1 of 1 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2641 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2215 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Bradley H. Jones, Jr. _________________ 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 relative to establishing a commission to study the feasibility of joining the counseling compact. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/16/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/17/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/31/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden3/10/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/30/2025Andres X. Vargas3rd Essex2/11/2025 1 of 2 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2641 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2215 By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2215) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including members of the General Court) to study the feasibility of joining the counseling compact. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION SEE HOUSE, NO. 4753 OF 2023-2024.] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ An Act relative to establishing a commission to study the feasibility of joining the counseling compact. 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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a 2commission to study the feasibility of Massachusetts joining the counseling compact for licensed 3mental health counselors. 4 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint 5committee on consumer protection and professional licensure, who shall serve as the co-chairs; 6the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on health care financing or their designee; the 7house and senate chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, or 8their designee; one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one 9member to be appointed by the house minority leader; one member to be appointed by the senate 2 of 2 10president; one member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; the commissioner of the 11department of mental health or designee; one member of the board of Massachusetts Mental 12Health Counselors Association, Inc.; one member of the Board of Registration of Allied Mental 13Health and Human Services Professionals; one member of the Massachusetts Association for 14Mental Health; and one member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Boston. 15 SECTION 3. The commission shall study the feasibility of joining the counseling 16compact for licensed mental health counselors and make recommendations to the legislature. 17 SECTION 4. The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any 18recommendations and drafted legislation, to the house and senate committees on ways and means 19and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate within 6 months of the passage of this 20act.