HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1937        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 106

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James J. Lyons, 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 establishing a commission to study medical abuse claims.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

James J. Lyons, Jr.

18th Essex

1/15/2015

Marc T. Lombardo

22nd Middlesex

8/16/2019

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

8/16/2019

Shaunna L. O'Connell

3rd Bristol

8/16/2019

Kevin J. Kuros

8th Worcester

8/16/2019

Benjamin Swan

11th Hampden

8/16/2019

Angelo M. Scaccia

14th Suffolk

8/16/2019

James R. Miceli

19th Middlesex

8/16/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1937        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 106

By Mr. Lyons of Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 106) of James J. Lyons, Jr., and others for an investigation by an independent commission on a certain case before the Department of Children and Families regarding Justina Pelletier.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act establishing a commission to study medical abuse claims.

 

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 119 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:-

Section XXXX. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be an independent commission to study and report on the recent case before the Department of Children and Families regarding Justina Pelletier. The commission shall consist of: the inspector general, or a designee; the attorney general, or a designee;  the state auditor, or a designee; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader, and shall act as chair; and 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader. The commission shall research and assess the cost of the case, and the evidence and reasoning that led the Department of Children and Families to take Justina Pelletier away from her family. The commission shall also conduct an investigation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 119, section 51A, focusing the number of families affected and any changes that can be made to the law to limit improper use.

(b) Said report shall be filed with to the chair and ranking minority member of the house committee on ways and means, the chair and ranking minority member of the senate committee on ways and means, and the clerks of the House of Representatives and senate no later than October 15, 2016.”