HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2386        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3511

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Dylan Fernandes

_________________

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 resolve:

Resolve establishing a special commission on substance misuse treatment.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Dylan Fernandes

Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

1/19/2017

William L. Crocker, Jr.

2nd Barnstable

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

 

David T. Vieira

3rd Barnstable

 

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

 

William Driscoll

7th Norfolk

 

James R. Miceli

19th Middlesex

 

Randy Hunt

5th Barnstable

 

Solomon Goldstein-Rose

3rd Hampshire

 

Natalie Higgins

4th Worcester

 

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

 

Mathew Muratore

1st Plymouth

 

Jack Lewis

7th Middlesex

 

Paul Tucker

7th Essex

 

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

 

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

 

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

 

Brian Murray

10th Worcester

 

Bud Williams

11th Hampden

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2386        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3511

By Mr. Fernandes of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 3511) of Dylan Fernandes and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) of treatment options for substance misuse.  Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

Resolve establishing a special commission on substance misuse treatment.

 

Resolved, That a special legislative commission, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws is hereby established to: (i) identify successful substance misuse treatment options that extend beyond medical detox and that have proven through data to lead to long term recovery;  (ii) provide a list of treatment options based on proven success through data in promoting long term recovery; (iii) identify monetary costs of treatment options; and (iv) make recommendations for focusing state resources for treatment on treatments that have the best outcomes for those suffering from substance misuse disorder.

The commission shall consist of the following 17 members: 2 of whom shall be the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission; 2 members of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; 2 members of the senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate; 2 members to be appointed by the attorney general; 2 members to be appointed by the commissioner of public health; and 7 members to be appointed by  the governor; 5 of whom shall work as professors at a college in the commonwealth with a focus on studying substance misuse, and 2 of whom shall work in the substance misuse treatment field.

All appointments shall be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The co-chairs shall convene the first meeting of the special commission within 45 days of all appointments being made.

The commission shall meet a minimum of 4 times to review, study and analyze existing scientific literature and data on substance misuse treatment and which methods have the lowest recidivism rates and the highest success rates. The commission shall: (i) address current scientific literature on substance misuse treatment; and (ii) create a list of treatment options that accounts for the effectiveness and the cost of the treatment.

The commission shall submit its findings, along with recommendations for legislation, to the governor and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate no later than 1 year after the effective date of this resolve.