Chapter 6A

Section 1. The following terms, as used in this chapter, shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:— ''Secretary'', the head of an executive office established under section two. ''State agency'', as defined in section 1 of chapter 29.

Section 105. There shall be an executive office of veterans' services under the supervision and control of a secretary of veterans' services, who shall be a veteran appointed by the governor, and who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed by governor at an…

Section 106. The secretary shall manage and control all state-operated veterans' homes in the commonwealth, and all property, real and personal, belonging to the commonwealth and occupied or used by such homes.

Section 107. The secretary shall be allowed their traveling expenses when necessary for the secretary to visit Washington, D.C., and may expend for such purpose and for all other expenses necessary for the proper performance of the secretary's duties such sums as are annually app…

Section 108. The secretary of veterans' services shall appoint and may remove a deputy secretary of veterans' services who shall devote their full-time during business hours to the duties of their office. The deputy secretary shall be subject to the direction and control of the s…

Section 109. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: ''Government agency'', a legal entity of state government established by the general court or by executive order as an agency,…

Section 14A. Section 14A. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EDUCATION (a) There shall be an executive office of education, which shall include the departments of early education and care, elementary and secondary education, and higher education. (b) The executive office of education shall be u…

Section 16. The executive office of health and human services shall serve as the principal agency of the executive department for the following purposes: (a) developing, coordinating, administering and managing the health, welfare and human services operations, policies and progr…

Section 16AA. (a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:- ''Disparities'', differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that e…

Section 16B. There shall be a division of medical assistance within the executive office of health and human services. Such division shall be in the charge of a commissioner who shall be known as the commissioner of medical assistance. The commissioner of medical assistance shall…

Section 16BB. (a) Subject to appropriation, the executive office of health and human services shall develop and implement a statewide program to provide remote consultations available for not less than 5 days a week to primary care practices, nurse practitioners and other health …

Section 16C. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, to the maximum extent allowed by federal law, the commonwealth, including any department, board, commission, division or authority or subdivision thereof, may, subject to appropriation, pro…

Section 16CC. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:- ''Act'', an action or decision made by an owner, employee or agent of a long term care facility or assisted living residence or by a government…

Section 16D. (a) The managed care oversight board is hereby established within, but not subject to the control of, the executive office of health and human services. The board shall consist of the following members: the secretary of said office, the commissioner of insurance, the…

Section 16DD. (a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:- ''Office'', the office of behavioral health promotion. ''Secretary'', the secretary of health and human services. (b) There shall be a…

Section 16EE. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise: ''Community behavioral health centers'', organizations that are designated by the executive office of health and human services, licensed clinic…

Section 16F. As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:— (a) ''Community services'', services that are available to the general population. ''Department'', the Massachusetts commission for the blind, the Massachusetts commission for the deaf a…

Section 16FF. (a) Subject to appropriation, the executive office of health and human services, in coordination with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall develop and implement a statewide program to assist in implementing behavioral health services and suppo…

Section 16G. (a) In the executive office of economic development, there shall be the Massachusetts office of business development, the Massachusetts office of consumer affairs and business regulation, the Massachusetts marketing partnership and the agencies within the said partne…

Section 16GG. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: ''Eligible entity'', a non-profit or community-based organization or health center serving perinatal individuals including, but not limi…

Section 16I. (a) There shall be an Economic Development Trust Fund to be administered by the secretary of economic development. Monies in the fund shall be deposited with the state treasurer in a manner that will secure the highest interest rate available consistent with the safe…

Section 16M. (a) There shall be a MassHealth payment policy advisory board. The board shall consist of the secretary of health and human services or his designee, who shall serve as chair, the executive director of the center for health information and analysis, and 12 other memb…

Section 16O. (a) There shall be a health disparities council located within, but not subject to the control of, the executive office of health and human services. The council shall make recommendations to the director of the office of health equity to reduce and eliminate dispari…

Section 16P. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: ''Adult'', an individual who is older than 22 years of age. ''Awaiting residential disposition'', waiting not less than 72 hours to be …

