An Act Promoting Healthy Alternatives in Public School Food Program

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 861 | Status of the bill

Though certainly not a cure-all, S. 861 aims to harness this ethic of cooperation to begin to change the food culture in our public schools.  It would place in statute the nutritional guidelines established by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.  Led by the American Heart Association and Clinton Foundation, this group has brought together the food and beverage industry, political leaders, and school officials to establish meaningful and realistic nutritional standards that will begin to make our schools healthier places.

An Act to Improve Access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 744 | Status of the bill

This legislation is important because Licensed Educational Psychologists provide services to children and adolescents more cost-effectively than some other providers who currently get insurance reimbursement.  They are also uniquely prepared to work with young people whose problems are related to or are affecting their educational experience. Finally, this bill would impact only a small number of Educational Psychologists who are in private practice or who work in agencies such as mental health clinics and hospitals.  Most Educational Psychologists are directly employed by school systems to work in the schools and will not be affected by this legislation.

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 1213 | Status of the bill

This legislation stipulates that each health insurer in the Commonwealth shall contribute annually to the Fund an amount determined by the Commissioner of Insurance, based upon the estimated cost of routine childhood immunizations for children who are not eligible for federally purchased vaccines and are covered by health insurers in the Commonwealth and the percentage of children insured by each health insurer, who are not eligible for federally purchased vaccines. The Commissioner of Insurance is to promulgate regulations establishing dates for the annual assessment and contribution, with the initial contribution by July 1, 2010.  Additionally, Every health insurer shall provide benefits for routine childhood immunizations for Massachusetts residents until age 19, and health insurers shall cover up to 100% of the immunizations.

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 260 | Status of the bill

This law establishes a pilot program within the department of education to create an incentive for schools to improve the nutrition of and amount of local Massachusetts-grown food in meals served.  This law would lay the foundation for school wellness policy improvement and both school incentives and accountability for wellness work, beginning with the nutrition of meals and a la carte offerings. The goal is to increase the nutritional standard of and proportion of fresh, locally grown food in meals served to public school students in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast. 

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 609 | Status of the bill

This bill essentially repeals the current QSHIP program established for higher education students attending school in the Commonwealth, and replaces it with the requirement that students have health insurance coverage that meets the definition of "creditable coverage."  While the Chapter 58 Health Reform expanded access to health care by offering more affordable and comprehensive products, the student population was excluded from benefiting from these reforms.  The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy is currently working with an actuarial to review the QSHIP plans and compare them with other plans currently offered, such as the young adult plans.  It is anticipated that their findings will offer some further guidance.