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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3236 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2001
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul McMurtry
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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 improving mental health care through innovation.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk1/20/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/1/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3236 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2001
By Representative McMurtry of Dedham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2001) of
Paul McMurtry and Vanna Howard that the Department of Mental Health be authorized to
establish a program for the treatment and support of people with mental illness and brain-based
disorders. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2118 OF 2021-2022.]
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 improving mental health care through innovation.
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 19 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the 3 following sections:-
2 Section 25. The department shall establish a comprehensive program for the research,
3technology transfer, design, development and commercialization of technologies for the
4treatment and support of people with mental illness and brain-based disorders and to promote
5such programs the department shall provide grants to state agencies, programs, and institutions
6that provide mental healthcare services to pilot cutting edge technology; including but not
7limited to: (i) supporting research and innovation in mental healthcare to reduce costs to the state
8and draw companies and research dollars to the commonwealth, while improving the quality of
9life for people with mental illness; (ii) creating programs to grow and foster a research and 2 of 3
10innovation eco-system for brain health technologies in Massachusetts; (iii) innovation support
11for companies and researchers focused on mental healthcare; (iv) model the successful activities
12the commonwealth has taken to grow and develop bio-technology, medical technology, green
13technology, and computer technology industries and leverage the current innovation economy
14and eco-system; and (v) close the innovation gap between the lack of innovation in mental
15healthcare and in bio-technology, medical technology, green technology, and computer
16technology.
17 The department shall establish standards for the development of the program.
18 Section 26. (a) There shall be a separate fund to be known as the Mental Health and
19Innovation Fund, which shall be sited within the department. The fund shall to support mental
20health and innovation projects in the commonwealth. The fund shall be an expendable trust fund
21and shall not be subject to appropriation.
22 (b) There shall be credited to the fund, revenue from appropriations or other monies
23authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund, and gifts,
24grants, private contributions, repayment of loans, investment income earned on the fund's assets,
25and all other sources. Money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to
26the general fund.
27 Section 27. (a) There shall be established an oversight committee to the program
28established by section 25 and the fund established by section 26, which shall make policy
29recommendations to the department regarding program and funding activities.
30 (b) The committee shall be comprised of the following members: the commissioner of the
31department of public health or a designee; the commissioner of the department of mental health 3 of 3
32or a designee; the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security or a designee; the
33commissioner of the department of children and families; the secretary of the executive office of
34health and human services or a designee; and 4 individuals to be appointed by the governor, 1 of
35whom shall be an individual engaged in technology and innovation, 1 of whom shall be an
36individual engaged in digital health, and 1 of whom shall be a parent advocate for mental health
37innovation.
38 (c) Chapter 268A shall apply to committee members as special state employees, but the
39fund may purchase from, sell to, borrow from, loan to, contract with or otherwise deal with any
40person in which any committee member is in any way interested or involved, if such interest or
41involvement is disclosed in advance to the members of the committee and recorded in the
42minutes of the committee meeting. No committee member having such an interest or
43involvement may participate in any action of the committee relating to such person. Employment
44by the commonwealth or service in any agency thereof shall not be deemed to be such an interest
45or involvement.