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Committee Hears Bills to Expand Abuse Registry and Strengthen Disabled Persons Protection Commission
Summary
Witnesses urged the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities to expand the state's abuse registry to include MassHealth day habilitation programs and to modernize the Disabled Persons Protection Commission's statute to improve investigations and confidentiality protections.
Members of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony Thursday urging expansion of the state's abuser registry and updates to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission's (DPPC) enabling statute to improve protections for adults with disabilities.
Supporters said expanding "Nikki's Law" to require MassHealth-funded day habilitation and day rehabilitation programs to check the registry and tightening DPPC's statutory tools would close gaps that leave people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at risk.
Senator John Keenan, sponsor of Senate 139 and House 243, told the committee the bill would streamline DPPC referrals, allow online reporting for non-emergencies, eliminate duplicate written-report requirements, and codify…
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