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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2043 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1396
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Paul R. Feeney
_________________
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 studying the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline, direct care
nurses.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2043 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1396
By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1396) of Paul R. Feeney for
legislation to study the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline, direct
care nurses. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1245 OF 2023-2024.]
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 studying the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline, direct care
nurses.
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, the health
2policy commission, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall conduct a study of the
3mental and behavioral health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontline, direct care
4nursing workforce. The commission shall seek input from the department of public health, the
5department of mental health, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the office of health equity,
6the interagency health equity team, other state agencies, frontline nurses, healthcare providers,
7behavioral and economic experts and caregivers.
8 SECTION 2. The study shall: (i) identify the healthcare services that frontline, direct care
9nurses provided during the COVID-19 pandemic to patients suffering from COVID-19, 2 of 2
10including those above and beyond their normal duties; (ii) identify the traumatic effect of the
11COVID-19 pandemic and associated hospital patient surge and unprecedented death rate on
12mental health predisposition and risk factors contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder,
13depression, anxiety and other acute and long-term mental health conditions, caused by the
14COVID-19 pandemic; (iii) identify the mental and behavioral health resources offered by
15hospitals to the frontline, direct care nursing and staff workforce; (iv) recommend ways to
16improve access to, and the quality of, mental and behavioral health services to the frontline,
17direct care nursing and staff workforce; and (v) identify any other issues pertaining to providing
18mental and behavioral health resources to the frontline, direct care nursing workforce and staff in
19response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as deemed relevant by the commission, including, but not
20limited to, barriers to mental and behavioral healthcare delivery.
21 SECTION 3. Not later than December 31, 2026, the health policy commission shall file a
22report of its findings, together with any recommendations for legislation, with the clerks of the
23senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on health care financing, the joint
24committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on financial
25services.