News from Beacon Hill 

House Passes $32B Budget

 

Rep. Stanley helped passed a balanced FY '13 budget aimed at increasing government efficiency, cutting costs and preserving essential services across the Commonwealth. The budget, which passed with bipartisan support, closes a projected $790 million budget gap through cuts and adjustments to state spending, one-time revenues and a $400 million withdrawal from the Rainy Day fund.

 

The budget for fiscal year '13 includes no new taxes or fees and makes a significant investment in local aid to help lessen the burden of the recession on municipalities. Thanks to such sound fiscal management, Standard and Poor's increased Massachusetts' bond rating from AA to AA+.

 

This budget fully funds the Unrestricted General Government Aid that municipalities rely on to balance their budgets each fiscal year. It includes an additional $65M that was sent out last year in the form of a supplemental budget, essentially guaranteeing that money for municipalities up front. The House budget also places a high priority on education funding by increasing Chapter 70, special education circuit breaker, McKinney-Vento and regional transportation funding.

 

This budget guarantees all municipal, vocational and regional school districts an increase over Fiscal Year 2012 Chapter 70 funding for a total increase of $164M. It will assist districts in meeting their special education obligations by funding circuit breaker at $221.5M.  Rep. Stanley is pleased that the House appropriated funds to offset the expense of the federal mandate (McKinney-Vento) requiring communities to incur the costs of transporting their homeless student population. The House was also able to prioritize regional school transportation, funding it at $45.4M.

 

In an effort to create jobs and help cities and towns, the House budget strengthens the Community Preservation Act, a law passed in 2000 that allows Massachusetts cities and towns to establish a fund to support local needs. Over the past decade, the CPA has promoted cost savings and job creation. By increasing the funding available for the statewide CPA Trust Fund in this year's budget, the House will provide more local aid and support for local jobs.

 

This budget also places the Commonwealth's community colleges in the best position possible to respond to the changing needs of Massachusetts and its residents, particularly in workforce development and continued higher education. The House budget includes increased coordination among the 15 separate community colleges and the Board of Higher Education in order to provide flexibility to adapt to new opportunities for the Commonwealth. 

 

In a demonstration of the House's commitment to serving elders and the disabled, this budget preserves programs such as elder nutrition enhanced home care services and elder protective services. Recognizing the high cost of our home services, this budget increases in-home supports for families of the developmentally disabled and makes investments in the areas of transportation and Turning 22. These significant investments ensure there will be a continuum of services to these populations.

 

Finally, the House seeks efficiencies and re-procurements in many areas of state government, such as Mass Health and the Department of Corrections, in order to achieve savings and maximize our investments. In addition, the budget provides the tools needed to seek out fraud, waste and abuse in state funded programs. The budget includes a provision banning any individual from knowingly using, transferring, acquiring, altering or possessing an electronic benefit transfer card or access device in any manner not authorized by federal or state law.

 

To learn more about the MA budget process, please click here.

 

Rep. Stanley's Amendment Benefits Waltham Tourism Council

 

Rep. Stanley and Rep. Lawn filed an amendment to the House budget which was put into a consolidated amendment and passed by the House.  The amendment appropriates at least $75,000 of the Massachusetts Tourism Council budget to the Waltham Tourism Council.

 

On May 9th, tourism officials and local companies celebrated MA's tourism industry by bringing their products to the State House. Tourism brings 20 million visitors a year, $15.5 billion in expenditures and provides 122,000 jobs to the Commonwealth and is a vital party of the economy. According to the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, tourism is the third largest industry in the state and the state needs to continue to market MA as a destination hotspot. Some of the regional food offerings included cookies and coffee, cider donuts, popcorn, maple sugar leaf lollipops, Friendly's ice cream, fudge, Boston cream pie, Toll House cookies and much more.  

