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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 321 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 89
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Adam Gomez
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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 to establish an acquired brain injury advisory board.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Adam GomezHampdenHannah Kane11th Worcester1/27/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk1/27/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/9/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/9/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/9/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/9/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/9/2023Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk2/10/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/10/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/13/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/6/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 321 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 89
By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 89) of Adam Gomez, Hannah Kane,
Michael D. Brady, Michael O. Moore and other members of the General Court for legislation to
establish an acquired brain injury advisory board. Children, Families and Persons with
Disabilities.
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 to establish an acquired brain injury advisory board.
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. An acquired brain injury advisory board shall be established to collaborate
2with appropriate state secretariats and their agencies, members of the legislature, individuals with
3acquired brain injuries and their family members, providers, clinicians, advocacy groups and
4other key stakeholders to review, advise, and report on services and supports, and public policy
5there under for individuals with acquired brain injuries and their families.
6 SECTION 2: Said advisory board shall consist of 2 members of the Senate, 1 of whom
7shall be appointed by the President, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader; 2
8members of the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker, 1 of
9whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader; the Secretary of Health and Human Services or
10their designee; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety or their designee; the
11Secretary of Elder Affairs or their designee; the Secretary of Veterans Services or their designee;
12the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or their designee; 2 members from the 2 of 3
13Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, 1 who shall be the Commissioner or their designee, 1
14who shall be appointed by the Commissioner; the Commissioner of the Department of
15Developmental Services or their designee; the Commissioner of the Department of Mental
16Health or their designee; the MassHealth Director or their designee; the Chief Executive Officer
17at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, Inc. or their designee; and 8 members who
18shall be appointed by the Governor, 2 of whom shall be family members, caretakers or
19significant others of a person with acquired brain injury, 2 of whom shall be individuals with
20acquired brain injury, including but not limited to individuals who have experienced traumatic
21brain injury, stroke, brain tumors or other disorders, 1 of whom shall be a community based
22provider of services to individuals with acquired brain injury 1 of whom shall be a community
23based provider of services to individuals with acquired brain injury serving minorities and other
24underserved populations, 1 of whom shall be from a disability advisory group or a protection and
25advocacy representative, 1 of whom shall be a clinician.
26 SECTION 3. Said advisory board directives shall include, but are not limited to,
27reviewing data concerning the epidemiology of acquired brain injury and the needs of
28individuals with acquired brain injury and their families; reviewing efforts to increase access to
29rehabilitative, residential and integrated community based support services for persons with
30acquired brain injury; monitoring the implementation of the acquired brain injury commission
31recommendations regarding the improvement of such services; reviewing and advising on the
32annual brain injury state plan; and reviewing ongoing state public policy initiatives and state
33funding.
34 SECTION 4: Said advisory board shall file a biennial report with the Governor, the
35Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Senate President, the 3 of 3
36Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the clerks of the Senate and House of
37Representatives. Said report shall include but not be limited to a summary of ongoing needs of
38individuals with acquired brain injury, the status of progress made in increasing access to
39rehabilitative, residential and integrated community-based support services for individuals with
40acquired brain injury; and the status of progress made in implementing the acquired brain injury
41commission recommendations regarding the improvement of such services.
42 SECTION 5. Said advisory board shall meet quarterly, at minimum, and may establish
43subcommittees as necessary to carry out its objectives.