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Brain Injury Commission Statute

Legal Authority: FY ’19 Outside Section 76

Purpose

There shall be a special commission governed by section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to:

  1. review data concerning the epidemiology of brain injury and the needs of individuals with acquired brain injury and persons with traumatic brain injury and their families;
  2. analyze the current status of rehabilitative residential and integrated community-based support services for persons with acquired brain injury and persons with traumatic brain injury; and
  3. make recommendations regarding the improvement of such services.

The commission shall review the recommendations of the special commission established in section 160 of chapter 131 of the acts of 2010 and provide any updates to the recommendations. The commission shall also review the availability, nature and adequacy of the following services for the target population:

  1. acute and long-term medical and cognitive rehabilitation and outpatient services;
  2. therapy services;
  3. residential nursing care;
  4. structured day treatment and day activity programs;
  5. club programs;
  6. respite care services;
  7. community-based housing;
  8. home-based services;
  9. family support programs;
  10. case management;
  11. companion services;
  12. personal care attendant services;
  13. specialized medical equipment and supplies;
  14. environmental modifications;
  15. counseling and training; and
  16. prevocational services.

19 Members

  • 1 person appointed by the Speaker of the House
  • 1 person appointed by the President of the Senate
  • 1 person appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives
  • 1 person appointed by the minority leader of the Senate
  • The secretary of health and human services or a designee
  • The assistant secretary of the office of disabilities and community services, or a designee
  • The commissioner of public health, or a designee from the office on health and disability
  • The commissioner of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or a designee
  • The secretary of elder affairs
  • The secretary of veterans services
  • The executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, Inc.
  • 8 persons appointed by the governor

Reporting

The commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the chairs of the Senate and House committees on ways and means not later than June 30, 2019. The report shall include, but not be limited to, findings regarding the cost of maintaining or establishing recommended services and the drafts of legislation shall include proposals to implement or allow for the development or expansion of services for the target population.

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