AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SECURE COMMON APPLICATION PORTAL FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLY FOR STATE-ADMINISTERED NEEDS-BASED BENEFITS AND SERVICES
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to develop and implement a secure common application portal for individuals to simultaneously apply for state-administered needs-based benefits and 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:
SECTION 1. Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 18Z the following section:-
Section 18AA. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services and the executive office of housing and economic development, in coordination with the division of medical assistance, the department of transitional assistance, the department of early education and care, the executive office of education and the department of housing and community development, shall develop and implement a secure common application portal for individuals to simultaneously apply for state-administered needs-based benefits and services. The common application shall allow individuals the option to apply simultaneously for MassHealth coverage, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, income supports under chapters 117A and 118, childcare subsidies, housing subsidies, fuel assistance and other needs-based health care, nutrition and shelter benefits. The common application shall, with the consent of the applicant, allow the state agencies responsible for determining eligibility for the benefits requested to share relevant eligibility information and supporting documentation submitted by the applicant as needed to determine eligibility for other benefits.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
Approved, August 10, 2022.