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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts legislature expands abuse definitions and establishes a special state police unit for persons with disabilities
Last action · December 4, 2025: Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and MeansSponsors: Sean Garballey and 54 others
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What This Bill Would Do
By Representatives Garballey of Arlington and Cataldo of Concord, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 243) of Sean Garballey, Simon Cataldo and others relative to terminology and investigative practices related to the protection of persons with disabilities. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
Caretakers, employers, and s must follow revised investigation procedures and referral protocols when state agencies review abuse allegations under the enacted changes.
- Chapter 19C of the Massachusetts General Laws establishes the legal framework for the protection of persons with disabilities from abuse and governs the operations of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Persons with disabilities
Their protections against abuse, investigative procedures, and the handling of confidential records by state agencies are modified by the bill.
Mandated reporters
They are subject to updated reporting requirements and procedures when suspecting abuse or reportable conditions.
Disabled Persons Protection Commission
The commission gains a special investigative unit, new commissioner term structures, and revised referral and confidentiality mandates.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered 'abuse per se' under this bill?
Who must be assigned to the new special investigative unit?
Are investigation records public under this measure?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
5 actions- Dec 4, 2025HouseCommitteeCommittee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- Sep 17, 2025HouseCommitteeReported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
- Jun 3, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Dedicated State Police Unit
The legislation shifts investigative handling of criminal allegations involving persons with disabilities to a dedicated special unit backed by assigned state police personnel.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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