 

Speaker DeLeo Announces Job Bills

 

At a recent press conference, Speaker DeLeo announced job creation legislation to increase jobs and economic development in the Commonwealth. The bill includes a new manufacturing grant program to support small businesses, increased funding for a program that helps advance large economic projects and efforts to expedite permitting.  The legislation also calls for innovation economy matching funds, appropriations to match stipends in the private sector for tech startup interns and permitting allowances to facilitate development projects that have been unable to move forward due to tight credit markets.  The March jobless rate in the state decreased to 6.5 percent from 6.9 percent, and MA reported the addition of 8,700 jobs in March.

Rep. Stanley Advocates for Bill on Behalf of Domestic Violence

 

Rep. Stanley, REACH, Jane Doe Inc, and Employers against Domestic Violence gathered on Tuesday May 8th at the Waltham Public Library for a discussion about how to create a safer community for and with victims of domestic and sexual violence. Specifically, the group discussed Bill S918 which protects the employment rights of victims of domestic violence by providing 15 days of unpaid leave to plan for their safety.

 

Rep. Stanley Supports Bill To Curb Health Care Costs

 

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Chairman Steven Walsh of the Committee on Health Care Financing announced a comprehensive plan aimed at curbing health care costs and empowering patients. The bill, released by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, comes six years after Massachusetts passed the nation's first universal health care law. The bill now moves to the House Committee on Ways & Means.

 

The bill provides a responsible way to curb health care costs by attempting to build on existing incentives and market forces and empowers patients by giving them information they need to make informed decisions about health care. For the first time, patients will have online access to detailed comparative price and quality information, categorized by medical procedure, provider and payer. Likewise, it gives providers the cost and quality of health care services and patient-specific data to aid doctors in treating patients.  The bill comes as health care spending takes up a larger and larger percentage of the state's budget; Premiums for a family average over $15,000 annually and each year health care costs comprise a greater percentage of our state budget.

 

Rep. Stanley Contributes to Final Double Poles Report and Legislation

 

The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (TUE) released legislation on double poles which is now before the House Committee on Ways and Means.  Rep. Stanley worked with a subcommittee of the TUE on the issue of double poles.  Committee Vice-Chair Kate Hogan, committee members and Rep. Stanley had discussions with line workers, utility companies and state regulators to address the ongoing visual pollution and safety concerns of double poles and bring interested parties together to find a solution to the problem. Rep. Stanley contributed to the subcommittee's report to TUE and was recognized in the publication for his contribution to the report and final legislation.

 

Double poles have increasingly become a problem throughout the state, creating eyesores and safety hazards.  Through the report and legislation, the subcommittee hoped to increase the speed of double pole removal and encourage the removal of unnecessary utility poles; identify tools and best practices to track pole removal; and create a final report to TUE Chairs with recommendations for more efficient double pole removal.  The committee's efforts require a multi-prong approach to identify the most affected areas, meeting with utility and telecommunications companies, and municipalities.

 

This legislative session, there are 14 separate pieces of legislation relating to the issue of double poles under review in the TUE. The term "double pole" refers to the situation when two utility poles are erected side by side as the electric, telephone, cable and other wires from one pole are transferred to the other. Double poles are generally created when repairs or upgrades requiring a new pole are made to utility or communications equipment, or during road construction projects when utility poles must be relocated. The various bills in the Committee seek to decrease or eliminate the prevalence of double poles across the Commonwealth through various means, including fines against utility companies for the failure to remove poles in a timely fashion. There are now an estimated 30,000 double poles in Massachusetts.

 

Governor Patrick Signs Bill to Increase Access to HIV Screening

 

Governor Patrick signed S.2158, "An Act Increasing Screening for HIV," which removes barriers for patients to get HIV screening, while maintaining all confidentiality protections.  S.2158 removes the requirement that patients give written consent for HIV tests, and instead requires only verbal consent. This will result in more instances of HIV being screened and detected early enough for life saving treatments to be provided.  The product of several years of work amongst the HIV advocacy community, clinicians, service providers and others, this bill removes what physicians describe as a barrier to HIV screening: written consent. Removing this requirement puts Massachusetts in line with the majority of other jurisdictions.

