Bill > H1888

This bill aims to provide liability protection for disaster volunteers, particularly licensed registered nurses in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Exempting licensed registered nurses who volunteer their services during a declared disaster or emergency from licensure board discipline, civil liability, and criminal prosecution, as long as their acts or omissions do not amount to criminal negligence. 2. Defining "disaster" to include emergencies declared by the Governor or local public health authorities, where local resources have been or are expected to be exhausted. 3. Providing workers' compensation-like benefits to volunteers who sustain injury, disability, or death while serving as a volunteer during a declared disaster or emergency, treating them as employees of the Commonwealth. The bill is intended to encourage and protect licensed registered nurses who volunteer their services during disasters and emergencies, ensuring that community needs can be met without volunteers facing potential legal consequences for their actions, as long as they do not engage in criminal negligence.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1888