Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee and regulate the practice of midwifery in the state. The board will consist of nine appointed members, including licensed midwives, obstetricians, and a public representative, with a specific requirement to consider racial disparities in maternal health during appointments. Additionally, the legislation expands the definition of who can prescribe medication to include licensed midwives and establishes a program for postpartum depression screenings for state employees. It also updates various state laws to formally recognize and define the roles of certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives across different departments.
Sponsored bills
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2908) of James J. O'Day and others relative to excluding certain income from the calculation of the tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars. Revenue.
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2909) of James J. O'Day and others for legislation to require certain married couples to submit joint income tax returns. Revenue.
By Representative Pignatelli of Lenox and Senator Mark, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Smitty Pignatelli and Paul W. Mark relative to expense reimbursements for Mass Wildlife board members. Environment and Natural Resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to prohibit the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops in Massachusetts. It achieves this by amending state laws to ban licensed pet shops from selling or offering these specific animals for adoption. The legislation directly affects businesses that operate as new pet shops and would prevent them from acting as sources for these pets. By restricting sales in this manner, the bill aims to reduce the number of animals sold in commercial settings.
Senate, 13, 2024 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 549) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Adam Scanlon, Jack Patrick Lewis, Michael O. Moore and other members of the General Court for legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 550) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Steven S. Howitt, John F. Keenan and other members of the General Court for legislation banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 826) of Natalie M. Higgins, Kimberly N. Ferguson and others for legislation to further regulate the retail sale of certain domestic animals in new pet shops, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2820).
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Local Roads Improvement Program within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to provide grants to municipalities for public road projects. The funds are specifically designated for activities such as repairing and resurfacing roadways, maintaining traffic signs and guardrails, and updating road markings. Distribution of these grants will be calculated based on each municipality's proportion of total road mileage, ensuring a standardized allocation method. Additionally, the bill requires the department to submit an annual report to state committees detailing which towns received funding, the specific amounts awarded, and descriptions of the completed projects.
By Representative Pignatelli of Lenox, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3102) of Smitty Pignatelli, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and John Barrett, III relative to state grants for rural communities. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill establishes a three-year pilot program to study how fentanyl testing strips impact public health and safety among people who use opioids and other drugs. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services would run a competitive grant process to fund organizations that help individuals test their substances for fentanyl before use and create rapid response systems to prevent overdoses. As part of the program, the state would publish an annual list of laboratories offering quality test strips and allow participants to access addiction treatment services while using the strips. The bill also requires the office to create rules for testing procedures and mandates annual reports to the legislature detailing grant recipients, participant numbers, and health outcomes over a two-year follow-up period.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws to allow first responders, such as police and firefighters, to provide naloxone and instructions for its use to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose based on their professional judgment. It also grants legal protection to individuals who, in good faith, use testing equipment like fentanyl strips to check the purity of drugs, shielding them from charges related to possession or paraphernalia. Additionally, the legislation mandates that standard first aid training include specific instruction on how to administer naloxone to address opioid emergencies.