HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1373        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2158

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

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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 recognizing EMS as a disease dangerous to the public health, requiring inclusion in MAVEN, establishing the Massachusetts EMS registry and requiring biennial reporting as part of population health trends.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1373        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2158

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act recognizing EMS as a disease dangerous to the public health, requiring inclusion in MAVEN, establishing the Massachusetts EMS registry and requiring biennial reporting as part of population health trends.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 243 the following section:-

SECTION 244 EMS Disease Classification and Registry

(a) The department shall add Electromagnetic Sensitivity (EMS) to the list of diseases dangerous to the public health in 105 CMR 300.000 and 300.100 in order to facilitate reporting and surveillance requirements within the Disease Surveillance and Case Management System (MAVEN) implemented in 105 CMR 300.050 and identification of incidences that are part of a cluster or outbreak for purposes of 105 CMR 300.134.

(b) The department shall include EMS to the list of diseases possibly linked to environmental exposures in 105 CMR 300.192.

(c) The department shall collect and disseminate to health care providers (including but not limited to pediatricians) and the public recommended educational materials and diagnosis guidelines for identification of the symptoms associated with EMS. These materials shall include, but not be limited to the EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2016 for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems and illnesses, Clinical Practice Guidelines in the Diagnosis and Management of Electromagnetic Field Hypersensitivity, Environmental Health Clinic, Women’s College Hospital (Toronto, CA) and Guideline of the Austrian Medical Association for the diagnosis and treatment of EMF related health problems and illnesses (EMF syndrome).

(d) (1) The department shall establish an EMS disease registry for the collection of information necessary to determine the incidence and prevalence of EMS in the commonwealth.

(2) There shall be within the department an EMS disease registry advisory committee to advise and assist in the development, implementation and progress of the EMS disease registry established in subsection (d)(1). The committee shall review and submit recommendations on: (i) what data shall be collected, including, but not limited to, demographic information and data by areas and regions of the commonwealth, with specific data from urban, low and median income communities and minority communities of the commonwealth; (ii) the means of collecting and disseminating such data; (iii) how to ensure privacy and confidentiality of such data; (iv) the purpose, design and functionality of the registry; and (v) the implementation of the registry. The committee shall recommend to the department any information deemed necessary and appropriate for the statistical identification and planning for treatment and education of health care providers and persons diagnosed with EMS.

(3) The committee shall consist of the commissioner, or a designee, and 10 members to be appointed by the commissioner as follows: 3 physicians, 1 of whom shall be a general neurologist, 1 of whom shall be an environmental health specialist and 1 of whom shall be a pediatrician; 1 health informaticist; 2 population health researchers familiar with registries; 2 EMS researchers; and 2 persons diagnosed with EMS. The committee shall meet at least bi-annually to assess registry progress and recommend changes.

(e) The commissioner shall include EMS as part of the data systems and biennial reports required by each population health trends required by chapter 111 section 237.

(f) Definition: for purposes of this section “Electromagnetic Sensitivity” (EMS), also known as EMF Syndrome, Electromagnetic Field Hypersensitivity or Nonionizing Radiation Sickness, means the recognized constellation of mainly neurological spectrum condition symptoms that have been associated with exposure to nonionizing electromagnetic energy. They include headaches, memory, cognitive and sleep problems, heart palpitations and/or increased heart rate, ringing in the ears, fatigue, skin rashes, tingling, nose bleeds, unremitting flu-like symptoms, dizziness, and burning sensations.