Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2323 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. 1425 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2323
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Barry R. Finegold
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 a commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Barry R. FinegoldSecond Essex and Middlesex 1 of 4
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1425 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2323
18	18	By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2323) of Barry R. Finegold for
19	19	legislation to establish a commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Veterans and Federal
20	20	Affairs.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 2403 OF 2021-2022.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act establishing a commission on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 104 the
32	32	2following section:-
33	33	3 Section 105. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive
34	34	4office of health and human services shall establish a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
35	35	5Commission. The commission shall consist of:
36	36	6 (i) the secretary of the executive office of health and human services, or a designee, who
37	37	7shall serve as chair;
38	38	8 (ii) the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, or a designee;
39	39	9 (iii) the commissioner of the department of mental health, or a designee; 2 of 4
40	40	10 (iv) the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use
41	41	11and recovery; and
42	42	12 (v) 20 persons to be appointed by the secretary of the executive office of health and
43	43	13human services, of whom:
44	44	14 (A) 2 shall be experts in the field, 1 from Massachusetts General Hospital and 1 from
45	45	15Harvard University's PTSD Research Laboratory in consultation with their relevant specialty
46	46	16chapters;
47	47	17 (B) 1 shall be a representative from the department of veterans' services or a designee;
48	48	18 (C) 1 shall be a representative of the American Legion Department of Massachusetts;
49	49	19 (D) 1 shall be a representative of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of
50	50	20Massachusetts;
51	51	21 (E) 1 shall be a representative of the Federal Veterans Administration;
52	52	22 (F) 1 shall be a representative of the department of children and families;
53	53	23 (G) 1 shall be a representative of Boston Children's Hospital;
54	54	24 (H) 1 shall be a representative of the New England Police Benevolent Association;
55	55	25 (I) 1 shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Police Association;
56	56	26 (J) 1 shall be a representative of Jane Doe, Inc.;
57	57	27 (K) 1 shall be representative from Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy
58	58	28Coalition; 3 of 4
59	59	29 (L) 1 shall be a representative of Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts;
60	60	30 (M) 1 shall be a representative of an emergency medical services program;
61	61	31 (N) 3 shall be representatives of a research advocacy or support organization primarily
62	62	32serving individuals with PTSD;
63	63	33 (O) 1 shall be a representative of the National Guard and appointed by the adjutant
64	64	34general of the Massachusetts National Guard;
65	65	35 (P) 1 shall be appointed from Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base program; and
66	66	36 (Q) 1 shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Corrections Officers Federated Union.
67	67	37 (b) The Commission shall:
68	68	38 (i) develop and biennially update a summary of the advances made in research on and
69	69	39treatment and diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
70	70	40 (ii) develop and biennially update a summary of the advances made in access to care for
71	71	41individuals with a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
72	72	42 (iii) monitor Post Traumatic Stress Disorder research services and support activities
73	73	43across the commonwealth, including coordination of the commonwealth's activities and
74	74	44programs with respect to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
75	75	45 (iv) develop and annually update a comprehensive strategic plan to improve health
76	76	46outcomes for individuals with a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder including, but not
77	77	47limited to, recommendations to: 4 of 4
78	78	48 (1) advance research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
79	79	49 (2) improve the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
80	80	50 (3) improve public awareness and recognition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
81	81	51 (4) improve mental health care delivery for individuals with a diagnosis of Post
82	82	52Traumatic Stress Disorder;
83	83	53 (5) improve the early and accurate diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and
84	84	54 (6) systematically advance the full spectrum of biomedical research on Post Traumatic
85	85	55Stress Disorder; and
86	86	56 (v) develop and biennially update the progress made in implementing such
87	87	57comprehensive strategic plan.
88	88	58 (c) The Commission shall submit its recommendations to the governor and the clerks of
89	89	59the house of representatives and senate biennially on or before January 31st of the second year of
90	90	60the legislative session.