Senate, May 20, 2024 -- The committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1243) of Julian Cyr, Liz Miranda, Vanna Howard and Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation relative to harm reduction and racial justice, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2787).
Senate, May 23, 2024 -- The committee on Health Care Financing, to whom was referred the Senate Bills to establish guardians as providers of medical care to support the rights of incapacitated persons (Senate, No. 108); relative to emergency medical services oversight (Senate, No. 2739); and to improve oral health for all Massachusetts residents (Senate, No. 2795) , reports the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2795).
Senate, June 6, 23024 -- The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 71) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation to minimize trauma to children and families; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 80) of Ryan C. Fattman, Diana Dizoglio, Kay Khan, David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and other members of the General Court for legislation to create an electronic backpack for foster children; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 120) of Susan L. Moran, Joanne M. Comerford, James B. Eldridge and Mark C. Montigny for legislation to eliminate disproportionality and inequities for at-risk children; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 124) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Michael J. Finn, Lydia Edwards, Patrick M. O'Connor and others for legislation to enhance child welfare protections; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 153) of Paul J. Donato and others that the Child Advocate report on disproportionality and inequity in services provided by child-serving state entities; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 156) of Tricia Farley-Bouvier and others relative to the powers of the Child Advocate to appear, intervene in or bring actions on behalf the Commonwealth; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 165) of Michael J. Finn and others relative to the appointment of an education manager to support educational stability and success for elementary and secondary school students under the care of the Department of Children and Families; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 175) of Denise C. Garlick and Patrick Joseph Kearney for legislation to provide educational stability for vulnerable children; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 190) of Kay Khan, David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and others for legislation to authorize the Department of Children and Families to establish an electronic repository of foster youths educational records; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 195) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, Bud L. Williams and Vanna Howard relative to educational support for children in foster care; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 204) of Joan Meschino and others relative to minimizing trauma to court-involved children and families, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2804).
This bill creates a new licensing system for commercial interior designers in Massachusetts by establishing a state board to oversee registration and a selection board to review government design projects. The legislation defines the specific scope of work that interior designers can perform independently, such as designing interior spaces without altering core structural elements or major safety systems. It sets out requirements for board membership, including experience levels and appointment terms, while also outlining the qualifications needed for individuals to obtain a two-year registration license.
This bill authorizes funding through 2030 to upgrade information technology, cybersecurity, and telecommunications systems across various state agencies and public institutions. The legislation allocates hundreds of millions of dollars for purchasing hardware and software, planning new projects, and modernizing how state services are delivered to residents. A key provision allows agencies to keep any federal reimbursement money received for these projects and use it for the same purposes without needing additional approval. Additionally, the bill includes a mechanism where revenue or budget savings generated by these technology projects can be transferred to the state treasurer to pay off related debt. Specific funds are also set aside for strategic initiatives, business intelligence improvements, and a security operations center at Bridgewater State University.
Senate, June 6,2024 -- The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 68) of Joanne M. Comerford, Sean Garballey and Vanna Howard for legislation to establish a bill of rights for children in foster care; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 164) of Michael J. Finn and others relative to establishing a bill of rights for children in foster care, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2803).
This bill authorizes the House Transportation Committee to conduct a study on specific transportation-related documents during a legislative recess. The committee must investigate these materials and submit a report with any recommendations or draft laws by December 31, 2024. This action is a procedural step to organize further research rather than a direct change to transportation laws or funding.
This bill authorizes the House Transportation Committee to conduct a study of various related documents regarding transportation planning. The committee must complete its investigation and submit a report with any recommendations or draft legislation by December 31, 2024. This action is a procedural step to gather information and potential policy ideas rather than enacting immediate changes.
This bill directs the House Committee on Higher Education to conduct a study of various related documents while the legislature is in recess. The committee must complete its investigation and submit a report with any recommendations or draft legislation by December 31, 2024. This procedural measure does not enact new laws immediately but establishes a timeline for the committee to analyze higher education issues and propose future actions.
This bill authorizes the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery to conduct an investigation during a legislative recess. The committee will review a specific list of previous bills related to mental health and substance use issues and submit its findings and potential new laws by December 31, 2024. This action directly affects the committee members and the legislative process regarding these topics, while the general public is indirectly affected by the potential future recommendations. The bill serves as a procedural step to gather information rather than immediately changing policy.
Senate, June 6, 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 241) of Joanne M. Comerford that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to special education funding reform; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 249) of Cynthia Stone Creem and Vanna Howard for legislation to ensure equitable access to education, including special education services, for all students in Massachusetts; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 269) of Ryan C. Fattman for legislation to prevent discrimination in interscholastic athletic and extracurricular activities; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 324) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation relative to accommodations for special needs students taking the MCAS examination; (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 332) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Adam Scanlon, Lydia Edwards, Patrick M. O'Connor and other members of the General Court that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the Commonwealth; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 356) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to conduct a study on the delivery of special education services, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2807).
Order relative to authorizing the committee on the Judiciary to make an investigation and study of certain House documents concerning criminal offenses, civil liability, child welfare, the justice system, public safety, drugs offenses, assault and other judiciary issues
