By Ms. Malia of Boston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1155) of Elizabeth A. Malia and others that persons recognized as spouses be entitled to benefits under the MassHealth program.  Health Care Financing.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Elizabeth A. Malia

Byron Rushing

Marie P. St. Fleur

Ruth B. Balser

Kay Khan

Barbara A. L'Italien

John W. Scibak

Alice K. Wolf

Benjamin Swan

Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.

Michael E. Festa

Matthew C. Patrick

Patricia D. Jehlen

Cynthia S. Creem

Jarrett T. Barrios

Douglas W. Petersen

Frank I. Smizik

Jeffrey Sanchez

Gloria L. Fox

Willie Mae Allen

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Tom Sannicandro

William N. Brownsberger

Denise Provost

Rachel Kaprielian

David M. Torrisi

J. James Marzilli, Jr.

James B. Eldridge

Pamela P. Resor

Ellen Story

Louis L. Kafka

Cory Atkins

Cleon H. Turner

Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

Susan C. Tucker

Susan C. Fargo

Martha M. Walz

Alice Hanlon Peisch

David Paul Linsky

Mary E. Grant

Jay R. Kaufman

Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera

Dianne Wilkerson

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act regarding equality in the MassHealth program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:

Section 53.  All persons recognized as spouses for purposes of Massachusetts state law shall be entitled to the same level of benefits under the MassHealth program as persons recognized as spouses pursuant to federal Medicaid law.