HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1820 FILED ON: 2/12/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sean Garballey and Carolyn C. Dykema
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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 to improve child and adolescent mental health services.
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PETITION OF:
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Sean Garballey 23rd Middlesex 2/4/2021
Carolyn C. Dykema 8th Middlesex 2/12/2021
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 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1820 FILED ON: 2/12/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
[Pin Slip]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 980 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 to improve child and adolescent mental health services.
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 22 of Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2 striking out the last paragraph, inserted by section 1 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and
3 inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—
4 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall
5 mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist,
6 a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed
7 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful
8 scope of practice for such educational psychologist.
9 SECTION 2. Section 47B of Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby
10 amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 2 of chapter 80 of the
11 acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—
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12 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall
13 mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist,
14 a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed
15 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful
16 scope of practice for such educational psychologist.
17 SECTION 3. Section A of Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby
18 amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 4 of chapter 80 of the
19 acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—
20 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall
21 mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist,
22 a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed
23 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful
24 scope of practice for such educational psychologist.
25 SECTION 4. Section 4A of Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby
26 amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 6 of chapter 80 of the
27 acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—
28 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall
29 mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist,
30 a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed
31 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful
32 scope of practice for such educational psychologist.
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33 SECTION 5. Section 4M of Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby
34 amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 10 of chapter 80 to the
35 acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—
36 For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall
37 mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist,
38 a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed
39 nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful
40 scope of practice for such educational psychologist.
41 SECTION 6. This act shall apply to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and
42 certificates of insurance issued or delivered within or without the commonwealth on or after
43 March 1, 2006, and to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance in
44 effect before that date upon renewal or after March 1, 2006.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text: