SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1416        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 996

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven A. Tolman

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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 providing for the study of substance abuse among seniors.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1416        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 996

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act providing for the study of substance abuse among seniors.

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the bureau of substance abuse services, in consultation with the executive office of elder affairs, shall conduct a study of alcohol and substance abuse among seniors.  The study shall include, but not be limited to an examination of what alcohol and substance abuse issues pertain to the senior population, programs offered in other states that address this issue, and steps that can be taken to curb alcohol and substance abuse issues among seniors.

The bureau shall report to the general court the results of its study and its recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, the joint committee on elder affairs and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2011.