An act relative to hospital profit and fairness

This bill aims to curb medical costs that are not directly related to our systems of healthcare yet increasingly contribute to its soaring cost. One such cost is the inflated salaries paid to CEOs that rarely reflect quality of care, patient outcomes, or community benefits.

This legislation would require hospitals receiving public money to disclose financial assets and impose fees on publicly funded hospitals that compensate executives up to 50 times more than other employees. These fees will then be used to fund a Medicaid Reimbursement Enhancement Fund, which will increase Medicaid reimbursements to eligible hospitals.

Most acute care facilities in Massachusetts, whether they are for-profit or not-for-profit, receive over half of their revenues from the taxpayer. By limiting salaries, we can begin to claw back excess profits and ensure taxpayer dollars are dedicated exclusively to patient care and necessary services.

An Act relative to the use of unmanned aerial systems

While modernization and technological advancements are tools used by many to enhance efficiency and make life easier, there are unintended dangers due to those who use these advanced technologies with malicious intent. This bill was crafted in partnership with the ACLU of Massachusetts and would establish common sense guardrails for the use of unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones. Specifically, the bill requires government drones be authorized by public safety personnel and the community, requires law enforcement to procure a warrant for drone surveillance in regard to a criminal investigation, and includes clear exemptions for emergency scenarios.  

Not long ago it seemed drones were used exclusively for foreign military operations, but recent advances have made them affordable, easy to use, and increasingly common. The use of drones as a surveillance tool can be extraordinarily helpful in emergency situations and everyday criminal investigations. However, policies must be implemented to balance the benefits of the technology within the established legal standards of privacy. This bill will allow for an unhindered response when a drone could be helpful to a tactical police operation while protecting civil liberties.

An Act relative to pensions for children of public safety officers killed in the line of duty

This bill would allow the surviving spouses of firefighters, police officers, or corrections officers killed in the line of duty or as a result of specific circumstances to collect a pension amount equal to that salary the firefighter, police officer or correction officer would have earned if they stayed in service. The bill also regulates calculation of maximum benefits and distribution of benefits to surviving spouses and surviving children.

Dangerous conditions are expected with the job, and the families and loved ones of those who hold these positions carry that weight with them. To ensure our safety, these first responders and law enforcement personnel and their families put their lives and livelihoods at risk every day. This bill aims to provide these loved ones with security, should a catastrophic event take place.

An Act relative to crumbling concrete prevention and protection

This bill makes changes to existing statute and adds additional statutory provisions to provide greater protections against crumbling concrete. The crumbling concrete crisis has caused severe structural damage to homes across Massachusetts, leaving many families in financial and emotional crisis. These provisions are based on new information, knowledge, and technical expertise developed since the passage of the initial bill in October of 2023 by MassDOT and will create greater, more comprehensive protections and remedies for Commonwealth homeowners. 

An Act to allow temporary door-locking devices in public buildings

This bill provides a fast and effective solution to an unfortunately ever-increasing risk to widespread public safety: mass shootings. This bill would require the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to update building regulations that currently prevent the use of certain door-locking devices. These devices have the potential to greatly improve the security of schools and other public buildings as well as better equip these spaces to more effectively provide adequate protection in these all-too-common events. 

While other states and international building codes have been updated in ways that allow these devices, Massachusetts’ regulations have lagged behind, preventing the instillation in several municipalities in Massachusetts. Today, thousands of individuals annually, including children and seniors, are forced to witness gun violence or events of mass destruction whether in their schools, their communities, or their homes. These events have lasting impacts on their survivors and, in some instances, the only barrier between them and danger is a non-substantial barricade.

An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday

This bill would designate the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik as the official Diwali Day, in recognition of the Diwali celebration known as the “Festival of Lights”, a five day long festival where the third day is a day of thanksgiving and reflection celebrated worldwide and by millions of Americans. Diwali Day is celebrated annually across the Commonwealth and its message, cultural significance, and tradition should be recognized. 

An Act relative to lawfully owed DNA

This bill was filed in response to a troubling threat to public safety regarding the collection of DNA samples by the criminal justice system. Collection of DNA samples is a tremendous responsibility and is limited to serious crimes. These samples are maintained in a database that can be used to both identify and eliminate suspects in a range of crimes but are especially useful for sexual assaults. Due to administrative challenges and a lack of oversight, as many as 1,500+ samples or more can go uncollected. While some solutions have been implemented at the county level where most collections occur, there is a significant need for state level oversight.  

