Sometimes, legislation doesn’t need to become a law in order to be implemented.
My team and I work diligently to introduce bills that capture necessary policy changes requested by constituents. Several of my bills are being implemented through regulation by state offices without having to pass the legislature.
Here are a few examples.
Blue envelopes
My team and I introduced the “Blue Envelope” bill which would create an RMV-issued blue envelope into which a driver with autism spectrum disorder could place their license, registration, and insurance information. In the event of a traffic stop, that blue envelope would be handed to the police officer, alerting the first responder that the driver has autism spectrum disorder and providing the officer with information about best practices for communication.
This legislation, S.2542 — An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder, passed the Senate in January of this year. It hasn’t yet passed the House.
In March, the Massachusetts State Police rolled out a blue envelope program in coordination with Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts. Thus far, upwards of 12,000 blue envelopes have been distributed. We’re urged on by constituents like Max Callahan.
Birthing center regulations
Birth centers are a homelike setting providing skilled midwifery care for low-risk pregnancies. There are 400 such birth centers across the United States.
Currently however, Massachusetts has just one operating birth center — Seven Sisters in Florence — even though birth centers are a proven model for improving birth outcomes while reducing health care costs. My bill, S.1335 — An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers in Massachusetts, directs the Department of Public Health (DPH) to promulgate regulations that are consistent with the licensed practice of midwives and physicians and national standards to maximize safety and expand access to birth options. This approach is consistent with the recent reports from the Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health and the Health Policy Commission which highlighted the benefits of birth centers and recommended addressing regulatory barriers to scaling up birth centers.
This session, my team and I have worked with officials within DPH to update the regulations that have held back the development of birth centers and hindered maternal health equity, urged on by constituents like Ginny Miller.
Certified nurses aides
Massachusetts, like other states, is facing an unprecedented shortage of healthcare workers in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Medical professionals who have undertaken their medical training in other countries are a valuable resource for the Commonwealth, but they currently face significant language and other barriers in testing to become certified to practice.
My bill, S.1336 — An Act expanding access to the certified nurses’ aides certification process, requires DPH to provide testing in multiple languages to Certified Nurses’ Aides applicants, allowing them the opportunity to join and strengthen the healthcare workforce as licensed professionals.
It is because of strong advocacy from constituents like Laurie Millman and Asani Furaha that DPH now provides this test in Spanish and Chinese. I join Laurie, Asani, and other advocates in urging DPH to continue to expand the test to additional languages while also making other necessary structural changes to the program that will further open the door to becoming a CNA.
Trails for All
Outdoor trails help connect people with nature, inspire healthy activities, and protect natural places — while also fostering liveable and welcoming communities. Too often, people with disabilities are not able to access public trails and their many benefits.
My bill, S.446 — An Act expanding access to trails for people of all abilities, establishes a state policy to maximize equitable access to trails, outdoor spaces, and outdoor recreational activities for people of all abilities. The bill establishes a working group consisting of state agencies, representatives of groups focused on disability access, conservation organizations, and others to review current access and make recommendations on how to best expand access for people with disabilities. The working group will hold public hearings and issue annual reports.
In the last newsletter, I shared more about an event I attended for National Trails Day to lift up this crucial legislation.
While there is nothing official to announce yet, stay tuned for potentially promising news on trails for all traction — made possible by constituents like Meg Bandarra.
