News from Beacon Hill
State Primary Election on 9/14
The primary election in Massachusetts will take place on September 14th. The deadline to register to vote is August 20th. For complete information on voting, please visit the Elections Division website
Residents will vote on four ballot questions on 11/4
Election Day is set for November 4th, 2014 and voters will see four questions on the ballot, according to Secretary of State William Galvin, the state's elections chief. The questions will include the potential of the elimination of gas tax inflation indexing at the top, the proposed expansion of the bottle deposit law, the initiative aiming to repeal the 2011 casino law and an initiative looking to guarantee earned sick time for employees.
Environmental Bond Bill Includes Funding for Walden Pond Visitor Center
The House and Senate approved an Environmental Bond Bill which included $2 million for the design and construction of a visitor center at Walden Pond State Reservation. A new center would allow for exhibits and updated amenities. Six hundred thousand people visit Walden Pond each year.
Rep. Stanley's language included in Signed Domestic Violence Bill
The Governor recently signed domestic violence legislation which creates new criminal offenses and elevated penalties, boosts prevention efforts, seeks to empower victims and establishes new employment rights. The bill incorporated Rep. Stanley's Employment Leave bill (H.1764) which establishes employment leave for victims of domestic violence, providing up to 15 days of leave within a year for employees to address issues related to domestic violence, including obtaining medical attention, accessing courts, and receiving counseling and support services.
This legislation establishes a first offense domestic assault and battery charge. Current law includes penalties for subsequent offenses but fails to include a first offense, making the statute unenforceable. The bill creates a specific felony charge of strangulation and suffocation, actions that statistically indicate an abuser is more likely to commit domestic violence related homicide in the future, and establishes penalties of up to 5 years in state prison, up to 2 1/2 years in a house of correction, by a fine of up to $5,000 or by both a fine and imprisonment. It also enhances penalties for strangulation in a number of ways including when the action results in serious bodily harm or is committed against a pregnant woman.
The bill takes steps to help victims recover and continue to make a living by requiring employers with 50 or more employees to allow up to 15 days of leave, with or without pay, to any employee who is a victim of domestic violence or lives with a family member who is a victim of domestic violence. Employees can use the leave to obtain medical attention, counseling, housing, protection orders and other legal assistance. Employers can require employees to provide official documentation to certify that the employee or employee's family member is a victim of domestic violence. Under this bill, all information about the employee's leave must be kept confidential. In addition, employees must exhaust all available leave, such as vacation and sick time, before seeking leave established under this bill; however an employer may waive this requirement.
Environmental Bond Bill Includes Funding for UMASS Center for Urban Sustainability
The House and Senate approved an Environmental Bond Bill which included $20 million for University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Center for Urban Sustainability in Waltham. The funding was cut by the House during the legislative process but Rep. Stanley and Rep. Lawn filed an amendment to restore funding for this important program.
The allocation will fund the design, rehabilitation or construction of a 20,000 square foot research and extension building at the Center, which will conduct research and advance urban sustainable agriculture through public-private partnerships. The research will focus on urban agricultural issues related to food security, safety and access, environmental stewardship and workforce development.
The Center's goal is to create a financially self-sustaining entity in which UMass Amherst collaborates with private and public organizations and agencies on metropolitan Boston's first "sustainability mall". The building will feature organizational offices, conference and learning spaces, complemented by community-supported farming, agricultural incubator enterprises practicing urban farming of the future inside, as well as applied research and demonstration of best green landscape practices for urban and suburban residents on the surrounding land outside. The Center will become a hub for programs related to food security and access, environmental stewardship, urban agriculture and workforce development in urban settings.
New and innovative science-based and best management practices and research will be on display and taught to visitors for them to bring back to and share with their own communities. Solutions for managing urban natural resources such as water, soil, waste, energy, pollution, and wildlife will be available to learn. This includes being instructed how to install a working roof top garden, managing storm water practices, what to do with contaminated soils, and best practices for composting food waste. Methods and techniques for sustainable environments, urban agriculture and food systems will also be educational features of the center. Visitors will be able to find information about water and wetland remediation tools, low input plants, community gardens, nutrient crop production, and greenhouse management. Those seeking training for sustainability careers will be able to use the new UMass Green School, and agriculture and green industries for workforce development.
Economic Development Bill includes Rep. Stanley's parking management assistance program
The House and Senate enacted an economic development bill which includes language authored by Rep. Stanley which will help qualified municipalities address their downtown parking demands. Under the criteria, municipalities will receive up to $1 million in grant funds for qualified municipalities to use for the study and implementation of a downtown parking management plan.
Earlier this session, Rep. Stanley filed an amendment to the bill aimed at providing municipalities seeing more than 30,000 daily visitors, with assistance to address downtown parking challenges. According to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's latest published data set (2012), there are 15 communities across the Commonwealth that host at least 30,000 jobs, which meet the criteria for this benefit as a major jobs center.
