SENATE DOCKET, NO. 893 FILED ON: 2/9/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a newborn health and safe sleep pilot program.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Patrick M. O'Connor Plymouth and Norfolk
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 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 893 FILED ON: 2/9/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
[Pin Slip]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1316 OF 2019-2020.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act establishing a newborn health and safe sleep pilot program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 111 as so appearing in the 2016 Official Edition of the
2 General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following definition:-
3 “Baby box, boxes lined with a firm mattress and a fitted sheet such that it can serve as a
4 safe sleep place for a newborn, and shall contain newborn infant care essentials aimed at
5 promoting safe sleeping practices, as well as items to encourage safe and healthy habits for
6 families transitioning to parenting.”
7 SECTION 2. Said Chapter 111 is further amended by adding the following new section:-
8 “Section 110D. Newborn Health and Safe Sleep Pilot Program.
9 (a) There shall be established in the department, by the commissioner, a newborn health
10 and safe sleep pilot program designed to reduce infant mortality rates in the Commonwealth. The
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11 commissioner shall provide baby boxes or other products aimed at encouraging safe sleep
12 practices in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section. The distribution of baby boxes or
13 other products may vary by region, at the discretion of the commissioner, to meet the needs of
14 the relevant community.
15 (b) The department shall require that any parent or guardian who wishes to obtain a baby
16 box or other products aimed at encouraging safe sleep practices must first complete an online
17 parent education syllabus to ensure proper use of the baby box as well as to educate on the
18 accepted rules of safe sleep for infants. The department shall create an online portal on the
19 department’s website containing a parent education syllabus. For the purposes of this section, a
20 parent education syllabus shall be developed by the department and shall include, but not be
21 limited to, risks associated with certain sleep conditions and safe sleep practices designed to
22 reduce infant mortality rates. The department shall design and implement a sufficient
23 certification process to ensure that a parent or guardian has completed the parent education
24 syllabus prior to receiving a baby box.
25 (c) The department shall be responsible for monitoring the quality, appropriateness and
26 effectiveness of the program and shall issue a report with their findings and recommendations to
27 the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Health and the Joint Committee on Children,
28 Families and Persons with Disabilities within one year of the effective date of this section.”
29 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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