SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1927        FILED ON: 11/13/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1959

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Brian A. Joyce

_________________

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 ensuring parity for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Brian A. Joyce

Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth

Stanley C. Rosenberg

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

Katherine M. Clark

Fifth Middlesex

Claire D. Cronin

11th Plymouth

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

3rd Berkshire

William Smitty Pignatelli

4th Berkshire

Diana DiZoglio

14th Essex

Mark C. Montigny

Second Bristol and Plymouth

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

Jay Livingstone

8th Suffolk

Daniel A. Wolf

Cape and Islands

Gailanne M. Cariddi

1st Berkshire

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

Linda Dorcena Forry

First Suffolk

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

Michael J. Rodrigues

First Bristol and Plymouth

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1927        FILED ON: 11/13/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1959

By Mr. Joyce, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Brian A. Joyce, Stanley C. Rosenberg, Ruth B. Balser, John F. Keenan and other members of the General Court for legislation to ensure parity for mental health and substance abuse treatment.  Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act ensuring parity for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

 

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. Chapter 256 of the Acts of 2008 by is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following section:-

SECTION 18.   A person or entity may bring an action in Superior Court for a violation of this chapter G.L. c. 175, §47B; G.L. c. 176A, §8A; G.L. c. 176B, §4A; G.L. c. 176G, §4M.; G.L. c. 32A § 22; or applicable regulations including, but not limited to, 211 CMR 154.  If the court finds for the petitioner, the recovery for such actions shall include, but shall not be limited to, treble damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.  In addition, the court shall award such other equitable relief as it deems to be necessary and proper.

Any persons entitled to bring such action may, if the violation of parity has caused similar denial of care to numerous other persons similarly situated and if the court finds in a preliminary hearing that he adequately and fairly represents such other persons, bring the action on behalf of himself and such other similarly injured and situated persons; the court shall require that notice of such action be given to unnamed petitioners in the most effective, practicable manner. Such action shall not be dismissed, settled or compromised without the approval of the court, and notice of any proposed dismissal, settlement or compromise shall be given to all members of the class of petitioners in such a manner as the court directs.