HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2199        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2193

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to establishing a commission to study medical malpractice courts.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

1/20/2011

Donald F. Humason, Jr.

4th Hampden

1/27/2011

Randy Hunt

5th Barnstable

2/2/2011

F. Jay Barrows

1st Bristol

2/2/2011

Donald H. Wong

9th Essex

2/3/2011

Todd M. Smola

1st Hampden

2/3/2011

Sheila C. Harrington

1st Middlesex

2/3/2011

Paul K. Frost

7th Worcester

2/4/2011

George N. Peterson, Jr.

9th Worcester

2/4/2011

Elizabeth A. Poirier

14th Bristol

1/21/2011

Viriato Manuel deMacedo

1st Plymouth

2/1/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2199        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2193

By Mr. Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2193) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) of the feasibility of creating a specialized court for purposes of administering medical malpractice claims.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3629 OF 2009-2010.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

_______________

 

An Act relative to establishing a commission to study medical malpractice courts.

 

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. There is hereby established a special commission, consisting of two members of the senate to be appointed by the senate president; one member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; three members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house; one member to be appointed by the house minority leader; the chief justice of the trial court or his designee; and five persons to be appointed by the governor; one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Bar Association; one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Medical Society; and one of whom shall be a consumer of health care who is not a doctor or lawyer.  Said commission is hereby authorized and directed to conduct an investigation into the feasibility of creating a specialized court for purposes of administering medical malpractice claims.  Said commission shall, in the course of its investigation and study, consider, among other things it considers relevant, specialty courts within Massachusetts, efficiencies to be gained, expertise and training needed by jurors and jurists, use of information technology, the use of medical legal advisory panels, use of regional sites, court staffing needs and such other matters as the commission may deem relevant.  Appointed members of the commission shall not be considered special state employees for the purpose of compliance with Chapter 268A.  The special commission shall submit a report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, and the chief justice of the supreme judicial court setting forth the special commission’s findings, along with its recommendations and specific legislative proposals, no later than one year after the special commission’s appointment.  The special commission shall dissolve upon completion of its duties and obligations, as indicated by submission of its findings and recommendations.