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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 164 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2170
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
William C. Galvin
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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 Parkinson's Disease public awareness and education.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:William C. Galvin6th Norfolk1/10/2023Adam Scanlon14th Bristol1/10/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/25/2023Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.28th Middlesex1/25/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/27/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 164 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2170
By Representative Galvin of Canton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2170) of
William C. Galvin and others that the Department of Public Health be authorized to establish a
Parkinson's disease public information and education program. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2289 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 Parkinson's Disease public awareness and education.
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. The department of public health, in consultation with the Massachusetts
2Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association, shall establish a Parkinson's disease
3public information and education program to promote public awareness of Parkinson's disease
4and the value of early detection.
5 The department's outreach campaign shall include, but is not limited to, the following
6subjects:
7 (i) the cause and nature of the disease; (ii) diagnostic procedures and appropriate
8indications for their use; (iii) lifestyle issues relating to how a person copes with Parkinson's
9disease, including, but not limited to, nutrition, diet, and physical exercise; (iv) environmental 2 of 2
10safety and injury prevention; and (v) availability of Parkinson's disease diagnostic and
11treatment services in the community.
12 Section 2. The department of public health shall develop informational booklets about
13Parkinson's disease and make the booklets available to all licensed health care facilities engaged
14in the diagnosis or treatment of Parkinson's disease, as well as, to health care professionals,
15community health centers, and members of the public upon their request. The department shall
16publicize and make available the booklet to the maximum extent possible, and shall make the
17booklet available electronically on its Internet website in English and Spanish. This information
18may be revised by the department whenever new information about Parkinson's disease becomes
19available.
20 Section 3. The department of public health shall develop educational programs for other
21personnel, including judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and
22emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Parkinson's
23disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course
24of performing their duties, including dissemination of the informational booklet mandated by
25Section 2 of this chapter.
26 Section 4. The department of public health shall create and maintain a list of current
27providers of specialized services for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
28Dissemination of the list shall be accompanied by a description of diagnostic procedures. The
29statement shall also indicate that the department does not endorse specific Parkinson's disease
30programs or centers in this State.
31 Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 180th day following enactment.