News from Beacon Hill
Congressional Primary on 10/15
A special state primary to select a replacement for Markey as US Representative for the 5th Congressional district will take place on Tuesday, October 15, 2013. The general election will take place Tuesday, December 10, 2013. To view a list of the candidates or learn more about the election, click here.
Stanley Report Cable Episode 10 is out!
Rep. Stanley recently sat down with Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki at the Waltham MAC-TV studio in episode 10 of The Stanley Report. Click here to view the video.
Rep. Stanley testifies before the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture in support of the proposed UMass Center for Urban Sustainability
Rep. Stanley testified at the State House before the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture in support of the proposed UMass Center for Urban Sustainability to be located in Waltham. The new building will be situated on the 58-acre open space parcel located at 240 Beaver Street in Waltham, currently owned by UMass Amherst and the former site of UMass Suburban Experiment Station.
Rep. Stanley spoke in support of UMass' amendment to the Environmental Bond Bill which would earmark $20 million for the rehabilitation or reconstruction of a 20,000 square foot research and extension building at the University of Massachusetts Center for Urban Sustainability in Waltham. The Center will house partners that include industries and businesses, municipalities, government agencies and citizen groups who will collectively be involved with and address priorities related to food security and access, environmental stewardship, urban agriculture and workforce development in urban settings.
Highlights of the UMass Center for Urban Sustainability will include: science-based management practices, education programs and research will be conducted and demonstrated on site to help provide technical resources needed for commercial and community agriculture efforts to successfully integrate and operate in urban settings; teaching urban agriculture practices to growers, decision makers and citizens who govern and/or grow, process and sell food in cities (ex: active CSA, roof top garden, community gardens, nutrient dense crop production, raising animals in urban settings, food safety and processing systems, greenhouse management); on-site job training, career development and credentialing of the urban workforce in sustainability careers; solutions for creating and managing water, soil, waste, energy, non-point source pollution and wildlife in urban settings (working roof top garden, managing storm water practices, sustainable landscapes, contaminated soils, compost); creation of a private-public partnership to sustain the financial operations; practices for sustainable environments will be showcased; youth development programs and training for citizens of all ages; using remote teaching technology to connect urban students to UMass Amherst courses in sustainability by connecting the Agricultural High Schools in Massachusetts with the new facility also using technology.
Supporters of the Center include Waltham Fields Community Farm, Waltham Land Trust, Mass Audubon, Massachusetts Farm Bureau, Massachusetts Arborists Association, Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals, Massachusetts Association of Lawn Care Professionals, New England Nurseryman's Association, New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association, Massachusetts Flower Growers Association, Massachusetts Tree Warden Association, New Entry Sustainable Farmers Network, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Rural Development Agency, Farm Service Agency and Massachusetts 4H.
Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Legislation to Improve Oversight, Licensing and Quality Standards for Compounding Pharmacies
Rep. Stanley helped pass legislation that will increase the oversight of compounding pharmacies, improve quality and safety standards in the Commonwealth, and establish rigorous transparency and accountability practices for compounding pharmacies across the state. The House voted 155-0 to pass the bill, which now moves to the Senate.
The unanimous vote distinguishes Massachusetts as the first state to pass comprehensive legislation relative to compounding pharmacies. The bill addresses a previous lack of consistent standards, at both a state and federal level, governing the operations of specialty pharmacies engaged in sterile compounding. This legislation was carefully crafted following the 2012 meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated drugs produced at the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts.
This compounding pharmacy bill modernizes pharmacy oversight while enhancing patient access to critical medications. The legislation establishes a specialty license for all in-state and out-of-state sterile compounding pharmacies; requires the Department of Public Health to track all sterilely compounded drugs made by state-licensed pharmacies; requires the Department of Public Health to collect and analyze data on adverse events tied to pharmaceuticals; creates an online database listing pharmacies that have prepared drugs resulting in adverse effects; mandates unannounced, detailed inspections of all sterile compounding pharmacies; requires state pharmacy inspectors to be specially trained and to take continuing education classes; requires that compounded medications are clearly labeled; mandates pharmacies to report the type and volume of compound drug production; reforms the composition of the State Board of Pharmacy; requires increased communications between prescribers, pharmacies, government officials and patients, including a support hotline for patients; and ensures that state and national agencies communicate on oversight and potential problems.