State Establishes Council for Innovation

 

Governor Patrick signed an executive order establishing the Commonwealth's Council for Innovation, continuing the Administration's ongoing efforts to change the way government does business, while achieving savings for taxpayers. The council will advise Governor Patrick on the best opportunities to improve government efficiency and use technology to streamline delivery of services to people, businesses and local governments.

 

Proposed in the Governor's Fiscal Year 2013 budget recommendation, the Council will enhance the Administration's ongoing efforts to improve services to residents, businesses and local governments by engaging with technology experts and entrepreneurs to focus on creating technology upgrades that will help streamline the delivery of services.  The Council members include venture capitalists, founders of successful start-ups, technology specialists, innovation experts and leading academics from Harvard, MIT and the University of Massachusetts. The Council will use their breadth of experience to help the Administration to set technology and innovation priorities, identify new opportunities for government to leverage technology to support innovative approaches to delivering government services and identify new partnerships for delivering programs and services to residents.

 

Compact Boosts Massachusetts Ports

 

Lieutenant Governor Murray announced the formation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact agreement to boost economic development and capitalize on resources in the Commonwealth's seaports.  The compact was signed by the mayors of Boston, New Bedford, Fall River, Gloucester and Salem along with MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey, Massport, the Massachusetts Secretaries of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Housing and Economic Development, and the Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation.

 

MassDOT's Planning Division will lead research and planning efforts for the compact and will identify ways to maximize funding to improve infrastructure.  The Compact's initial action items will include fishing regulations, coastal shipping trends and recommending a plan for seaport coordination. Other Compact goals will include moving people and goods safely, securely and more efficiently through the five ports while providing intermodal connectivity for those doing business and visiting the Commonwealth.

 

New Assistance Program to Help Businesses and Institutions to Increase Recycling

 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced the "RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts" program, a new initiative to provide Massachusetts businesses and institutions with the information and assistance they need to reduce waste and recycle more. The RecyclingWorks program will be funded by MassDEP and administered by the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), a non-profit organization based in Northampton and Pittsfield. The program provides a comprehensive set of statewide services, as well as targeted business assistance services.

 

Statewide services include a hotline and e-mail address to help businesses answer their questions and either start new recycling programs or improve existing programs. RecyclingWorks also features a web site (www.recyclingworksma.com) that includes a searchable recycling service-provider database and guidance materials by material type and business sector. The RecyclingWorks program will also coordinate the Massachusetts WasteWise program, a free, voluntary program that provides networking, tools and guidance to help businesses to advance recycling initiatives.

 

In addition to the statewide services, the program will provide site visits, technical assistance and workshops to work with specific businesses, business sectors, and chamber of commerce partnerships. Short-term areas of focus will include increasing diversion of food waste from large generators such as supermarkets, colleges and universities and hotels.

 

MassDOT Recognized as a "Bicycle Friendly Business"

 

MassDOT became the first transportation agency in the nation recognized as a "Bicycle Friendly Business" by the League of American Bicyclists.  The League today announced 67 awards nationally to businesses, cities, non-profits, and government agencies, including a Bronze medal to MassDOT for encouraging a bike-friendly atmosphere for customers and employees.

 

As a Bicycle Friendly Business MassDOT is leading by example, providing travel options to employees and creating a workplace that supports healthy travel choices of walking, bicycling and transit to reduce congestion and greenhouse gases and create a healthier and more sustainable Commonwealth.  MassDOT has earned its Bronze medal through such initiatives as Bay State Bike Week, the only such week-long statewide bicycling education and awareness promotion in the nation.

 

Solar Program Benefiting 17 MA Communities 

 

As part of the effort to reach Governor Patrick's goal of 250 megawatts (MW) of solar power installed by 2017, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. announced the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) selected 17 communities to participate in the 2012 Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass) Program, which helps residents and business owners adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.

