HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 983        FILED ON: 1/29/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2289

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William C. Galvin

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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 relative to Parkinson's Disease public awareness and education.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 983        FILED ON: 1/29/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2289

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1886 OF 2019-2020.]

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 relative to Parkinson's Disease public awareness and education.

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. The department of public health, in consultation with the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association, shall establish a Parkinson's disease public information and education program to promote public awareness of Parkinson's disease and the value of early detection.   

The department's outreach campaign shall include, but is not limited to, the following subjects:

(i)  the cause and nature of the disease; (ii)   diagnostic procedures and appropriate indications for their use; (iii) lifestyle issues relating to how a person copes with Parkinson's disease, including, but not limited to, nutrition, diet, and physical exercise; (iv)   environmental safety and injury prevention; and (v)   availability of Parkinson's disease diagnostic and treatment services in the community.

Section 2. The department of public health shall develop informational booklets about Parkinson's disease and make the booklets available to all licensed health care facilities engaged in the diagnosis or treatment of Parkinson's disease, as well as, to health care professionals, community health centers, and members of the public upon their request.  The department shall publicize and make available the booklet to the maximum extent possible, and shall make the booklet available electronically on its Internet website in English and Spanish. This information may be revised by the department whenever new information about Parkinson's disease becomes available.

Section 3. The department of public health shall develop educational programs for other personnel, including judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties, including dissemination of the informational booklet mandated by Section 2 of this chapter.

Section 4. The department of public health shall create and maintain a list of current providers of specialized services for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.  Dissemination of the list shall be accompanied by a description of diagnostic procedures. The statement shall also indicate that the department does not endorse specific Parkinson's disease programs or centers in this State.

Section 5.   This act shall take effect on the 180th day following enactment.