Rep. Stanley's domestic violence bill reported favorably out of committee
The Labor and Workforce Development Committee issued a favorable recommendation to Rep. Stanley's bill which gives employment leave to victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. The legislation, filed by Rep. Stanley and Sen. Creem, gives employees up to 15 days leave in any 12-month period, with or without pay, if the employee or his/her family member is a victim of abusive behavior. The bill targets companies with 50 or more employees, offering victims the opportunity to seek court-ordered protection, medical attention, counseling, legal assistance or housing. The bill includes language that the employee is not eligible for leave if he or she is the perpetrator of the abusive behavior.
Executive Office of Health and Human Services Offers Info on the Affordable Care Act The Executive Office of Health and Human Services recently offered the 10 top reasons why the Affordable Care Act is good for Massachusetts. Click here to view the list. Governor Patrick Celebrates State's Thriving Robotics Industry during Visit to Harvest Automation Governor Patrick celebrated growth and opportunity in the Massachusetts innovation economy during a tour of Harvest Automation's onsite manufacturing facility and robotics testing area. Harvest Automation manufactures sophisticated robots to support the agricultural industry at farms across the nation. The company's growth from two to 37 employees has been bolstered by state investment through MassVentures, a quasi-public organization supporting the expansion of early-stage technology companies to help fuel the Commonwealth's innovation economy. Headquartered in Billerica, Harvest Automation released the first practical, scalable robots for a range of agricultural applications. Assisting farms across the country with their labor shortages, Harvest is enabling growers to create a sustainable workforce of robots to work safely alongside people to increase efficiency, reliability and quality. The robots are able to perform as much manual labor as required by each grower, helping human workers focus on other vital tasks. They also can increase plant quality by optimizing plant placement in fields and reduce non-labor production costs, including the use of water, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. New Legislation Raises Age of Juvenile Jurisdiction to 18 After the House and Senate approved the bill, Governor Patrick signed legislation that raises the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 17 to 18, opening up more opportunities for the Commonwealth's youth, at-risk population. The legislation, H. 1432 "An Act Expanding Juvenile Jurisdiction," expands the delinquency and youthful offender jurisdiction of the juvenile courts to include persons who commit crimes when they were younger than 18. The new law also provides for 17-year-olds to be ordered into the custody of the Department of Youth Services, rather than into an adult prison or jail. In the case of violent criminal activity, though, the Juvenile Court will retain the discretion to impose an adult sentence. The law also provides that 17-year-olds will no longer receive an adult criminal record and that they will benefit from other safeguards provided to juveniles. Raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to 18 was one of the key provisions in the Governor's proposed, "Act to Reform the Juvenile Justice System" filed in January. September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month Governor Patrick celebrated the 25th annual Hispanic Heritage Month during an event at the State House. Throughout the month, Governor Patrick and leaders from the Administration have been participating in events that showcase the social and civic contributions and rich heritage of the Massachusetts Hispanic community. This year's theme, "25 Years Strong: A Celebration of Civic Engagement and Service" recognizes the impact of the Hispanic community's leadership and service to the Commonwealth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data, there are 53 million Hispanics in the U.S. Massachusetts' population is estimated at 6.6 million, of which over 10 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino. The Latino population is rapidly growing; as such social issues similar to other minority communities are prevalent. Governor Patrick and Mayor Menino Kick-Off RoxMAPP Partnership Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas M. Menino joined Secretary of Education Matthew Malone and Boston Public Schools Interim Superintendent John McDonough to kick-off the Roxbury Massachusetts Academic Polytech Pathway (RoxMAPP). The first-of-its-kind partnership between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston will allow students attending Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to enroll in a dual enrollment pathway at Roxbury Community College (RCC). RoxMAPP will create clear avenues for students to high-demand careers in health care, information technology and the life sciences, while increasing graduation rates and closing access and achievement gaps for students of both institutions. Announced in June, RoxMAPP will allow students attending Madison Park to enroll directly into RCC