HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1824 FILED ON: 2/12/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2080
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker
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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 establishing a pilot program to provide a support structure for parents during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 2/12/2021 |
Vanna Howard | 17th Middlesex | 2/12/2021 |
Lindsay N. Sabadosa | 1st Hampshire | 2/14/2021 |
Marcos A. Devers | 16th Essex | 2/16/2021 |
Rebecca L. Rausch | Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex | 2/23/2021 |
Sally P. Kerans | 13th Essex | 2/26/2021 |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 3/2/2021 |
Susannah M. Whipps | 2nd Franklin | 3/15/2021 |
Brian M. Ashe | 2nd Hampden | 3/15/2021 |
Kate Lipper-Garabedian | 32nd Middlesex | 3/31/2021 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 7/22/2021 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1824 FILED ON: 2/12/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2080
By Ms. Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2080) of Marjorie C. Decker and others that the Department of Mental Health establish a COVID-19 mental health pilot program. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act establishing a pilot program to provide a support structure for parents during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 25 the following section: -
Section 26. (a) There shall be, jointly developed between the Department of Mental Health and a community-based organization specializing in peer-led support groups, a COVID-19 Mental Health Pilot Program to provide trauma-informed peer-led support groups to those parents affected adversely by the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) Pursuant to this act and subject to funding from COVID relief or other funds there shall be at least three programs established within school districts, across not less than three counties in the commonwealth. Pilot programs shall be established based on indicators related to the devastation that COVID-19 has had on the students in those districts, including but not limited to: high concentration of COVID-19 cases, high concentration of poverty, high rates of COVID-related unemployment, high concentrations of people of color, and other indicators.
(c) Each program shall be operated by a community-based organization specializing in peer-led support groups in partnership with the school district, and shall be staffed by the department as needed to provide appropriate care, with program protocols and a staffing plan to be developed during the first three months following passage of this legislation.
(d) The commissioner shall issue a request for proposal for qualified organizations to submit proposals to become the provider of trauma-informed peer-led support groups provided that proposals must be submitted and organizations selected within three months following passage of this legislation.
(e) The COVID-19 Mental Health Pilot Program shall exist until its mission is deemed complete during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery period as determined jointly by the commissioner of the department of mental health or their designee and the commissioner of the department of public health or their designee, or not more than three years after the governor’s state of emergency declaration is lifted, whichever is sooner.