Bill S.47

This bill establishes certification requirements for professionals and para-professionals that provide services to deaf or hard of hearing pupils pursuant to an individualized education plan. It would also establish an advisory council on the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and would require the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide schools with information on the educational, medical, cultural and linguistic issues of deafness.

This bill simply extends the protection of the FDCPA to protect Massachusetts consumers against aggressive telephone calls from creditors the same way they are currently protected against such phone calls from collection agencies. Consumers who are being harassed by creditors would be able to send a Cease and Desist letter to the creditor, just as they may to a collection agency.  The creditor will still be free to send written offers of settlement, threats to file suit, and other promises or threats of remedies which the creditor usually seeks against an alleged debtor in similar circumstances. 

Bill S.106 

This bill would make a Massachusetts Identification Card an acceptable proof of age for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

Bill S.107

This bill would prohibit the simulcast betting or wagering on the speed or ability of dogs in the Commonwealth after be January 1, 2013.

Bill S.209
 

Bill S.210
 

Bill S.272

Despite efforts to increase options for people to receive long term care supports in settings other than nursing homes, there will always be some need for 24-hour skilled nursing care that cannot be met in many community-based settings including in individuals’ own homes or assisted living.  There is a growing movement to create small house nursing homes (such as the Green House ™) that create truly residential environments where individuals can receive the skilled care they need. This legislation would establish a task force to identify the barriers to small house development in Massachusetts and propose recommendations to encourage the development of small house nursing homes in Massachusetts.

Bill S.273
The bill establishes an advisory committee on residential care facilities (rest homes). The committee would review the status of RCFs in Massachusetts, including the profile of their residents, the role of RCFs in the long term care system/aging network and related regulatory and reimbursement barriers.  The committee will make recommendations to EOHHS on a quarterly basis.

Bill S.274

This  legislation aims  to establish further consumer protections for residents of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) by ensuring the ability of residents to participate in resident associations, engage in communications with management, as well as gain adequate, timely access to information regarding future contract changes, facilities’ planning and financial statements.

Bill S.427

This bill would ensure that citizens of the Commonwealth who are wrongfully denied benefits under a health, disability, or life insurance plan are able to obtain relief in court. Currently, many health, disability, and life insurance plan documents contain clauses that give “discretion“ to a third party plan administrator (typically an insurance company) to administer the benefits program and to decide who is eligible and who is not eligible for benefits.

Bill S.510

Bill S.511

This bill would eliminate copayments and deductibles for preventive care screenings and services from the Commonwealth Care health insurance program.  Preventive care screenings and services are defined in section 2713 of the Public Health Services Act.

Bill S.569

The bill would apply sections 11A and 11A½ of chapter 30A of the General Laws to meetings of the Trustees of the University of Massachusetts held for the purpose of awarding honorary degrees or tenure.  The trustees may hold an executive session to consider the award of honorary degrees.  Executive sessions may also be held to consider an award of tenure to a member of the faculty if the member consents, provided that certain procedural requirements are met.

Bill S.607
This legislation aims to produce a more coordinated and efficient process to produce supportive housing – affordable housing linked with supportive services designed to help tenants with modest incomes maintain housing stability and maximize their independence.

Bill S.789

This bill would expand the threat of domestic violence in judicial findings by expanding the definition to include a threat of injury to an animal. In domestic violence cases, abuse of an animal is often a harbinger of violence against family members.

Bill S.790

The bill seeks to broaden the current reporting requirements for private, non-profit, Massachusetts colleges and universities and their related organizations for the purpose of better informing the citizens of the Commonwealth on the total cost of public subsidies and tax exemptions granted to these institutions and how they are used.  These provisions would supplement the current filings made to the Attorney General.