SENATE, No. 76

By Ms. Fargo, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 76) of Susan C. Fargo that provision be made for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the needs of persons with agoraphobia and
related disorders. Children and Families

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Five.

RESOLVE PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE TO THE NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH AGORAPHOBIA AND RELATED DISORDERS.

That a special commission is hereby established to consist of four members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on health care, one of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on education, arts and humanities, one of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on human services and elderly affairs and one of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on commerce and labor, and four members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on health care, one of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on education, arts and humanities, one of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on human services and elderly affairs and one whom shall be a member of the joint committee on commerce and labor, a representative of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission, a representative of the Massachusetts commission for the blind, a representative of the commission for the deaf and hard of hearing, the commissioner of mental health or his designee, the commissioner of mental retardation or his designee, the deputy director of employment and training or his designee, the secretary of health and human services or his designee, and the director of the office for children or his designee and three persons to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be from the Phobic United Foundation, one of whom shall be from the Independent Living Centers and one of whom shall be from the State Council on Aging.

            Because persons suffering from agoraphobia, seizure disorders, traumatic syndrome and related disorders resulting in a home-bound state have been largely underserved in the commonwealth due to problems dealing with access and communication, the special commission shall review the state rehabilitation and human service plans to enhance services to such persons.

            Said special commission shall submit its final report and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerk of the senate on or before the last Wednesday in December, 2003.