HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2942        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3461

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Paul McMurtry

_________________

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 improving mental health care through innovation.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

1/16/2015

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

2/4/2015

Claire D. Cronin

11th Plymouth

2/4/2015

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

2/3/2015

Denise C. Garlick

13th Norfolk

1/20/2015

Carlos Gonzalez

10th Hampden

2/2/2015

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

4/9/2015

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

4/13/2015

Jeffrey N. Roy

10th Norfolk

1/25/2015

John W. Scibak

2nd Hampshire

4/10/2015

Frank I. Smizik

15th Norfolk

2/3/2015

Benjamin Swan

11th Hampden

1/29/2015

Ellen Story

3rd Hampshire

1/28/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2942        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3461

By Mr. McMurtry of Dedham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3461) of Paul McMurtry and others for legislation to authorize the Department of Mental Health to establish a program for research, technology transfer, design, development and commercialization of technologies for the treatment and support of people with mental illness and brain-based disorders.  Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to improving mental health care through innovation.

 

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

Chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 24. The department shall establish a comprehensive program for the research, technology transfer, design, development and commercialization of technologies for the treatment and support of people with mental illness and brain-based disorders and to promote such programs the department shall provide grants to state agencies, programs, and institutions that provide mental healthcare services to pilot cutting edge technology; including but not limited to:

(a) supporting research and innovation in mental healthcare to reduce costs to the state and draw companies and research dollars to the commonwealth, while improving the quality of life for people with mental illness;

(b) creating programs to grow and foster a research and innovation eco-system for brain health technologies in Massachusetts;

(c) innovation support for companies and researchers focused on mental healthcare;

(d) model the successful activities the state has taken to grow and develop bio-technology, medical technology, green technology, and computer technology industries and leverage the current innovation economy and eco-system; and

(e) close the innovation gap between the lack of innovation in mental healthcare and in bio-technology, medical technology, green technology, and computer technology.

The department shall establish standards for the development of said programs.