Rep. Marjorie Decker

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to streamline the process for determining whether criminal defendants are mentally competent to stand trial or criminally responsible. It establishes strict timelines, requiring initial evaluations to be completed within 20 days and allowing extensions up to a maximum of 40 days, while also designating specific locations for these assessments, including community programs and the Bridgewater State Hospital. The legislation mandates that examining professionals provide written reports to the court and clarifies that a finding of incompetence requires a preponderance of the evidence, which would pause the trial until the defendant regains competency. Additionally, the bill extends similar evaluation and observation procedures to individuals who have already been found guilty but are awaiting sentencing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to limit how much health insurers can recover from injury victims who receive settlements or court awards. It prevents insurance companies from claiming more than their fair share of the total compensation based on the ratio of medical benefits paid to the full value of the damages. The legislation also allows either the insurer or the injured person to ask a court to review the settlement and determine a reasonable allocation of funds. This change applies to health maintenance organizations, medical insurers, and disability insurers that provided benefits to accident victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program designed to help homeowners facing foreclosure by requiring lenders and borrowers to attend supervised mediation conferences. The program applies to loans secured by primary residences, including small rental properties, condominiums, and cooperatives, but excludes government tax or judgment liens. During these conferences, a neutral mediator facilitates a good faith effort between the creditor and borrower to explore sustainable alternatives to foreclosure, such as loan modifications or repayment plans. A key provision mandates that the lender's representative at the conference cannot be the same person representing the lender in any subsequent court foreclosure proceedings. This legislative change aims to establish a structured, non-court process for resolving mortgage disputes before properties are lost.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans sold or renewed in Massachusetts to set a separate annual limit on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, including specialty medications. The maximum amount a patient can pay for these drugs in a year will be capped at the federal minimum deductible for high-deductible health plans, ensuring costs do not exceed that threshold. The law applies to various types of coverage, including standard policies, hospital service plans, medical service agreements, and health maintenance organizations. These new limits take effect for any insurance plan delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to collect and publish detailed data on student outcomes and special education services. The law mandates that schools report information broken down by race, ethnicity, gender, economic status, English learner status, and disability category to help identify and address educational inequities. Additionally, the bill expands the types of special education services that must be tracked, including assistive technology and behavioral supports, provided the state supplies an online tool to facilitate this reporting. By making this data publicly available in an easy-to-use format, the legislation aims to ensure that all students have equitable access to education and necessary support services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires various health insurance plans and programs in Massachusetts to cover services provided by peer support specialists, such as recovery coaches and recovery support navigators. It mandates that these services be reimbursed without deductibles, copayments, or prior authorization, and it allows for payment via telemedicine at rates no lower than those set by MassHealth. The law applies to a wide range of settings, including hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and substance use disorder treatment centers, ensuring that individuals with behavioral health or substance use disorders can access these specialized supports regardless of where they receive care.

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 Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2305) of Marjorie C. Decker relative to firearms in certain public buildings. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to remove the term "children born out of wedlock" and replace it with "nonmarital children and parentage of children," aiming to ensure all children receive equal legal rights regardless of their parents' marital status. It establishes a public policy that every child must have the same protections under the law, irrespective of the parents' gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. By updating the title of Chapter 209C and adding a new section, the legislation seeks to eliminate legal distinctions based on how a child was conceived or the family structure of their parents.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Implementation Coordinating Council to guide the creation of a statewide system for improving mental health support in Massachusetts schools. The council will consist of ten members, including government officials and representatives from schools, medical providers, and families, who will meet to advise state leaders and offer guidance to school districts. Within six months of its first meeting, the council must develop a three-year plan that sets goals for expanding staff, improving training, and ensuring equitable access to behavioral health services for all students. The council will also be responsible for updating this plan every three years to track progress and address any disparities in service delivery.