Amendment #793 to H4000

Special Commission on School-based Health Centers

Ms. Decker of Cambridge moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

Section XX. (a) There shall be a special legislative commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 to study and make recommendations regarding the role of school-based health centers in the commonwealth.

(b)  The commission shall consist of the following 17 members: 1 member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member of the senate to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the minority leader of the house; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the commissioner of mental health or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee; the assistant secretary of MassHealth or a designee; and 9 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc. in a school district served by a school-based health center, 1 of whom shall be a school nurse in a school district served by a school-based health center, 1 of whom shall be a representative of Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts School-Based Health Alliance, Inc. and 1 of whom shall be a teacher in a school district served by a school-based health center.

Members of the special commission shall have knowledge or expertise related to the department of public health’s school-based health center program and shall reflect a broad distribution of diverse perspectives. All appointments shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall convene its first meeting not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.

(c)  The special commission shall study and report on the number and socio-economic status of students in the commonwealth with access to services provided by the school-based health center program and make recommendations for the purpose of strengthening and expanding the school-based health center model, replicating best practices across the commonwealth and identifying potential gaps and areas for improvement.

The commission shall report on school-based health centers’ efforts to:

(i)  strengthen the infrastructure of school health services in the areas of personnel and policy development, including the role of educators;

(ii)  develop linkages between school health programs and community health providers and explore increased integration with community health centers;

(iii)  incorporate health education programs in school curricula;

(iv)  incorporate nutrition and wellness programs in school curricula to ensure healthy development;

(v)  incorporate programs for the reduction of health disparities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth, consistent with the recommendations of the permanent commission established in section 67 of chapter 3 of the General Laws;

(vi)  offer behavioral health education and services;

(vii)  improve health and wellness outcomes in medically underserved communities, geographically isolated communities and school districts with high concentrations of low-income and minority students;

(viii)  increase family engagement;

(ix)  improve the coordination of care;

(x)  address social determinants of children and adolescent health; and

(xi)  offer vision and dental services.

The commission shall consider best practices and improvements for expanding access to school-based health services, including, but not limited to, insurance coverage of school-based health services and provider workforce needs, and shall report on and make any recommendations for potential changes and improvements to the role of school-based health centers in the commonwealth.

Not later than January 15, 2022, the commission shall report its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on healthcare financing, the joint committee on public health, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on education.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #793, as changed to H4000

Special Commission on School-based Health Centers