By Representative Santiago of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2271) of Jon Santiago relative to initial licensure and renewal of licensure in professions that provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Public Health.
By Representatives Khan of Newton and Santiago of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2210) of Kay Khan, Jon Santiago and others relative to prohibiting the marketing of certain drinks with added sugar on school grounds. Public Health.
By Representatives Lewis of Framingham and Domb of Amherst, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2224) of Jack Patrick Lewis, Mindy Domb and others relative to improving healthcare delivery for underserved residents. Public Health.
Senate, March 14, 2024 -- Text of the Senate Bill ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development (Senate, No. 2707) (being the text of Senate, No. 2697, printed as amended)
By Representative McGonagle of Everett, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2594) of Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr., and others relative to a post-traumatic stress disorder presumption for certain retirement benefits. Public Service.
By Representative Biele of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2443) of David Biele and others for legislation to expand the cancer presumption for firefighters. Public Service.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to update the rules for licensing social workers in Massachusetts to ensure fair treatment and clearer pathways for those seeking certification. It modifies existing state laws by removing gendered language, eliminating redundant exam requirements, and creating a new provisional license for applicants who have failed the social work associate exam twice but are within a specific score range. Under the new provisions, individuals granted this provisional license would have one year to complete required professional development and supervision before receiving a full license without needing to retake the exam. The changes directly affect social work applicants, current licensees, and the Board of Social Work Examiners by streamlining the licensure process and standardizing terminology.
By Representative LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2577) of Kathleen R. LaNatra and others relative to credible service for retirement purposes for school nurses. Public Service.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts high schools to include instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automatic external defibrillators as a condition for graduation. The curriculum must follow current national guidelines and include hands-on practice, but it does not mandate that teachers be certified CPR instructors unless the course leads to a certification. By adding this requirement to existing state law, the measure ensures that all students receive standardized training in life-saving emergency skills before they can earn their diplomas.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide target for Massachusetts to build 427,000 new housing units by 2040. It specifically requires that 85,400 of these units be affordable to households earning less than 80% of the area median income, with at least 8,500 reserved for those earning less than 30%. To track progress, the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development must submit annual reports detailing the number of units built, including specific categories for market-rate homes, disability-accessible units, senior housing, and affordable units at different income levels. The report will also include data on residential properties purchased by foreign buyers and short-term rentals. These provisions directly affect housing developers, state housing officials, and the broader community by setting a concrete production benchmark and creating a transparency mechanism for housing statistics.
