Governor Baker earlier this week signed into law House Bill 4017, which establishes a special commission to examine the Department of Public Health’s nursing home licensure process and requirements. This Special Commission licensure law was originally included last month as part of the State Fiscal Year 2022 budget as Outside Section 129. However, the Governor returned to the Legislature this section with proposed amendments that would have addressed certain suitability issues, in addition to establishing a Commission. The Legislature subsequently rejected the Governor’s proposed changes and re-adopted the original language establishing the Commission. The Governor has now signed this into law.
The Special Commission will be chaired by the Commissioner of Public Health and will consist of 15 members, including a representative of Mass Senior Care Association. Other members include the chairs of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, the secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and a representative from 1199SEIU and the Massachusetts Chapter of AARP.
The Commission is charged with filing a report and recommendations not later than October 1, 2023.