Sen. Joan Lovely

March 14, 2024 -- The committee on Public Health, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1380) of Adam Gomez, Vanna Howard, Jack Patrick Lewis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for legislation to strengthen our public health infrastructure to address alzheimer’s and all dementia; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2178) of Denise C. Garlick and others for legislation to strengthen the public health infrastructure to address Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2683).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows professional guardians to be paid by the state to provide medical care for people who have lost the ability to make their own healthcare decisions. It defines guardians as eligible providers for medical assistance programs while explicitly excluding immediate family members like spouses and children from this role. The legislation also sets up a system to determine fair payment rates for these guardians based on local market costs and inflation, and it adds rules to prevent double payment by ensuring the state does not cover medical bills that should be paid by private health insurance. Additionally, the bill requires guardians to report any medical claims they submit to the court as part of their annual reporting.

By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2339) of James K. Hawkins and others relative to the reduction of certain toxic chemicals in firefighter personal protective equipment. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts state law to include waters and buildings acquired by the National Park Service under its concurrent jurisdiction. It specifically extends this authority to properties obtained on or after the effective date of the act, ensuring federal control over these areas once the National Park Service director notifies the governor and state secretary. The change clarifies that the United States retains jurisdiction over these lands, waters, and structures, preventing state-level conflicts with federal management.

By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2421) of Steven George Xiarhos, Vanna Howard and Paul McMurtry relative to emergency response in an active shooter or hostile event situation. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

By Representative Walsh of Peabody and Senator Lovely, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2416) of Thomas P. Walsh, Joan B. Lovely and others relative to requiring human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the ability of survivors of child sexual abuse in Massachusetts to file civil lawsuits against their abusers. It achieves this by adding child sexual abuse claims to the list of cases eligible for special legal protections under the state's tort reform laws. Specifically, the legislation allows these survivors to bypass the standard three-year deadline for filing a lawsuit by starting the clock only after they make the connection between the abuse and their current harm. To support this change, the bill requires a licensed mental health professional to provide an opinion confirming that the survivor's delayed reaction was typical for victims of childhood trauma. These provisions aim to ensure that survivors have a fair opportunity to seek justice regardless of when they realize the impact of their past abuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the time limit on filing civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse in Massachusetts, allowing survivors to seek compensation regardless of how much time has passed since the abuse occurred. It specifically permits victims to sue for damages against the individuals who committed the abuse as well as against employers or supervisors if negligence is proven. The law applies to cases that happened before, during, or after the bill's passage, ensuring that past claims are not automatically barred by the state's usual legal time limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the $100,000 cap on damages for victims of sexual abuse of minors who sue state or charitable organizations in Massachusetts. It specifically applies to claims against the state government and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, ensuring these entities can be held liable for the full amount of damages in such cases. The law defines sexual abuse of a minor according to existing state statutes and extends this protection to include claims against public employees and contractors working for these organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to remove the time limit for prosecuting adults who sexually assaulted or raped a child when the victim was under 18. Under the new provision, prosecutors can file charges at any point after the crime occurred, regardless of how much time has passed since the incident. The change directly affects victims of childhood sexual abuse by allowing them to seek criminal justice even if many years have gone by. It specifically applies to cases of indecent assault and battery and rape involving minors, ensuring these serious offenses remain actionable indefinitely.