Public Safety

AN ACT RELATIVE TO ACCESS TO PEDIATRIC ASTHMA RESCUE MEDICATIONS 

This legislation would allow the use of rescue medication used in treating pediatric asthma without prior authorization.  Rescue Medication would be available to children under 18 years of age without restriction or preference to the class of one medication over another.

AN ACT TO PRESERVE MASSHEALTH COVERAGE FOR DISABLED PERSONS

This bill will help to insure Masshealth coverage for disabled persons.  It will insure that criteria for applicants or recipients are not more restrictive that those criteria authorized by Title XV1 of the Social Security Act, 42 USC Section 1381 et seq.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO A NURSE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

This legislation would allow the commissioner with the approval of the public health council to appoint a nurse deputy commissioner provided they were a registered nurse.  This bill states criteria and responsibilities of the nurse deputy commissioner.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE REGISTRATION OF OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY OF CERTAIN CANCER PATIENTS

This legislation will require the Commonwealth to track the occupational history of cancer patients who have been diagnosed and reported cancer patients in the commonwealth subsequent to January 1, 1994.

AN ACT TO IMPROVE THE ORAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH

This legislation seeks to insure that all municipal water supplies serving 5,000 or more persons have regulation concentrations of fluoride in their water. Reimbursements will be available to those owners or official custodians of water supply for reasonable costs in complying with these regulations.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION 

The Emergency Contraception bill will require hospital emergency rooms to make emergency contraception available to rape survivors and will also allow pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception through a collaborative agreement with a physician. 

AN ACT RELATIVE TO CIVIL NO CONTACT ORDERS FOR VICTIMS OF STALKING, CRIMINAL HARASSMENT AND RAPE VICTIMS

Senator Resor is filing this bill to address the dangerous gap in protection for these victims by providing a civil remedy requiring the offender to stay away from and refrain from contacting the victim. This legislation specifically adds protection to victims who do not have a substantive relationship with the perpetrator.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CAMPUS RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS 

This bill would establish a task force to study and make recommendations regarding these heinous crimes on campuses.   The commission would include representatives of institutions of higher education across the commonwealth and would help guarantee certain enumerated rights to those rape and sexual assault victims.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO EXAMINE CONCERNS REGARDING HYSTERECTOMIES

This is a re-file of Senate Bill #666 establishing a task force on medical practices and public policy issues relative to the performance of hysterectomies, including patients' access to relevant information, the aftereffects of surgery, and alternatives to hysterectomy.

A BILL DECLARING JANUARY TO BE STALKING AWARENESS MONTH

This bill requires the Governor to issue an annual resolution recognizing January as Stalking Awareness Month in the Commonwealth and was signed into law on February 1, 2005. AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE DISABLED PERSONS PROTECTION COMMISSION TO SEEK RESTRAINING ORDERS

This bill would authorize the Commission, the Department of Mental Retardation, the Department of Mental Health, and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to seek a restraining order against any person who interferes with the provision of protective services to a person with a disability who is a victim of abuse.  Currently, the Disable Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) is authorized to provide protective services to a person with a disability who is the victim of abuse.  It has been the experience of the DPPC that persons may often interfere with protection services or placements requested to a person with a disability.  In such instances it is critical to ensure that the victim remains safe, is not further abused, nor pressured to recant allegations.  This bill is supported by the Disabled Persons Protection Commission.

AN ACT TO PREVENT HARASSMENT

This bill would address the dangerous gap in protection for certain victims of stalking by providing a civil remedy requiring the offender to stay away from and refrain from contacting the victim. This legislation specifically adds protection to victims who do not have a substantive relationship with the perpetrator.   This bill is supported by Jane Doe, Inc.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO ESTABLISHING A CAMPUS RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION ADVISORY COUNCIL

This bill would create an advisory council to establish uniform guidelines for state colleges and universities in assisting victims of rape and sexual assault.  The commission will be appointed by the chairman of the board of higher education, and will include such individuals as campus administrators in charge of residential life, campus police departments, victim’s rights advocacy groups, a campus based judicial affairs officer, and others.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO BICYCLIST SAFETY

This bill would update the bicycle and motor vehicle laws of the Commonwealth in order to increase the safety of bicycle operators.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The Commonwealth has long prohibited the possession of bombs and explosives, and since 1930 has criminalized the possession of any “infernal machine”.  In modern times, this definition needs updating.   The bill would further define the term “infernal machine” in Section 102A of chapter 266 of the General Laws, to include any part or combination of parts designed or intended for use in creating an explosive, incendiary, poison gas, high explosive, bomb, grenade, or similar device.  The bill also amends relevant portions of Section 20B of Chapter 148 and Section 162 of Chapter 127.