There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. So this week, Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on amendments to the “Mental Health ABC Act,” aimed at making major changes in the mental health care system in Massachusetts. Supporters say the bill removes barriers to and expands access to mental health care, boosts the industry’s workforce and strengthens the quality of coverage.
Senate, 37 to 0, approved an amendment creating a pediatric mental health care task force to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the delivery of pediatric mental health services in the state and make recommendations to improve the availability, access and cost-effectiveness of these services.
Amendment supporters said there are thousands of children with treatable mental disorders who are not receiving proper mental health treatment and are falling through the cracks. They argued that the waiting period for a bed in an appropriate facility is too long and these children are suffering.
A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.
Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes
Sen. Adam Hinds — Yes
Senate, 37 to 0, approved an amendment adding corrections officers to a current law that ensures confidentiality for police, fire, EMTs and other first responders who seek mental health service or referrals from a peer counselor.
“Adding correctional officers … means they will be afforded the same protections as firefighters, police officers and EMTs when seeking confidential mental health assistance,” said the amendment’s sponsor Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury. “Those that work in corrections are subject to traumatic incidents on a routine basis, making access to confidential mental health treatment critical to efforts in preventing suicide among corrections officers.”
A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.
Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes
Sen. Adam Hinds — Yes
Senate, 37 to 0, approved an amendment to ensure that individuals under the age of 22 in the emergency room who are in need of inpatient or residential psychiatric treatment are placed in an appropriate facility within 48 hours of admission to the emergency department.
“As the former chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, I am especially sensitive to the urgency of taking care of our most vulnerable young people at a time when failing to treat them can exacerbate their issues and lead to their longer-term failure to thrive,” said Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem. “I am pleased that my Senate colleagues unanimously voted to pass my amendment to ensure children under 22 receive appropriate emergency psychiatric treatment.”
A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.
Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes
Sen. Adam Hinds — Yes
The House gave initial approval to a bill that would empower people with disabilities to the extent possible to make their own informed life decisions with support from qualified and trusted individuals.
“(This bill makes the process) less cumbersome and more streamlined than a court appointed guardian and has been proven to allow the adults covered under the language to chart their own direction with appropriate guidance and support,” said co-sponsor Rep. Paul Tucker, D-Salem.
I filed this legislation after meeting with advocates and individuals who would directly benefit and learning how this has worked well in other states,” said co-sponsor Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke.
The House gave initial approval to a bill that creates a new crime of rape of a person with a disability and imposes up to a life prison sentence on a convicted offender.
“With this legislation in place, it will fill the gap in the statutory scheme by recognizing the increased vulnerability of a disabled person to predatory conduct,” said Rep. Elizabeth Poirier, R-North Attleboro, the sponsor of the measure.
The House gave initial approval to legislation giving equal access to original birth certificates to all persons born in Massachusetts. Under current law, adoptees born between 1974 and 2008 are unable to obtain original birth certificates without a court order.
“This is a basic human right which many people are denied, that carries unintended consequences, like making it harder to apply for a passport,” said co-sponsor Rep. Sean Garballey, D-Arlington. “This measure is supported by Concerned United Birthparents and similar legislation has just passed in New York.”
The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would change language in state laws including replacing “mentally retarded” with “individuals with a developmental disability” and “handicapped” with “disability.”
“This eagerly awaited bill, that I filed, would modernize statutory language to better respect persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities,” said Rep. Kay Khan, D-Newton. “We receive calls on the bill regularly, people asking for respectful language that is essential for the dignity and humanity of all. H 4347 sends a strong message — that the commonwealth rejects outdated words that cause harm. These simple changes will move Massachusetts forward by using currently acceptable terminology and ensuring that all individuals are treated equally and fairly.”