Bill
S 292
Creates a Massachusetts Board of Certification of Group Therapeutic Specialists to standardize training, certify practitioners, and regulate group-based behavioral health care.
Note on source material and jurisdiction
- The documents provided appear to contain multiple, inconsistent texts put together under “S 292.” They include (1) a Massachusetts bill titled “An Act relative to growing resources to optimize the utilization of group therapeutic care,” (2) an unrelated New Jersey draft amendment to jury-qualification law, and (3) metadata (title, sponsors, and procedural entries) that appear to belong to other measures. Below is a concise, clear summary of the two identifiable statutory texts present and a short note about procedural information and recommended next steps.
Purpose
- Create a licensing/certification framework to expand and regulate “group therapeutic specialists” and promote broader use of group therapeutic behavioral health care.
Key provisions
- Establishes a Board of Certification of Group Therapeutic Specialists (the “board”).
- Composition: 12 members who are Massachusetts residents: Commissioner of Public Health (or designee) as chair; Commissioner of Mental Health (or designee); eight governor appointees; one appointee each by the House Speaker and Senate President.
- Specified representation among appointees: one certified (or soon-to-be certified) group therapeutic specialist; representatives of group therapeutic providers, community health centers, NAMI, community behavioral health providers, a health-justice community rep, an individual with lived experience, and three public members.
- Terms: 3 years (initial staggered terms specified); removal and vacancy rules described.
- Board duties and powers include:
- Develop/administer certification program for group therapeutic specialists (education, training, experience, application, renewal).
- Approve/establish standards for education/training programs and continuing education; set trainer qualifications.
- Issue certificates; adopt rules/regulations; investigate complaints and set disciplinary or enforcement procedures.
- Collect reasonable fees (deposited to the Quality in Health Professions Trust Fund) to support operations.
- Optionally adopt a certification examination and recognize equivalent out-of-state or national certifications.
- Governance rules: quarterly meetings minimum, election of officers, quorum rules, staff support, reimbursement of expenses (no compensation).
Who is affected
- Behavioral health providers, community health centers, professional training programs, prospective and current group therapeutic specialists, patients accessing group therapeutic care, and state health agencies.
Potential impact
- Standardizes training and certification; may increase workforce availability and quality of group-based behavioral health services; creates administrative and fee-funded oversight structure.
Purpose
- Remove the automatic disqualification from jury service for persons with prior convictions of indictable offenses.
Key provisions
- Amends N.J.S.2B:20-1 to delete the clause barring individuals convicted of indictable offenses (in any jurisdiction) from serving as jurors.
- Requires juror source lists to be updated no later than the first day of the fourth month following enactment to reflect the new qualifications.
- Effective immediately upon enactment.
Who is affected
- Individuals with prior indictable convictions (would become eligible for jury service); courts and jury administrators responsible for updating lists and screening.
Potential impact
- Broadens the available jury pool; affects jury selection procedures and potentially litigants’ jury composition; administrative update required by counties.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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