SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1044        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1222

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Karen E. Spilka, (BY REQUEST)

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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 creating a special commission to study the health impacts of electromagnetic fields.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1044        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1222

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act creating a special commission to study the health impacts of electromagnetic fields.

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. There shall be a special commission on the health impacts of electromagnetic fields on the citizens of the Commonwealth. The commission shall be comprised of the House and Senate Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Health as well as the ranking House and Senate minority members on the committee; the House and Senate Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy and the ranking House and Senate minority members; the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or his designee; a scientist who is a specialist in environmental medicine and is knowledgeable about the health effects of electromagnetic fields who shall be appointed by the Governor; a pediatrician who shall be appointed by the Governor; three specialists in public health or environmental medicine, one each who shall be appointed by the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House; a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society who is a specialist in environmental medicine who shall serve as chair; a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education; and a member of a Massachusetts school board or committee. 

Said Commission shall study all facets of health impacts of electromagnetic fields from all sources, including but not limited to the use of cellular devices, utility smart meters, Wi-Fi, and the use of Wi-Fi in public schools. Said Commission shall include in its report an investigation of the health impacts of electromagnetic fields, including but not limited to the effects on reproductive systems, brain function including memory loss, retarded learning, performance impairment in children, headaches and neurodegenerative conditions, melatonin suppression and sleep disorders, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, immune dysregulation such as allergic and inflammatory responses, cardiac and blood pressure problems, genotoxic effects like miscarriage, cancers such as childhood leukemia, and childhood and adult brain tumors.  Said Commission shall study whether electromagnetic radiation exposure may have a disparate impact on potentially vulnerable subgroups including children, fetuses, pregnant women, the elderly and those with preexisting illnesses or impairments. Said Commission shall investigate whether children are more vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation due to their developing nervous systems and their thinner skulls.

The commission shall convene no later than 60 days following of the enactment of this bill. The commission shall file a report with the clerks of the House and Senate no later than July 31, 2016. The commission shall make recommendations to the General Court on legislation designed to protect the health of the citizens of the Commonwealth including a recommendation on whether, within public schools,  children’s exposure to electromagnetic fields, including those from Wi-Fi, should be eliminated or reduced. The commission may also make recommendations on any other matter that may come before the commission that will enhance the protection of the public health.