Monday, November 18, 2019
Children’s Health and Wellness Bill
This afternoon, a 6 member conference committee, which I was a member of,
finalized a month-long negotiation on a wide-ranging children's health bill
that improves access to treatment for vulnerable youth and studies ways to help
manage their care. I signed my name to
this important and comprehensive bill so that it can receive further legislative
action at an upcoming formal session.
When the Senate took up this bill we adopted it unanimously, 40-0.
One amendment that I authored, and the Senate voted unanimously to adopt,
was disappointingly left out of today's conference committee report. That
amendment would create a pediatric mental health care task force to undertake a
comprehensive analysis of the delivery of pediatric mental health services. I
have spoken to the chairs of the committee and secured a commitment that more legislation
on this critically important aspect of children's health will be forthcoming
when we return to our formal session in the new year.
To read the final bill click here - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4210
