.
  • Secondary impacts: emergency shelters, health and social service providers, and local governments (administrative workload and coordination).

Procedural status (selected actions)

  • Introduced in Massachusetts Senate: 2025-02-06
  • Passed Senate: 2025-04-24
  • Delivered to Assembly: 2025-04-24
  • Referred to Governmental Operations (current status): 2025-04-24
  • Hearing scheduled (per record): 06/24/2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM)

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Expected benefits: better-informed, targeted emergency response for vulnerable populations; preservation of health/rights; inclusion of pet needs; reduced risk from power-dependent medical devices and communication failures.
  • Implementation issues: the bill creates planning and data-collection responsibilities but does not specify funding or technical support—local agencies may require resources, training, or interoperability solutions to collect, secure, and share inventories consistent with privacy law.
  • Privacy and liability: inventories are protected from public disclosure under the bill, but practices for data security, consent, and access control should be addressed during implementation.

Related/Background

  • Similar matter referenced from prior session (Senate No. 403, 2023–2024). Companion bill identified as A3248.

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

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