Rep. Jack Lewis

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts health insurance laws to ensure that licensed athletic trainers receive reimbursement from insurers if the same services are covered for other healthcare providers. It directly affects individuals with health plans that include coverage for specific services within an athletic trainer's scope of practice, as well as the trainers themselves. The key provision requires insurers to pay for athletic trainer services without discrimination, provided the care is referred by a physician and falls within the trainer's authorized practice. While deductibles and co-pays may still apply, the bill mandates that these financial requirements cannot be more restrictive than those imposed on other similar healthcare services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require the state's medical assistance program to cover specific treatments for adults aged 21 and older with developmental, intellectual, or autism spectrum disorders. The legislation mandates that the program pay for medically necessary habilitative and rehabilitative care, including applied behavior analysis and various communication devices like tablets. These services must be deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician or psychologist and are intended to help individuals develop, maintain, or restore their functioning. The law directly affects the state's healthcare division and the adult population diagnosed with these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover medically appropriate outpatient evaluation and management services without charging patients a co-payment or deductible. The coverage applies to services provided in office-based and hospital-based clinics, provided they follow guidelines set by the state Division of Insurance. The law includes an exception allowing co-payments and deductibles for plans that must comply with federal tax rules, such as those governed by the Internal Revenue Code. By removing these out-of-pocket costs for specific primary care visits, the legislation aims to make routine medical care more accessible to all residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Digital Equity Broadband Adoption Program within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to help low-income residents afford internet service. It creates a funding source primarily financed by a 50% assessment on broadband providers, with the remainder coming from state appropriations and other sources. Eligible households, including those receiving SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, or free/reduced-price school lunches, can receive vouchers worth $50 to cover one-time setup costs or monthly subscription fees. The program also requires the state to notify families with school-aged children about available assistance and participating service providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts laws to officially recognize professional guardians as authorized providers of medical care for incapacitated individuals, while explicitly excluding immediate family members from this definition. It establishes a new process for the state to set fair payment rates for these guardians based on regional market costs and inflation, ensuring they are compensated appropriately for their services. Additionally, the legislation introduces rules to prevent duplicate payments by stopping the state from reimbursing medical claims if private insurance or other state entities are already covering the costs, and it requires guardians to report paid medical claims in their annual court reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force to review Massachusetts laws regarding animal cruelty and protection. The group will include representatives from the attorney general's office, district attorneys, state police, agricultural resources, and animal welfare organizations, along with two members appointed by the governor. Within 12 months, the task force must submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations, which may include creating a new misdemeanor statute for animal cruelty. This initiative directly affects state agencies and animal welfare groups by mandating a systematic evaluation of current legal protections for animals.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to keep more young people out of the traditional juvenile court system by allowing them to receive community-based supervision and services instead. It achieves this by ensuring that children who need assistance are not automatically disqualified from diversion programs, even if they have previously been referred to court. The legislation also clarifies how assessments are conducted and what information can be shared, while specifying that certain serious crimes, such as those involving youthful offenders or long prison sentences, still exclude a child from diversion.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill strengthens laws against keeping animals in cruel conditions by explicitly defining prohibited situations such as exposure to waste, dangerous objects, or extreme weather. It directly affects anyone who owns or keeps domestic animals, including livestock, and clarifies that these protections apply regardless of the animal's specific use. The legislation establishes a tiered penalty system where first-time offenders face a warning or a fine up to $50, while repeat offenders can be fined up to $500 and potentially have their animals impounded. Additionally, the bill directs fines collected from these violations into a dedicated fund aimed at preventing homelessness in animals and ensures that these civil penalties do not block separate criminal prosecutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state laws to direct specific fines and assessments from DUI-related cases into the Head Injury Treatment Services Trust Fund. It increases the fine for a first-time DUI offense by $50 and raises the assessment fee for convicted or pleaded-guilty individuals from $50 to $100. Additionally, the legislation requires that 75 percent of fines collected in various DUI scenarios be deposited into the trust fund, while the entire $100 assessment fee goes directly to the fund. These changes primarily affect individuals charged with driving under the influence and the state judicial system responsible for collecting those penalties. The funds collected are intended to support services for victims of head injuries.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new project within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to prevent human trafficking and improve the safety and health of sex workers. It requires the department to create a strategic plan that offers resources like housing, healthcare, legal aid, and cash assistance, while also setting up a public system for reporting abuse. The legislation defines "sex worker" as someone who provides sexual acts in exchange for value and mandates that the safety plan be developed in collaboration with sex workers and advocacy groups. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency committee to study the decriminalization of sex work and includes minor amendments to existing disorderly conduct laws.