The state's top judge and first female chief justice, Margaret Marshall, will retire from the Supreme Judicial Court in October 2010.  Marshall is stepping down to spend time with her husband who has recently fallen ill.  Marshall received national attention after ruling that the state's constitution could not permit the state to bar gay marriage. Gov. Patrick will likely nominate a new top judge and his choice will require confirmation by the Governor's Council.
 
Gov. Signs Bill Cosponsored by Rep. Stanley to Change Electoral Votes
 
Massachusetts joined Ha­waii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington after passing a law to assign the state's electoral votes to the presidential candidate who won the national popular vote - regardless of whom MA voters preferred.  Gov. Patrick signed the bill which will go into effect once states holding at least 270 total electoral votes, the number required for winning the presi­dency, adopted similar laws. Presidential candidates have won elections four times despite losing the popular vote, including Al Gore's loss to President Bush 10 years ago.

 

House Passes Legislation to Stabilize Neighborhoods
 
The House passed Senate Bill 240, legislation aiming to stabilize neighborhoods. The bill establishes a new local option property tax exemption which permits a charitable organization that acquires a foreclosed property, and plans to create low and moderate income affordable housing there, to be exempt from property taxes until it sells or rents that property, but not for more than seven years after purchase.
 
The bill also touches upon reverse mortgages, requiring in-person counseling in order to receive a reverse mortgage for people below 50 percent of the area median income with less than $120,000 in assets outside of their primary residence.  A reverse mortgage allows a homeowner age 62 years or older to receive a loan on the home equity.  The loan is paid back when the homeowner sells the home, moves or passes away.  The in-person counseling requirement goes into effect twenty four months after the effective date of the law.
 
Additionally, the bill protects state and federal rental subsidies, protects tenants who live in foreclosed properties and establishes the crime of mortgage fraud.
 
House Passes Iran Divestment Bill
 
Rep. Stanley helped pass legislation that would require the Pension Reserves Investment Trust Fund (PRIT) to divest from companies conducting business operations in Iran. The bill secures the MA pension funds from risky investments in a volatile region while simultaneously indicating disapproval with the Iranian government and the potential expansion of Iranian nuclear activity.
           
The bill requires the public fund to give all companies conducting business operations in Iran in which the fund has direct or indirect holdings 180 days to cease operations in Iran. If the company continues to conduct business operations in Iran, the public fund is required to sell, redeem, divest or withdraw all publicly traded securities of the company. The public fund is required to divest at least 50 percent of the assets within 9 months and 100 percent within 15 months. The PRIT fund includes both the state retirement fund and the teachers' retirement fund.

 Rep. Stanley Attends Iran Divestment Bill Signing

 

Important Info on Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can spread germs that can make you very sick and may even cause death. Protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding mosquito bites. Use bug spray when outdoors, wear long sleeves and other clothing to help reduce mosquito bites, stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active (sunset to sunrise), install or repair door and window screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home and remove standing water from around your home (in bird baths, tires, bottles or cans) so mosquitoes can't breed there. Information about West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is available by calling the Massachusetts Department of Public Health information line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968), the Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800 or 2-1-1.

Employers can Apply for Federal Funding to Reduce Cost of Insurance for Retirees
 
Massachusetts employers can apply for newly available federal funding that will help them reduce the cost of providing health insurance to their employees who retire early. Employers are encouraged to apply early, as funding is limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
 
The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program was established by Congress as part of the Affordable Care Act, with $5 billion in funding. The program provides reimbursement to participating employment-based plans for a portion of the cost of health benefits for early retirees and their spouses, surviving spouses and dependents. Employers who are accepted into the program will receive reinsurance reimbursements for medical claims for retirees age 55 and older who are not eligible for Medicare, as well as their spouses, surviving spouses and dependents.
 
Health benefits that qualify for relief include medical, surgical, hospital, prescription drug and other benefits between $15,000 and $90,000. Claims incurred between the start of the plan year (often January 1) and June 1 are credited toward the $15,000 threshold for reimbursement. However, only medical expenses incurred after June 1, 2010, are eligible for reimbursements under this program.

Unless the funding expires sooner, the Early Retiree Insurance Program ends on January 1, 2014, when early retirees will be able to choose from the additional coverage options that will be available through the health insurance exchanges created under the new national health reform law. Employers can access the program application online.  
Federal Grants Are Available
 
Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proud to be the managing partner for Grants.gov, an initiative that is having an unparalleled impact on the grant community. Learn more about Grants.gov and determine if you are eligible for grant opportunities offered on this site. Grants.gov does not provide personal financial assistance. To learn where you may find personal help, check out Government Benefits, Student Loans andSmall Business Start-up Loans. 

RMV Customer Service: Road Test Online Booking
 
Road tests can now be booked online at www.mass.gov/rmv. The newest customer convenience to the RMV online branch could help reduce the demand on the call center by approximately 260,000 callers a year. In the last 18 months, MassDOT RMV has made the online branch the busiest by adding a dozen new website transactions which resulted in 39% more customer traffic.

MassDOT RMV examiners conduct 2,500 road tests a week at 29 locations throughout the state. During a two week test launch of the new online feature, more than 1042 permit holders booked a road test through www.mass.gov/rmv. Those who prepay for the exam when they book online also save themselves a trip to an RMV branch once they've completed the road test.

Bay State Gas Residential Past-Due Balance Forgiveness Program
 
Residents struggling to pay overdue utility bills are finding it a bit easier now with help from the Bay State Gas past-due balance forgiveness program. The program provides qualified customers with assistance in budgeting for their current natural gas bills, while each month also forgiving a portion of past-due balances. To take advantage of the forgiveness program, current Bay State customers must first qualify for the company's residential assistance rate. Anyone interested in more information should speak with one of Bay State's specially trained call center representatives by calling 1-800-688-6160. Please click here to learn more.