Further Amendment(s) Consolidated Amendment "G" to H4100

Mental Health and Disability Services

Mr. Dempsey of Haverhill moves to amend the consolidated amendment on mental health and disability services by striking the paragraph after the figure “$8,297,163” and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-

And further amend the bill in section 2, in line item 5095-0015, by inserting after the words “received at the closed facility” the following: “; provided further, the department shall maintain the capacity for 30 vendor-operated continuing care inpatient beds in the southeastern region of Massachusetts;”

And further amend the bill in said line item by striking out the figure “$152,988,321” and inserting in place thereof the figure: “$161,488,321”.

And further amend the bill by inserting the following section:-

SECTION XX. There shall be hereby established a special commission to conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of the commonwealth’s inpatient mental healthcare system including, but not limited to, the statewide network of community-based services and support and the continuum of care in all regions of Massachusetts.

The commission shall consist of 9 members, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Arc of Massachusetts; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Association of Behavioral Health Systems; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Disability Law Center; and 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society.

The department of mental health shall provide any information requested by the commission in order to further the purposes of the commission; provided, however, that such information shall not be provided to the commission if the information would violate the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

The commission shall file a report of their findings, together with recommendations for legislation, if any, with the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse and the house and senate committees on ways and means, no later than December 28, 2012.