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Bill #
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Name of the Bill
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Summary
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Sponsor
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Status
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Additional materials
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HB150
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OMNIBUS BILL: An Act relative to sufficient services within Department of Developmental Services* UPDATED BILL
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Develops a three-year plan to address all individuals waiting for any community-based services, including family support services, with the goal of funding services for all eligible individuals by 2013. It also includes a tax credit clause to encourage employment for individuals with disabilities. Now includes additional mandate that 20 percent of savings will support underfunded contracts funded through the purchase of service system
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Rep. Peter Koutoujian
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Hearing Held: Joint Committee on Children and Families - 06/10/2009
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HB2116
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An Act to eliminate health care disparities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities* NEW BILL
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Calls for Executive Office of Health & Human Services, Department of Public Health, and Office of Medicaid to improve access to high-quality health care and eliminate health care disparities among disability populations. Areas of focus will include care coordination, disability education requirements and cultural competence for professional licensure and renewal. Efforts will include consultation with advocacy groups and families, as well as outreach to hospitals, health care practices, community health centers, professional associations, insurers, and others. Bill was developed to tackle health care disparities identified by The Arc in its health care report.
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Rep. Peter Koutoujian
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Hearing Held: Joint Committee on Public Health - 06/09/2009
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HB3004
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An Act facilitating the development of underutilized facilities and state-owned property formerly operated by the Department of Mental Health or the Department of Developmental Services for supported housing for DDS or DMH consumers.*
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Proposes a mechanism to capture 25 percent of the proceeds of the sale or disposition of surplus property for use in creating housing for persons served by the DDS or DMH. Supported by the Citizens' Housing And Planning Association (CHAPA) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Massachusetts chapter.
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Rep. Kay Khan
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Hearing Held: Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight - 05/07/2009
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HB493
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An Act to improve transition services/ensure students with disabilities succeed as adults NEW BILL
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Ensures that special education teachers and rehabilitation counselors can receive advanced training regarding transition planning and services. Requires the Board of Education to revise regulations for educator licensure to provide an Advanced Certificate in Transition Services. Special education transition services, which are required by federal law, are critical to facilitate a student’s movement to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation. Although schools rely heavily on special education teachers to implement and manage transition planning and services, current licensure requirements inadequately address this critical area. Thousands of children with disabilities, ages 14-22, will directly benefit from this legislation.
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Rep. Tom Sannicandro
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Hearing Held: Joint Committee on Education- 06/16/2009
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HB757/SB442
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An Act for a competitive economy through safer alternatives to toxic chemicals UPDATED BILL
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Preventative legislation that creates pragmatic and flexible program to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives wherever feasible. Targets only the most toxic chemicals with the most detrimental health impacts on workers and consumers, and only those that are replaceable with feasible safer alternatives. Bill relates to Arc’s agenda because of established links between toxic chemicals and developmental and intellectual disabilities. (The Arc is on the governing and legislative boards of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, which is leading on this bill.) Last session passed the Senate but not the House.
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Sen. Steve Tolman and Rep. Jay Kaufman
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- Referred to Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (1/16/09)
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- Arc fact sheet
- Arc letter to state Reps. in support of bill - April 28, 2008
- Arc’s AHT page on website
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HB177
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An Act to track the unmet needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities*
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Establishes the means to gather more data for assessing the unmet needs of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Directs the Office of Disabilities and Community Services to maintain the system and articulates which agencies will submit information.
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Rep. Tom Sannicandro
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07/13/2009 – H New draft substituted - see HB1912
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HB3809
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An Act relative to insurance coverage for autism
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Requires health insurers in Massachusetts to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, which currently affects one in every 150 children. Includes habilitative or rehabilitative care (including Applied Behavioral Analysis supervised by a board-certified behavior analyst), pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care and therapeutic care when deemed necessary by a licensed physician or psychologist.
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Sen. Fred Berry and Rep. Barbara L’Italien
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Referred to Committee on Financial Services (1/16/09)
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HB1780
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An Act to require national background checks for staff working with individuals served by DDS*
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Requires national background checks for all individuals who apply for work with DDS or its vendor agencies. Currently, DDS and vendor agencies are required to conduct statewide CORI checks, but no national check, which means applicant’s criminal record outside Massachusetts may not be identified. Bill has support of DDS Commissioner Elin Howe, Massachusetts Office on Disability, Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission, Governor's Commission on Mental Retardation, DDS Human Rights Advisory Committee, Governor's Advisory Commission on Disability Policy, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change.
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Rep. Martin Walsh
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Hearing Held: Joint Committee on Judiciary- 7/27/2009
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· Joint Fact sheet
· Beverly Horne and Dick Krant - two family perspectives
· Arc/MDDC/MDSC Op-ed in Patriot Ledger – July 12, 2008
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HB154
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An Act to ensure the humane treatment of disabled persons*
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Bans aversive therapy in Massachusetts. Prohibits the use of corporeal punishment, including shocking and pinching, for the purpose of changing the behavior of persons with physical or mental disabilities by any program funded, operated, licensed or approved by the Commonwealth.
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Rep. Barbara L'Italien
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Referred to Committee on Children and Families (1/16/09)
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· Visit our Aversive Therapy page for more information on this issue
· Arc fact sheet
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HB182/SB46
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An Act creating a special commission on behavior modification*
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Creates a commission to investigate and make legislative recommendations on the adequacy and effectiveness of laws and regulations governing the use of behavior modification techniques, including aversive procedures and the principles of applied behavior analysis, across all publicly operated and/or funded agencies.
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Sen. Brian Joyce and Rep. John Scibak
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Referred to Committee on Children and Families (1/16/09)
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SB47/HB181
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An Act relative to behavior analysts*
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Creates a new state licensing requirement for "Associate behavior analyst" and "Behavior analyst." Such individuals must demonstrate active status; must have fulfilled all requirements for renewal and recertification as a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst©; and must conduct their professional activities in accordance with accepted standards, such as the Ethical Standards of Psychologists of the American Psychological Association, and the Guidelines for Responsible Conduct of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board©. Administration and oversight of licensure shall be maintained by the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure.
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Sen. Brian Joyce and Rep. John Scibak
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Referred to Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure (06/03/09)
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HB483
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An Act Relevant to the Prevention of Bullying, also known as the "anti-bullying bill"
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The bill would require school employees to report all instances of bullying and abuse, and those reports -- along with any subsequent disciplinary action taken by administration -- must be reported to the state. People with disabilities are especially at risk of being victimized by bullies. According to a 2002 study, 94 percent of children with one particular disability, Asperger syndrome, faced torment from classmates. The proposed bill does not single out people with disabilities.
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Representative John H. Rogers
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Referred to Joint Committee on Education (GED) (6/15/2009)
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SB936
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An Act relative to training for law enforcement in dealing with individuals suffering from mental illness
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This bill will ensure that all law enforcement personnel throughout the state receive appropriate training in techniques that allow for successful interventions with people who have both mental illness and other intellectual disabilities, including autism.
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Sen. Cynthia Creem
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Hearing Held Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security - 06/04/2009
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· Senator Creem's press release on hearing - April 27, 2007
· "Police Officers and Disability: Perceptions & Attitudes" from the journal Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Arc Op-ed in MetroWest Daily News – May 12, 2006
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