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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3837 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2003
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Mathew J. Muratore
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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 mental health and suicide prevention.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth1/20/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/25/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/27/2023Ryan M. Hamilton15th Essex1/30/2023Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/31/2023David K. Muradian, Jr.9th Worcester2/6/2023Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth2/9/2023David Allen Robertson19th Middlesex2/16/2023Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex2/17/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/18/2023Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex2/21/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3837 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2003
By Representative Muratore of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2003) of
Mathew J. Muratore and others relative to mental health and suicide prevention. 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 mental health and suicide prevention.
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.There shall be established the Massachusetts Commission on Suicide
2Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Management to be comprised of seven members; The
3Governor or his/her designee, the Attorney General or his/her designee, the Secretary of Health
4and Human Services or his/her designee, the Commissioner of The Department of Mental Health
5or his/her designee, the Commissioner of Executive Office of Public Safety and Security or
6his/her designee, the Speaker of the House or his/her designee, and the Senate President or
7his/her designee.
8 Said commission shall examine the state of suicide prevention and mental health crisis
9management in the Commonwealth. The commission will include in its study emergency and
10outpatient care needs, inpatient and long-term care needs, facility and infrastructure needs, public
11information and outreach; professional training needs and potential shortages, establishing a 2 of 3
12dedicated fund suitable to accept donations from charitable organizations for said needs and
13other means of funding sources.
14 Said commission shall examine current and proposed suicide prevention and mental
15health crisis management measures including but not limited to counseling services, diversionary
16programs, doctors’ interventions, police wellness visits, court programs, youth education,
17Sections 12 and Section 35 of Chapter 123 and shall issue a report no later than January 1, 2025
18with recommendations for improvements to those efforts including expanded access, additional
19channels of communication, improvements to follow up programs, assistance on securing a home
20from materials that could be a danger to individuals who may be a risk to themselves, and
21increased marketing.
22 Said commission shall also report on the current relative statistics regarding suicide and
23the means of suicide as established by the Injury Surveillance Program under the Massachusetts
24Department of Public Health; and shall also include legal information on how certain means of
25suicide or harm such as firearms, excessive medications or alcohol, suffocation or hanging can
26be handled if believed to be a potential hazard.
27 SECTION 2. The Department of Mental Health shall develop materials available to the
28public for a wellness follow up program. The program shall offer assistance on how to conduct a
29home inspection for materials that could be a danger to person who may be a risk to themselves
30as well as information on mental health wellness assistance. The information shall also include
31legal information on how certain means of suicide or harm such as firearms, excessive
32medications or alcohol can be legally and safely handled if found. 3 of 3
33 The Department of Mental Health shall develop public relation materials, public service
34announcements, and other means to make the general public aware of Mass 211 services and
35other services such as the Federal 988 program.