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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3311 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1975
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Josh S. Cutler
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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 PANDAS/PANS.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Josh S. Cutler6th Plymouth1/20/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex1/24/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/25/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/25/2023Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk2/1/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol2/2/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/8/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/16/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/20/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/27/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3311 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1975
By Representative Cutler of Pembroke, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1975) of
Josh S. Cutler and others that the Department of Mental Health and Department of Education use
established clinical criteria developed by the PANS/PANDAS Consortium available through the
PANDAS Physicians Network. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to PANDAS/PANS.
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. (a) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the
2Department of Mental Health, in conjunction with the Department of Education shall conduct a
3study of pediatric and adolescent psychiatric hospital settings and therapeutic day schools to
4determine if any children within these settings have root causes in missed or known
5neuroimmune issues or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with
6streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
7 (b) In conducting the study, the Department of Mental Health and Department of
8Education shall use established clinical criteria developed by the PANS/PANDAS Consortium
9available through the PANDAS Physicians Network, and other experts specializing in the
10treatment and diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with
11streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. The Departments
12shall interview children and families who had previously been misdiagnosed and subsequently 2 of 2
13found to have pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal
14infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome while they were accessing
15support through the Department of Mental Health. Further, the departments shall consult with the
16Department of Public Health’s PANDAS/PANS Advisory Council and professionals in pediatric
17and adolescent psychiatric hospital settings and therapeutic day schools.
18 (c) The findings of the study shall include, but no limited to, the following: (i) Identify
19the prevalence of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal
20infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome in pediatric and adolescent
21psychiatric hospital settings and therapeutic day schools. (ii) Report outcomes of interviewed
22children & families who had been previously misdiagnosed and subsequently found to have
23pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and
24pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
25 (d) By December 31, 2023, the Department of Mental Health and the Department of
26Education shall report the findings of the study to the Joint Committee on Public Health, the
27Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Use and Recovery, the Department of Public
28Health, the PANDAS/PANS Advisory Council and the Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the
29House of Representatives.