after high school and graduate with a high school diploma, an associate's degree and a technical training certificate in a high-demand field in as few as five years. The partnership will also connect RCC graduates with local employers in their field of choice for employment options after college, and create more defined pathways to local four-year universities for students who want to pursue higher degrees. The partnership will be advised and directed by a Joint Industry Advisory Board appointed by Governor Patrick and Mayor Menino. The Boston School Committee and the RCC Board of Trustees will retain control of their respective institutions and will be represented on the new advisory board by members of both boards. Experience the Arts in Massachusetts October is typically recognized as National Arts & Humanities month, a celebration of the importance of culture in America. Massachusetts offers many opportunities to learn about and explore the arts throughout the state, including the nation's first art in transit collection, which incorporates beautiful artwork into subway and commuter rail station design. Read more about the rich culture that you can experience right here in Massachusetts. Gov. Patrick's Mission to Canada Pursued Job Growth and Economic Opportunity Governor Patrick led a delegation of the Commonwealth's government leaders on a Massachusetts - Canada Innovation Partnership Mission to strengthen the state's partnership with Canada and expand opportunities between the two for economic development and job creation in the clean-tech, innovation, digital health, financial services, digital gaming, life sciences and academic sectors. From October 8-11th, the Massachusetts-Canada Innovation Partnership Mission included stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. During the mission, Governor Patrick participated in several business roundtables and meet with top business leaders in the innovation economy sectors to foster opportunities for collaboration between Massachusetts and Canadian businesses. Governor Patrick also delivered the keynote address at the Canada Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) conference to promote the Commonwealth's growing clean energy sector as a market open for business. In Toronto, the Governor participated in a tourism industry event sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism; and in Montreal, the Governor addressed a group of top Canadian business and academic leaders at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations to discuss opportunities for mutual partnership and growth in key sectors between Massachusetts and Canada. The Governor met with the Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne. Three New Boston Municipal Court and District Court Nominations Governor Patrick announced three judicial nominations: Cynthia M. Brackett as Associate Justice of the Taunton District Court; John P. Stapleton as Associate Justice of the Fall River District Court; and Serge Georges, Jr. as Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court, Roxbury Division. If confirmed, Brackett is slated to fill the Taunton District Court vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Joseph I. Macy, Stapleton will fill the Fall River District Court vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable David T. Turcotte and Georges will fill the vacancy on the Boston Municipal Court, Roxbury Division created by the appointment of the Honorable Shannon Frison to the Superior Court. Judicial Nominating Commission Seeks Applications for 2014 Vacancies The Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) is seeking applications this fall for several judicial vacancies scheduled to occur in 2014 due to mandatory retirements. The JNC recently posted five Superior Court vacancies that will occur from February through December 2014, with an application deadline of October 24, 2013. In the next few months, the JNC will be posting for additional vacancies opening due to mandatory retirements in 2014 on the Appeals Court, the Juvenile Court, the District Court, and the Land Court, among others. All postings will be listed on the JNC website. Questions should be directed to the JNC staff at (617) 725-4031. State Awarded $11.67 Million U.S Department Of Labor 'Pay for Success' Grant Massachusetts has been awarded an $11.67 million grant from the Obama Administration's U.S. Department of Labor that will expand the Patrick Administration's Social Innovation Financing juvenile justice project by providing additional success payments tied to increases in employment and reductions in recidivism. Through competitive procurements, the Commonwealth has preliminarily selected Roca as the service provider and Third Sector Capital Partners as the project intermediary for the juvenile justice initiative. Roca's nation-leading intervention model has been successfully helping the most high-risk young people break the destructive cycles of poverty, violence and perpetual incarceration. Third Sector Capital Partners is a nonprofit organization that delivers strategic financial solutions in support of evidence-based programs that serve the nation's most vulnerable communities. In January of 2012, the Patrick Administration announced its plan to allow