This bill creates a commission to study whether Massachusetts should join the counseling compact, an interstate agreement that would allow licensed mental health counselors to practice across state lines more easily. The commission includes legislative leaders, mental health agency representatives, and members from professional associations like the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association. It must study feasibility, make recommendations, and submit a report to the legislature within six months of the bill's passage. The bill itself does not change current licensure rules but sets up a process to evaluate potential future policy changes affecting mental health counselors and their clients.
This bill amends a section of Massachusetts law to explicitly include "police department" in the definition of "department" within the cancer presumption provision. It clarifies that police officers employed by a police department are covered under the existing presumption that certain cancers are work-related. The change is technical and procedural, affecting the law's wording but not creating new benefits or altering eligibility for police officers.
HD 2788 requires Massachusetts' Department of Public Health and the Board of Registration in Medicine to create a healthcare provider education campaign promoting FDA-approved medications for alcohol and opioid use disorders. The campaign covers screening, treatment planning, reducing disparities, and care coordination, counting toward continuing education credits. It also mandates a peer mentoring program for providers serving underserved communities and establishes grants to help providers hire staff for expanded medication-assisted treatment services. The bill requires tracking provider adoption of these treatments and reporting to state committees by 2020.
This bill provides specific retirement benefits for Lieutenant Howard S. Levine, a Raynham correction officer injured in 1990. It grants him an accidental disability retirement allowance equal to 72% of his pre-retirement salary (adjusted for future pay increases for Correction Officer III positions). Upon his death, his surviving wife, Charlene Ann Levine, would receive a survivor annuity of 75% of his pension amount, provided she remains unmarried. The bill applies solely to this individual and his family, not to other state employees.
This bill allows police officers and firefighters in Massachusetts to work past age 65, with the option to continue until age 67 if approved by their department. It amends existing law by adding a provision that lets eligible members choose to extend their service, subject to their department head's approval. The change directly affects current and future sworn members of municipal police and fire departments who reach age 65. The key mechanism is a voluntary extension option, not a requirement, with departmental approval needed for any work beyond 65.
This bill (HD 1492) exempts certain retired veterans from needing periodic disability evaluations after their first five years of retirement. It directly affects veterans who retired under specific sections (52, 53, 56, 57, or 58) of the General Laws. The key provision removes the requirement for these veterans to undergo evaluations following their initial 12-month period, providing a permanent exemption after five years. This changes the administrative process by eliminating recurring evaluation mandates for eligible retired veterans.
This bill requires Massachusetts' Department of Mental Health, Youth Services, Children and Families, Public Health, and Personnel Administration to update their official job descriptions to include Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors (LSMHCs) by September 1, 2023. It mandates that all behavioral health job postings within these departments reflect the full scope of practice for these licensed professionals. The bill directly affects state agencies hiring mental health staff and the LMHC/LSMHC professionals seeking these positions. The key mechanism is a deadline-driven update to job classification specifications, ensuring state hiring aligns with these counselors' authorized roles.
This bill (HD 3020) changes Massachusetts drug laws to reduce criminal penalties for simple possession. It replaces citations for possession with written resource referrals and prohibits using drug possession alone to establish reasonable cause for a crime. It also automatically expunges past convictions under Chapter 94C, Section 32 (for simple possession) if the conduct would no longer be illegal after the bill's effective date, and requires courts to notify agencies to seal related records. This directly affects people convicted of simple drug possession before the bill's effective date. The law does not change penalties for drug-impaired driving (M.G.L. c. 90 § 24.171).
This bill requires pharmacies, health clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes to participate in sharps disposal programs for hypodermic needles and lancets. It expands the existing program by mandating that all facilities selling or distributing these items must be included, replacing previous language about "medical facilities, pharmacies, and municipal facilities" with "participating facilities." The bill removes outdated references to establishing sharps collection centers, streamlining the program's requirements. This directly affects healthcare providers and pharmacies that handle these medical waste items.
By Representative Muradian of Grafton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 784) of David K. Muradian, Jr., relative to assisted living facility residences appeal of findings. Elder Affairs.
By Representative Honan of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 770) of Kevin G. Honan relative to the classification of assisted living residences. Elder Affairs.
By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 920) of Mike Connolly, John R. Gaskey and Bud L. Williams for legislation to establish a voucher program for home water filtration equipment. Environment and Natural Resources.
