HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3914        FILED ON: 6/4/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3746

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Elizabeth A. Poirier

_________________

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 pancreatic cancer.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Elizabeth A. Poirier

14th Bristol

6/4/2015

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

7/24/2019

Mark J. Cusack

5th Norfolk

6/5/2015

Josh S. Cutler

6th Plymouth

6/9/2015

Viriato M. deMacedo

Plymouth and Barnstable

6/10/2015

Shawn Dooley

9th Norfolk

6/10/2015

Peter J. Durant

6th Worcester

6/10/2015

Ryan C. Fattman

Worcester and Norfolk

6/11/2015

Kimberly N. Ferguson

1st Worcester

6/11/2015

John V. Fernandes

10th Worcester

6/5/2015

Carole A. Fiola

6th Bristol

6/11/2015

Paul K. Frost

7th Worcester

6/9/2015

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

6/5/2015

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

6/5/2015

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

6/5/2015

Patricia A. Haddad

5th Bristol

6/9/2015

Robert L. Hedlund

Plymouth and Norfolk

6/11/2015

Bradford R. Hill

4th Essex

6/9/2015

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

6/8/2015

Randy Hunt

5th Barnstable

6/5/2015

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

6/5/2015

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

6/9/2015

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

6/5/2015

Robert M. Koczera

11th Bristol

6/9/2015

Kevin J. Kuros

8th Worcester

6/9/2015

Marc T. Lombardo

22nd Middlesex

6/11/2015

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

6/8/2015

Christopher M. Markey

9th Bristol

6/11/2015

Joseph D. McKenna

18th Worcester

6/10/2015

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

6/5/2015

Mark C. Montigny

Second Bristol and Plymouth

6/11/2015

David K. Muradian, Jr.

9th Worcester

6/8/2015

Mathew Muratore

1st Plymouth

6/11/2015

Keiko M. Orrall

12th Bristol

6/4/2015

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

6/5/2015

Michael J. Rodrigues

First Bristol and Plymouth

6/8/2015

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

6/5/2015

Alan Silvia

7th Bristol

6/9/2015

Todd M. Smola

1st Hampden

6/8/2015

William M. Straus

10th Bristol

6/10/2015

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

6/5/2015

David T. Vieira

3rd Barnstable

6/9/2015

RoseLee Vincent

16th Suffolk

6/8/2015

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

6/5/2015

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

6/11/2015

Donald H. Wong

9th Essex

6/9/2015

Brock N. Cordeiro

15 Sagamore Drive Dartmouth, MA 02748

6/4/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3914        FILED ON: 6/4/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3746

By Mrs. Poirier of North Attleborough, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Elizabeth A. Poirier and others relative to establishing a special commission (including members of the General Court) to make an investigation and study concerning pancreatic cancer.  Public Health.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing a commission to study pancreatic cancer.

 

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

Resolved, that a special commission, to consist of 13 members as follows: the secretary of the executive office of health and human services, or a designee; the commissioner of public health, or a designee; the commissioner of insurance, or a designee; and 10 members who shall be appointed as follows: 3 members appointed by the senate president, 1 of whom shall be the senate chairman of the joint committee on public health, or a designee, 1 of whom shall be a person with Pancreatic Cancer, or a survivor, and 1 of whom is a medical specialist in Pancreatic Cancer; 3 members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be the house chairman of the joint committee on public health, or a designee, 1 of whom shall be a person with Pancreatic Cancer, or a survivor, and 1 of whom is a medical specialist in Pancreatic Cancer; and 4 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a person with Pancreatic Cancer, or a survivor, 1 of whom is a medical specialist in Pancreatic Cancer, and 2 members of the public with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the commission, is hereby established for the purpose of making an investigation and study to:

(1) establish a mechanism  in order to ascertain the prevalence of Pancreatic Cancer in Massachusetts, and the unmet needs of persons with Pancreatic Cancer and those of their families; collect time of diagnosis statistics and likely risks for Pancreatic Cancer;

(2) study Pancreatic Cancer prevention, screening, education and  support programs for Pancreatic Cancer in the Commonwealth;

(3) provide recommendations for additional legislation, support programs and resources necessary to meet the unmet  needs of persons with Pancreatic Cancer and their families and how to effectuate an early diagnosis and treatment for Pancreatic Cancer patients. 

     

Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.

The commission shall organize within 120 days following the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

The public members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided by section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws.

The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any state, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

The executive office of health and human services shall provide staff support to the commission.

The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives on or before December 31, 2016.