Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to oversee the licensing and regulation of midwives in the state. The board will consist of eight appointed members, including licensed midwives with significant experience, a physician, a nurse-midwife, and a public representative, with specific requirements for members to address racial disparities in maternal health. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Board of Allied Health Professions that includes representatives from various health fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and lactation consulting. The bill also expands the legal definition of "licensed midwife" to allow them to issue prescriptions and grants local health agencies the authority to conduct in-depth reviews of fetal and infant deaths to improve community health services.
Rep. Chris Worrell
Sponsored bills
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.
By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2420) of Christopher J. Worrell and Michelle M. DuBois for legislation to provide for an audit and an investigation by a special commission concerning gun violence prevention and intervention funding. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens oversight of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority by increasing the frequency of financial audits from once every five years to once every six years. It also expands the scope of these reviews to include a specific examination of how transportation responsibilities are divided between state and local governments. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the State Auditor conduct these audits every two years and ensures the MBTA covers the costs associated with the review process.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new regulatory framework for recovery housing, commonly known as sober homes, in Massachusetts by repealing an older accreditation section and creating a new one. It requires all operators of alcohol and drug-free residences to apply for a "determination of need permit" from the state Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, which will conduct surveys to assess regional capacity and zoning restrictions. A key provision prohibits the issuance of permits for new recovery housing in designated "impacted communities," defined by specific criteria such as low income, high minority populations, or limited English proficiency. Additionally, the law allows operators to bypass local zoning laws that might otherwise restrict the operation of these facilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to investigate how social media impacts the mental health of children in Massachusetts. The commission will include government officials, experts from health and education sectors, advocates for civil liberties, and individuals with personal experience related to cyberbullying and social media use. Its primary task is to study specific risks such as self-harm, online harassment, and sexual exploitation, while also identifying best practices for platforms to protect youth. Ultimately, the group is tasked with recommending a legal framework and developing guidelines to promote safer social media usage for minors.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to help survivors of abuse, human trafficking, and involuntary sexual relations by allowing them to have certain criminal records expunged or sealed. It directly affects individuals who have been victims of these crimes and later faced legal charges related to their victimization. The law creates a specific category for offenses resulting from such victimization and establishes a rebuttable presumption that a defendant's actions were due to their trauma, though official documentation is not strictly required to apply. Judges will be able to consider credible evidence and testimony when deciding on petitions for relief, and the bill also adds a prohibition against making sealed or expunged records available for inspection.
Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines the process for sealing criminal and juvenile court records in Massachusetts by mandating that relevant agencies seal eligible records within 90 days of becoming eligible. It directly affects individuals with past criminal or delinquent records, as well as their legal representatives, by removing the requirement to obtain a separate court order to access these sealed documents. The legislation also clarifies that juvenile offenses include cases where the minor was charged as a youthful offender. By enforcing strict timelines and simplifying access procedures, the law aims to make the record sealing process more efficient and less burdensome for applicants.
Maddy summaryStavri's Law requires Massachusetts courts to record specific details about individuals who make suicidal threats or engage in suicidal behavior while in custody. The bill mandates that the court enter the person's name, address, age, reason for detention, and the nature and date of the incident into the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services computer system. This requirement applies to both criminal detainees and individuals involved in civil commitment proceedings related to suicide risks. The law aims to create a centralized record of these incidents to improve tracking and response protocols for at-risk individuals within the justice system.