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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1366 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1987
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Colleen M. Garry
_________________
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 establishing a special commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, including but not
limited to investigation of PTSD caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex1/10/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1366 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1987
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1987) of Colleen
M. Garry relative to establishing a commission on post traumatic stress disorder. Mental Health,
Substance Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2091 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act establishing a special commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, including but not
limited to investigation of PTSD caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 104, the
2following section: --
3 Section 105. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the
4Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall establish a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
5Commission. The Special Commission shall consist of: the Secretary of the Executive Office of
6Health and Human Services, or a designee, who shall serve as Chair; the Commissioner of the
7Department of Mental Health, or a designee and 17 persons to be appointed by the Secretary of
8the Executive Office of Health and Human Services: 2 of whom shall be experts in the field, 1
9from Massachusetts General Hospital and 1 from Harvard University PTSD Research Laboratory 2 of 3
10in consultation with their relevant specialty chapters, 1 of whom shall be representative from the
11Secretary of Massachusetts Veterans’ Affairs, 1 of whom shall be representative of the
12American Legion Department of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the
13Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative of
14the Federal Veterans Administration, 1 of whom shall be representative of the Department of
15Children and Families, 1 of whom shall be representative of Boston Children's Hospital, 1 of
16whom shall be representative of New England Police Benevolent Association, 1 of whom shall
17be representative of the Massachusetts Police Association, 1 of whom shall be representative of
18Jane Doe, Inc., 1 of whom shall be representative of the immigrant/refugee population, 1 of
19whom shall be a representative of Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall
20be a representative of an Emergency Medical Services program, 1 from the Massachusetts
21Nurses Association and 2 of whom shall be representative of a research advocacy, or support
22organization primarily serving individuals with PTSD.
23
24 (b) The Commission shall: (1) develop and annually update a summary of the advances
25made in research on and treatment and diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (2) develop
26and annually update a summary of the advances made in access to care for individuals with a
27diagnosis Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (3) monitor Post Traumatic Stress Disorder research
28services, and support activities across the commonwealth, including coordination of the
29commonwealth's activities and programs with respect to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (4)
30develop and annually update a comprehensive strategic plan to improve health outcomes for
31individuals with a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder including recommendations to (a)
32advance research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (b) improve the treatment of Post Traumatic 3 of 3
33Stress Disorder, (c) improve public awareness and recognition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
34(d) improve mental health care delivery for individuals with a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress
35Disorder, (e) improve the early and accurate diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and (f)
36systematically advance the full spectrum of biomedical research on Post Traumatic Stress
37Disorder; (5) investigate the PTSD diagnoses and treatment successes as the result of the COVID
3819 Pandemic; (5) develop and annually update the progress made in implementing such
39comprehensive strategic plan.
40 (c) The Commission shall submit its recommendations to the Governor and the Clerks of
41the House of Representatives and Senate annually on or before December 31.