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S 139

Relates to insurance requirements for third-party food delivery services

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Updates MA Chapter 19C to redefine abuse and strengthen reporting, clarifying responsibilities of caretakers and mandated reporters to better protect adults with disabilities.

PRINT NUMBER 139B
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Bill Summary · S 139

Summary — S.139 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 194th General Court, 2025‑2026)

Overview / Purpose

S.139, filed January 15–16, 2025 and presented by Senator John F. Keenan, is titled “An Act updating terminology and investigative practices related to the protection of persons with disabilities.” The bill revises Chapter 19C of the Massachusetts General Laws (the statute governing the Disabled Persons Protection Commission and investigations of abuse of adults with disabilities) to update definitions, clarify reportable conditions and investigative responses, and amend certain commission governance provisions.

Note: the submission contains some inconsistent metadata (an initial title about food‑delivery insurance and a separate list of federal sponsors) that appear unrelated to the Massachusetts text below. This summary addresses the Massachusetts S.139 text.

Key provisions and changes

  • Redefines and clarifies core terms used in Chapter 19C:

    • “Abuse” — defined as an act or omission by a caretaker resulting in serious physical or emotional injury; excludes treatment provided under religious tenets by an accredited practitioner.
    • “Abuse per se” — newly defined as certain acts or omissions that are considered abusive by their nature regardless of whether serious injury is shown. Explicit examples include:
    • Sexual abuse of a person with a disability;
    • Withholding adaptive aids (unless related to safety, care, or treatment);
    • A pattern of touching not required or appropriate for care; and
    • Intentional/wanton/reckless application of physical force that causes pain or serious emotional injury.
    • “Disabled person” — defined as persons age 18–59 with intellectual/developmental or other mental/physical disabilities who are wholly or partially dependent on others for daily living; “person with a disability” may be used interchangeably.
    • “Caretaker” and “Mandated reporter” — clarified lists and scope (parents, guardians, staff, emergency personnel, health professionals, those who assist with daily living, etc.).
    • “Reportable condition” and “Recommendation” — clarified the threshold for reporting and the nature of investigator recommendations intended to protect individuals.

  • Changes to Commission governance:

    • The Disabled Persons Protection Commission will consist of 3 members appointed by the Governor (one designated chair), each serving 5‑year terms.
    • Clarifies that appointees filling vacancies serve the unexpired term.

  • Additional technical and cross‑reference edits to section/subsection numbering and references (some later text in the provided document is truncated).

Who is affected

  • Adults with disabilities (ages 18–59) receiving care or dependent on caretakers in private homes, state‑contracted programs, foster homes, and other settings.
  • Caretakers and staff of state agencies and private providers contracted/licensed by the Commonwealth.
  • Mandated reporters in health, education, emergency services, social services and direct‑care roles.
  • The Disabled Persons Protection Commission (structure and processes).

Procedural status and timeline (selected)

  • Filed/introduced: Jan 15–16, 2025.
  • Initial referrals: Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; also activity in Consumer Protection and Health/Education/Labor & Pensions noted in record.
  • Print numbers: 139A (5/22/2025) and 139B (5/30/2025).
  • Hearing scheduled: June 10, 2025 (committee hearing).
  • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Ways & Means: June 26, 2025.

Notes / Caveats

  • The provided document contains extraneous PDF artifacts and some truncated sections; some amendments referenced later in the bill text are incomplete in the materials supplied. This summary is based on the explicit definitions and governance changes present in the readable portions of the bill.

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

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