SENATE DOCKET, NO. 524        FILED ON: 2/1/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1289

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John F. Keenan

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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 commission to examine methamphetamine use in the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 524        FILED ON: 2/1/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1289

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 commission to examine methamphetamine use in the Commonwealth.

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a commission to explore and make recommendations regarding methamphetamine usage in the Commonwealth.

The commission shall consist of 15 members: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery or their designees; a representative from the Massachusetts Medical Society; a representative from the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc.; a representative of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Incorporated; a representative from the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts; a representative from the Massachusetts Ambulance Association; a representative from Boston Emergency Medical Services; a representative from the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; a representative from the Association for Behavioral Healthcare; and 3 members appointed by the secretary, 1 of whom shall be a person with a substance use disorder, 1 of whom shall be a clinician with experience providing care to individuals with a stimulant use disorder and 1 of whom shall be a clinician with experience providing care to LGBTQ individuals. In making appointments, the secretary shall, to the maximum extent feasible, ensure that the commission represents a broad distribution of diverse perspectives and geographic regions.

The commission shall: (i) create aggregate demographic and geographic profiles of individuals who use methamphetamines, including identifying populations most vulnerable to use; (ii) examine the current availability of, and barriers to, providing treatment to individuals with a stimulant use disorder; (iii) examine existing efforts undertaken by healthcare providers and the existing body of research around best practices for treating individuals with a stimulant use disorders, including but not limited to, how to create safe and therapeutic environments in inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings; (iv) examine existing efforts undertaken by emergency medical service providers, law enforcement officials and the existing body of research on best practices when interacting with individuals with a stimulant use disorder, including but not limited to, how to de-escalate situations and provide safety and security guidance to health care facilities and local police officers; (v) examine the source, quantity, potency, and pathways to local areas of illicit methamphetamine and related substances and products; and (vi) other matters deemed appropriate by the commission. 

The commission shall submit its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, the joint committee on public health, the joint committee of public safety and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than September 1, 2021. The secretary shall also make the report publicly available on the executive office of health and human services’ website.