Section 37 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:-

37A.    Every city, town and regional school district shall include with any school enrollment form and shall thereafter annually provide to the parents and guardians of any child attending school in said city town or regional school district a form, to be completed and returned by said parents and guardians, which contains the following:

(i)                  language inquiring whether or not the child to be enrolled is currently covered by a health insurance policy; and

(ii)                a brief description of available state administered children’s health insurance programs including an overview of eligibility requirements for said programs as well as information on how to contact or apply to said programs; and

(iii)               language inquiring whether or not the parent or guardian would like to be contacted by the division of medical assistance for the purpose of receiving additional information regarding available state administered children’s health insurance programs.

Within thirty days from the receipt of said completed forms, the city, town or regional school district shall compile and forward to the division of medical assistance information regarding the number of students who are not covered by a health insurance policy relative to the total number of students, and a list of the names and addresses of those children’s parents or guardians who have indicated a desire to be contacted by the division for the purpose of receiving additional information regarding available state administered children’s health insurance programs. 

SECTION 2.  Section 52 of chapter 118E of the general laws, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following:- 

The division of medical assistance in accordance with section 37A of chapter 71 shall contact those parents who have indicated a desire to be contacted for the purpose of receiving additional information regarding available state administered children’s health insurance programs; provided further that, said division shall utilize any data received under the requirements of said section for the purpose of targeting programs to increase participation in children’s health insurance programs. The division of medical assistance, in consultation with the department of education, shall develop and provide to each city, town and regional school district uniform language which meets the requirements of section 37A of chapter 71.