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S 1412

Enacts the "chronic criminal act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Tedisco

Establishes a commission to assess and recommend changes to ensure timely, expanded access across the full continuum of substance use disorder care (detox to MAT).

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Bill Summary · S 1412

Summary — S.1412 (2025): Commission to Study Continuum of Care for Persons with Substance Use Disorder

Note: The bill metadata lists the title “Enacts the ‘chronic criminal act’,” but the text of S.1412 establishes a special commission to study availability of a continuum of care for persons with substance use disorder. This summary reflects the bill text.

Main purpose

Create a legislative commission to assess the availability, capacity, barriers, and regional distribution of the full continuum of substance use disorder (SUD) care in Massachusetts and to recommend statutory and policy changes — including draft legislation — to improve access and system capacity.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a special commission under section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study SUD continuum-of-care issues.
  • Scope of study to include:
    • Regional availability of detoxification, clinical stabilization, transitional support, residential recovery homes, outpatient treatment (including medication‑assisted treatment).
    • An assessment of appropriate capacity for each level of care to ensure timely access as clinically necessary.
    • Identification of institutional and system barriers across the treatment spectrum (e.g., funding, program space, transit, housing).
  • Membership:
    • Co-chairs: House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
    • Legislative appointees: House Speaker appointee, Senate President appointee, House and Senate minority leaders or designees.
    • Executive branch and agency designees: Secretary of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for MassHealth, Director of Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Commissioner of Public Health, Commissioner of Mental Health, Commissioner of Division of Insurance.
    • Municipal representative: Mayor of Boston or designee.
    • Representatives from specified stakeholder organizations, including Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, Volunteers of America MA, Learn to Cope, RIZE Massachusetts, Grayken Center for Addiction (BMC), Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
  • Administrative timeline:
    • Appointments due within 30 days of the effective date; first meeting convened by the co‑chairs within 45 days after appointments are complete.
    • Commission must submit a detailed report with recommendations and draft legislation to the clerks of the House and Senate, the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, and the Governor within one year of establishment.
    • Commission to monitor implementation of its recommendations.

Who would be affected

  • People with substance use disorder seeking services (potentially improved access and system navigation).
  • Treatment providers (clinical programs, residential recovery homes, outpatient and MAT providers).
  • Payers and insurers (capacity, coverage, and policy recommendations may affect reimbursement).
  • State agencies and municipalities responsible for public health, behavioral health services, and housing/transit planning.

Procedural/status notes

  • Introduced: April 10, 2025 (sponsor: Liz Miranda; cosponsors listed).
  • Various committee referrals and actions are listed in the legislative history provided (including references to Committees on Codes and Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, a scheduled hearing on 07/28/2025, and a committee favorable report on 11/06/2025). Some provided dates appear out of chronological order; users should consult the official legislative docket for current status.

Potential impact

If adopted and acted upon, the commission’s work could lead to targeted legislation, funding requests, and policy changes focused on increasing system capacity, reducing barriers to treatment, improving regional coordination, and expanding access to medication‑assisted treatment and recovery supports.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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