State Representative Natalie Higgins
Legislative Bills 191st Session (2019-2020)
Debt-Free & Accessible Public Higher Education
H.1221 -- An Act to guarantee debt-free public higher education
Creates a first-dollar grant program to cover tuition and mandatory fees for Massachusetts residents attending a public college or university in Massachusetts.
H.998 -- An Act establishing a student loan bill of rights
Establishes a bill of rights for student loan borrowers in Massachusetts, licenses student loan servicers that operate in Massachusetts, and with those fees, creates an office of the student loan ombudsman, to better educate and support student loan borrowers across the Commonwealth.
H.1211 -- An Act to establish a finish line grant program to encourage college completion
Creates a scholarship to cover the entire cost of tuition and fees for any year after the first leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree at a Massachusetts public college or university for Massachusetts residents whose household income falls under twice the median household income.
H.1220 -- An Act relative to breaking generational cycles of poverty
Establishes a fund to be used to provide and fund job opportunities for students who receive cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children (TAFDC) and who are enrolled full-time in a certificate or associate’s degree program at a community college in Massachusetts.
H.481 -- An Act to fund a more affordable public higher education system in Massachusetts
Directs the casino revenue dedicated to public higher education to fund the Finish Line Grant (HD756)
H.3620 -- An Act prohibiting license revocation for student loan default
Prohibits Massachusetts residents losing a license as a result of defaulting on their student loan debt. (Final language being drafted by House Counsel)
Combating Sexual and Domestic Violence
H.3332 -- An Act relative to the penalties for the crime of female genital mutilation
Criminalizes the practice of female genital mutilation. The Federal law was recently struck down, citing the Commerce and the Necessary and Proper Clauses of the US Constitution, leaving regulation of this violent crime up to the states. According to a recent CDC study, half a million women and girls living in the US have been cut or are at risk of FGM (14,000 live in Massachusetts).
H.484 -- An Act relative to empowering Massachusetts students to end sexual violence
Mandates consent education in public and charter schools in grades K-12 to end sexual violence in our communities
H.3333 -- An Act removing barriers to justice in the workplace
Extends the time allowed to file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) under Chapter 151B from 300 days to 6 years.
H.1912 -- An Act relative to sexual assault counselor task force
Establishes a task force to make recommendations on establishing statewide certification and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors.
H.3334 -- An Act relative to improving training for child advocates to recognize indicators of domestic violence
Requires all child custody cases referred to a guardian ad litem to undergo a domestic violence screening assessment. All appointed GALs will be required to have completed at least 8 hours of training on the indicators of domestic violence from an approved domestic violence organization.
Mental Health Education
H.482 -- An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education
This legislation mandates mental health education in our public and private schools. Mental health education programs shall recognize multiple dimensions of health by including mental health, so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes and behaviors that promote health, well-being and human dignity.
H.483 -- An Act relative to Safety And Violence Education for Students (the SAVE Students Act)
This new legislation in Massachusetts is aimed at combating the crisis of violence, bullying, and suicide that is devastating our nation’s schools. If passed, this bill would set a new national standard for statewide school safety programming.
Increasing Access and Removing Stigma around Mental Health Care
H.1001 -- An Act relative to behavioral health telemedicine
Allows for coverage for behavioral health services provided by telemedicine at a rate of reimbursement no less than the applicable coverage for behavioral health care services provided through in-person consultation or in-person delivery of services.
H.1721 -- An Act to expand access to medically assisted treatment providers
Creates a voluntary professional training module for physicians on the prescribing and administration of naltrexone, both pill and injectable form, for the treatment of opioid use disorders and alcohol use disorders.
H.1722 -- An Act relative to the safe care of residents with active substance use disorder accessing skilled nursing facility care
H.1723 -- An Act to further define medical necessity determinations
Clarifies that medical necessary services for mental health treatment shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient’s medical record
H.1000 -- An Act relative to mental health providers
Would add occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistants to the law defining licensed mental health providers.
H.1159 -- An Act requiring MassHealth behavioral health care carve out contracts to be subject to freedom of information statute
H.1160 -- An Act relative to behavioral health emergency services
Miscellaneous Bills
H.800 -- An Act banning the retail sale of cats and dogs in pet shops
This bill prohibits the sale of puppies, kittens, and rabbits in pet shops unless the animals come from shelters or rescue organizations. Typically, pet shops obtain animals from substandard breeding facilities, which results in consumers unknowingly purchasing sick or genetically-compromised pets.
H.2874 -- An Act relative to increasing net-zero homes in Gateway Cities
This bill creates a study of existing incentives for low income homeowners and renters to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas pollution and then establishes at least two pilot programs for residents of at least three gateway cities to retrofit existing single-family and multi-family housing to be net zero energy buildings.
H.3211 -- Resolve to prevent the first use of nuclear weapons by the United States
Call on the US Congress to pass a law providing that the US will never use nuclear weapons first.
H.2289 -- An Act relative to the cost of living adjustment for local retirees
Prohibits denying a cost of living increase if the average rate of return on investments during the last two previous years equals or exceeds the average of the assumed rate of return for those two years.
H.128 -- An Act to support equal access to community care for elders and the disabled
This bill eases the financial impact of increased income by allowing participants of home and community-based service waiver programs and the PACE program, with income over program limits, to remain on the program, and be charged a reasonable premium.