 

Solarize Mass is a program that encourages the adoption of small scale solar PV by deploying a coordinated education, marketing and outreach effort, combined with a tiered pricing structure that provides increased savings as more people in the community go solar.  MassCEC, in partnership with the DOER's Green Communities Division has selected the cities and towns of Acton, Arlington, Boston, Hopkinton, Melrose, Mendon, Millbury, Montague, Newburyport, Palmer, Pittsfield, Lenox, Shirley, Sutton, Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln, to participate in Solarize Mass. For more information about Solarize Mass visit

www.SolarizeMass.com.

 

State Will Hold Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking and Prescription Drug Abuse

 

Lieutenant Governor Murray, Chair of the Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention, hosted the first in a series of statewide Town Hall Meetings that will examine what can be done to prevent underage alcohol use, prescription and other forms of drug abuse in MA.   Throughout May, Town Hall meetings will be held in 50 communities across the Commonwealth as part of the campaign and to engage youth and adults in developing effective solutions. The meetings are designed to raise awareness and provide youth, parents, caregivers, and other adults with the tools necessary to help protect children, youth and young adults from abusing alcohol and the misuse of prescription and other drugs.  For updates about local events, click here.

  

AG Coakley Launches "HomeCorps" Program and Hotline to Aid Distressed Borrowers and Ease Foreclosure Crisis

 

AG Coakley launched a groundbreaking new initiative to prevent unnecessary foreclosures by increasing the number of loan modification specialists available to help distressed borrowers and providing a wide range of grant opportunities aimed at easing the foreclosure crisis in MA.  The new HomeCorps program is funded by the Massachusetts' share of a nationwide settlement involving the nation's five largest mortgage servicers and their connection with unlawful foreclosures and loan servicing. As part of the launch of this new program, the AG's office has established a HomeCorps Hotline at 617-573-5333 with loan modification experts available to assist borrowers facing foreclosure. A designated HomeCorps section of the AG's website is now open with more information here.

 

More than five million people across this country have lost their homes to foreclosure during this economic crisis, including more than 45,000 people in Massachusetts. There are thousands more Massachusetts families on the brink of foreclosure. According to the Warren Group, in February 2012 alone there were 1,394 foreclosure starts in Massachusetts. That is more than double the number of foreclosure starts in February of 2011.

 

 

New "Veteran" Driver's License

 

As of 2012, veterans have the option to have the word "Veteran" appear on their driver's license or ID card. The veteran designation is designed to increase awareness about available resources and benefits, and the Department of Veterans' Services will notify veterans of benefits they may not have accessed. There is no cost for the veteran designation if it is added during license renewal time.  Visit MassDOT RMV on the web to access online license and registration renewal and other services.

 

MassDEP Announce Federal Grants to Fund Diesel Hybrid Trucks, Promoting Cleaner Air Quality

 

Massachusetts environmental officials announced more than $400,000 in federal grants to help private firms fund the purchase of 11 diesel hybrid heavy-duty trucks - bringing cleaner air quality to Massachusetts. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) federal grant programs, and an environmental enforcement settlement between the American Electric Power Service Corporation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The funding was distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as part of a Diesel Hybrid Vehicle Purchasing Program, which helps to foster the advancement of hybrid technology in the private sector.

 

2012 Agriculture Photo Contest

 

Photographers who enjoy capturing images of the Bay State's farms and farm and horticultural products are invited to enter the 2012 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar Photo Contest. Winning entries will be published in the 2013 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar. The contest and calendar are sponsored by Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).  Photos should represent the traditional (maple sugaring, cranberries, dairy cows, flowers/plants, fall fruits, farmers and farm families), as well as the new and dynamic, such as on-farm renewable energy systems and urban agriculture. Click here for more information.

 

 May is National Electrical Safety Month!

 

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Fire Chiefs' Association of Massachusetts President Paul Zbikowksi want to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety. For safety tips, please click here. For more information on fire safety, contact your local fire department or the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 1-877-9 NO FIRE.

