Rep. Mindy Domb

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to address controlling and abusive litigation, specifically targeting legal actions taken by individuals who have a history of abuse or harassment against a family or household member. The legislation defines such litigation as cases where the accuser has a prior court finding of abuse and is suing primarily to harass or intimidate the other party, often by making claims without legal basis or evidence. Key provisions allow courts to dismiss these specific types of lawsuits if the allegations are unsupported by law or facts, or if similar issues have already been decided unfavorably in previous court cases.

Senate, February 29, 2024 --The committee on Elder Affairs, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 381) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Rebecca L. Rausch, Jack Patrick Lewis, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish an LGBTQI long-term care facility bill of rights; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 637) of Jack Patrick Lewis, Sarah K. Peake and others relative to the right, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2604).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify the definitions of permanent incapacitation and terminal illness for medical parole purposes, specifying that terminal illness must likely result in death within 18 months. It establishes a formal process allowing petitions for medical parole to be filed by prisoners, their attorneys, family members, or medical staff, requiring prison superintendents to review these requests and submit recommendations to the state commissioner within 21 days. The legislation also mandates that the Department of Correction identify cognitively impaired prisoners through annual standardized testing for those aged 55 and older and report these findings to legal organizations to ensure eligible individuals are not overlooked. Additionally, the bill creates a role for a "surrogate decision-maker" to advocate for incarcerated individuals who cannot speak for themselves and requires the Department to proactively submit petitions on behalf of permanently cognitively incapacitated prisoners.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires covered employers in Massachusetts to submit detailed wage data reports alongside their existing annual reports to the state secretary. The state secretary will then compile this information and publish aggregate wage statistics on the executive office of labor and workforce development website, organized by industry and released annually by June 1. While the bill mandates the collection and public release of these aggregate statistics, it explicitly excludes the individual wage data reports from being considered public records, thereby protecting specific employer information from public disclosure.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill aims to remove financial and administrative obstacles for people accessing HIV prevention medication. It requires health insurance plans covering these drugs to eliminate all cost-sharing fees, such as co-pays and deductibles, and to stop requiring prior authorization or step therapy that could delay treatment. The law also mandates that necessary support services, like regular check-ups and counseling, be included in the coverage without extra charges. By streamlining access, the legislation seeks to ensure that individuals can obtain and maintain HIV prevention drugs without facing financial barriers or administrative hurdles.

By Representative Blais of Deerfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3488) of Natalie M. Blais and others relative to the reimbursement of cities and towns for veterans' benefits. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require the state's Division of Developmental Services to cover medically necessary habilitative and rehabilitative treatments for adults aged 21 and older with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder. The legislation specifically mandates coverage for applied behavior analysis and various augmentative and alternative communication devices, such as tablets, when deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician or psychologist. By expanding these insurance benefits, the bill aims to ensure that individuals with these conditions have access to essential care that helps develop, maintain, or restore their functioning.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a livable wage specifically for human services workers in Massachusetts. It directly affects employees of community-based organizations that receive funding from state agencies such as the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, or the Department of Housing and Community Development. The legislation defines these workers as staff who provide treatment, support, or services to clients and their families, while defining the organizations as those with funded human services programs. By amending Chapter 6A of the General Laws, the bill creates a formal framework to ensure these essential workers are paid a wage deemed sufficient to meet basic living needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that candidate names on Massachusetts primary and state ballots be listed in a random order determined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. It also mandates the removal of any text or symbols that identify a candidate as an incumbent or a candidate for re-election. These changes aim to standardize ballot presentation by eliminating potential visual cues that might influence voters based on a candidate's current office-holding status. The provisions would become effective on January 1, 2024, applying to all future elections held after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change how candidate addresses appear on Massachusetts election ballots. Instead of listing a specific street address, the legislation requires that only the candidate's town or city of residence be printed next to their name. These changes apply to various offices, including state positions, local ward committees, and caucus roles. The update aims to simplify ballot information by removing detailed street data while still identifying the community a candidate represents.