SENATE DOCKET, NO. 655        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 524

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

_________________

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 improving access to child and adolescent mental health services.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/26/2017

Angelo M. Scaccia

14th Suffolk

1/31/2017

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

2/3/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 655        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 524

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 524) of James B. Eldridge, Jason M. Lewis, Angelo M. Scaccia and Paul R. Heroux for legislation to improve access to child and adolescent mental health services.  Financial Services.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act improving access to child and adolescent mental health services.

 

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. Section 22 of Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph, inserted by section 1 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 2. Section 47B of Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 2 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 3. Section A of Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 4 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 4. Section 4A of Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 6 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 5. Section 4M of Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 10 of chapter 80 to the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 6. This act shall apply to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance issued or delivered within or without the commonwealth on or after March 1, 2006, and to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance in effect before that date upon renewal or after March 1, 2006.