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H1164 • 2025

An Act to improve child and adolescent mental health services

An Act to improve child and adolescent mental health services

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Garballey, Sean
Last action
2026-01-22
Official status
Accompanied a new draft, see H4936
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to improve child and adolescent mental health services

An Act to improve child and adolescent mental health services By Representatives Garballey of Arlington and Armini of Marblehead, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to improve child and adolescent mental health services By Representatives Garballey of Arlington and Armini of Marblehead, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1164) of Sean Garballey and Jennifer Balinsky Armini relative to the definition of licensed mental health professional in the insurance laws.
  • Financial Services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-22 House

    Accompanied a new draft, see H4936

  2. 2025-09-26 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/08/2025 from 10:30 AM-02:30 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Financial Services

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to improve child and adolescent mental health services
By Representatives Garballey of Arlington and Armini of Marblehead, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1164) of Sean Garballey and Jennifer Balinsky Armini relative to the definition of licensed mental health professional in the insurance laws. Financial Services.

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.1164

SECTION 1. Section 22 of Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph, inserted by section 1 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 2. Section 47B of Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 2 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 3. Section A of Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 4 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 4. Section 4A of Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 6 of chapter 80 of the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 5. Section 4M of Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the next to the last paragraph, inserted by section 10 of chapter 80 to the acts of 2000, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:—

For the purposes of this section, “licensed mental health professional” shall mean a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed nurse mental health clinical specialist, or a licensed educational psychologist within the lawful scope of practice for such educational psychologist.

SECTION 6. This act shall apply to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance issued or delivered within or without the commonwealth on or after March 1, 2006, and to all policies, contracts, agreements, plans and certificates of insurance in effect before that date upon renewal or after March 1, 2006.

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