After moving testimony on the floor of the House chamber, the House approved a bill that requires habitual violent offenders to serve 2/3 of their sentence, rather than half, before becoming eligible for parole. Offenders repeatedly sentenced for major crimes would not be eligible for parole, work release or furlough, nor would their sentence be eligible for reduction or suspension. 

In conjunction with this bill to address violent criminals, the House continues to work with the Senate to propose needed changes to mandatory minimum sentencing laws for non-violent offenders. These changes are needed to ease prison overcrowding, increase successful rehabilitation and more effectively use public safety resources.

After 31 hours of public testimony from across the state, and after receiving broad support from watchdog groups, congressional redistricting maps were approved by the House and Senate. Starting in January 2013, towns in our 8th Middlesex District will be represented in the following congressional districts: 

At the state level, all of the towns I represent remain in the same Massachusetts Senate districts. In the 8th Middlesex House district, I am excited at the prospect of representing all of the town of Southborough. While I am disappointed that Medway will no longer be included in the 8th Middlesex, I know that Medway residents in precinct 1 will be well served by my friend and colleague, Rep. John Fernandes.

You can visit the Redistricting Committee's website to see the statewide maps and to learn more about the public process.
 

Human trafficking, especially of young people, is an unfortunate reality in Massachusetts as it is in many other areas of the nation and the world. With the tremendous advocacy of AG Coakley, the House and Senate approved legislation that increases penalties on individuals and businesses that participate in these terrible crimes.
 

The legislation:

• Creates a Victims of Human Trafficking Trust Fund, funded by fines and convicted human traffickers' forfeited assets.
• Establishes an Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force to investigate and study rates of human trafficking, prevention, and the treatment of victims.
• Establishes a "safe harbor" provision that allows children arrested for prostitution to instead receive protection services.
• Adds doctors, social workers, teachers and probation officers as mandated reporters of suspected sexual exploitation of a child.

The legislation now goes to the Governor for his review and expected signature.

After 6 years of discussion and refinement in the legislature, I was pleased to support passage of An Act Relative to Gender Identity that extends protections against discrimination to transgendered individuals. I believe strongly in equal protection and opportunity for all Massachusetts residents.

Many constituents have brought the issue of scrap metals dealing to my attention, and I'm pleased that both the House and Senate advanced a bill that will require scrap metal dealers to register with the police and keep a detailed transaction log. This will go a long way toward stopping those who are stealing metal items, especially copper, from homes and businesses in order to profit from its resale.