The proposed bill establishes a new chapter, CHAPTER 1.12, titled "Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund," within Title 23 of the General Laws, aimed at providing financial assistance to families with children aged 21 years and younger who are suffering from catastrophic illnesses. These illnesses are defined as medical conditions that incur expenses exceeding 10% of a family's income up to $100,000, plus 15% of any income above that threshold. The bill outlines the definitions of key terms and sets forth residency and income criteria for families to qualify for assistance. A nine-member commission will be created to administer the fund, which includes state department directors and public members appointed by the governor, responsible for overseeing operations, establishing eligibility criteria, and managing fund disbursements.

Key provisions of the bill include the implementation of a sliding fee scale for reimbursement based on a family's financial situation, a requirement for families to reimburse the fund if they recover damages from legal actions related to their child's medical expenses, and an annual surcharge of $1.50 per employee on employers subject to employment security laws to finance the program. The commission will also be responsible for maintaining confidential records, processing fund awards and appeals, and reporting annually to the governor and legislative committees on the program's status. The bill will take effect upon passage, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on families facing significant medical expenses due to catastrophic illnesses in children.