Massachusetts to enter into "pay for success" contracts designed to encourage innovative solutions to social problems, improve the performance of government and save taxpayer money. In August of 2012, the Administration announced it had taken the next step toward finalizing these agreements by announcing apparent successful bidders for pay for success contracts to address juvenile justice and chronic homelessness. The Administration is partnering with Roca and Third Sector Capital Partners to support youth aging out of the juvenile justice and probation systems so as to assist them in making successful transitions to adulthood. This contract will be designed with the specific goal of reducing recidivism and improving education and employment outcomes over several years for a significant segment of the more than 750 youth who exit the juvenile justice system, and the several thousand who exit the probation system annually. The U.S Department of Labor Grant will allow the Commonwealth to expand the scope of this project to serve nearly 400 additional at-risk youth. Help prevent child abuse in Massachusetts Too often child abuse and neglect is discussed only after an awful event occurs. All children deserve to grow up healthy in safe, loving homes. To learn more about the warning signs that a child may be suffering from abuse or neglect, click here. To learn how to report a suspected case to the Department of Children & Families (DCF), click here. "MyLegislature" Website Features Improvements Updates to the public website will allow users to personalize their experience when navigating bills, committees, hearing information and connecting with legislators. Through "MyLegislature" users can create a user-id and password to access their secure MyLegislature account. Users can identify specific bills, hearings, committees and legislators that they are interested in following and their personalized homepage will display each selection. Any hearings scheduled for their selected committees will automatically be included in their MyLegislature hearing list. In addition, users can further personalize MyLegislature by identifying any accessibility needs. The updated website also includes an easy-to-use format to connect with legislators. The public website can be found at www.malegislature.gov. UI Online, a new web-based unemployment insurance system The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) announced the launch of a new web-based unemployment insurance (UI) system known as UI Online effective July 1. UI Online will provide easier access to services for employers and jobseekers streamline the claims process and strengthen the state's ability to prevent, detect and rectify UI fraud. With UI Online, services currently offered by telephone or via an in-person visit will now also be available on the web. To learn more, click here. Check out the Massachusetts Business One-Stop
Are you doing business in Massachusetts or just getting started? Our one-stop business portal has the information and tools to help you succeed. Click here to learn more.
Resources to help you find a job in 2013 Finding a job can be difficult, so Massachusetts offers a number of programs and services to help job seekers find work. Massachusetts One-Stop Career Centers connect workers and employers through job fairs and workshops, while the office of Labor and Workforce Development offers detailed job hunting information, including tips on writing a resume and cover letter, interviewing and networking, as well as career planning advice. The state also offers a variety of training opportunities for job seekers to obtain the education and skills needed for good paying jobs and careers. Additionally, special Section 30 Training Benefits programs exist for the unemployed. Please click here to learn more. Mobile ticketing for Commuter Rail now available Commuter Rail customers: Buy your single-ride, 10-ride tickets, and monthly passes via the MBTA's new mobile app for smartphones. Single and 10-ride tickets are now available for the Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lowell, and Newburyport/Rockport Lines. Purchase your monthly pass from your smartphone. No waiting required. Please click here to learn more. 2013 outdoor recreational licenses available Purchase your 2013 hunting, sporting, fishing and trapping license online, at any walk-in license vendor location, or at the MassWildlife District office. Please click here for more information. New Health Care Cost Containment Website Governor Patrick launched the next phase of health care reform, signing legislation that builds on the Commonwealth's nation-leading access to care through landmark measures that will lower costs and make quality, affordable care a reality for all Massachusetts residents. The mission of the Center of Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) is to improve health care quality and contain health care costs by critically examining the Massachusetts health care system and providing objective information, developing and recommending policies, and implementing strategies that benefit the people of MA. Click here to visit CHIA's website which outlines information on the law, notice of upcoming events and a single portal for connecting with other health care related state