This bill would require an audit of the state crime lab to identify individuals who have failed to submit legally required DNA samples following felony convictions. The state involvement and annual audits will help identify areas of concern in the collection process, and prevent widespread, systematic failures from occurring again. DNA collection is an important tool for maintaining public safety, and we owe it to victims, survivors, and the public to maintain an effective and efficient system.

An Act relative to pharmacists as healthcare providers

Due to their accessibility, the Commonwealth's 7,500 pharmacists became an irreplaceable asset for the delivery of health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmacists continue to serve as a trusted community healthcare resource while expanding services to meet the needs of the public. This bill modernizes the regulation of pharmacies by permitting pharmacists to test, screen, and treat qualified health conditions (such as influenza, Strep, HIV PEP/PrEP therapies, and COVID-19), and request reimbursement for those services in accordance with statewide protocols. Pharmacists will be permitted to practice at the top of their license, resulting in better patient access and health equity outcomes.

The goal of the bill is to increase timeliness and access to care for underserved patient populations, reduce stress on hospital emergency departments, create a collaborative relationship between pharmacists and other healthcare providers to alleviate workload, and improve the overall wellbeing of Commonwealth residents.  

An Act relative to patient centered access to behavioral health services in accountable care organizations 

For many individuals with mental health or substance abuse disorders, challenges exist beyond the basic diagnosis. As the Commonwealth continues to evaluate the distribution of behavioral and mental health services, Massachusetts can increase participation and improve outcomes for these programs by putting residents in a better position to succeed.

This bill would mandate a pilot program for a new care coordination position within accountable care organizations which would focus on ensuring patients receive wholistic care on an individualized path. By assisting with the navigation of these services, patients can focus on their health, not the stress associated with screening providers, navigating health insurance, adhering to medication schedules, and coordinating between specialists. 

An Act to prohibit inappropriate use of the health care cost growth benchmark

The Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark was established in 2012 to help control the growth of total health care expenditures across all payers, private and public, but was not intended to act as a spending cap. On March 16, 2022, the Health Policy Commission (HPC) reinforced this point during a Health Care Cost Benchmark hearing, yet health insurance carriers continue to use this benchmark as a defacto cap on reimbursements across many healthcare providers.

This legislation inserts a new limitation on the health insurance statute prohibiting the use of the Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark in health insurance contracts with providers.

An Act relative to small business health insurance incentives

This legislation deals with important Massachusetts small business rating factors designed to create fair health insurance premiums by replacing some factors in the merged market risk pool for small businesses and their employees. The bill will help lower premium costs for small businesses in pooled markets through two incentives:

  • Allowing carriers to award participants who seek more efficient administration of coverage and influence member utilization through education and use of transparency tool

  • Authorizing insurers to offer year-end incentives for small employers and their employees based on the number of subscribers in the group 

The group purchase of insurance and the proper use of healthcare allows for actuarial and administrative costs savings, something long done by the Group Insurance Commission. Small business group purchasing cooperatives, which were authorized by the Legislature in 2010, are uniquely situated to negotiate with carriers for the more efficient administration of coverage. This proposal would allow carriers to reward participants of a group purchasing cooperatives for undertaking such efforts and investing resources in this manner.

An Act relative to local approval for charter schools

When a new charter school opens in a community, every single student and their families are affected, whether they choose to attend or not. These schools siphon already limited tax dollars away from public schools, shifting the economics of these often-struggling institutions and forcing them to stretch the dollars they continue to receive even further. Too often, decisions about charter school expansion are made in rooms that are far removed from the local classrooms and students that will be affected most.  

This bill returns the final say for charter school expansion back in the hands of our communities. The bill would require charter schools receive approval via either an elected school committee, a city/town council and the mayor for cities and towns without an elected school committee, and from voters at a town meeting in the towns where the charter school is expected to enroll students. If a charter school does not receive approval from the towns, they may still open though without receiving Chapter 70 or local funding.

This bill intends to provide local leaders, residents, and students with a better understanding of, and have greater say as to how their tax dollars are spent.

An Act to enhance courthouse security

Last session, a provision of this bill to prohibit firearms from being brought into a courthouse was included in An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws. The second provision, which I have refiled this session, is a common-sense change empowering court officers to perform their duties to protect the public and court employees. Currently, their enforcement powers only exist within the courthouse, which does not recognize the reality of modern court proceedings or security best practices. The bill will extend these enforcement powers to the courthouse grounds and to outside locations during remote court proceedings.  

