HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 4625
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 13, 2024.
The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to
whom were referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 103) of
Joan B. Lovely, Sal N. DiDomenico, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Michael O.
Moore and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to
persons with developmental disabilities, the petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 122) of Susan L. Moran, Joanne M. Comerford, Michael O.
Moore and Mathew J. Muratore for legislation to support children with
neonatal abstinence syndrome and the petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 207) of James J. O'Day and others relative to persons with
developmental disabilities, reports recommending that the accompanying
bill (House, No. 4625) ought to pass.
For the committee,
JAY D. LIVINGSTONE. 1 of 3
FILED ON: 5/2/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4625
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 persons with developmental disabilities.
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. Section 74 of Chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following section:-
3 SECTION 2. (a) There shall be a special commission entitled the special commission on
4services for persons over age 21 with a developmental disability to study and make
5recommendations concerning the availability of agency services for persons with developmental
6disabilities over the age of 21 in the commonwealth.
7 (b) The commission shall: (1) examine the commonwealth’s current definition of “person
8with a developmental disability” and compare it with the federal definition; (2) engage and listen
9to the experiences and service needs of individuals over 21 with diagnoses that do not currently
10fall under the definition of “person with a developmental disability” in the commonwealth; (3)
11evaluate the availability of services for these populations in the commonwealth, (4) foster inter-
12agency collaboration on delivery of services, and (5) make recommendations for meeting the
13service needs of this population. 2 of 3
14 (c) The commission shall consist of the following: the co-chairs of the joint committee on
15children, families and persons with disabilities or designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; the co-
16chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery or designees; the
17commissioner of the department of developmental services or a designee; the commissioner of
18the department of mental health or a designee; commissioner of the department of transitional
19assistance or a designee; secretary of health and human services or a designee; director of
20masshealth or a designee; 4 persons to be appointed by the commission co-chairs, who shall be
21representatives of community-based organizations representing populations impacted by
22diagnoses not currently included in the commonwealth’s definition of developmental disability,
23including but not limited to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida,
24familial dysautonomia, potocki-lupski syndrome, and williams-syndrome, and at least 1 of whom
25shall have lived experience with one or more of these diagnoses.
26 (d) The commission shall: (1) solicit information and input from service providers,
27families, educational institutions, and any other parties or entities the commission deems
28appropriate; review the definition of “person with a developmental disability” in other states,
29including coverage for conditions “closely related” to intellectual disability and/or
30developmental disability; (2) identify the service needs of the populations with diagnoses that do
31not currently fall under the definition of “person with a developmental disability” in the
32commonwealth; (3) identify the availability and capacity of agencies in the commonwealth to
33provide services to these populations, including identifying the gaps in services; (4) study and
34make recommendations for inter-agency resources and services in order to best maximize
35existing state resources available to meet the service needs of populations with diagnoses that do
36not currently fall under the definition of “person with a developmental disability” in the 3 of 3
37commonwealth; (5) provide budget estimates for provision of services to these populations; (6)
38develop recommendations to measure and evaluate whether service needs are being met for
39populations with diagnoses that do not currently fall under the definition of “person with a
40developmental disability” in the commonwealth; and (7) other recommendations as the
41commission may deem appropriate.
42 (e) Members of the commission shall be named and the commission shall commence its
43work within 60 days of the effective date of this act. The commission shall file a report of its
44findings and recommendations, including, but not limited to, any draft legislation, budget
45estimates, regulations or administrative procedure necessary to meet the service needs of
46populations with diagnoses that do not currently fall under the definition of “person with a
47developmental disability” in the commonwealth to the state secretary, the clerks of the senate
48and house of representatives, the joint committee on children, families and persons with
49disabilities and the executive office of health and human services, not more than 1 year after the
50effective date of this act.