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The following are bills of which I am the Chief Sponsor for the 2007 – 2008 Legislative Session:
 

HD3035 - An Act relative to patient safety.       UPDATE
This legislation is based on H.4988, the compromise Safe RN Staffing bill, with slight modifications which were requested by the Massachusetts Nurses Association.  This bill would direct the Department of Public Health to set limits and standards for the number of patients a nurse would care for at one time.  This would improve the quality of patient care at facilities across the state and increase nurse recruitment and retention.  It has also been proven to be cost effective, as increased staffing leads to decreased medical errors, shorter patient stays and may reduce costs related to nurse staff turnover. 

HD2090 - An Act designating May 24 as Phenylketonuria Awareness Day.
This legislation will designate May 24^th as Phenylketonuria (PKU) Awareness Day.  PKU is a lifelong, inherited, recessive genetic disorder which all newborns are tested for at birth.  People with PKU are unable to process the amino acid phenylalanine, and the only treatment is a lifelong, restricted, costly diet that is limited in phenylalanine. 

HD2091 - An Act increasing coverage of nonprescription enteral formulas.
Individuals with lifelong, inherited diseases of amino acids and organic acids must be treated through a strictly controlled, costly diet.  Currently, insurance is only required to cover $2500 in medical food per year, an amount which hasn’t seen an increase in over 10 years.  This bill will increase the dollar limit of coverage on foods that are modified to be low in protein from $2500/year to $5000/year. 

HD2094 - An Act eliminating the need for reauthorization for coverage of nonprescription enteral formula.
Currently, inherited diseases of amino acids and organic acids are a lifelong diseases for which there is no cure, only treatment through a managed diet.  Despite this, many insurance organizations require a doctor’s reauthorization of the condition every six months to one year in order to continue providing formula and food coverage.  This legislation would eliminate the need for continued reauthorization after the initial authorization upon diagnosis.

HD2097 - An Act relative to the PKU newborn screening fee. 
All newborns in the Commonwealth are tested for PKU.  This legislation would dedicate 10% of the fee for testing to the program to combat mental retardation in children suffering from a genetic defect causing Phenylketonuria established in MGL Ch.111, s.4E, and direct that this money be distributed to the Commonwealth’s metabolic disorder clinic programs to be used for patient education and support, and anything else deemed appropriate by said clinics.   

HD2098 - An Act relative to urea cycle disorders.
This legislation would add urea cycle disorders to the types of disorders for which insurance coverage of nonprescription enteral formula and food products modified to be low protein is mandated.

HD2855 - An Act fulfilling the promise of education reform: Teacher quality and school improvement.
This legislation is a redraft of S.318, H.1110, and H.1086 which:
 

HD710 - An Act relative to the operation of vehicles upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle.
This legislation is a refile of H.2062, and it will amend the Commonwealth’s “Move-Over Law”.  One of the leading causes of death and injury to emergency professionals is secondary crashes at emergency scenes.  This bill will improve the level of safety at emergency scenes and defeat the number one hazard in professions such as Police Officer, Fire Fighter, Emergency Medical Technician, and Towing/Recovery Operator.  This bill was filed at the request of a constituent, and is supported by the Massachusetts Towing Association.

HD788 - An Act relative to the study of history in the public schools.
This bill is a refile of H.D.4796, and it requires all students in public elementary, middle, vocational and high schools to pursue their studies in history and civics through a series of field trips to local, regional and statewide museums, historical sites, historical organizations and government houses, including the State House in Boston.  These field trips shall be a minimum of three days conformity with the required curriculum of the school systems.  Teachers or other guides and parents of recognized assistance will accompany students on these field trips.  Official school travel resources or other recognized resources will coordinate these trips.  All other legal procedures for the health, safety, security, and well-being of all participants will also be maintained.

HD938 - An Act improving access to rehabilitation counseling.
This legislation is a refile of H.3125.  It will extend access of cost effective rehabilitation counseling services as an out-patient to consumers with third party health insurance.  Rehabilitation Counselors are currently excluded from receiving third party benefits under the mental health parity law, despite the fact that their education and experience must be equivalent to other professionals presently eligible for reimbursement.

HD924 - An Act relative to needlestick injury prevention in public health facilities and setting.
This legislation is a refile of H.2664, and it would direct the Department of Public Health to promulgate rules and regulations requiring all state, county and municipal public health facilities to utilize needles and sharps that minimize the risk of needlestick injuries to healthcare workers.  It would also require the Department of Public Health to enact regulations that would incorporate a standard protocol that would be used to protect employees of healthcare facilities and the patients they care for.

HD1136 - An Act pertaining to hazardous material response teams.
This bill establishes a payment mechanism to reimburse municipalities for the cost of sending their employees to Hazardous Material Response Team Activations which is not subject to appropriation.  This will help alleviate any unnecessary delays in payment and reinforce the Commonwealth’s commitment to public safety.  This bill also increases the stipend that these dedicated officers are entitled to receive, as they face situations never anticipated at the inception of these teams. 

HD714 - An Act to improve Indian representation within the Commission on Indian Affairs.
This legislation is a refile of H.3532.  It would amend Chapter 6A of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition and establish new guidelines relative to the Commission on Indian Affairs.  Under this Act, the Commission shall consist of eleven members providing equal representation of Massachusetts Indian Tribes that are recognized by the United States Department of the Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs.

HD716 - An Act relative to vital records.
This legislation is a refile of H.3646 and would add a new section to MGLA Chapter 46 which would allow any Native American Indian whose birth record contained incorrect racial information to obtain a new, certified copy, free of charge, which contained the correct information.  The person would be required to provide proof or documentation of Native American ancestry.  The issued birth record would not be designated as an “amended” record.

HD1138 - An Act providing for members of the Southeastern Regional school district to reallocate the sum of their local contributions to the district by a majority vote of boards of selectmen and a municipal council.
This legislation is a refile of H.1088.  The purpose of this bill is to allow member municipalities to revert to the original regional school apportionment formula with a simple majority of the communities voting in the affirmative to do so.  The method of vote will be by simple majority of each town’s Board of Selectmen, or as in the case of Brockton, by simple majority of the City Council.