Section 16Q. (a) There shall be a children's behavioral health advisory council within, but not subject to control of, the executive office of health and human services. The council shall advise the governor, the general court and the secretary of health and human services. (b) T…

Section 16R. (a) There shall be an interagency review team to collaborate on complex cases where there is a need for urgent action to address the lack of consensus or resolution between state agencies about current service needs or placement of an individual who: (i) is under the…

Section 16S. The secretary of health and human services shall coordinate the purchase of behavioral health services for children to promote economy and efficiency and improve service delivery, thereby integrating services provided by the executive office of health and human servi…

Section 16U. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:— ''Child requiring assistance'', as defined in section 21 of chapter 119. ''Community-based services'', services, including coordination of services, designed to assist families requi…

Section 16V. (a) There shall be within the executive office of health and human services, but not subject to the control of the office, a bureau of program integrity. The inspector general shall appoint a director of the bureau, who shall serve as an assistant inspector general, …

Section 16W. (a) As used in this section and section 16X, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: ''Fixed, regular nighttime residence'', a dwelling at which a person resides on a regular basis that provides safe shelte…

Section 16X. (a) Subject to appropriation or third party reimbursement, the executive office of health and human services shall enter into performance-based contracts with organizations and agencies to provide housing and support services to address the needs of unaccompanied hom…

Section 16Z. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services shall establish a pulmonary hypertension task force. The task force shall consist of: the secretary of the executive office of health and human services …

Section 18. The following state agencies are hereby declared to be within the executive office of public safety and security: the department of fire services; the office of grants and research and the highway safety division; the municipal police training committee; the Massachus…

Section 18A. In this section, and in sections 18B to 18J, inclusive, of this chapter, and in section 14A of chapter 166, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: ''Automatic location identification'', an enhanced 911 s…

Section 18AA. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services and the executive office of housing and livable communities, in coordination with the division of medical assistance, the department of transitional assista…

Section 18B. (a) There shall be, within the executive office of public safety and security, a state 911 department. The secretary of public safety and security shall, with the advice of the commission, appoint and, subject to appropriation or funds otherwise available from other …

Section 18C. (a) Each PSAP shall be capable of transmitting a request for law enforcement, firefighting, medical, ambulance, emergency service provider or other emergency services to a public or private safety department that provides the requested services. (b) Each primary and …

Section 18D. (a) Each municipality in the commonwealth, under the requirements of chapter 150E, shall establish, staff and operate, in conjunction with 1 or more other municipalities or governmental bodies, as determined by the department, or by itself, a PSAP on a 24 hour a day,…

Section 18E. The attorney general may, at the request of the department or on the attorney general's own initiative, institute civil proceedings against any municipality or other governmental body operating a PSAP, or any enhanced 911 service provider or communication services pr…

Section 18G. The department shall require that each PSAP that possesses enhanced 911 service shall retain 911 recordings for a period of not less than 1 year.

Section 18H. (a) There shall be imposed on each subscriber or end user whose communication services are capable of accessing and utilizing an enhanced 911 system, a surcharge in the amount of 75 cents per month for expenses associated with services provided under sections 18A to …

Section 18I. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a municipality or other governmental body, under the requirements of chapter 150E, may modify, change or alter communication equipment used in the municipality's or other governmental body's enhanced 911 sys…

Section 18J. Beginning July 1, 2009, any new or substantially renovated multi-line telephone system shall provide the same level of enhanced 911 service that is provided to others in the commonwealth. The department shall adopt regulations to implement this requirement. In such r…

Section 18K. Sections 18A to 18J, inclusive, shall not be construed to limit or expand the authority to regulate communication service providers under chapters 159 or 166 nor construed to authorize the department, or any other agency, department or subdivision of government, to r…

Section 18L. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:— ''EMS first responder'', a person providing emergency medical services as defined in section 1 of chapter 111C. ''First responders'', …

Section 18M. (a) There shall be a standing commission to study the commonwealth's criminal justice system which shall include: 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by …