This session Jamie has filed the following bills to increase protections for disabled persons:

An Act to Provide Fair Process for Students with Disabilities:

This bill establishes that school districts have the burden of proof in special education cases brought to the Bureau of Special Education Appeals. School districts have significantly greater access to the information, expertise, and resources required for litigation than parents, and placing the burden of proof on parents creates an unfair onus on families trying to achieve equal educational opportunities for their children.  The burden of proof should be assigned to school districts as a matter of fairness to level the playing field, and to help deter costly disputes.

An Act relative to the authority of the disabled persons protection commission pursuant to chapter 19C

This bill expands the definition of mandated reporter for abuse of disabled persons in Chapter 19C to add firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, in order to make this statute consistent with statutory reporters for child protection and elder protection statutes.  The bill also adds correction officers to the definition.

An Act Relative to the disclosure of information held by the disabled persons protection commission pursuant to general laws chapter 19C

This bill protects the very confidential information about alleged disabled victims, abusers, reporters, and others that have been collected by the Disabled Persons Protection Commission.  The bill clarifies that such public records held by the Commission are offered the same protections as similar information in the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.  Disclosure would be explicitly regulated under MGL Chapter 66A and therefore all confidential information would be protected from unauthorized distribution.