Massachusetts Bills 2017-2018 on Wireless Medical Education, School Safety and Smart Meters
In 2017 several bills were introduced to the Massachusetts State Commonwealth regarding medical education and school safety of wireless devices, Smart Meter opt Out and including a bill that would create a special commission to examine effects of electromagnetic fields. These bills are still going through the legislative process. If passed these would be model legislation for other states to use in advancing the safer use of wireless technologies.
S1268 – Resolve creating a special commission to examine the health impacts of electromagnetic fields. https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S1268
Resolved, There shall be a special commission on the health impacts of electromagnetic fields on the citizens of the Commonwealth. The commission shall be comprised of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public health as well as the ranking house and senate minority members on the committee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on telecommunication, utilities and energy and the ranking house and senate minority members; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; a scientist who is a specialist in environmental medicine and is knowledgeable about the health effects of electromagnetic fields who shall be appointed by the governor; a pediatrician who shall be appointed by the governor; three specialists in public health or environmental medicine, one each who shall be appointed by three specialists in public health or environmental medicine, one each who shall be appointed by the governor, the senate president and the speaker of the house; a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society who is a specialist in environmental medicine who shall serve as chair; a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education; and a member of a Massachusetts school board or committee. No appointee shall have a financial interest in the telecommunications, technology, utility and energy industries.
S1864 An Act Relative to utilities, smart meters and ratepayer’s rights https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S1864
This bill states the following:
The department of public utilities shall direct utility companies to provide ratepayers the following:
(1) a choice of the type of utility meters to be installed and operated on their places of residence, property or business; among the choices offered shall be the installation and ongoing operation of an “electromechanical analog meter”; and
(2) the ability to retain and operate an “electromechanical analog meter” on an ongoing basis at no cost; and
(3) the right to replacement of a wireless meter with a non-transmitting electromechanical meter at no cost.
- c) The utility companies shall be required to obtain the ratepayer’s written consent:
(1) before installing wireless meters or “equivalent technology” on the ratepayer’s property and
(2) before altering the functionality of said meters.
- d) The utility companies shall provide written notice to ratepayers within 90 days of the effective date of this act for the purpose of informing said ratepayers if wireless meters have been installed on their properties. Ratepayers shall have the right to request that the utility companies remove said wireless meters and install in their place electromechanical analog meters that emit no radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. There shall be no cost or other periodic usage charges to the ratepayer for such removal, replacement installation, and use of a non-wireless utility meter. The utility company shall promptly comply with such removal and replacement installation request made by the ratepayer to said company.
- e) Utility companies are:
(1) prohibited from shutting off service to a ratepayer based on the ratepayer’s utility usage or on the ratepayer having electromechanical analog meters;
(2) prohibited from imposing any disincentive on a ratepayer for not consenting to the installation or use of wireless meters;
(3) required to notify ratepayers in writing that the installation and use of wireless meters are not mandated by state or federal law and are not permitted without the ratepayer’s consent;
(4) prohibited from discriminating against ratepayers who may have medical conditions that are exacerbated by exposures to pulsed microwave radio frequencies; and
(5) prohibited from installing “equivalent technology”, such as direct wireless connection to devices in the home or business, on poles or in any other manner near the home or business of an individual requesting a non-transmitting meter.
- f) The department of public utilities shall establish terms and conditions to comply with the requirements of this section.
- g) This section shall take effect upon its passage.
S 2080 – An Act increasing medical awareness and insurance coverage of non-ionizing radiation injury and reliance upon credible independent medical research. https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S2080
“The board shall require that any continuing education necessary for the renewal of a physician’s certificate of registration shall include updated, current training and education on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients impacted by non-ionizing radiation. This training shall recognize Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) as a functional impairment. Training shall recognize that non-ionizing radiation influences many other biological systems, thus impacting health and disease conditions, and that exposure to man-made non-ionizing radiation should be avoided unless proven medical benefit and patient approval is acquired.
The board shall require that medical science, practice, education, and treatment be based not only on clinical experience and traditional medical practices, but also on the sum of current knowledge and reasonable interpretations from scientific knowledge.”
“Electrohypersensitivity,” or “EHS,” is an aspect of Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance (IEI) attributed to non-ionizing radiation from devices such as mobile phones or electrical equipment. Persons with electromagnetic sensitivity experience discomfiture, painful sensations, or functional impairment at lower levels of non-ionizing radiation exposure than compared to non-EHS individuals. Symptoms vary in character and magnitude depending on the individual, electromagnetic frequencies, power level, and length of exposure. In the early stages removal of non-ionizing radiation may lead to improvement, but intense or continuous exposure can lead to permanent sensitization and disability. EHS is currently determined by clinical diagnosis, laboratory testing in context, and history. Diagnosis may include an examination of nitric oxide production, mitochondriopathy, oxidative stress-lipid peroxidation, melatonin status, and inflammation. Additional diagnostic tests may include 24-hour ECG, 24-hour HRV, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and sleep EEG.
Research
They will take under consideration “Reasonable interpretations shall mean recommendations of beneficial health practices, foodstuffs, and nutrients shall be reasonable…..
Clearly credible laboratory and epidemiological scientific studies” shall mean all relevant scientific research that demonstrates sufficient control of subjects, time, and materials to prevent corruption of data or false conclusions. The small size or short length of a study in itself shall not necessarily mean lack of credibility, although small size or short length requires acknowledgement that impacts on larger or more diverse populations or in the long term are lacking. However, conflicts of interest in research funding or other financial interest shall, when existing, need to be negligible to be considered moderately credible and shall be acknowledged as lacking full independence and therefore lacking full credibility.”
Provide Guidance on RE EMR Exposures
“Non-ionizing radiation reduction guidance,” shall include personalized guidance on reducing exposures as well as information on how to conduct measurements to avoid dangerous exposures. Measurement instruction shall include information on finding equipment, consultants, and assessing 60 hertz electrical and magnetic fields, harmonics, transients, and the range of legal frequencies.
H 2030- An Act relative to best management practices for wireless in schools and public institutions of higher education. https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H2030
SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:–
Section 98. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop best practices and guidance for the purchase and installation of wireless internet service in schools. In developing these guidelines, the department shall consider and prioritize practices that protect the health and safety of public school students and staff.
SECTION 2. Chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:–
Section 45. The board shall develop best practices and guidance for the purchase and installation of wireless internet service in public institutions of higher education. In developing these guidelines, the board shall consider and prioritize practices that protect the health and safety of public institutions of higher education students and staff.
S 2079 An Act reducing non-ionizing radiation exposure in schools. https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S2079
SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 69, as appearing in the Official 2014 Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:-
The board shall as a matter of policy promote the reduction of non-thermal non-ionizing radiation exposures to students and staff in public schools, encouraging school districts to choose paper and pen over regular use of technology to avoid potential harm. The board shall establish a policy to insure school districts reduce non-ionizing non-thermal radiation exposures, including harmonics, transients, and fields deriving from close contact with electricity. The board shall increase staff and student education of potential harms of non-thermal non-ionizing radiation. The board shall recommend elimination of wireless communications in all schools. As a matter of policy and to avoid penalizing schools, the board shall consider all public school accountability measures requiring use of technology as “not applicable,” refusing to accept or consider such accountability measures in schools which do not use or which significantly reduce use of technology.