News from Beacon Hill

House and Senate Pass $38.1 Billion Budget

House and Senate members approved a compromise $38.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2016 by votes of 153-1 in the House and 31-5 in the Senate.  The compromise legislation now heads to Governor Baker for approval.  Some highlights of the legislation include changes to the MBTA system, a bump in spending on social services, and increases in both the state's earned income tax credit and spending on programs to help prevent homelessness and the opioid crisis. Additionally, the bill prevents state spending on the 2024 Olympics without Legislature approval and requires public meetings before decisions are made.

Jane Doe Inc. thanks Rep. Stanley for leadership in addressing sexual & domestic violence

Rep. Stanley recently received a letter from Jane Doe Inc. and its 57 sexual and domestic violence member programs to emphatically thank him for his efforts to significantly increase state budget line items that fund life-saving support for victims of sexual and domestic violence and their families.  The letter expressed appreciation for Rep. Stanley's leadership which helped provide additional resources for victims and survivors and their children in the future.

Rep. Stanley led the amendment process for the budget line item which funds programs and services for people at risk of domestic violence, a line item that saves and rebuild lives. These additional resources will make a difference for everyone who is touched by sexual and domestic violence across the state.  

Rep. Stanley's budget efforts help fund substance abuse line items

Rep. Stanley's efforts during the recent budget progress successful helped several substance abuse line items in the FY16 budget.  The budget included $2.5 million for a Vivitrol Pilot Program which allows access to vivitrol, a non-narcotic drug that blocks the effect of opiates or alcohol for a period of 30 days, while in an inpatient setting and before discharge to a lower level of care.  The budget also included $1.5 million to expand MOAPC (Mass Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative) grants and $3 million for new clinical stabilization beds, providing additional treatment after detoxification.  The budget also established a trust fund and program for municipal bulk purchasing of Narcan (overdose reversal medication).

Earlier this year, Rep. Stanley formed a Drug Task Force to look at substance abuse issues in Waltham with a particular focus on the opioid battle facing individuals and families in the community.  The task force held a community forum on Saturday, May 16th at the Waltham Public Library.  The group heard testimony from the public and discussed ways to raise awareness for the issue of substance abuse in Waltham. 

In addition to Rep. Stanley, the group includes John Lawn, state representative, 10th Middlesex District, Michael Barrett, state senator, 3rd Middlesex District, Joe Vizard, Waltham city councilor-at-large, Beth Toolan, executive director, Waltham Partnership for Youth, Lt. Rich Manning, Waltham Police Department, and chairman of the department's Drug Task Force, Jamie O'Neil, program director for Spectrum Health Systems & Waltham Outreach Patient Center, Shannon Mountain-Ray, Adolescent Substance Abuse Program at Children's Hospital, Stephanie Sunderland, project coordinator for Waltham Partnership for Youth's Drug Free Communities, and Marilyn Lee-Tom, executive director of the Community Day Center of Waltham, Inc.

Department of Public Health Launches Opioid Addiction Awareness Campaign

State Officials and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) launched the Stop Addiction in Its Tracks public awareness campaign to educate parents about the warning signs of opioid misuse as part of the Commonwealth's preventative strategy and the Governor's Opioid Working Group's recommendations.

The campaign will run throughout the summer on television and online, driving viewers to www.mass.gov/StopAddiction, an information hub to guide parents on how to best talk to their children, explain treatment options and provide assistance for those seeking help at 1-800-327-5050. In addition to the website, online-only videos, banners and web-ads, the campaign will consist of several television public service announcements.

Waltham Fields Community Farm via Community Farms Outreach received funds from the MA Attorney General's Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program.  Aimed at providing underserved youth with opportunities for both employment and health and wellness, Attorney General Maura Healey announced that more than $300,000 in grant funding has been awarded to 46 organizations for an estimated 200 summer youth jobs across Massachusetts. The programs funded by the grants will provide youth employment from July 6 to August 28.

In an effort to stabilize New England's electricity rates while meeting the state's Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) goals, the Baker Administration filed legislation to diversify the state's energy portfolio through the procurement of cost-effective, hydropower generation. This legislation will not only increase the reliability of New England's electricity system, but will provide Massachusetts' ratepayers with a clean, cost-competitive alternative to coal and oil generation.

An Act Relative to Energy Sector Compliance with the Global Warming Solutions Act, filed in the State Senate, seeks to require Massachusetts utilities to jointly and competitively, solicit long-term contracts for clean energy generation resources and associated transmission together with the Department of Energy Resources.

In addition to the benefits this legislation will bring to the regional electricity market, clean energy generation will position Massachusetts to reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. This legislation will enable Massachusetts to achieve over 5 percent of this required emissions reduction which is equivalent to taking approximately 1 million cars off the road, or replacing fossil fuel with renewable energy to power 1.2 million homes.

