BOSTON – Last week, Representative Michelle Ciccolo (D-Lexington) and Representative Rich Haggerty (D-Woburn), along with their colleagues in the House of Representatives, unanimously passed legislation to create a registry of care providers who harmed a person or persons with an intellectual or developmental disability. The bill had previously passed the Senate unanimously with the support of Senator Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) on Oct. 17, 2020.
“It is unconscionable that we do not have laws on the books to adequately protect disabled persons in Massachusetts who experience harm by their own caretakers,” said Senator Friedman. “The Legislature has shown its commitment to protecting our state’s disabled population by passing this important legislation, which would make it much easier to identify abusive caretakers in our communities. This is a commonsense step that will make an enormous impact on our families, friends and neighbors throughout the Commonwealth.”