By Bob Katzen

House 147-12, Senate 39-1 overrode Baker’s veto of a provision requiring the Children’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council to conduct an analysis of the existing and anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s behavioral health and the programs and support systems designed to help soften the impact.

In his veto message, Gov. Baker said he vetoed this section because his administration’s existing Behavioral Health Roadmap, the product of a multi-stakeholder process, is the most comprehensive approach to identifying behavioral health needs and implementing services to provide the most effective care for all Massachusetts residents, including children.

Supporters of overriding the veto said it is important to have a separate analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on children’s behavioral in addition to the existing Behavioral Health Roadmap.