Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1987 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1366 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1987
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Colleen M. Garry
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing a special commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, including but not
13	13	limited to investigation of PTSD caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex1/10/2023 1 of 3
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1366 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1987
19	19	By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1987) of Colleen
20	20	M. Garry relative to establishing a commission on post traumatic stress disorder. Mental Health,
21	21	Substance Use and Recovery.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE HOUSE, NO. 2091 OF 2021-2022.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
27	27	(2023-2024)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act establishing a special commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, including but not
30	30	limited to investigation of PTSD caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
31	31	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
32	32	of the same, as follows:
33	33	1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 104, the
34	34	2following section: --
35	35	3 Section 105. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the
36	36	4Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall establish a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
37	37	5Commission. The Special Commission shall consist of: the Secretary of the Executive Office of
38	38	6Health and Human Services, or a designee, who shall serve as Chair; the Commissioner of the
39	39	7Department of Mental Health, or a designee and 17 persons to be appointed by the Secretary of
40	40	8the Executive Office of Health and Human Services: 2 of whom shall be experts in the field, 1
41	41	9from Massachusetts General Hospital and 1 from Harvard University PTSD Research Laboratory 2 of 3
42	42	10in consultation with their relevant specialty chapters, 1 of whom shall be representative from the
43	43	11Secretary of Massachusetts Veterans’ Affairs, 1 of whom shall be representative of the
44	44	12American Legion Department of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the
45	45	13Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative of
46	46	14the Federal Veterans Administration, 1 of whom shall be representative of the Department of
47	47	15Children and Families, 1 of whom shall be representative of Boston Children's Hospital, 1 of
48	48	16whom shall be representative of New England Police Benevolent Association, 1 of whom shall
49	49	17be representative of the Massachusetts Police Association, 1 of whom shall be representative of
50	50	18Jane Doe, Inc., 1 of whom shall be representative of the immigrant/refugee population, 1 of
51	51	19whom shall be a representative of Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall
52	52	20be a representative of an Emergency Medical Services program, 1 from the Massachusetts
53	53	21Nurses Association and 2 of whom shall be representative of a research advocacy, or support
54	54	22organization primarily serving individuals with PTSD.
55	55	23
56	56	24 (b) The Commission shall: (1) develop and annually update a summary of the advances
57	57	25made in research on and treatment and diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (2) develop
58	58	26and annually update a summary of the advances made in access to care for individuals with a
59	59	27diagnosis Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (3) monitor Post Traumatic Stress Disorder research
60	60	28services, and support activities across the commonwealth, including coordination of the
61	61	29commonwealth's activities and programs with respect to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (4)
62	62	30develop and annually update a comprehensive strategic plan to improve health outcomes for
63	63	31individuals with a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder including recommendations to (a)
64	64	32advance research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (b) improve the treatment of Post Traumatic 3 of 3
65	65	33Stress Disorder, (c) improve public awareness and recognition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
66	66	34(d) improve mental health care delivery for individuals with a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress
67	67	35Disorder, (e) improve the early and accurate diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and (f)
68	68	36systematically advance the full spectrum of biomedical research on Post Traumatic Stress
69	69	37Disorder; (5) investigate the PTSD diagnoses and treatment successes as the result of the COVID
70	70	3819 Pandemic; (5) develop and annually update the progress made in implementing such
71	71	39comprehensive strategic plan.
72	72	40 (c) The Commission shall submit its recommendations to the Governor and the Clerks of
73	73	41the House of Representatives and Senate annually on or before December 31.