This bill requires public schools (grades 6-12) and colleges/universities to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone and text number on all new or replacement student ID cards. It directly affects schools and higher education institutions that issue student IDs, mandating the inclusion of this lifeline contact information. The requirement applies to IDs issued on or after July 1, 2025, with existing non-compliant cards allowed to be used until depleted. The law aims to make crisis support more accessible to students by integrating it into routine student identification.
This bill requires Massachusetts' Department of Mental Health, Youth Services, Children and Families, Public Health, and Personnel Administration to update their official job descriptions to include Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors (LSMHCs) by September 1, 2023. It mandates that all behavioral health job postings within these departments reflect the full scope of practice for these licensed professionals. The bill directly affects state agencies hiring mental health staff and the LMHC/LSMHC professionals seeking these positions. The key mechanism is a deadline-driven update to job classification specifications, ensuring state hiring aligns with these counselors' authorized roles.
This bill mandates the creation of two specialized mental health units within the Department of Mental Health: one for men and one for women. These units will serve patients exhibiting persistently aggressive, self-destructive, or unusually violent behavior requiring intensive care. The units must be centrally located, physically separate from other areas, and staffed by trained specialists (including nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists) who provide evaluations, behavioral management, violence assessments, and stabilization services. Upon stabilization, staff must develop a plan for the patient's safe transfer out of the unit.
Report of the Department of Mental Health (pursuant to line item 5046-0000 of Chapter 165 of the Acts of 2014) submitting its Enhanced Outpatient Treatment Pilot Fiscal Year 2024
Report of the Department of Mental Health (pursuant to line item 5042-5000 of Section 2 of Chapter 28 of Acts of 2023) submitting its Strengthening Public Access to Mental Health Services for Children and Youth FY24 report
By Mr. Collins, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 679) of Nick Collins for legislation relative to mental health providers. Financial Services.
By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 1392) of Julian Cyr and Joanne M. Comerford that provisions be made for a special commission to study available behavioral health services and to make recommendations for improving access to behavioral health services for children and families in the commonwealth. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
This bill requires public schools (grades 6-12) and colleges/universities to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline contact information on all new or replacement student ID cards. It directly affects schools and institutions issuing student IDs by mandating the inclusion of the 988 phone and text number. The requirement applies to IDs issued on or after July 1, 2025, with existing non-compliant cards allowed to be used until depleted. The bill does not change funding or create new programs, solely adding crisis resource information to existing student identification.
By Mr. Fernandes, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 754) of Dylan A. Fernandes for legislation to improve treatment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Financial Services.
This bill (HD 3306) protects certain first responders from legal liability when transporting individuals to community behavioral health centers. It shields licensed law enforcement officers, ambulance services, EMTs, and emergency medical service providers from claims, liability, or penalties for this specific action. The law directly affects these first responders by removing a legal barrier to transporting people needing mental health care instead of to police stations or hospitals. This change aims to facilitate quicker access to behavioral health treatment by making it legally safer for emergency personnel to connect individuals with appropriate mental health resources.
