Rep. Kay Khan

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Board of Registration of Licensed Recovery Coaches within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to oversee the professional licensing of recovery coaches. The board will consist of twelve appointed members representing diverse backgrounds, including recovery coaches, individuals with lived experience of substance use disorders, and healthcare professionals. It creates a formal definition for "Licensed Recovery Coach" and sets the stage for a structured licensure process, ensuring that those providing recovery support services meet specific state standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands health coverage for state employees and retirees by mandating that their insurance plans cover opioid antagonists and licensed recovery coach services without deductibles or prior authorization. It also requires all medical practitioners to complete training on non-opioid pain management alternatives and the risks of opioid misuse before renewing their licenses. Additionally, the legislation directs pharmacies in high-overdose areas to maintain a continuous supply of over-the-counter opioid antagonists and requires substance use disorder treatment facilities to educate patients and provide at least two doses of these medications upon discharge.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a comprehensive educational diversion program to address the legal and social consequences of adolescents sharing sexual images, commonly known as sexting. It requires the Attorney General to create this curriculum in collaboration with state education and youth services departments, which will be used to divert minors from court proceedings if they are charged with related offenses. The program also mandates that schools integrate media literacy instruction using the same materials to help students understand the risks of online image sharing. Additionally, the legislation expands the legal definition of abuse to include coercive control and increases fines for certain offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to ensure that legal parentage rights apply equally to all families, regardless of the parents' gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. It replaces gender-specific terms like "father" and "mother" with neutral language such as "other parent" and "person who gave birth," while also changing "paternity" to "parentage" throughout the statutes. The legislation introduces new definitions for various family arrangements, including surrogacy and assisted reproduction, to clarify how different types of parents are recognized under the law. By amending existing chapters on birth certificates and family law, the bill aims to provide consistent legal protections for children born through diverse circumstances, including those resulting from surrogacy or non-marital births.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Workforce Skills Cabinet within the Governor's office to coordinate state efforts on workforce development and college readiness. The Cabinet will include representatives from key agencies, business leaders, labor organizations, and community stakeholders who will meet monthly to align policies and strategies across the state. Its main duties involve creating joint plans for workforce training, conducting biennial studies on program equity, releasing annual reports on labor market needs, and improving data sharing between agencies. Additionally, the Cabinet will advise education departments on the employability skills students need to succeed in their careers.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create a digital system called an "electronic backpack" to store and share educational records for children in foster care. The system would compile essential information such as school attendance, grades, transcripts, and contact details for case workers and educational decision-makers to ensure continuity when a child moves between schools. Once established, the electronic backpack would be accessible to teachers, authorized guardians, and medical providers who need to support the child's education and well-being. The legislation requires the department to develop specific rules for the system's format and function and mandates that the program be fully implemented within one year of the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal bill of rights for children in the Massachusetts foster care system to ensure their safety, dignity, and well-being. It requires the Department of Children and Families to provide these rights to every child upon entry into care, during key meetings, and in an age-appropriate manner, while also making the document available on the department's website and in offices. The legislation outlines specific protections, including freedom from discrimination and abuse, access to culturally relevant items, and the right to be placed in safe environments rather than secure facilities due to a lack of foster homes. Additionally, the bill mandates that children receive timely notice before placement changes and have the opportunity to meet potential foster families before being placed with them.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create a digital system called an "electronic backpack" for every child in foster care. The system will store and share key educational records, such as transcripts, attendance logs, and individualized education plans, to help ensure stability as these students move between schools. Access to this information will be granted to teachers, authorized decision-makers, and medical providers who need it to support the child's well-being. The law mandates that the department and the Department of Children and Families work together to set up the system and establish rules for its use within one year of the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows law enforcement to hospitalize individuals who are violent or pose a serious risk of physical harm to others for up to 72 hours based on a statement from someone in reasonable fear of such behavior. It mandates that these individuals receive legal counsel and an emergency hearing, and it requires them to undergo at least three days of supervision after release, which can be conducted in person or via video conference by a licensed social worker or mental health professional. Additionally, the bill requires hospitals to share medical information with supervising social workers and grants those workers the authority to petition for expedited readmission if a patient relapses or becomes non-compliant with treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers oversight of mental health care in Massachusetts state prisons from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. Under the new rules, the commissioner of mental health must approve all contracts for inmate mental health services and set minimum standards for how these services are delivered. Additionally, the commissioner is required to conduct audits of every correctional facility at least twice a year to ensure compliance with these standards. The legislation also mandates that any qualified mental health professional working in these facilities must operate under the supervision of the Department of Mental Health.