As we have seen in recent years, the court systems have become a flash point for protests and occasionally violence. Under Massachusetts law, court officers in the Trial Court are significantly limited in their ability to respond and manage these unpredictable situations, even if the danger had reached the courthouse steps. Remote proceedings are also an important part of judicial proceedings in some cases. At these remote proceedings, Court Officers are still the primary entity responsible for the safety and smooth functioning of the court’s business. However, they are limited by law in how they can respond to disturbances that could arise. Expanding their powers for these circumstances will make proceedings safer both at the courthouse and beyond.

An Act increasing access to ABA services by recognizing assistant level providers

This bill would increase access to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for kids with autism and other developmental disorders who would benefit from them. In Massachusetts, ABA services can be provided by providers holding either a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) license or an Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst (AABA) license through DPH regulations. However, currently, MassHealth does not cover ABA services provided by a AABA provider, resulting in a lack of access to providers for those who receive these services and increasing the wait time for the children in need.

This bill will establish a rate for all providers of ABA services, both holding BCBA and AABA licenses, to ensure they are able to receive reimbursement for the services they provide and create accessible and affordable care for those who need it.

An Act elevating the National Guard to a cabinet level position

This bill would elevate the National Guard to a cabinet level position that reports directly to the Governor and has a direct line of communication to our federal delegation. The bill also establishes the Executive Office of the Military Division, of which the adjunct general will serve as the secretary and report directly to the Governor.

In any instances of public safety or national security threats, the National Guard can respond quickly and efficiently, and with military power and resources. However, they currently must report to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, which reports directly to the Governor, making communications delayed, non-transparent, and potentially makes us at a greater risk to activity dangerous to our way of life.   

The Massachusetts National Guard is a reserve component of the United States Army and Air Force that operates under state authority in part. The Guard responds to an array of domestic emergencies, overseas combat missions, counterdrug efforts, reconstruction missions and more. Guard soldiers can be called upon at any time by either the state governor or the president of the United States as they are trained to respond to natural disasters, other civil emergencies, and support federal military missions. This bill is crucial to ensuring adequate response in any of the Guard’s functions but also in case of emergency by the Guard, such as natural disasters, threats to our basic public, community safety, and even our national security.   

An Act to remove barriers to patient care

In 2021, Massachusetts enacted An Act Promoting a Resilient Health Care System That Puts Patients First, which granted Full Practice Authority (FPA) to eligible Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). FPA allows eligible APRNs to practice independently, eliminating the need for physician supervision. However, outdated state insurance statutes still mandate physician involvement as a condition of coverage for certain services. These vary from a physical examination to written orders or prescriptions — all services that fall within the scope of practice for APRNs.

This bill proposes a solution to these mandates that create significant barriers for patients who rely on APRNs for their care. Specifically, the bill is a technical fix aimed at aligning Massachusetts' insurance statutes with the current legal scope of APRN practice under Full Practice Authority. This bill ensures patients can access timely care from APRNs without unnecessary delays caused by outdated statutory requirements for physician involvement in order to receive covered healthcare services. 

An Act relative to technical rescue services

This bill was formerly filed by Senator Timilty and would amend Chapter 22D of the Massachusetts General Laws to bring the regional technical rescue team infrastructure into the Department of Fire Services. They’d then be tasked with making the infrastructure operate as efficiently as the current infrastructure that we have established for our Hazmat teams around the Commonwealth. This bill will clarify and consolidate the management of the Technical Rescue Response System under DFS and be overseen by the State Fire Marshal. Through these changes, the Technical Rescue Response System will be able to more effectively and equitably deliver and fund these services throughout each and every town and city in the Commonwealth.  

An Act relative to the definition of fraud in public construction bid laws

This legislation clarifies what constitutes fraud in the public bidding process and would improve the Office of the Attorney General’s ability to root out fraud and misrepresentation in the public bidding arena and ensure transparency and integrity. Currently, our public construction bid laws do not define fraud and the Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Fordyce v Town of Hanover narrowed the definition of fraud in the public bidding context. This narrowed definition now provides that only false statements that constitute fraud are those that cause actual harm to the awarding authority. This bill addresses this by making it clear that contractors who intentionally attempt to deceive awarding authorities cannot be awarded contracts.   

An Act relative to transparency in private utility construction contracts

This is a is a common-sense bill that would increase transparency and limit costs for certain state contracts. The bill requires that a company who wins a public bid for a private utility construction project disclose the bid and notify other bidders of the terms. This will increase competition and drive down costs while ensuring Massachusetts taxpayers have a full understanding of how their dollars are being spent.