Bill > H2704

This bill modifies existing Massachusetts law regarding the treatment of postpartum women in correctional facilities by updating the guidelines for post-delivery hospital stays. Specifically, the bill requires that an inmate who has given birth must remain in the hospital not only until the attending physician certifies that she can be safely discharged and transferred back to the correctional facility, but also until the pediatrician caring for the infant determines that the infant has had sufficient time with its biological mother, with this period not to exceed 72 hours. This provision aims to ensure both the physical recovery of the mother and support the critical early bonding and health needs of the newborn. The bill represents an effort to balance the requirements of correctional institutions with the medical and developmental needs of postpartum women and their infants by mandating a minimum period of hospital stay that prioritizes maternal and infant health.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2704