Massachusetts § 110D - Data collected and provided to the department of children and families on all births of infants affected by prenatal substance exposure; annual report

§ 110D. Data collected and provided to the department of children and families on all births of infants affected by prenatal substance exposure; annual report

Section 110D. (a) The department shall collect and provide data to the department of children and families on all births of infants affected by prenatal substance exposure in a form and manner consistent with any requirements of the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. § 5116 et seq.

(b) Annually, not later than April 1, the department, in consultation with the department of children and families and the office of the child advocate, shall file with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on children, families and person with disabilities and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery a report, along with any recommendations, examining the prevalence of births of infants identified as affected by prenatal substance exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, including, but not limited to: (i) any gaps in services for perinatal patients or such infants; (ii) an examination of child abuse and neglect reports related to an infant's prenatal exposure to substances, including those that were ultimately screened out by the department of children and families; (iii) an examination of child abuse and neglect reports made pursuant to section 51A of chapter 119 related to an infant's prenatal exposure to substances; and (iv) any recommended changes, including legislative or regulatory changes, that may be necessary to ensure the ongoing health, safety and wellbeing of perinatal patients and infants. If applicable, the department, in consultation with the department of children and families and the office of the child advocate, shall provide recommendations to address disparate impacts on the safety and wellbeing of infants identified as affected by prenatal substance exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.