Legislative Bills 191st Session (2019-2020)
Debt-Free & Accessible Public Higher Education
H.1221 -- An Act to guarantee debt-free public higher education
Creates a first-dollar grant program to cover tuition and mandatory fees for Massachusetts residents attending a public college or university in Massachusetts.
H.998 -- An Act establishing a student loan bill of rights
Establishes a bill of rights for student loan borrowers in Massachusetts, licenses student loan servicers that operate in Massachusetts, and with those fees, creates an office of the student loan ombudsman, to better educate and support student loan borrowers across the Commonwealth.
H.1211 -- An Act to establish a finish line grant program to encourage college completion
Creates a scholarship to cover the entire cost of tuition and fees for any year after the first leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree at a Massachusetts public college or university for Massachusetts residents whose household income falls under twice the median household income.
H.1220 -- An Act relative to breaking generational cycles of poverty
Establishes a fund to be used to provide and fund job opportunities for students who receive cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children (TAFDC) and who are enrolled full-time in a certificate or associate’s degree program at a community college in Massachusetts.
H.481 -- An Act to fund a more affordable public higher education system in Massachusetts
Directs the casino revenue dedicated to public higher education to fund the Finish Line Grant (HD756)
H.3620 -- An Act prohibiting license revocation for student loan default
Prohibits Massachusetts residents losing a license as a result of defaulting on their student loan debt. (Final language being drafted by House Counsel)
Combating Sexual and Domestic Violence
H.3332 -- An Act relative to the penalties for the crime of female genital mutilation
Criminalizes the practice of female genital mutilation. The Federal law was recently struck down, citing the Commerce and the Necessary and Proper Clauses of the US Constitution, leaving regulation of this violent crime up to the states. According to a recent CDC study, half a million women and girls living in the US have been cut or are at risk of FGM (14,000 live in Massachusetts).
H.484 -- An Act relative to empowering Massachusetts students to end sexual violence
Mandates consent education in public and charter schools in grades K-12 to end sexual violence in our communities
H.3333 -- An Act removing barriers to justice in the workplace
Extends the time allowed to file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) under Chapter 151B from 300 days to 6 years.
H.1912 -- An Act relative to sexual assault counselor task force
Establishes a task force to make recommendations on establishing statewide certification and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors.
H.3334 -- An Act relative to improving training for child advocates to recognize indicators of domestic violence
Requires all child custody cases referred to a guardian ad litem to undergo a domestic violence screening assessment. All appointed GALs will be required to have completed at least 8 hours of training on the indicators of domestic violence from an approved domestic violence organization.
Mental Health Education
H.482 -- An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education
This legislation mandates mental health education in our public and private schools. Mental health education programs shall recognize multiple dimensions of health by including mental health, so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes and behaviors that promote health, well-being and human dignity.
H.483 -- An Act relative to Safety And Violence Education for Students (the SAVE Students Act)
This new legislation in Massachusetts is aimed at combating the crisis of violence, bullying, and suicide that is devastating our nation’s schools. If passed, this bill would set a new national standard for statewide school safety programming.
Increasing Access and Removing Stigma around Mental Health Care
H.1001 -- An Act relative to behavioral health telemedicine
Allows for coverage for behavioral health services provided by telemedicine at a rate of reimbursement no less than the applicable coverage for behavioral health care services provided through in-person consultation or in-person delivery of services.
H.1721 -- An Act to expand access to medically assisted treatment providers
Creates a voluntary professional training module for physicians on the prescribing and administration of naltrexone, both pill and injectable form, for the treatment of opioid use disorders and alcohol use disorders.
H.1722 -- An Act relative to the safe care of residents with active substance use disorder accessing skilled nursing facility care
H.1723 -- An Act to further define medical necessity determinations
Clarifies that medical necessary services for mental health treatment shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient’s medical record
H.1000 -- An Act relative to mental health providers
Would add occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistants to the law defining licensed mental health providers.
H.1159 -- An Act requiring MassHealth behavioral health care carve out contracts to be subject to freedom of information statute
H.1160 -- An Act relative to behavioral health emergency services
Miscellaneous Bills
H.800 -- An Act banning the retail sale of cats and dogs in pet shops
This bill prohibits the sale of puppies, kittens, and rabbits in pet shops unless the animals come from shelters or rescue organizations. Typically, pet shops obtain animals from substandard breeding facilities, which results in consumers unknowingly purchasing sick or genetically-compromised pets.
H.2874 -- An Act relative to increasing net-zero homes in Gateway Cities
This bill creates a study of existing incentives for low income homeowners and renters to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas pollution and then establishes at least two pilot programs for residents of at least three gateway cities to retrofit existing single-family and multi-family housing to be net zero energy buildings.
H.3211 -- Resolve to prevent the first use of nuclear weapons by the United States
Call on the US Congress to pass a law providing that the US will never use nuclear weapons first.
H.2289 -- An Act relative to the cost of living adjustment for local retirees
Prohibits denying a cost of living increase if the average rate of return on investments during the last two previous years equals or exceeds the average of the assumed rate of return for those two years.
H.128 -- An Act to support equal access to community care for elders and the disabled
This bill eases the financial impact of increased income by allowing participants of home and community-based service waiver programs and the PACE program, with income over program limits, to remain on the program, and be charged a reasonable premium.