S1073
An Act relative to capacity determination
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill, S.1073, addresses the process of determining a patient’s capacity to make healthcare decisions. It seeks to clarify how healthcare providers assess a patient’s ability to understand and utilize information to make decisions about their medical care. The bill’s purpose is to establish clearer guidelines for capacity determination, potentially improving the consistency and transparency of this process. It was referred to the Senate Committee on The Judiciary and subsequently the Senate Committee on Health Care Financing.
Key provisions
- Clarifies the criteria for determining a patient’s capacity.
- Addresses the role of healthcare providers in assessing capacity.
- May establish procedures for documenting capacity determinations.
- Potentially outlines considerations for patients with cognitive impairments.
Who is affected
- Patients
- Healthcare providers
- Families of patients
- Medical facilities
Notable changes
- The bill’s specific changes to current law are not detailed in the provided text.
- It likely aims to standardize capacity assessment practices.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Jr. William J. Driscoll
Cosponsors
James B. Eldridge
John F. Keenan
Jr. William J. Driscoll
Arguments in favor
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Bill S.1073 194th (Current)
An Act relative to capacity determination
By Mr. Driscoll, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1073) of William J. Driscoll, Jr. for legislation relative to capacity determination by a health care provider. The Judiciary.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: William J. Driscoll, Jr. Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Tabs
Bill History Petitioners Committee Vote Fiscal Note Primary Sponsor Summary
Bill History
Displaying 7 actions for Bill S.1073
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
| 2/27/2025 | House | House concurred |
| 11/7/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 |
| 11/18/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 2/12/2026 | Senate | Reporting date extended to Monday March 2, 2026 |
| 2/26/2026 | Senate | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing |
| 4/2/2026 | Senate | Committee recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means |
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