By Representative Flanagan of Leominster and Senator Tolman, joint petition (accompanied by bill, 1882) of Jennifer L. Flanagan and others for legislation to establish a children's mental health commission. Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Jennifer L. Flanagan

Steven A. Tolman

Harriette L. Chandler

Robert L. Rice, Jr.

Bruce E. Tarr

David Paul Linsky

Stephen R. Canessa

John P. Fresolo

Kathi-Anne Reinstein

Gale D. Candaras

Stephen M. Brewer

Alice Hanlon Peisch

Robert A. Antonioni

Kay Khan

Ellen Story

Ruth B. Balser

William N. Brownsberger

Mary E. Grant

Barbara A. L'Italien

John W. Scibak

Matthew C. Patrick

Christine E. Canavan

Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

Rachel Kaprielian

James R. Miceli

Cory Atkins

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

Elizabeth A. Malia

Richard J. Ross

Jennifer M. Callahan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act establishing a children's mental health commission.

    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.  A special commission is hereby established to study the provision of children’s mental health services in public schools of the Commonwealth.  Said commission shall be comprised of 14 members, including three members of the house of representatives selected by the speaker of the house of representatives, three members of senate selected by the president of the senate, and eight members selected by the governor, as follows:  one representative from the Parent Advocacy League, one representative from the executive office of health and human services, two representatives from professional mental health/psychology associations, one representatives from the department of education, one representative from the department of mental health, one representative from the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association and one representative from the Massachusetts School Nurses Organization.  Said commission shall study the provision of children’s mental health services available in public schools and shall attempt to identify funding sources for the establishment of a children’s mental health services collaborative fund.  Said commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations with the joint committee on education, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse and the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than December thirty first, two thousand seven.