HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2145        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3669

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

John Barrett, III

_________________

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 special commission to study the effectiveness of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

John Barrett, III

1st Berkshire

1/19/2023

Paul W. Mark

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire

5/11/2023

Peter Capano

11th Essex

5/12/2023

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

5/12/2023

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

5/15/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2145        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3669

By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3669) of John Barrett, III relative to establishing a special commission (including members of the General Court) to study the effectiveness of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing a special commission to study the effectiveness of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to establish forthwith a special legislative commission to study the effectiveness of the executive office of health and human services, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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

There shall be a special legislative commission to study the effectiveness of the organizational structure of the executive office of health and human services. The commission shall examine whether the current organizational structure of the office as established by statute allows the office to carry out its mission and perform its duties and obligations in an efficient manner. The commission shall examine whether changes should be made to the organizational structure of the office, including dividing the office into multiple cabinet-level executive offices, to: (i) optimize the performance of the office; and (ii) allow the departments, commissions and offices overseen by the office to more efficiently and effectively carry out their respective missions and duties and better serve the needs of the commonwealth.

The commission shall consist of: the chairs of the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight, who shall serve as co-chairs for the commission; the chairs of the joint committee on public health; the chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery; the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing; the secretary of health and human services or a designee; and 6 people to be appointed by the governor, 4 of whom shall be a former commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner or an equivalent thereto for a department, commission or office overseen by the executive office of health and human services and 2 of whom shall be experts in state government and public administration.

Not later than March 1, 2024, the commission shall submit a report and recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight.