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Mass. General Laws c.123

Mental health

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 123.

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§ 1 Definitions 
§ 2 Regulations 
2A Regulations; geographically-isolated communities 

Added by St.2022, c.177, § 46, effective November 8, 2022

§ 3 Transfers; notice; emergencies 
§ 4 Periodic review; notice 
§ 5 Commitment or retention hearings; right to counsel; medical examination; notice 
§ 6 Retention of persons; validity of orders; hearing 
§ 7 Commitment and retention of dangerous persons; petition; notice; hearing 
§ 8 Proceedings to commit dangerous persons; notice; hearing; orders; jurisdiction 
§ 8B Treatment of committed persons with antipsychotic medication; petition; notice; hearing; guardian 
§ 9 Review of matters of law; application for discharge; notice; hearing 
§ 10 Voluntary admissions; consultation with attorney; discharge; outpatients; veterans 
§ 11 Voluntary admissions; withdrawal; notice; examination; retention 
§ 12 Emergency restraint and hospitalization of persons posing risk of serious harm by reason of mental illness 
§ 13 Transfer of dangerous males to Bridgewater state hospital; retention period; further commitment; procedure 
§ 14 Transfers from Bridgewater state hospital to other facilities 
§ 15 Competence to stand trial or criminal responsibility; examination; period of observation; reports; hearing; commitment; delinquents 
§ 16 Hospitalization of persons incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of mental illness; examination period; commitment; hearing; restrictions; dismissal of criminal charges 
§ 17 Periodic review of incompetence to stand trial; petition; hearing; continued treatment; defense to charges; release 
§ 18 Hospitalization of mentally ill prisoners; examination; reports; hearing; commitment; voluntary admission; reduction of sentence; discharge 

Amended by St.2022, c.177, §§ 47-48, effective November 8, 2022

§ 18A Facility residents; contribution towards cost of counsel 
§ 19 Parties or witnesses; determination of mental condition 
§ 20 Extradition of mental institution escapees 
§ 21 Transportation of mentally ill persons; restraint 
§ 22 Civil liability of physicians, qualified psychologists, qualified psychiatric nurse mental health clinic specialists, police officers and licensed independent clinical social workers 
§ 23 Rights of persons receiving services from programs or facilities of department of mental health 
§ 23A Competent interpreter services in hospitals which provide acute psychiatric services 
§ 24 Legal capacity of persons admitted or committed 
§ 25 Guardian or conservator; appointment 
§ 26 Deposit of funds held in trust for inpatients or residents; unclaimed funds and personal property; fiduciaries 
§ 27 Administration of estate of deceased inpatient or resident 
§ 28 Violent or unnatural death of patients; notice to district attorney 
§ 29 Instruction and education; work programs; sale of work products 
§ 30 Unauthorized absence of patients; notification of police, et al.; return 
§ 31 Medicine and drugs; indigent patients 
§ 32 Charges for care of persons in facilities 
§ 33 Expenses of apprehension, examination, hearing, commitment or delivery; certification; audit; payment; fees 
§ 34 Commitment or transfer to Veterans Administration or other federal agency 
§ 35 Commitment of someone with alcohol or substance use disorder 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 285, §§ 16-18, effective December 23, 2024

§ 36 Patient records; inspection; maintenance and retention 
§ 36A Court records of examination or commitment; privacy 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 135, § 11, effective October 2, 2024

§ 36B Duty to warn patient's potential victims; cause of action 
§ 36C Transmission of committed person's name and nonclinical, identifying information to department of criminal justice information services; prohibition of committed person from being issued firearm identification card or license to carry 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 135, § 12, effective October 2, 2024

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