Opinion of the Justices to the Senate

To the Honorable the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court respectfully submit their answer to the question set forth in an order adopted by the Senate on October 28, 1999, and transmitted to the Justices on November 3, 1999.1 The order indicates that there is pending before the General Court a bill, Senate No. 148, entitled *1036“An Act relative to health care facilities.” A copy of the bill was transmitted with the order. The bill adds five new paragraphs to G. L. c. 266, § 120E, creating fixed buffer zones of twenty-five feet from any portion of…