Rep. Paul Donato

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts juvenile court department to send quarterly performance reports to the Office of the Child Advocate regarding child abuse and neglect cases. The reports must include specific data points such as the number of children in court jurisdiction, reasons for achieving or failing to achieve permanency, and the time it takes to reach legal permanency or terminate parental rights. Additionally, the Office of the Child Advocate has the authority to request that this data be broken down by categories including age, gender, race, ethnicity, and court location. This change aims to improve transparency and oversight by ensuring the court's handling of these cases is regularly monitored and analyzed.

Maddy summaryThis bill empowers the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth to delay or extend election deadlines, such as candidate qualification periods and voting dates, when a declared state of emergency makes holding an election unsafe. It requires the secretary to create a specific contingency plan that outlines how officials should communicate these changes to voters and candidates, as well as how to handle alternate voting procedures if polling places are inaccessible. The law limits any single postponement to 45 days but allows for an additional 45-day extension if the emergency situation persists, ensuring that election schedules can be adjusted flexibly during crises while maintaining oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill, introduced by Representative Donato, addresses absentee voting procedures under state election laws. It was referred to the Election Laws committee and received Senate concurrence in early 2023, with a hearing scheduled for September 2023. The text of the bill itself is not provided in the available information, so specific new rules or changes it proposes cannot be detailed. Consequently, the summary focuses on the bill's status and subject matter rather than its specific provisions.

By Representative Donato of Medford, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Paul J. Donato relative to health insurance reimbursements for services provided by advanced practice registered nurses. Financial Services.

By Representative Donato of Medford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2507) of Paul J. Donato relative to the retirement benefits of special investigators of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. Public Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to transition Massachusetts to 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and to clean energy for buildings and transportation by 2045. It creates a new legal chapter to define clean energy sources, explicitly excluding wood biomass and waste-to-energy from the clean electricity category. The legislation seeks to reduce pollution, lower energy costs for residents, and create local jobs while prioritizing environmental justice communities. By establishing these specific targets and definitions, the bill provides a framework for the state to meet its greenhouse gas emission limits and reduce reliance on imported fuels.

By Representatives Balser of Newton and Donato of Medford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2289) of Ruth B. Balser, Paul J. Donato and others relative to the installation of automatic sprinkler systems in certain new family dwellings. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

By Representative Garlick of Needham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3040) of Denise C. Garlick and others relative to providing for hybrid access to public meetings. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

By Representative Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2802) of Sean Garballey and others relative to rental housing deleading income tax credit. Revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve access to biomarker testing for cancer patients in Massachusetts to help them receive the most appropriate therapy. It requires health insurers to cover the cost of these specific tests without imposing additional restrictions or requiring prior authorization beyond what is already standard for other medical services. The legislation directly affects cancer patients, their families, and health insurance providers by ensuring that necessary diagnostic tools are financially accessible. By removing barriers to testing, the bill seeks to facilitate better treatment decisions based on individual patient biology.