Each year, Mass Families establishes legislative priorities for the year. These priorities are in response to current legislation that affect individuals with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts and their families. Download the PDF or scroll down to learn more.
SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING
H172 An act relative to supported decision-making agreements for certain adults with disabilities – Filed by Representatives Aaron Vega and Paul Tucker
S64 An act relative to supported decision-making agreements for certain adults with disabilities – Filed by Senator Lovely
This bill, allows certain adults, including those with disabilities and elders, to maintain their rights, dignity, and independence by choosing one or more trusted supporters to provide assistance making decisions about their lives.
NICKY’S LAW
H101 An act to protect persons with intellectual with intellectual or developmental disability from abuse – Filed by Representative Linda Campbell
S71 An act to protect persons with intellectual or developmental disability from abuse – Filed by Senator Mike Moore
This bill establishes a registry of care providers substantiated of abuse of an individual with autism or intellectual and developmental disabilities within the DDS system. The bill will prevent serial abuse and addresses due process for care providers.
CUEING & PROMPTING
H154 An act relative to cueing and supervision in the PCA program – Filed by Representative James O’Day
S60 An act relative to cueing and supervision in the PCA program – Filed by Senator Joan Lovely
This bill amends chapter 7 of the general law to allow the Personal Care Attendant Program (PCA) program to include cueing and prompting as a cover service for those eligible members who need prompting or cueing in order to perform 2 or more activities of daily living (ADLs).
AN ACT RELATIVE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
H155 An act relative to persons with developmental disabilities – Filed by Representative James O’Day
S61 An act relative to persons with developmental disabilities – Filed by Senator Joan Lovely
This bill adopts the federal definition of developmental disability in place of the current state definition of developmental disability and will amend the definition to include all adult individuals with a developmental disability; e.g. cerebral palsy and fetal alcohol syndrome.
GHOST NETWORKS
H913 An act to increase consumer transparency about insurance provider networks – Filed by Representative Christine P. Barber
S610 An Act to increase consumer transparency about insurance provider networks – Senators Cindy F. Friedman and Jason M. Lewis
This bill allows for accurate lists of providers to increase access to available mental health practitioners.
DMH OMBUDSMAN
H1736 An act to protect Children’s Mental Health Services – Filed by Representative Elizabeth Malia
S1154 An act to protect Children’s Mental Health Services – Filed by Senator John F. Keenan
This bill allows for an ombudsman to receive file complaints, get direction or receive guidance in response to questions from consumers and families.
PROTECTING MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN & ADULTS
H1896 An Act Relative to Critical Data Collection on the Medically Fragile Population – Filed by Representatives Denise C. Garlick and Louis L. Kafka
S686 An Act to Protect Medically Fragile Kids – Filed by Senator Cindy F. Friedman
This bill allows for a meaningful review of nursing hours, rates, utilization, and nurses registered with Masshealth/Medicaid every two years to increase access to home care nurses and maintain an adequate workforce to care for medically fragile children in their family home.
Your voice is needed for positive change in Massachusetts! Contact your legislators and make your voice heard!
Find your legislators at https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Thank you to the representatives and senators who filed these important pieces of legislation for recognizing the value and importance of supporting
for supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families! Be sure and reach out to the filers of the bills and show your gratitude as well!
Stay tuned right here to mfofc.org to get more details about these priorities. Be sure to sign up for our mailing list and follow us on Facebook for key action alerts!