Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that public schools in Massachusetts provide kindergarten through fifth-grade students with at least one hundred minutes of supervised, unstructured free-play recess each week. The law ensures that schools cannot reduce this recess time due to new curriculum standards or other changes, nor can they count this time toward required learning hours. By guaranteeing a minimum of twenty consecutive minutes of recess per day, the legislation aims to protect opportunities for physical and social activities for elementary students.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state laws to mandate that mental health education be taught as a required subject in all public school grades. The legislation requires schools to design these programs to address the connection between physical and mental health, aiming to improve student well-being and attitudes. Additionally, the bill updates rules for private school approval, requiring districts to ensure these schools incorporate mental health education into their curricula. By modifying existing statutes, the act directly impacts public and private school administrators, teachers, and students across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require health insurance plans to cover screenings for postpartum depression during pediatrician visits. It directly affects parents of newborns by ensuring they can receive mental health assessments for themselves while their child is under one year old. The key provision mandates that these screenings occur whenever a parent visits a pediatrician's office within the first year of the child's life. This change aims to improve access to mental health care for new parents by integrating screening into routine pediatric appointments.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes local health agencies in Massachusetts to conduct detailed reviews of fetal and infant deaths within their jurisdictions. The law establishes a process for the state Department of Public Health to designate these agencies based on their expertise and capacity to analyze local factors contributing to these tragedies. Authorized agencies will be permitted to collect necessary data from medical records, hospital files, and community programs to better understand causes and improve public health policies. The legislation aims to create a systematic approach for identifying preventable issues and informing future support systems for child and maternal health.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education law to ensure every K-12 school has access to mental health professionals, such as counselors, psychologists, and social workers. It mandates a staffing ratio of at least one professional per 250 students, with a minimum of one at each elementary and secondary school across the state. These professionals are authorized to provide direct mental health services, offer social and emotional skill building, assist families with public benefits, and address issues like food insecurity and homelessness. The legislation also requires these staff members to train faculty and administrators while coordinating with community resources to support student well-being.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the regulations for licensed free-standing birth centers in Massachusetts to modernize their operational requirements. It mandates that these facilities create specific plans for transferring patients to hospitals during emergencies and developing policies for managing complications. A key provision removes the requirement for birth centers to be supervised by hospitals or maintain hospital privileges, while still requiring an administrative director and clinical leadership by a nurse midwife or physician. The Department of Public Health is tasked with finalizing these new rules within 180 days, aiming to ensure safe and accessible birth options.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow medical students who have completed at least two years of study at an accredited medical school to practice in licensed healthcare facilities. These students would be permitted to provide reproductive and gender-affirming care under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider. The provision is intended to facilitate training in these specific areas of medicine by creating a pathway for students to gain practical experience.

By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2163) of Carole A. Fiola and others that the Division of Medical Assistance be directed to provide coverage for screenings for postpartum depression. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to oversee and regulate the practice of midwifery. The eight-member board will be appointed by the governor and must include licensed midwives, a physician experienced with midwives, a certified nurse-midwife, and members of the public, with specific requirements to ensure diversity and address racial disparities in maternal health. Board members will serve three-year terms without pay but with expense reimbursement, and the board will meet at least four times each year to carry out its duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to fund non-law enforcement community responses for emergency situations. The program aims to protect mental and physical well-being, prevent violence, and reduce the need for police involvement by connecting residents with human services. To receive funding, local partnerships must include a government unit and community-based organizations, and they must demonstrate experience working with specific populations. A diverse board of community stakeholders, including social workers and service consumers, will oversee the grants and evaluate their effectiveness based on health outcomes and reduced law enforcement demand.