Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to establish a new legal framework for providing critical community health services to adults with serious mental illnesses. It defines these services as health, behavioral, and social care delivered outside of inpatient hospitals and creates a specific process for ordering treatment plans. Under the new rules, physicians, mental health officials, or close family members can petition a district court to authorize these services for individuals who are gravely disabled and have a history of non-compliance with treatment or violent behavior. The legislation aims to offer an alternative to repeated hospitalizations by allowing courts to mandate community-based care when it is necessary to prevent serious harm to the individual or others.
Rep. Carmine Gentile
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education laws to update high school graduation requirements and improve support for struggling schools. It establishes a new competency determination based on mastery of core skills in math, science, technology, and English, allowing districts to include history, social science, and foreign languages. Students who do not meet these standards would receive an educational assistance plan to help them achieve mastery, while parents would have the chance to review these plans. Additionally, the bill changes how schools identified for comprehensive support are selected, requiring that student growth be weighted as heavily as student achievement in the evaluation formula.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows registered pharmacists in Massachusetts to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral contraceptives without requiring a prior prescription from a doctor. To ensure safety, pharmacists would need to complete specific training, use a risk assessment tool with the patient, and refer the individual to a primary care provider after the transaction. The legislation also mandates that pharmacists provide a written record of the prescription and prohibits requiring patients to schedule an appointment for this service. These changes aim to increase access to birth control by enabling pharmacists to directly provide these medications to anyone who needs them.
By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2184) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment. Public Health.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to conduct a study on public health issues related to indoor air quality in public buildings. The legislation authorizes the committee on Public Health to review a specific list of existing documents and reports to inform this investigation. By mandating this review, the bill aims to gather data on current conditions before proposing any new regulations or standards.
By Representative Khan of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2217) of Kay Khan and others relative to limited service clinics. Public Health.
By Representative Lawn of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2221) of John J. Lawn, Jr., and others that the Department of Public Health establish a voluntary certification training program for care of certain patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism. Public Health.
By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2196) of Natalie M. Higgins and others relative to registered nurse patient assignment. Public Health.
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Lewis of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2193) of Natalie M. Higgins, Jack Patrick Lewis and others relative to expanding after-death options and the disposal of human bodies. Public Health.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts tax lien procedures to provide clearer protections and information for residential property owners facing foreclosure. It requires tax purchasers to notify homeowners within 12 days of buying their tax liens, ensuring the notice includes contact details and explains the owner's rights to redeem the property. The law also mandates that notices be sent via certified mail and posted on the property in plain language, including translations in the seven most common languages spoken in the state. Additionally, the bill defines how to calculate any remaining value owed to a homeowner after a property is sold to satisfy tax debts. These changes aim to improve transparency and ensure residents understand the steps involved in tax foreclosure processes.