| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 405 FILED ON: 1/13/2025 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1597 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Patrick M. O'Connor |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | An Act relative to a healthier, stronger Massachusetts. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 405 FILED ON: 1/13/2025 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1597 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1597) of Patrick M. O'Connor for |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | legislation relative to a healthier, stronger Massachusetts in the wake of the novel coronavirus |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | pandemic. Public Health. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 1447 OF 2023-2024.] |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (2025-2026) |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | An Act relative to a healthier, stronger Massachusetts. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 1 SECTION 1. The department of public health shall design and implement a public |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 2awareness campaign, subject to appropriation, to promote healthy and active lifestyles in the |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 3wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The campaign shall promote subjects including, but not |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 4limited to, safe and responsible approaches to exercise in gyms and indoor exercise facilities, |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 5healthy habits to improve immune, respiratory, and other systems of the body to support virus |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 6resistance, and safe practices to counteract the physical and emotional impacts of quarantine and |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 7social distancing. Promotion methods shall include, but not be limited to, television and website |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 8advertisements, infographic displays in public places, and the adoption of a memorable slogan. |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 9 SECTION 2. The department of public health shall establish and set up on the books of |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 10the Commonwealth a gym membership subsidy program for the purpose of incentivizing public 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 11and private employers to offer free gym memberships for employees. The department shall |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 12design and implement an application system whereby employers may apply for partial or full |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 13reimbursement for the costs of offering employees free gym memberships. The department |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 14acting under such program shall prioritize applicants who do not contract with a health insurance |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 15provider that offers gym membership reimbursements. |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 16 SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 17established a special commission to study and recommend a recovery framework for survivors of |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | 18the novel 2019 coronavirus incorporating epidemiological and preventative health science, best |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | 19practices in lifestyle and fitness, and healthcare industry insight. |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | 20 (a) The commission shall be comprised of the following members: three private gym |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | 21owners, to be appointed by the Governor; the director of the Massachusetts Independent Fitness |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | 22Operators Organization; the commissioner of the department of public health, or their designee; |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | 23the director of Mass In Motion program, or their designee; the director of the bureau of |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | 24community health and prevention, or their designee; the director of the Massachusetts Health |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | 25Policy commission, or their designee; and the director of the Massachusetts Center for Health |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | 26Information and Analysis, or their designee. |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | 27 (b) The first meeting of the commission shall take place no later than December 1, 2025 |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | 28and shall be organized by the director of the bureau of community health and prevention. |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | 29 (c) The commission shall produce a report of their findings and analysis along with any |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | 30recommendations for legislation to the Clerks of the House and Senate and the chairs of the Joint |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | 31Committee on Public Health no later than December 1, 2026. |
|---|