Massachusetts 194th General Court Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

S1520 — An Act to protect a patient’s right to a support person at health care facilities

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 194th General Court. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

This bill ensures patients can have a support person at healthcare facilities.

The bill establishes a patient's right to have a support person accompany them in healthcare facilities. This support can help patients navigate their care and make informed decisions.

What this means for you
  • Families: This ensures you can be present with your loved one for emotional and decision-making support.
  • Patients: This means you can have someone with you for support during your healthcare visits.

Summary

An Act to protect a patient’s right to a support person at health care facilities

Bill Text

  • Full text Current

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill allows patients to have a support person present during treatment and consultations without requiring vaccinations for that person.

  • Section 70E of chapter 111

    (p) to a person of their choosing to serve as a support person. The support person may be present with the patient 24 hours a day in patient-accessible areas of the health care facility or provider’s office to accompany the patient while the patient is receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or is consulting with their health care provider. A health care facility may temporarily restrict the presence of the support person during surgeries or emergency interventions. Health care facilities shall not require the support person to receive any vaccination as a condition for access to the patient.

    This change allows patients to designate a support person who can be with them during medical treatments and consultations, and ensures that the support person cannot be required to receive vaccinations.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 203 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (203)

203 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 203 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S1520 do?
An Act to protect a patient’s right to a support person at health care facilities
Who sponsors S1520?
S1520 is sponsored by Peter J. Durant (Republican).
What is the current status of S1520?
This bill died with 194th General Court. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S1520?
Track S1520 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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