Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S515 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. 972 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 515
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jason M. Lewis
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 protecting public health and reducing health care costs.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jason M. LewisFifth MiddlesexPatrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/8/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/10/2023Julian CyrCape and Islands2/23/2023 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 972 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 515
18	18	By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 515) of Jason M. Lewis, Patrick M.
19	19	O'Connor, Joanne M. Comerford and Julian Cyr for legislation to protect public health and
20	20	reduce health care costs. Environment and Natural Resources.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 577 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 protecting public health and reducing health care costs.
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 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
32	32	2Section 23, the following Section:-
33	33	3 Section 23A. (a) The department, in order to protect public health and contain health care
34	34	4costs in the Commonwealth, shall create an assessment tool to quantify the health impacts and
35	35	5costs of emissions associated with grid electricity and delivered fuels, and the benefits of energy
36	36	6conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Commonwealth.
37	37	7 (1) The assessment tool shall separately quantify health impacts and costs of emissions to
38	38	8environmental justice populations, the MassHealth program, community hospitals, the state
39	39	9budget and public health. 2 of 3
40	40	10 (2) In creating the assessment tool, the department shall draw upon relevant agency
41	41	11expertise and resources, including but not be limited to, the Center for Health Information and
42	42	12Analysis, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and its MassHealth program, and
43	43	13the Division of Energy Resources.
44	44	14 (3) In the design and operation of its assessment tool the department shall build upon
45	45	15existing health impacts assessment tools and analyses, including but not be limited to the health
46	46	16and health cost impacts used in the US Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan,
47	47	17and Co-Benefits Risk Assessment, as well as Health Care Without Harm’s Healthcare Energy
48	48	18Impact Calculator.
49	49	19 (4)The assessment tool created by the department shall incorporate and analyze factors
50	50	20that have an impact on health, including but not be limited to, health impacts and costs due to
51	51	21particulate matter < 2.5 microns, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon, carbon dioxide, and
52	52	22mercury emissions from energy sources.
53	53	23 (5) The assessment tool created by the department shall generate a breakdown of how the
54	54	24analyzed factors will impact specific measures of health status, including but not be limited to,
55	55	25health impacts costs and savings from premature death, cardiovascular events or injury, chronic
56	56	26bronchitis, asthma, respiratory symptoms, hospital admissions, restricted activity days, lost
57	57	27school and work days, and developmental/neurological problems, or, as applicable, their avoided
58	58	28impacts and cost savings resulting from energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable
59	59	29energy in the Commonwealth.
60	60	30 (b) The department shall update the tool every 3 years, or as needed, to maintain its
61	61	31accuracy. Beginning not later than 24 months after the effective date of this act, any new or 3 of 3
62	62	32revised policy, regulation, or program of the Commonwealth, or any ruling or adjudication by an
63	63	33agency of the Commonwealth that impacts polluting emissions, especially those for energy,
64	64	34buildings, transportation and waste, shall explicitly factor in the tool's output reflecting the
65	65	35action's health incidents, health costs or avoided impact's savings.
66	66	36 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than
67	67	3712 months after the effective date of this act, the Department of Public Health shall submit the
68	68	38assessment tool, created pursuant to section 23A of chapter 111, and explanatory materials on its
69	69	39use to the Clerks of the Senate and the House, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health
70	70	40and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental
71	71	41Affairs.