Rep. Sam Montaño

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill expands health insurance coverage for breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for women. It mandates that insurance plans cover baseline mammograms for women aged 35 to 40 and annual mammograms for those 40 and older, while also providing earlier screenings for younger women with specific risk factors like family history or dense breast tissue. The legislation requires coverage for advanced imaging options, such as ultrasound and MRI, when medically necessary due to abnormalities or high-risk conditions, and ensures these services are free of co-pays, deductibles, or dollar limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration of Massage Therapy and Alternative Healing Therapies within the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure to oversee these professions. The seven-member board will include licensed massage therapists, alternative healing practitioners, a law enforcement representative focused on human trafficking, and a consumer representative, all appointed by the governor. The board is authorized to set licensure rules, define the scope of practice for various alternative therapies, establish ethical standards, and investigate complaints regarding unsafe or incompetent practices. Additionally, the legislation establishes an advisory council composed of experienced alternative healing therapists to study the field and make recommendations to the board on regulation standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the City of Boston to issue up to five new licenses for on-premises alcohol sales annually within specific neighborhoods, including areas like Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. These licenses are restricted to the designated ZIP codes, non-transferable, and valid for a five-year period starting from the year the law passes. If a license is not issued in a given year, it carries over to the next year until all available slots are filled, ensuring a steady supply of new opportunities for applicants. The act also requires that any revoked licenses be returned to the city board so they can be reissued to new applicants in the same neighborhood.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts health insurance data center and the Division of Insurance to make carrier data publicly available on their websites. It mandates that these agencies report on specific metrics submitted by insurance companies in an easily readable format. The changes aim to increase transparency by ensuring that data regarding health insurance carriers is accessible to the public through annual reports and online platforms.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts election laws to allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care services required by their campaigns. It defines child care to include professional or casual babysitting and costs related to these services, while restricting payments to relatives unless they operate a professional daycare. The law permits reimbursement for these expenses if the care would not otherwise exist due to the campaign and is incurred within eighteen months before an election. Additionally, the bill requires the Office of Campaign and Political Finance to create specific rules to implement these changes within two months of the law taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows candidates running for public office in Massachusetts to use campaign funds to pay for child care services during campaign activities. It defines child care to include babysitting from various providers and permits payments to family members only if they operate a professional daycare or charge market rates. The legislation also requires the director of campaign finance to create specific regulations governing these expenses by December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new requirement for the state's data advisory commission to study and recommend how the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education should publish detailed special education data. The proposed data would include student-specific information on services received, such as assistive technology and behavioral plans, broken down by factors like race, gender, income status, and disability category while ensuring no personally identifiable information is revealed. Additionally, the legislation mandates that private special education schools receiving state funding submit annual financial reports and audits to the department and state auditor, with specific details on compensation and program costs. A separate provision directs the secretary of education to study best practices for overseeing these private schools to ensure appropriate educational programming and services are provided.

By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kristin E. Kassner and Samantha Montaño relative to insurance coverage of hearing aids. Financial Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits school resource officers from being stationed on school grounds, requiring them instead to be located at local police stations. Under this proposal, these officers would serve primarily as emergency responders to calls from public schools rather than being present during the school day. Additionally, the legislation mandates that formal agreements between schools and police explicitly forbid officers from acting as disciplinarians, enforcing school rules, or using police powers to handle non-violent behavioral issues. The law aims to redefine the role of these officers to focus on emergency support while removing their involvement in traditional school discipline.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that incarcerated youth in Massachusetts have access to education by allowing them to enroll in public colleges and universities. It mandates that public secondary schools grant credit for coursework completed while students are in correctional facilities and include this work on their official transcripts. The legislation also requires correctional facilities to identify students needing special education services and provides for a minimum of six hours of classroom instruction per weekday throughout the year for those under 22. Additionally, the bill mandates that interpretation and translation services be available for English Language Learner students to ensure they can fully participate in special education processes.