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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 777 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 181
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Patricia A. Haddad
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Patricia A. Haddad5th Bristol1/17/2023Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex1/31/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023Alan Silvia7th Bristol2/10/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/22/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 777 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 181
By Representative Haddad of Somerset, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 181) of
Patricia A. Haddad and others relative to access to early intervention services for children with
prenatal exposure to opioids. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 226 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 1 of Chapter 111G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
2inserting at the end thereof the following definitions:-
3 "Substance-Exposed Newborn", a newborn who was exposed to alcohol or other drugs
4ingested by the mother in utero, whether or not this exposure is detected at birth through a drug
5screen or withdrawal symptoms.
6 "Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome", symptoms and signs exhibited by a newborn due to
7drug withdrawal, the term used to represent the pattern of effects that are associated with opioid
8withdrawal in newborns. 2 of 2
9 Section 2 of Chapter 111G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
10inserting at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
11 The department shall review and revise the early intervention operational standards to
12ensure that children under the age of 3, who are diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
13and children under the age of 3, who meet the definition of substance-exposed newborns, are
14deemed categorically eligible for early intervention services until the child's third birthday.