1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2236 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1266
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
_________________
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 PANDAS/PANS.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and NorfolkJason M. LewisFifth Middlesex1/24/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2236 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1266
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1266) of Patrick M. O'Connor
and Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to PANDAS/PANS. Mental Health, Substance Use
and Recovery.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act relative to PANDAS/PANS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 (a) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the Department of Mental
2Health, in conjunction with the Department of Education shall conduct a study of pediatric and
3adolescent psychiatric hospital settings and therapeutic day schools to determine if any children
4within these settings have root causes in missed or known neuroimmune issues or pediatric
5autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric
6acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
7 (b) In conducting the study, the Department of Mental Health and Department of
8Education shall use established clinical criteria developed by the PANS/PANDAS Consortium
9available through the PANDAS Physicians Network, and other experts specializing in the
10treatment and diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with
11streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. The Departments
12shall interview children and families who had previously been misdiagnosed and subsequently 2 of 2
13found to have pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal
14infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome while they were accessing
15support through the Department of Mental Health. Further, the departments shall consult with the
16Department of Public Health’s PANDAS/PANS Advisory Council and professionals in pediatric
17and adolescent psychiatric hospital settings and therapeutic day schools.
18 (c) The findings of the study shall include, but no limited to, the following:
19 (i) Identify the prevalence of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated
20with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome in pediatric
21and adolescent psychiatric hospital settings and therapeutic day schools.
22 (ii) Report outcomes of interviewed children & families who had been previously
23misdiagnosed and subsequently found to have pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders
24associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
25 (d) By December 31, 2023, the Department of Mental Health and the Department of
26Education shall report the findings of the study to the Joint Committee on Public Health, the
27Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Use and Recovery, the Department of Public
28Health, the PANDAS/PANS Advisory Council and the Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the
29House of Representatives.