 

Life Sciences Center Grants UMass-Lowell $10 Mil

 

A $10 million grant will support the construction of UMass Lowell's Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, which will open in the fall of 2012. According to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the grant will fund research facilities at the 84,000-square-foot, $70 million center.  The center has previously received $35 million from other state funding sources.  UMass will use private donations to pay for the remainder of the project.  The funds approved by the center's board will help pay for equipment in the micro-nano fabrication facility, also known as a clean room.

 

2012 MassWorks Infrastructure Program Application Materials Now Available

 

The 2012 MassWorks Infrastructure Program application materials are now online! The second annual MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant round will be open to new applications through an online system between Monday, Aug. 27 and Monday, Sept. 10.

 

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking public infrastructure funding to support economic development and job creation. Municipalities with a population of 7,000 or less may also seek grants for road improvement that enhance safety.

 

A copy of the 2012 application, guidelines, scoring, FAQ and other relevant materials are now available on the HED website at http://mass.gov/hed/massworks. The electronic application system will open on June 1, providing applicants with more than 12 weeks to complete their application before the submittal period opens on Aug. 27.  All of the data submitted during the 2011 grant round will be available for updating, providing for the easy reapplication of a project submitted in 2011. All decisions will be rendered by the end of October.

 

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program 

   

WIC is a free nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services to Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children.  WIC's goal is to keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and kids under 5 healthy. To apply for WIC, call 1-800-WIC-1007 or contact a WIC Program in your community.  Please click here for more info.

 

SAVE Partners with Veterans' Services to Support Veterans & Their Families

 

The fundamental principle of the Statewide Advocacy for Veterans' Empowerment (SAVE) program is to advocate for veterans who are not able to obtain the benefits they have earned due to institutional or personal barriers. The program's primary mission is prevention of suicide and mental health distress through the identification of issues facing veterans when they return from service and proactively providing them with access to benefits and services that may address these issues and result in positive transitions back to civilian life. SAVE acts as a liaison between veterans and their families and the various agencies within the federal and state governments.  To learn more, please click here.

 

Mass 2-1-1, in Partnership with United Way, Partners with Department of Veterans Services

  

To learn more about the services available to veterans by MA 2-1-1 and the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services, the chief advocate for veterans and their families in the Commonwealth, please click here.  2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code for free access to health and human services Information and Referral. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable number that makes a critical connection between individuals and families seeking services or volunteer opportunities and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies. 2-1-1 makes it possible for people to navigate the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. By making services easier to access, 2-1-1 encourages prevention and fosters self-sufficiency. It also is hoped that it will reduce the number of non-emergency calls inappropriately made to 911.    

MassWildlife Offers Calendar of Events

 

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is responsible for the conservation - including restoration, protection and management - of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.   The Division works to balance the needs of people and wildlife today so wildlife will be available for everyone's enjoyment today and for future generations.  To learn more about DFW events across the Commonwealth, such as wildlife-related workshops, talks, walks or demonstrations, please click here.

 

MassDOT RMV urges eligible drivers to renew their licenses online 

 

The number of license renewals is expected to increase by 50 percent beginning in November and continue at higher levels for the months thereafter. November is the beginning of a five-year license renewal cycle that began in 1991, replacing the previous four-year cycle.   The result of that change is one year every five years with a reduced number of license renewals.  That lower volume year ends as of November 1, and transactions will increase. The RMV has responded by launching a publicity campaign through Highway Division billboards and public service announcements at the MBTA to urge drivers to check their license expiration dates and renew online.

  

Services available on the MassDOT RMV website include applying for a first time license; converting an out-of-state license; scheduling a branch appointment; registration renewals; ordering a driving record, crash report or Fast Lane transponder; viewing the status of a license, registration, driver education certificate and title; signing up for organ/tissue donation; and canceling a registration plate.    

 

Drivers Encouraged to "Donate Life"