Yesterday, the Massachusetts legislature passed its budget without an amendment that would have banned the use of electrical shocks as punishments at the Judge Rotenberg Center:

State Sen. Brian A. Joyce, who has pressed for a ban for years, said he was "incredibly disappointed once again."

"The pervasive influence of money from lawyers and lobbyists and public relations specialists trumps our moral obligation to protect innocent disabled children at the Judge Rotenberg Center," he told FOX Undercover.

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Senator Brian Joyce talks with Anderson Cooper about efforts to end electrical shocks at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Massachusetts.  They state that the JRC makes $52 million dollars a year, much of which comes from taxpayers, and spends over $2 million dollars on lawyers and lobbyists.

Click here to watch.

The UN's special rapporteur on torture has asked the United States to investigate the Judge Rotenberg Center, and protesters are calling for the Massachusetts legislature to ban the use of electrical shocks on patients there.

Juan Mendez may report the JRC to the United Nations human rights council:

The rapporteur plans to contact the US state department and has the option of reporting the matter to the UN human rights council.

Mendez said he was "very concerned" about the use of electric shocks, which are inflicted on autistic children through pads applied to their skin.

"The use of electricity on anyone's body raises the question of whether this is therapeutic or whether it inflicts pain and suffering tantamount to torture in violation of international law," he added.

About 70 people rallied yesterday at the Massachusetts State House:

“The effort to ban this practice has been going on for decades,” said state Senator Brian A. Joyce, a leading advocate for the ban in the Legislature, in an interview during the rally. “I’ve learned to temper my optimism with the reality that there are well-paid lawyers, lobbyists, and PR people defending the school. But I’m more hopeful than ever before that this will pass” because of support from Governor Patrick, the success of the new regulations, and the recent circulation of a video showing a student getting shocked.

Cheryl McCollins of Brooklyn told the crowd about her son’s experience with the shock treatment, which was caught on video.

“There’s video of my son being tortured,” McCollins said. “It’s mind-boggling. We’re trying to stop something that never should have started.”

Click here to watch a news video on the protest.