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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1691 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1560
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Robyn K. Kennedy
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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 establishing the human service transportation (HST) consumer advisory board.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Robyn K. KennedyFirst WorcesterJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/31/2025 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1691 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1560
By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1560) of Robyn K. Kennedy and
Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to establish the human service transportation (HST)
consumer advisory board. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1434 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 establishing the human service transportation (HST) consumer 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 Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2 Section 222. (a) There is hereby established within the executive office of health and
3human services the human service transportation (HST) consumer advisory board, hereinafter
4referred to as the board, to advance the quality of nonemergency transportation to medical,
5community and other health and human services for persons with disabilities across the
6commonwealth and to identify challenges and solutions to address the experience and concerns
7of consumers using this service in order to ensure that HST is safe and reliable for all consumers.
8 (b) The board shall engage in activities that support its goals to identify challenges and
9solutions, make recommendations for improvements and propose guidelines on non-emergency 2 of 4
10human services transportation in order to provide the highest quality of service for consumers in
11the commonwealth, identify opportunities for improved service and productivity and provide a
12strong safety net for vulnerable populations in rural and urban communities. These activities
13shall include, but not be limited to:
14 (i) activities that elicit consumer experiences, feedback and insight into program
15participation as well as the ability to invite representatives from vendors, providers and referral
16sources in their attempt to capture information relevant to their purpose;
17 (ii) a minimum of six public meetings annually, as required by subsection (d);
18 (iii) consumer listening sessions pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (d);
19 (iv) an annual report, as required by subsection (d); and
20 (v) any other activity consistent with the purpose of the board.
21 (c) The board shall consist of 13 members who shall include; the secretary of health and
22human services or their designee who shall be a non-voting member and shall serve as the
23convenor of the board; the director of MassHealth or their designee who shall be a non-voting
24member; and 11 voting members appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall be appointed from
25a list of 3 consumers recommended by the Massachusetts developmental disabilities council; 1 of
26whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers recommended by the Massachusetts Mental
27Health Association; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers recommended by
28the statewide independent living council; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3
29consumers recommended by Stavros center for independent living; 1 of whom shall be appointed
30from a list of 3 consumers recommended by Independence Associates center for independent 3 of 4
31living; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers recommended by the Boston
32Center for Independent Living, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers
33recommended by the Dignity Alliance; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3 consumers
34recommended by Arc Massachusetts, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list of 3
35consumers recommended by the Disability Law Center; 1 of whom shall be appointed from a list
36of 3 consumers or consumer surrogates recommended by Mass Senior Care and the
37Massachusetts Council on Aging; and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the governor at their
38discretion.
39 (d)(1) The board shall meet a minimum of six times a year, all meetings of the board shall
40be held remotely and open to the public. Notice of remote meetings shall be posted as soon as
41reasonably possible prior to meeting. Notice shall be printed or posted in a legible, easily
42understandable format and shall contain the date, time and instructions for remote access and
43participation. The convenor of the meeting shall further include with the notice a listing of the
44topics that the convenor reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting.
45 (2) In order to engage in in activities that elicit consumer experiences, feedback and
46insight into program participation as well as the ability to invite representatives from vendors,
47providers and referral sources in their attempt to capture information relevant to their purpose,
48the board shall host and report on two virtual consumer listening sessions annually, preceded by
49targeted outreach to users of human services transportation services.
50 (3) The consumer advisory board shall file an annual report of its recommendations with
51the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the house and senate committees on ways
52and means, the joint committee on transportation, the joint committee on children, families and 4 of 4
53persons with disabilities, the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of
54transportation not later than December 1. The recommendations shall be used by the human
55services transportation office to improve non-emergency human services transportation broker
56services.
57 The human services transportation office will provide the Board with an update of its
58actions with regard to the report’s recommendations.
59 (4) The human services transportation office shall staff the consumer advisory task force,
60assist with facilitation for board outreach activities, and ensure its operation and scheduling.