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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 867 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 231
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kimberly N. Ferguson
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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 :DATE ADDED:Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/13/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/27/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester1/27/2025Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex1/31/2025Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk2/13/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester2/3/2025Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex1/25/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/24/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/14/2025Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol2/10/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/16/2025Sally P. Kerans13th Essex2/25/2025David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex1/22/2025Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/31/2025Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/18/2025Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/7/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/25/2025Steven Ultrino33rd Middlesex3/5/2025 2 of 2
Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/31/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 867 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 231
By Representative Ferguson of Holden, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 231) of
Kimberly N. Ferguson and others for legislation to establish an acquired brain injury advisory
board (including members of the General Court) to review, advise and report on services,
supports and public policy for individuals with acquired brain injuries and their families.
Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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; 2 of 3
12the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or their designee; 2 members from the
13MassAbility, 1 who shall be the Commissioner or their designee, 1 who shall be appointed by the
14Commissioner; the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services or their
15designee; the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health or their designee; 2 members of
16the MassHealth, 1 who shall be the Director or their designee, and 1 who shall be the Director of
17Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Administration or their designee; the
18Commissioner of the Division of Insurance or their designee, the Executive Director of the
19Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) or their designee, the Chief Executive
20Officer at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, Inc. or their designee; and 8 members
21who shall be appointed by the Governor, 2 of whom shall be family members, caretakers or
22significant others of a person with acquired brain injury, 2 of whom shall be individuals with
23acquired brain injury, including but not limited to individuals who have experienced traumatic
24brain injury, stroke, brain tumors or other disorders, 1 of whom shall be a community based
25provider of services to individuals with acquired brain injury 1 of whom shall be a community
26based provider of services to individuals with acquired brain injury serving minorities and other
27underserved populations, 1 of whom shall be from a disability advisory group or a protection and
28advocacy representative, 1 of whom shall be a clinician.
29 SECTION 3. Said advisory board directives shall include, but are not limited to,
30reviewing data concerning the epidemiology of acquired brain injury and the needs of
31individuals with acquired brain injury and their families; reviewing efforts to increase access to
32rehabilitative, residential and integrated community based support services for persons with
33acquired brain injury; monitoring the implementation of the acquired brain injury commission 3 of 3
34recommendations regarding the improvement of such services; and reviewing ongoing state
35public policy initiatives and state funding.
36 SECTION 4: Said advisory board shall file a biennial report with the Governor, the
37Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Senate President, the
38Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the clerks of the Senate and House of
39Representatives. Said report shall include but not be limited to a summary of ongoing needs of
40individuals with acquired brain injury, the status of progress made in increasing access to
41rehabilitative, residential and integrated community-based support services for individuals with
42acquired brain injury; and the status of progress made in implementing the acquired brain injury
43commission recommendations regarding the improvement of such services.
44 SECTION 5. Said advisory board shall meet quarterly, at minimum, and may establish
45subcommittees as necessary to carry out its objectives.