HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3111        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 462

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to improving the treatment of Asthma in children..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 57 of Chapter 71 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended in line 18, after the words “to secure the best education results,”, the following words:- including an asthma screening,

Said Section 57 of Chapter 71 of the General laws is also hereby amended in line 30, after the words “regulations set up by the department.” the following two new sentences:-

Asthma screenings shall consist of a questionnaire, developed by the department, which identifies basic symptoms of asthma and inquires if said symptoms are or have been present in children in the past twelve months.  The department shall determine the most appropriate interval for an asthma screening after consulting with the department of education and the medical profession. Upon such determination, the parent or guardian of each child shall present to school health personnel a completed breathing history questionnaire, which shall be included with the physical record of each child to be kept in accordance with the provisions of Section one hundred and eighty-five A of Chapter one hundred and eleven.

Said Section 57 of Chapter 71 of the General laws is also hereby amended in line 43, after the words “shall be provided.” the following new sentence:-

For children who have shown symptoms of asthma, proof of further examination by a licensed physician chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary, shall be provided.