The legislation also invests $1.5 million in MassCAN, a partnership founded by a coalition including Google, Microsoft, Mass Business Roundtable, Mass Tech Collaborative, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and Mass Tech Leadership Council, to establish widespread, progressive computer science education in public schools. Upon implementation, Massachusetts will be the first state in the nation to offer a dollar-for-dollar match with private industry for computer science education.
It also creates and provides $2.15 million for the Big Data Innovation & Workforce Fund to promote the big data and analytics industries, provide tools for related career development and explore how analytics can help address problems of public concern like transportation, energy and public health.
Rep. Stanley Votes in Favor of Legislation to Promote Public Safety, Protect Access to Care Rep. Stanley helped pass legislation that enhances public safety and protects access to reproductive health care facilities in Massachusetts. The bill passed the House 116 to 35. The Governor signed the bill into law. The bill does not create a new buffer zone but instead authorizes law enforcement officials to issue a withdrawal order to someone blocking access to a facility entrance or driveway. Following dispersal, the individual must remain at least 25 feet from the facility's entrances and driveways for a maximum of eight hours. The legislation requires the boundary to be clearly marked and the withdrawal law to be posted. The bill prohibits a person from intentionally injuring or intimidating, or attempting to do the same, a person trying to access or depart from a facility by force, physical act or threat of force; impeding a patient or staff member's access or departure to a facility with the clear intent to interfere with the person's ability to receive or provide services; and recklessly interfering with a vehicle attempting to access or departure a facility. The bill aims to improve compliance by allowing for an affected individual, entity or the Attorney General to bring a civil action in Superior Court seeking injunctive relief, damages and attorneys' fees. The court would be able to award civil penalties. Any violation of an injunction would result in a criminal offense. Under this legislation the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act would be updated to give the Attorney General the power to obtain compensatory damages, recover litigation costs and fees, and seek penalties for the interference of constitutional rights. Earlier Sunday Liquor Store Openings Approved Gov. Patrick signed legislation allowing retail liquor stores to start selling alcohol at 10 a.m. on Sunday instead of noon. The bill (H 228) was approved by the House in March and passed the Senate in July. Liquor sales were allowed statewide on Sundays starting in November 2003. Governor Patrick Signs Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Governor Patrick signed a $36.5 billion Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) budget that supports the Patrick Administration's proven growth strategy of investing in education, innovation and infrastructure to create growth and opportunity across the Commonwealth. The FY15 budget includes a $100 million increase in Chapter 70 local education aid and an additional $24 million for early education to move 1,700 children off the waitlist for early education programs in FY15. Together with last year's investments in early education, 5,000 more children will have access to the high-quality early education opportunities that are critical for their future academic and economic success. The budget also invests in the Commonwealth's public universities and colleges to promote future growth and prosperity, including a significant increase in funding for public higher education, which will allow the University of Massachusetts to freeze tuition and fee increases for students for the second consecutive academic year. The FY15 budget includes investments to make the Commonwealth's communities stronger and safer and provides supporting services and opportunities for our most vulnerable residents, including $10.2 million for the summer jobs program for at-risk youth, $8.2 million for Shannon Grants and $4.6 million for the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative. New Legislation Prohibits Possession, Sale, Trade & Distribution of Shark Fins Governor Patrick signed H. 4088, "An Act Prohibiting the Possession, Sale, Trade and Distribution of Shark Fins." With this legislation, the Commonwealth prohibits the commercial possession and sale of shark fins in Massachusetts, although licenses can be issued to possess shark fins for scientific research. Additionally, the possession and sale of fins from several locally caught species such as skate, smooth hound sharks and spiny dogfish is not prohibited. Punishment for violating this provision would include fines ranging from $500 to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 60 days and the suspension or revocation of fishing licenses. The bill primarily affects distributors and retailers of imported shark fins, including markets and restaurant, and will have a minimal impact on Massachusetts commercial fishing and processing due to the exemption of locally caught species. Three Attorneys Nominated to Probate and Family Court Bench Governor Patrick announced the judicial nominations of three experienced attorneys to the Probate and Family Court: Kathryn M. Bailey for the Worcester County Division; David J. Dacyczyn for the Franklin County Division and Geoffrey R. German for the Hampden County Division. Bailey has been in private practice in Clinton since graduating from law school in 1996. For the first 10 years of her career, she maintained a general practice, including some bar advocate work in District Court. Since 2006, Bailey has focused her practice on Probate and Family Court litigation. Dacyczyn has been the judicial case manager at the Hampshire County Probate and Family Court since 2012. From 2001 to 2012, he served as an assistant judicial case manager at the Franklin County Probate and Family Court. German has been a sole practitioner in Worcester since 1985, with a concentration in family law. He has extensive trial experience in Probate and Family Court and has served as a guardian ad litem, conciliator and parenting coordinator. Cities and Towns Receive Federal Funding For Community Improvements Fifty-four cities and towns from across the Commonwealth will receive $27.