HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4464        FILED ON: 9/18/2014

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4523

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Tom Sannicandro and Michael J. Barrett

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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 relative to the self-determination advisory board.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4464        FILED ON: 9/18/2014

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4523

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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An Act relative to the self-determination advisory board.

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

Chapter 255 of the Acts of 2014 is hereby amended by striking out section (c) in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-

(c) The department shall establish a statewide self-determination advisory board to advise the department on efforts to implement, publicize, evaluate, improve and develop information regarding self-determination. The advisory board shall consist of: 19 individuals appointed by the commissioner, 1 of whom shall be a member of the department, who shall serve as chair, 1 of whom shall be a member of an advocacy organization, 1 of whom shall  represent taxpayers, 1 of whom shall have experience with consumer protection, 1 of whom shall have experience with self-determination models, 1 of whom shall have experience with nonprofit and for-profit services markets and competition and services for persons with disabilities, 1 of whom shall have experience with financial management services, 1 of whom shall be an independent facilitator; 1 of whom shall be a provider of direct services, supports or goods and 10 of whom shall be a participant or a family member, legal representative or guardian of a participant; 1 individual appointed by the disabled persons protection commission; 1 individual appointed by the office of the inspector general; and 1 individual appointed by the office of the state auditor. Members shall serve for a term of 3 years. Upon the expiration of the term of any member, a successor shall be appointed in like manner. The appointing entity shall in like manner fill any vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

The self-determination advisory board shall also compile, and continually update, a list of participants or participants’ chosen planning teams who are willing to volunteer to discuss their experiences in self-determination with individuals considering implementing the self-determination option in their individual support plans and shall provide said list to the department.