agencies, authorities and commissions. Get Emergency Information on Your Smartphone Ping4alerts! is a new mobile communications app for alerting the public in emergencies and disasters. Through geofencing technology, ping4alerts! enables the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to send highly targeted, instant multimedia alerts to iPhone and Android devices to notify citizens about situations and events happening near them. The ping4alerts! FREE mobile app is one way that MEMA sends emergency information and messages. To learn more, click here. Mass.gov Offers Open Government Website To foster an "open government," Mass.gov offers information about legislative and regulatory processes, public records, campaign finance reports, lobbyist registrations and reports, open meetings and more. Residents can also get details on the state budget, see where the state's money comes from, locate a law on a topic that is of interest to you or obtain information on any city or town in Massachusetts. Residents can also view detailed information on state government spending. To learn more and visit the site, click here. MassDOT RMV Customer Service has New Number MassDOT announced a new telephone number for Registry of Motor Vehicles business and transactions, 857-DOT-8000/857-368-8000. The number serves the RMV's Call Center which answers an average of 45,000 calls each month. Over the next year, customers will become familiar with the 857-DOT area code and exchange as MassDOT offices across the Commonwealth transition to the new number. The telephone transition will result in annual phone bill and maintenance savings of approximately $422,000. Concerned about lead in your home? Lead is a toxic metal that can come from a number of materials found in and around our homes, including old paint and contaminated soil. If you have lead pipes, or brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures, it can enter your drinking water via the plumbing. Lead exposure frequently occurs without any symptoms, and can cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures and death. Children six years old and younger are most at risk. The state offers information about lead and removing it from your home. To learn more, visit the Health and Human Services' website. File for unemployment insurance benefits online or by phone The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) administers the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, providing temporary assistance to unemployed Massachusetts workers. Click here to get help with filing a new claim.
Find Volunteer Opportunities at Connect & Serve Connect & Serve is a free web-based volunteer portal administered by the Massachusetts Service Alliance. The Connect & Serve website is a valuable resource for organizations who recruit volunteers and for individuals who wish to find fulfilling volunteer opportunities in their communities. Click here to find a volunteer opportunity near you.
Connect & Serve's user-friendly design has many features to increase the visibility of opportunities across the state, including a quick search function highlighting impact areas, an easy zip-code radius search, and a monthly service projects calendar. All volunteer opportunities are promoted through a statewide collaboration with volunteer connector agencies to build awareness to a wider audience in all regions of the state.
Exciting Veterans Resource
The Patrick Administration launched www.MassVetsAdvisor.org, a cutting-edge web portal that offers enhanced access to services and support for veterans living in the Commonwealth. The new site will help veterans and their family members access more than 200 state and federal benefits in one location, including programs for education, counseling, employment, health care and other services. MassVetsAdvisor streamlines comprehensive data from state and federal resources and lists only the benefits and services each veteran is qualified for, including an "action plan" to apply for the benefits. Veterans will be able to print, email, save or forward the action plan to their Veterans Services Officer for additional one-on-one assistance.
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 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"
Massachusetts drivers can register as organ donors on their driver's license or online through the Donate Life New England registry. About 99 percent of all Massachusetts residents who designate themselves as organ and tissue donors do so through the Registry of Motor Vehicles at RMV branches and on its website. Free program to help veterans & their families quit smoking
A free, statewide smoking cessation program is designed to help Massachusetts veterans and their families live healthier and longer lives. Massachusetts veterans and their family members can now call the Massachusetts Smokers Helpline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or click here to receive free telephone support and a two-week supply of nicotine patches to help them quit smoking. Job Opportunities with the Commonwealth of MA
There are a number of job listings posted on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts home page. For more information, click here.
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