Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1434 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1722 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1434
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Susan L. Moran
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing the human service transportation (HST) consumer advisory board.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Susan L. MoranPlymouth and BarnstableMindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/26/2023Brian M. Ashe2nd Hampden2/8/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/15/2023Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/17/2023 1 of 4
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1722 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1434
18	18	By Ms. Moran, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1434) of Susan L. Moran, Mindy
19	19	Domb, Brian M. Ashe, James B. Eldridge and others for legislation to establish the human
20	20	service transportation (HST) consumer advisory board. Public Health.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act establishing the human service transportation (HST) consumer advisory board.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
30	30	2 Section 222. (a) There is hereby established within the executive office of health and
31	31	3human services the human service transportation (HST) consumer advisory board, hereinafter
32	32	4referred to as the board, to advance the quality of nonemergency transportation to medical,
33	33	5community and other health and human services for persons with disabilities across the
34	34	6commonwealth and to identify challenges and solutions to address the experience and concerns
35	35	7of consumers using this service in order to ensure that HST is safe and reliable for all consumers.
36	36	8 (b) The board shall engage in activities that support its goals to identify challenges and
37	37	9solutions, make recommendations for improvements and propose guidelines on non-emergency
38	38	10human services transportation in order to provide the highest quality of service for consumers in
39	39	11the commonwealth, identify opportunities for improved service and productivity and provide a 2 of 4
40	40	12strong safety net for vulnerable populations in rural and urban communities. These activities
41	41	13shall include, but not be limited to:
42	42	14 (i) activities that elicit consumer experiences, feedback and insight into program
43	43	15participation as well as the ability to invite representatives from vendors, providers and referral
44	44	16sources in their attempt to capture information relevant to their purpose;
45	45	17 (ii) a minimum of six public meetings annually, as required by subsection (d);
46	46	18 (iii) consumer listening sessions pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (d);
47	47	19 (iv) an annual report, as required by subsection (d); and
48	48	20 (v) any other activity consistent with the purpose of the board.
49	49	21 (c) The board shall consist of 13 members who shall include; the secretary of health and
50	50	22human services or their designee who shall be a non-voting member and shall serve as the
51	51	23convenor of the board; the director of MassHealth or their designee who shall be a non-voting
52	52	24member; and 11 voting members appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall be appointed from
53	53	25a list of 3 consumers recommended by the Massachusetts developmental disabilities council; 1 of
54	54	26whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers recommended by the Massachusetts Mental
55	55	27Health Association; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers recommended by
56	56	28the statewide independent living council; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3
57	57	29consumers recommended by Stavros center for independent living; 1 of whom shall be appointed
58	58	30from a list of 3 consumers recommended by Independence Associates center for independent
59	59	31living; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers recommended by the Boston
60	60	32Center for Independent Living, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers 3 of 4
61	61	33recommended by the Dignity Alliance; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers
62	62	34recommended by Arc Massachusetts, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3
63	63	35consumers recommended by the Disability Law Center; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list
64	64	36of 3 consumers or consumer surrogates recommended by Mass Senior Care and the
65	65	37Massachusetts Council on Aging; and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the governor at their
66	66	38discretion.
67	67	39 (d)(1) The board shall meet a minimum of six times a year, all meetings of the board shall
68	68	40be held remotely and open to the public. Notice of remote meetings shall be posted as soon as
69	69	41reasonably possible prior to meeting. Notice shall be printed or posted in a legible, easily
70	70	42understandable format and shall contain the date, time and instructions for remote access and
71	71	43participation. The convenor of the meeting shall further include with the notice a listing of the
72	72	44topics that the convenor reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting.
73	73	45 (2) In order to engage in in activities that elicit consumer experiences, feedback and
74	74	46insight into program participation as well as the ability to invite representatives from vendors,
75	75	47providers and referral sources in their attempt to capture information relevant to their purpose,
76	76	48the board shall host and report on two virtual consumer listening sessions annually, preceded by
77	77	49targeted outreach to users of human services transportation services.
78	78	50 (3) The consumer advisory board shall file an annual report of its recommendations with
79	79	51the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the house and senate committees on ways
80	80	52and means, the joint committee on transportation, the joint committee on children, families and
81	81	53persons with disabilities, the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of
82	82	54transportation not later than December 1. The recommendations shall be used by the human 4 of 4
83	83	55services transportation office to improve non-emergency human services transportation broker
84	84	56services.
85	85	57 The human services transportation office will provide the Board with an update of its
86	86	58actions with regard to the report’s recommendations.
87	87	59 (4) The human services transportation office shall staff the consumer advisory task force,
88	88	60assist with facilitation for board outreach activities, and ensure its operation and scheduling.