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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 972 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 515
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jason M. Lewis
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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 protecting public health and reducing health care costs.
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PETITION OF:
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
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 972 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 515
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 515) of Jason M. Lewis, Patrick M.
O'Connor, Joanne M. Comerford and Julian Cyr for legislation to protect public health and
reduce health care costs. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 577 OF 2021-2022.]
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 protecting public health and reducing health care costs.
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. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2Section 23, the following Section:-
3 Section 23A. (a) The department, in order to protect public health and contain health care
4costs in the Commonwealth, shall create an assessment tool to quantify the health impacts and
5costs of emissions associated with grid electricity and delivered fuels, and the benefits of energy
6conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Commonwealth.
7 (1) The assessment tool shall separately quantify health impacts and costs of emissions to
8environmental justice populations, the MassHealth program, community hospitals, the state
9budget and public health. 2 of 3
10 (2) In creating the assessment tool, the department shall draw upon relevant agency
11expertise and resources, including but not be limited to, the Center for Health Information and
12Analysis, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and its MassHealth program, and
13the Division of Energy Resources.
14 (3) In the design and operation of its assessment tool the department shall build upon
15existing health impacts assessment tools and analyses, including but not be limited to the health
16and health cost impacts used in the US Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan,
17and Co-Benefits Risk Assessment, as well as Health Care Without Harm’s Healthcare Energy
18Impact Calculator.
19 (4)The assessment tool created by the department shall incorporate and analyze factors
20that have an impact on health, including but not be limited to, health impacts and costs due to
21particulate matter < 2.5 microns, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon, carbon dioxide, and
22mercury emissions from energy sources.
23 (5) The assessment tool created by the department shall generate a breakdown of how the
24analyzed factors will impact specific measures of health status, including but not be limited to,
25health impacts costs and savings from premature death, cardiovascular events or injury, chronic
26bronchitis, asthma, respiratory symptoms, hospital admissions, restricted activity days, lost
27school and work days, and developmental/neurological problems, or, as applicable, their avoided
28impacts and cost savings resulting from energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable
29energy in the Commonwealth.
30 (b) The department shall update the tool every 3 years, or as needed, to maintain its
31accuracy. Beginning not later than 24 months after the effective date of this act, any new or 3 of 3
32revised policy, regulation, or program of the Commonwealth, or any ruling or adjudication by an
33agency of the Commonwealth that impacts polluting emissions, especially those for energy,
34buildings, transportation and waste, shall explicitly factor in the tool's output reflecting the
35action's health incidents, health costs or avoided impact's savings.
36 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than
3712 months after the effective date of this act, the Department of Public Health shall submit the
38assessment tool, created pursuant to section 23A of chapter 111, and explanatory materials on its
39use to the Clerks of the Senate and the House, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health
40and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental
41Affairs.