Rep. Carol Doherty

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts education code to require schools to include prescription opioid abuse prevention in their violence prevention curriculum. The change specifically directs educators to teach students about the prescription drug epidemic and explain how misuse of these medications can lead to addiction to other substances like heroin. By adding this topic to existing legal requirements, the legislation ensures that all public schools address the risks associated with prescription opioids as part of their standard safety education.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve safety and standards for home care services in Massachusetts by updating existing laws to better protect both workers and consumers. It directly affects home care agencies, the individuals providing care, and the families receiving those services at home. The legislation introduces new definitions for what constitutes a home care agency and establishes requirements for creating safe working environments. Additionally, it sets forth rules for how these agencies must operate to ensure quality care and accountability.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to mandate suicide prevention training for school health care providers and educators. Specifically, it mandates that these staff members complete at least two hours of evidence-based training every other year as part of their professional development. Additionally, the bill requires the state to create a list of approved training materials in consultation with health and mental health experts. It also establishes a staffing requirement ensuring that every 400 students have access to at least one mental health professional on campus during school hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new, independent Office of Elder Advocate in Massachusetts to oversee the care and services provided to older adults and people with disabilities. The office will investigate complaints, examine systemic issues within state agencies and publicly funded private entities, and offer recommendations to improve safety and dignity for these populations. It also establishes a specific advisory council to guide the office and grants it the authority to impose temporary cost-sharing agreements to ensure timely access to services.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to create a mandatory infection control training program for all personal care attendants and home care employees who provide services in a consumer's residence. The law defines home care agencies as organizations that offer paid residential care services, while explicitly excluding government entities, house cleaning services, hospice programs, and adult foster care facilities. To ensure broad access, the state must contract with labor-management training funds, community colleges, and other qualified organizations to deliver the training within 180 days of the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to enhance the quality and safety of care in Massachusetts nursing homes by establishing specific staffing requirements and resident protections. It mandates minimum staffing levels for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse assistants based on current research, while also requiring facilities to make reasonable efforts to place residents in community settings rather than institutions. The legislation further restricts the construction of new rooms or renovations that house more than two residents and mandates the creation of Human Rights Committees within each facility to investigate complaints. Additionally, the bill expands the enumerated rights of nursing home residents to apply to all individuals living in these facilities, regardless of whether they receive Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program in Massachusetts designed to help school districts hire more mental health counselors for their students. The state department will distribute funds to districts that apply, allowing them to use the money to pay for counselor salaries or to contract with outside service providers. The legislation also requires the state commissioner to set rules regarding the necessary qualifications and certifications for the professionals receiving this funding. Ultimately, the bill aims to increase access to mental health support within the public school system by providing financial resources to districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every public school district in Massachusetts to create and maintain a comprehensive school counseling program for all students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Under the new rules, districts must hire licensed school counselors who dedicate at least eighty percent of their time to direct or indirect services for students. Additionally, the law mandates a specific staffing ratio of one counselor for every two hundred fifty students to ensure equitable access across all districts.