Rep. Colleen Garry

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers in Massachusetts to provide full-time firefighter employees with free cancer screenings every three years, starting at least three years after they begin working. The screenings must cover a specific list of cancers including lung, colon, and prostate cancer, and the employer's health plan must pay for all costs without requiring any co-pays or deductibles from the firefighters. The law applies to firefighters working for state agencies, cities, towns, and various military and port authority fire departments.

By Representatives Gentile of Sudbury and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2182) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Hannah Kane and others for legislation to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special commission to study ways to improve pollinator health by increasing native habitat in places like farms, forests, parks, and urban areas. The commission will include representatives from government agencies, universities, farmers, beekeepers, and environmental groups, with the secretary of energy and environmental affairs serving as chair. Over the next year, the group will review current laws, compare successful programs from other states, assess funding needs, and gather data on pollinator populations. By May 1, 2025, the commission must submit its findings and any recommended laws to the state legislature for further action.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to exclude specific health care reimbursement payments received by veterans from their gross household income calculations. By adding these funds to the list of excluded income sources, the legislation aims to prevent them from being counted when determining eligibility for means-tested government benefits. The change directly affects veterans who receive Chapter 115 payments to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses, ensuring these funds do not reduce their access to financial assistance programs.

By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3491) of Tackey Chan and others for legislation to increase the annuities paid to certain disabled veterans and their families. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals in Massachusetts to provide at least one year of advance notice before closing any essential health services. It also mandates that hospitals inform specific groups, including staff, labor unions, and local lawmakers, at least 30 days before submitting their closure notice. The law aims to give communities and workers more time to prepare for significant changes in local healthcare availability.

By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3320) of Colleen M. Garry relative to warning light violations committed by operators of motor vehicles selling frozen desserts. Transportation.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to form a task force that will study how starting school later affects middle and high school students. The group will include representatives from various school organizations, experts on sleep, and parents to review scientific data on adolescent health and academic performance. They will also count how many districts have already moved to later schedules and look at test scores in those areas. Finally, the task force must submit a report with its findings and any suggested laws by July 1, 2024, to help guide future decisions on school start times.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to establish mandatory reporting requirements for suspected elder abuse and neglect affecting individuals over the age of 60. It designates a wide range of professionals, including healthcare workers, teachers, clergy, and law enforcement officers, as mandated reporters who must immediately report suspected cases to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. The legislation requires these reporters to file written reports within 48 hours and grants hospital staff the authority to take photographs of visible injuries without consent to support their reports. Additionally, the bill outlines penalties for failing to report abuse while also imposing fines and potential jail time for knowingly filing frivolous reports.