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Bill

H 3956

Wayne Corley sympathy

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Exempts Fairview Hospital from DoN requirements for a major capital project to replace/expand facilities (within 25 beds) and add an MRI unit, bypassing state review.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 3956

Summary — H.3956 (House Bill) / “Wayne Corley sympathy” (file contains two distinct measures)

Note: The document provided appears to combine two different items under one docket number. One is a Massachusetts bill titled “An Act exempting Fairview Hospital from determination of need requirements” (filed in the Massachusetts House). The other is a South Carolina House resolution expressing sympathy on the death of Otto Wayne (Wayne) Corley (a condolence resolution). This summary treats both items separately and then summarizes procedural notes and outstanding ambiguities.

A. Massachusetts bill: “An Act exempting Fairview Hospital from determination of need requirements” (House No. 3956 / House Docket No. 3420)

Purpose / intent

To exempt Fairview Hospital (Great Barrington, MA) from Massachusetts “determination of need” (DoN) requirements for a specified substantial capital expenditure, allowing the hospital to replace and expand existing inpatient and outpatient facilities (within its existing 25‑bed complement) and to add a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit.

Key provisions

  • Explicitly provides an exemption from section 25C of chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws (and any conflicting general or special law or regulation).
  • Applies to a “substantial capital expenditure” as defined in section 25B of chapter 111.
  • Scope limited to replacing and expanding Fairview Hospital’s inpatient and outpatient facilities within its 25‑bed complement and adding an MRI unit.

Who is affected

  • Fairview Hospital (Town of Great Barrington) — primary beneficiary, able to proceed without going through the state DoN process for this project.
  • State health planning/Certificate of Need (DoN) authorities — their oversight/approval would be bypassed for this project.
  • Competing providers or regional planning entities — may be affected insofar as DoN exemptions alter regional capacity/planning and competitive dynamics.

Potential impact

  • Expedites capital project by removing DoN procedural and substantive review.
  • Limits the state’s ability to evaluate community need, potential duplication of services, and system-wide impacts for this project.
  • Financial and access effects are project-specific (e.g., improved local imaging and inpatient/outpatient services) but not quantified in the bill.

B. South Carolina House resolution: Expression of sympathy on the passing of Otto Wayne Corley

Purpose / content

A condolence resolution adopted by the South Carolina House of Representatives expressing sorrow at the death (Feb. 4, 2025) of Otto Wayne Corley (age 86). The resolution:
- Summarizes his biography (education, military service, law career, civic involvement).
- Recognizes his public finance work and community leadership.
- Extends deepest sympathy to his family and directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to them.

Status

  • Introduced and adopted (filed 02/11/2025, per the text).

Procedural timeline & notes / Ambiguities

  • Massachusetts filing date (House docket entry): 01/17/2025. Representative Leigh Davis (3rd Berkshire) is listed as petitioner.
  • The MA bill text cites chapter 111, sections 25B and 25C (DoN statutes).
  • Legislative actions listed include: referred to Public Health (03/31/2025), Senate concurred (04/03/2025), and several hearings scheduled/rescheduled for 09/29/2025 (times/locations noted). These dates appear to relate to the MA measure, but the mix of “Senate concurred” and later hearings is unclear and may reflect docketing/administrative entries.
  • The file also indicates “Introduced and adopted” on 02/11/2025 — which matches the South Carolina condolence resolution date, not the MA bill.

Recommended next step

Consult the official Massachusetts legislative website (Massachusetts General Court) and the South Carolina House Journal to confirm current legal status, which text pertains to which jurisdiction, and which actions apply to each measure.

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

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