Bill > S1043

This bill, concerning eligibility for disability services, proposes changes to Chapter 123B of the General Laws by adding a new section that requires the department to provide applicants and their families with at least forty-five days' notice before denying services, along with a detailed explanation of the reasons for the potential denial. During this period, applicants or their families can request further evaluations, which may include additional in-person interviews, observations at school or work by the department, and input from teachers or supervisors who are not legal guardians. Importantly, the bill states that a final decision to deny services cannot be based solely on intelligence quotient (IQ) testing or educational testing, and all conducted further evaluations must be considered before any denial is finalized.