SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1537        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 26

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Barrett

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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 to promote choice for people with cognitive disabilities and their families.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1537        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 26

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act to promote choice for people with cognitive disabilities and their families.

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

Section 19 of chapter 19B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition as having been added by chapter 255 of the Acts of 2014, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (e)(15) and inserting in place thereof the following two subsections:-

(15) make available to participants a searchable online repository of information submitted by providers of self-determination supports, services, or goods pursuant to subsection (15½) of this section; provided that the department shall not disclose or publish any information that may violate the personal privacy protections in section 7 of chapter 4, section 2 of chapter 66A, section 17 of chapter 123B, or any other state or federal privacy law;

(15½) require providers of self-determination supports, services, or goods that serve multiple participants and that are in receipt of $15,000 or more of self-determination funds per year within the two years preceding the year in which the department requires said information, or that serve more than one individual participating in self-determination services within the one year preceding the year in which the department requires said information, and allow any other provider of self-determination supports, service, or goods that voluntarily submits information otherwise required under this section, to submit to the department for use in the searchable online repository required by subsection (15), in standardized terms or units and descriptive categories set by the department, information regarding:

(A) organizational structure and history, including but not limited to: (i) complete legal name of the provider, vendor or supplier, and where different, the popular or public name of the provider, vendor or supplier; (ii) legal structure and organizational type; (iii) accreditation and licensure status, including any sanctions imposed by the department; (iv) URL web address location of any recent formal audits, reports, and investigations; (v) contact information and website; and (vi) the cities and towns, and if applicable, the neighborhoods served by each program of each provider;

(B) facilities available and in good operating order at each geographic location, including but not limited to: (i) precise street address of each geographic location, provided that in the case of a residential facility, the provider of self-determination services shall submit the precise street address of the property management office; (ii) availability of and proximity to public transportation; (iii) hours of operation; and (iv) accessibility for mobility-impaired individuals;

(C) services, supports, or goods offered at each geographic location by said provider including but not limited to: (i) hours and schedules of availability of each service, support, or good; (ii) populations served; (iii) provisions regarding the supervision, storage, and dispensation of prescription medications; and (iv) any special or non-standard eligibility requirements or restrictions;

(D) medical and non-medical professional staff at each geographic location, including but not limited to the number, stated in full-time equivalents, of staff for each professional or clinical category; and

(E) characteristics of individuals receiving services, supports, and goods at each geographic location, including but not limited to: (i) number of clients; (ii) age range of clients; and (iii) gender for any program serving only male or female clients.