Governor Baker announced the appointment of Major Richard McKeon to serve as Superintendent and Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP). A 33-year veteran of the State Police, Major McKeon currently serves as Deputy Division Commander of the Division of Investigative Services. Governor Baker also thanked retiring Superintendent, Colonel Timothy Alben, for his leadership and over three decades of service to the Commonwealth as a member of the Massachusetts State Police.  Major McKeon's appointment will be effective July 12.

The Baker Administration released the Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) capital budget, including a $2.125 billion bond cap on General Obligation Bonds, the same level as Fiscal Year 2015, and an accompanying spending plan that invests in communities by budgeting for Chapter 90 transportation funding, extends the Accelerated Bridge Program, makes critical investments in economic development and devotes significant funds toward fixing and maintaining state assets.

Governor Baker announced a $1.25 million funding increase for the Shannon Grant program to support regional and multi-disciplinary approaches to combat gang and youth violence. Communities and organizations from Pittsfield to Boston will see a funding boost to combat youth violence this summer.  The Shannon Community Safety Initiative provides funding to communities that demonstrate high levels of youth violence and gang problems, a comprehensive plan to work with multi-disciplinary partners, and a commitment to coordinated prevention and intervention strategies.

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) awarded six grants to provide regionally-based social and emotional development supports for early education programs serving young children.  The six agencies selected to provide services in communities across the state include Behavioral Health Network (West), Community Healthlink, Inc (Central), Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (Northeast), Enable, Inc. (Metrowest), Justice Resource Institute, Inc. (Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands) and Home for Little Wanderers (Greater Boston).

The "Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Services Program" is a joint effort of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and part of a broader comprehensive statewide system of mental health services for families in need across Massachusetts.  The $1.25M investment through these grant awards will provide early education and care professionals and families with supports, strategies, and services that address the developmental behavioral challenges that some children and their families face, and help reduce the incidence of suspension and expulsion in early education and care settings.

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) awarded five regional grants to support professional development for early education and care programs across the state.  The grants support the continuation of the state's Educator and Provider Support (EPS) networks.

Reach Out and Read Grant

House Approves Electronic Legal Notices Bill

The House unanimously passed legislation that requires Massachusetts newspapers to publish legal notices of government hearings online as well as in their traditional hard copies. The bill aims to boost public access to public records, documents and hearings and reform access to public notices.  Under the bill, legal notices will be published on a statewide website maintained by newspaper publishers.  The bill bans also the charging of fees to access public notices on newspaper websites or on the statewide website.

Massachusetts residents can now register to vote online. To submit an online application, you must have a valid driver's license, learner's permit, or non-driver ID issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). You must also have a signature on file with the RMV. Please click here to learn more. 

$3.3 million in federal grant will help manufacturing jobs

Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcester counties will receive $3.3 million in new federal grant funds to train dislocated workers and position them in manufacturing jobs. The Sector Partnership National Emergency grant assists people who are likely to deplete unemployment benefits through partnerships with employers, community colleges, vocational technical schools and career centers. Massachusetts is one of 27 states awarded a total of $138 million in grants.

Gov. Baker Nominates Justice Scott Kafker Appeals Court Chief Justice

Governor Baker nominated Justice Scott Kafker to serve as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Justice Kafker has served as an Associate Justice of the Appeals Court since 2001, and is nominated to fill the vacancy being created by the retirement of Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza, announced in February.

Associate Justice Scott L. Kafker joined the Massachusetts Appeals Court in March of 2001, appointed by then Governor Paul Cellucci. Prior to joining the Appeals Court, Justice Kafker served as chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and deputy chief legal counsel to Governor William F. Weld. Before joining the Boston law firm of Foley, Hoag & Elliot as an associate, Justice Kafker served as a law clerk to Judge Mark L. Wolf of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Justice Kafker has taught constitutional law at Boston College Law School since 2009 and serves on the Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure. He graduated from Amherst College in 1981 and obtained his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1985.

MA Health Connector

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March of Dimes looks for support to reduce smoking among pregnant women

The March of Domes plans to launch a smoking cessation campaign in 2015 and is seeking support from the MA legislature.  One out of 10 women smoke during pregnancy in the United States. The group would like the lawmakers to help them boost awareness of smoking-related birth problems, which can be linked to 23 to 34 percent of all Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases. In 2013, the Commonwealth spent 4.4 percent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended $90 million on anti-tobacco programs, ranking behind 34 other states and Washington, DC. According to the March of Dimes, approximately 5 to 8 percent of all pre-term births are related to smoking, and 13 to 19 percent of low birth-weight babies can be attributed to smoking during pregnancy.

Government Center Station Closure