Substitute Bill No. 254 Summary

• Establishes a task force to study health and safety impacts of sex offender registry residents in long-term care facilities and the registry's effects on access to care and personal health for those listed.

• Task force composition includes 8 members: representatives from sexual violence prevention, senior services, sexual assault survivor support, healthcare employees, nonprofit organizations serving older adults, justice-impacted persons, civil liberties organizations, plus Commissioners of Public Health and Mental Health and Addiction Services.

• Two co-chairs will lead the task force: a representative from an alliance aimed at ending sexual violence and a representative from a New England health care employees association.

• All initial appointments must be made within 30 days of the effective date, with the first meeting held within 60 days.

• Task force must submit findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee on public health by January 1, 2023, and automatically terminates on that date or upon report submission, whichever is later.