HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4027        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 214

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kimberly N. Ferguson and Gerard J. Cassidy

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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 establish an acquired brain injury advisory board.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4027        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 214

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 to establish an acquired brain injury advisory board.

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. An acquired brain injury advisory board shall be established to collaborate with appropriate state secretariats and their agencies, members of the legislature, individuals with acquired brain injuries and their family members, providers, clinicians, advocacy groups and other key stakeholders to review, advise, and report on services and supports, and public policy there under for individuals with acquired brain injuries and their families.

SECTION 2: Said advisory board shall consist of 2 members of the Senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the President, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader; 2 members of the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader; the Secretary of Health and Human Services or their designee; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety or their designee; the Secretary of Elder Affairs or their designee; the Secretary of Veterans Services or their designee; the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or their designee; 2 members from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, 1 who shall be the Commissioner or their designee, 1 who shall be appointed by the Commissioner; the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services or their designee; the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health or their designee; the MassHealth Director or their designee; the Chief Executive Officer at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, Inc. or their designee; and 8 members who shall be appointed by the Governor, 2 of whom shall be family members, caretakers or significant others of a person with acquired brain injury, 2 of whom shall be individuals with acquired brain injury, including but not limited to individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumors or other disorders,  1 of whom shall be a community based provider of services to individuals with acquired brain injury 1 of whom shall be a community based provider of services to individuals  with acquired brain injury serving minorities and other underserved populations, 1 of whom shall be from a disability advisory group or a protection and advocacy representative, 1 of whom shall be a clinician.

SECTION 3. Said advisory board directives shall include, but are not limited to, reviewing data concerning the epidemiology of acquired brain injury and the needs of individuals with acquired brain injury and their families; reviewing efforts to increase access to rehabilitative, residential and integrated community based support services for persons with acquired brain injury; monitoring the implementation of the acquired brain injury commission recommendations regarding the improvement of such services; reviewing and advising on the annual brain injury state plan; and reviewing ongoing state public policy initiatives and state funding. 

SECTION 4: A brain injury council shall be established and supported by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. Said council shall consist of members meeting criteria as required by the Administration for Community Living & the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services (42 U.S.C. 300d-52) and shall include individuals and families with acquired brain injury.   Said council shall report to said advisory board.

SECTION 5: Said advisory board shall file a biennial report with the Governor, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives. Said report shall include but not be limited to a summary of ongoing needs of individuals with acquired brain injury, the status of progress made in increasing access to rehabilitative, residential and integrated community-based support services for individuals with acquired brain injury; and the status of progress made in implementing the acquired brain injury commission recommendations regarding the improvement of such services.

SECTION 6. Said advisory board shall meet quarterly, at minimum, and may establish subcommittees as necessary to carry out its objectives.