HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5169 FILED ON: 7/2/2020
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4835
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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House of Representatives, July 02, 2020. |
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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Ordered, That, there is hereby established a special joint oversight committee on the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke COVID-19 outbreak, hereinafter the committee. The committee shall conduct a comprehensive review, which shall include, without limitation: (1) a review of the structure, leadership and staffing levels, at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; (2) a review of the quality of medical care provided at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; (3) a review of the preparedness and ability of the leadership and staff at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke to respond to COVID-19 prior to the outbreak; (4) a review of the response of the leadership and staff at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, the department of veterans’ services and the executive office for health and human services to the COVID-19 outbreak and any other reports of infection at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; (5) a review of all the communications by the leadership and staff at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke with the department of veterans’ services, the executive office for health and human services and any other governmental or non-governmental person or entity relative to the COVID-19 outbreak; (6) a review of all reports to, and requests for assistance from, the department of veterans’ services, the executive office for health and human services and any other governmental or non-governmental person or entity relative to the COVID-19 outbreak; (7) review the results of any state and federal investigation into the mismanagement and the resulting infections and deaths of both veterans and staff at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; and (8) to conduct public hearings and examine witnesses to acquire all information necessary to discharge its responsibilities; and be it further,
Ordered, That the committee shall consist of 17 members as follows: the house chair of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, who shall serve as co-chair of the committee; the senate chair of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, who shall serve as co-chair of the committee; 5 members of the senate, 4 of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and 10 members of the house of representatives, 8 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house; and be it further,
Ordered, That, the committee shall file its report on the results of its investigation and study and its recommendation, if any, together with drafts of legislation if necessary, to carry its recommendations into effect with the Clerks of the House and Senate by March 31, 2021; and be it further,
Ordered, That, counsel to the house appointed pursuant to section 51 of chapter 3 of the General Laws and House Rule 13B and counsel to the senate appointed pursuant to section 51 of chapter 3 of the General Laws and Senate Rule 9A shall serve jointly as counsel to the committee.