HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 784        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 493

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patricia A. Haddad

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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 resolve:

Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to child suicide.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 784        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 493

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 609 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to child suicide.

Resolved, that a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to strategies for suicide prevention and the resources necessary to assist elementary and secondary schools in identifying and assisting children at risk. The special commission shall consist of 11 members: 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on education, 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, 1 of whom shall be a member of the senate, provided, however, that 1 member of the senate shall be designated by the senate president as co-chair of the commission; 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on education, 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on mental health, 1 of whom shall be a member of the house of representatives; provided, however, that 1 member of the house of representatives shall be designated by the speaker of the house as co-chair of the commission; 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or the commissioner’s designee; 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of mental health, or the commissioner’s designee; and 3 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a superintendent who shall be selected from a group of 3 nominees to be submitted by  the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, 1 of whom shall be a member of the mental health advisory council established under section 11 chapter 19 of the General Laws, and 1 of whom shall be an advocate for pediatric early childhood mental health. The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out such recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and the house and who shall forward the same to the chairs of the joint committee on education and the chairs of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse and the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before December 31, 2023.