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to support housing rehabilitation, public service projects and local infrastructure. The CDBG program is the Commonwealth's largest available resource for neighborhood revitalization projects and helps meet the housing and public service needs of low- and moderate-income communities while building and repairing infrastructure vital to the health and safety of all residents. The infrastructure projects help communities create and maintain jobs while providing important improvements to the lives of residents in each city and town. Historically, 40 percent of CDBG funds distributed have been used for these job-creating projects. Task Force Report on School Safety and Security Released Governor Patrick released the report of the state's Task Force on School Safety and Security, which has been designed as a resource for school leaders and community members to enhance safety and security in preparation for the upcoming school year. The report includes 29 recommendations presented by the Task Force that will strengthen school safety and security if adopted. The Governor also announced the establishment of a state-level technical assistance team that will offer strategies for school districts to use to improve school safety and security. The technical assistance team will be charged with helping school districts, at their request, create and/or enhance their school safety plans, and will be appointed later this summer by the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Services and Public Safety. This team of volunteers will consist of professionals from the education, mental health and law enforcement communities among others. The Governor also announced a state-funded grant program will allow school districts to apply for funds that can be used to enhance school safety and security. Fiscal Year 2015 budget, signed by the Governor last week, dedicates $200,000 for this purpose. Legislature Sends Capital Bond Bill to Governor Rep. Stanley helped pass final legislation providing for capital facility repairs and improvements in the Commonwealth. The bill authorizes up to $1.25 billion in bonds for various investments in educational, safety, recreational and cultural updates and for general government operations, including: $450 million for general state facility improvements; $318.8 million for health and human services state facility projects; $25.5 million for accessibility improvements at state facilities; $50 million for cultural facilities funded through the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund; $8 million for a school equipment grant program at vocational schools and community colleges; $116.4 million for a municipal facility improvement grant program; $10 million for the maintenance, improvement and expansion of the Massachusetts Hospital School in the Town of Canton; $151.2 million for public library facility improvements; and funds deferred maintenance at state universities, community colleges and the University of Massachusetts. The legislation includes numerous investments to bolster public safety by making equipment and facility improvements and funding forward-looking initiatives: $15.6 million for a municipal public safety facility and equipment grant program; $10 million for equipment improvements within the Department of Correction and other offices within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security; $15 million for an automated motor vehicle citation system for the Department of the State Police; $60 million for the replacement of state police cruisers; and $20 million for a municipal police grant program for automated motor vehicle citation systems. Governor Patrick Signs Legislation to Support Investments In Massachusetts' Technology Infrastructure Governor Patrick signed H. 3770, "An Act Financing Information Technology Equipment and Related Projects," which expands opportunity and access for all Massachusetts residents by making targeted investments in the Commonwealth's technology infrastructure, including increasing access to broadband for underserved areas of the Commonwealth. The bond legislation authorizes funding to bring high-speed internet to schools and underserved parts of the state, including a $38 million pilot grant program for school connectivity and $50 million for the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) to develop "last-mile" solutions that bring broadband connectivity to more homes and businesses in western and central Massachusetts communities. The bill also supports innovative, customer-focused investments in state systems to make our government a digital business. In support of this goal, MassIT (formerly the Commonwealth's Information Technology Division) is leading the Commonwealth to develop smaller, high-impact projects that streamline access to government services, such as a public housing waitlists and client management systems that will make the current paper-based process more efficient for renters, housing authority employees and taxpayers. Governor Patrick Signs Legislation to Improve Oversight, Efficiency of Local Housing Authorities Governor Patrick signed legislation to professionalize and modernize the operations and financial management of the Commonwealth's housing authorities. The bill will strengthen the governance structure of the housing authority system in order to protect the safety net that public housing provides for the Commonwealth's most vulnerable families, seniors and persons with disabilities. The legislation significantly increases the transparency among Local Housing Authorities (LHAs), provides the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) with the tools necessary to monitor LHAs operations and hold them accountable, increases efficiencies and economies of scale for delivery of services to tenants, increases staffing and assistance in the field and incentivizes LHAs to creative innovative practices to improve the lives of residents. The bill establishes a performance-based monitoring program to provide uniform assessment standards for evaluating LHA operations, and establishes new guidelines for designating a LHA as "chronically poor performing." The bill also creates the position of Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) to oversee troubled LHAs, and establishes capital assistance teams to allow LHAs to work collaboratively and provide capital, maintenance and repair planning and technical assistance to LHAs. DHCD would appoint a CAFO for each LHA designated as "chronically poor performing." Learn about West Nile Virus WNV is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. In 2013, there were eight human cases of WNV infection identified in Massachusetts. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. When present, WNV symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur. To learn more about protecting yourself and your loved ones from illnesses caused by mosquitoes, click here. Government Center Station Closure Beginning March 22, 2014, Government Center Station will be closed for two years while crews work to reconstruct the station into a fully accessible, safer, modern, more comfortable facility. During the Station's closure, both Blue and Green Line trains will pass through Government Center Station but will not stop there. For more information, 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. 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 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 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. Health Care Cost Containment Website 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. 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. 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. 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. 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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