Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 12, 2024 Sen. DiDomenico and colleagues pass wheelchair warranty reform Bill extends wheelchair warranties, requires faster repairs and replacements L ast week, Senator Sal DiDomenico and his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to strengthen consumer protections for wheelchair users. An Act expanding wheelchair warranty protections for consumers with disabilities (S.2541) requires all wheelchairs to come with warranties, extends the minimum warranty period to two years, sets standards for wheelchair repairs and replacements and eliminates the cumbersome prior authorization process for all wheelchair repairs under $1,000. “I was proud to take action on this critical legislation in order to protect and empower wheelchair users throughout our state,” said Senator DiDomenico, who is Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “Passing this bill JOE O’DONNELL | FROM PAGE 3 both brothers having memorable athletic careers. The true fairy tale of the “kid from Everett” continued when he went on to attend Harvard. O’Donnell excelled as a student and an athlete at Harvard. He was a terrific player on both the football and baseball teams. He earned six varsity letters, and in his senior year he captained the baseball team. To show his gratitude to the baseball program, in 1995 he donated $2.5 million to endow the baseball coach’s position. Harvard’s baseball field bears O’Donnell’s name. In 2012, O’Donnell and his wife donated $30 million to the University. “It’s payback,” O’Donnell said in the Gazette interview. “I got a scholarship because someone was smart and thoughtputs us one step closer to supporting the countless Massachusetts residents who rely on wheelchairs and have suffered with unaffordable wheelchair repairs for far too long. I want to thank Senate President Karen Spilka, and Senator John Cronin for focusing on this important and neglected issue.” The legislation requires all wheelchairs sold or leased in the Commonwealth to come with express warranties – a change from the current law, which only requires customized wheelchairs to come with express warranties. The legislation also extends express warranties for wheelchairs from one year to two years, bringing Massachusetts in line with states like Rhode Island and Connecticut. To alleviate wait times for repairs, the bill mandates that wheelchair service providers ful enough to provide for a guy like me. I wasn’t a dumbbell, but I wasn’t the traditional blueblood. I got a break to go to Harvard. I want others to have a break. I do it because of a selfish reason: It feels good to make a difference.” O’Donnell was also the most renowned and prolific donor in Malden Catholic High School history. For decades, perhaps the school’s most well-known alumnus has provided tens of millions of dollars of targeted donations to make sure what adds up to hundreds of families and thousands of students thrive at the tuition-based parochial school. A founder and former owner of the Boston Culinary Group, whose major focus for decades was on concessions for just about every major venue in New England – including diagnose repair issues remotely within three business days following notice from a consumer and provide an in-person assessment no more than four business days after that. If a wheelchair user cannot operate their in-warranty chair during the repair process, the bill mandates that manufacturers or dealers reimburse them for or provide a loaner wheelchair within four business days for most wheelchairs, or within eight business days for highly customized wheelchairs. The bill also requires manufacturers and dealers to cover any collateral costs incurred during the repair process for in-warranty wheelchairs. For out-of-warranty wheelchairs, the legislation prohibits insurers for requiring consumers to go through a cumbersome prior authorization process for any TD/Boston Garden and Fenway Park – when asked about his monster financial success, the consistent Top 50 Wealthiest Mass. residents list businessman would respond, “I sold a lot of popcorn and candy!” In his hometown of Everett, it is said that O’Donnell was a regular benefactor of Everett High sports programs as well, particularly when it came time to pay for the splendid championship rings worn by the players from blue-collar worker homes or recent immigrants through the wild success enjoyed by the 13-Super Bowl champ Crimson Tide football teams. O’Donnell ’s crowning achievement in his philanthropic efforts was the formation of The Joey Fund, which he established following the death from cystic fibrosis of his only son, Joey, in 1986. To date, Law Offices of JOSEPH D. CATALDO, P.C. “ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW” • ESTATE/MEDICAID PLANNING • WILLS/TRUSTS/ESTATES • INCOME TAX PREPARATION • WEALTH MANAGEMENT • RETIREMENT PLANNING • ELDER LAW 369 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617)381-9600 JOSEPH D. CATALDO, CPA, CFP, MST, ESQUIRE. AICPA Personal Financial Specialist Designee repairs totaling less than $1,000. Finally, the bill allows the Attorney General’s office to take legal action against service providers who violate these provisions with unfair or deceptive business practices. The legislation has received strong support from disability advocates across Massachusetts. “S.2541 reflects an understanding of the challenges faced by wheelchair users and sets a new standard for consumer protection that will improve the quality of life for wheelchair users across the Commonwealth,” said Disability Law Center Executive Director Barbara L’Italien. “We are grateful to Senate President Spilka, Senator Cronin, and the Massachusetts Senate for recognizing the profound impact this legislation will have on individuals with disabilities who utilize wheelchairs.” “When a wheelchair, providing mobility so people can integrate into the community, too often breaks down, with waits as long as a year for repairs—we can fix cars and bikes in a day! —we have a serious problem,” Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) Senior Organizer Kay Schoucair. “The time is overdue for manufacturers to simply stand behind their products. BCIL applauds the senate for pushing this much needed bill forward.” A similar version of the legislation was passed by the Senate in 2022; however, that legislation did not further advance in the Legislature. Having been passed by the Senate, the legislation now heads to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration. Joe O’Donnell was one of the most well-known, wellrespected and well-liked people in Massachusetts over the past several decades. A prolific philanthropist, he passed away Sunday, at 79. (Courtesy Photo/Harvard Gazette) The Joey Fund has raised over $500 million to support cystic fibrosis research for the past 38 years. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation leaders say the funds raised for research through the O’Donnells and The Joey Fund have fueled substantial progress in revolutionizing treatment of the affliction and working toward a cure. A close friend of former U.S. President George W. Bush, a former classmate with whom he shared a love of baseball, O’Donnell was Bush’s top fundraiser in the Eastern United States through two campaigns. He was an unofficial advisor to him and other Presidents as well as numerous governors, mayors and business giants. O’Donnell worked out front and also behind-the-scenes, adeptly and successfully in all parts of his life, business and philanthropy. He was a triedand-true manifestation of the well-known phrase: “He never forgot where he came from.” There is no doubt that there are lines of people up above, those Joe helped through the years, waiting to greet and thank him once again. R.I.P. to one of Everett’s finest, no doubt the way he wished to be remembered.
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