Rep. Paul McMurtry

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 1854) requires health insurance plans covering Commonwealth employees, retirees, and private insurance policies in Massachusetts to provide coverage for specific dental and oral care related to head and neck cancer. It mandates coverage for pre-cancer dental care (to prevent infection or decay), dental procedures before cancer treatment (like chemotherapy), and post-cancer care (to address treatment side effects such as tooth loss or infection). The bill also covers dental implants, prostheses, rehabilitation services, and patient education necessary to restore function (eating, speaking, swallowing) and appearance affected by cancer or its treatment. These requirements apply to group insurance plans (Chapter 32A), health insurance (Chapter 118E), private medical insurance (Chapter 175), and hospital service plans (Chapter 176A).

By Representative McMurtry of Dedham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 304) of Paul McMurtry for legislation to establish the Office of Massachusetts Main Streets. Community Development and Small Businesses.

Maddy summaryHD 3622 reorganizes Massachusetts' technical rescue services by creating a "division of special operations" under the State Fire Marshal, which will oversee both hazardous materials and technical rescue teams. It establishes technical rescue regions, requires a statewide response plan, and creates a coordinating council (with fire department representatives) to advise on standards, cost recovery, and procedures. The bill mandates state reimbursement for municipal technical rescue costs and provides annual stipends of up to $5,000 per qualified team member, with qualifications determined by the State Fire Marshal. These changes directly affect local fire departments, technical rescue teams, and the State Fire Marshal's office.

Maddy summaryHD 1761 requires school principals and administrators to first explore alternative strategies - such as mediation, restorative justice, or conflict resolution - before suspending or expelling a student for specific incidents. The bill mandates documenting the use and results of these alternatives, except when a student's presence poses an immediate, documented risk of serious harm or major disruption to learning. School leaders must also implement district-wide re-engagement models like trauma-sensitive learning, though these cannot replace addressing specific incidents. This directly affects school discipline decisions for K-12 students and their educators, shifting focus from exclusion to supportive interventions. The law applies to all public schools in the state and amends Chapter 71, Section 37 H of the education code.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a law to give families of deceased public safety employees (like police or firefighters) who are covered by Chapter 152 (workers' compensation) a choice. Specifically, it allows their families to select between receiving the standard "killed in the line of duty" benefit or the benefits provided under Chapter 152, instead of being automatically excluded from the line-of-duty benefit. The key change is adding this option directly into the existing law. It directly affects the families of public safety employees whose cases fall under Chapter 152.

Maddy summaryHD 4025 amends a state law to extend disability benefits for POST-certified police officers disabled by cardiac disease to additional police forces. The bill adds the University of Massachusetts police, Massachusetts Port Authority police, state university and community college police, environmental law enforcement, and Department of Mental Health campus police to the list of covered entities. Previously, officers in these forces were excluded from the same benefit provision that applied to entities like the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. This change directly affects POST-certified officers in these newly included forces by making them eligible for the same cardiac disability benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in certain public safety employees was caused by their job duties, if diagnosed within five years of leaving service and not present at the time of hiring. It directly affects police officers, firefighters, correctional staff, airport crash crews, and military fire department members. Under the bill, these employees can receive benefits as if the PTSD occurred "in the line of duty" unless their employer proves it resulted from non-work factors like disciplinary actions. Benefits would be paid retroactively from the date the employee last received regular compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a presumption that Parkinson's disease causing disability or death in certain firefighters was incurred "in the line of duty," simplifying eligibility for retirement benefits. It directly affects uniformed firefighters in paid departments, state police in fire investigation/K9 units, and airport crash crew personnel (e.g., at Logan Airport, 104th Fighter Wing, or Joint Base Cape Cod) who served at least five years and regularly responded to fire calls. The presumption applies unless non-service factors (like personal health risks) are proven to have caused the condition. The bill amends retirement laws to include this provision, ensuring affected personnel can access benefits under existing systems without needing to prove service connection.

Maddy summaryHD 4039 amends Chapter 32 Section 94B(2) of Massachusetts General Laws to change the minimum service requirement for firefighter retirement benefits from five to ten years. It also adds that firefighters retiring under these terms will have secondary cancer covered under Section 9 of the same chapter. This bill directly affects firefighters meeting the revised service requirement, modifying their eligibility for retirement benefits and expanding cancer coverage. The changes apply to current and future firefighters under the specified retirement provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the rules for public employees seeking disability benefits related to PTSD or psychological injuries. It removes the time limit for filing claims if the injury is emotional or psychological, allowing employees to use employer records showing they directly responded to a work incident. The employer records must confirm the employee's involvement in the incident, without requiring it to have occurred within two years of the claim. This specifically affects state workers and their beneficiaries filing for benefits under disability programs.