Bill H.941

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1797 FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 941

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to improve access to child and adolescent mental health services..

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

SECTION 1. Section 22 of Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph, inserted by section 1 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 2. Section 47B of Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 2 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

SECTION 3. Section A of Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 4 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

SECTION 4.Section 4A of Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 6 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

SECTION 5. Section 4M of Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 10 of chapter 80 to the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:--

SECTION 6. This act shall apply to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance issued or delivered within or without the commonwealth on or after March 1, 2010, and to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance in effect before that date upon renewal or after March 1, 2010.