Page 20 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 20, 2023 BEACON | FROM PAGE 19 FOSTER PARENTS (S 2954) – The House and Senate approved and former-Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a bill establishing a foster parents’ bill of rights, which will govern the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) relationship with, and responsibilities to foster parents, and would be publicly available on the department’s website. Provisions include requiring foster parents to be treated with dignity, respect, privacy and consideration; prohibiting foster parents from being discriminated against on the basis of religion, race, color, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability; requiring the department to give the foster parents information about the foster child, prior to placement, including the child’s physical and behavioral health history, any history of trauma or high-risk behavior and his or her education needs. Another provision requires DCF to provide a current foster parent, with the permission of the previous foster parent, the name and phone number of the previous foster parent if DCF determines that contact between the current foster parent and previous foster parent would promote the foster child’s best interest. “I am thr i l led that the House and Senate passed the Foster Parents Bill of Rights legislation,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “Foster parents are true unsung heroes, providing unmatched dedication, commitment, compassion and love to those who need it the most. This bill creates a framework for foster parents to be honored with dignity, respect, privacy and consideration in caring for children, so they can provide nurturing, loving homes. As a foster parent myself, I filed this bill to strengthen our vital foster care system.” INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER (H 3147) – The House and Senate approved, and former-Gov. Baker signed into law, a bill that would establish the second Tuesday of every October as “Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day” in the Bay State. “This designation will go a long way to increase awareness and strengthen efforts to provide education about this rare and aggressive disease,” said sponsor Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington). “Inflammatory Breast Cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer and the least understood. Many women receiving this diagnosis have never heard of Inflammatory Breast Cancer or its presentation. Inflammatory Breast Cancer accounts for 1 percent to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases yet represents 10 percent of all deaths due to breast cancer.” Part-time Cook for small kitchen in Everett 20-25 Hours per week (617) 592-6726 RIGHT WHALE DAY (H 3869) – The House and Senate approved and former Gov. Baker signed into law a bill that designates April 24 as Right Whale Day to promote the preservation of the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. “The North Atlantic right whale is part of our rich maritime history and yet our official state marine mammal is at risk of extinction,” said sponsor Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury). “Establishing this annual day to celebrate right whales will help promote education and protection efforts.” Rep. Cutler credited his constituent Matt Delaney of Pembroke for coming up with this idea. QUOTABLE QUOTES “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense financial harm to millions of families and borrowers. The Biden Administration’s debt cancellation plan will help prevent student loan borrowers from needlessly suffering even more pandemic-related economic harm, including the devastating cascade of harms that follow from default. We are calling on the Supreme Court to uphold the Secretary’s authority to provide much-needed relief to people across the country who have been affected by this unprecedented pandemic.” ---Acting Massachusetts Attorney General Elizabeth “Bessie” Dewar, on joining 21 other state attorneys general in submitting a 48-page brief to the nation’s high court, arguing that the Biden administration operated within the limits of its power when it moved last year to cancel up to $10,000 of student loan debt per person eligible borrowers and up to $20,000 for those who received Pell Grants. “The governor has committed to electrifying the public fleet and will be evaluating EVERETT HOUSING AUTHORITY LEASED HOUSING ASSISTANT Everett Housing Authority seeks applicants for a part-time position with administrative office experience. This part-time position will provide office support of the general, day-to-day administrative and clerical tasks related to the Leased Housing department. Must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, have accurate keyboard and numeracy skills. A high school diploma or equivalent is necessary. The ideal candidate possesses the ability to work with, and respect individuals of varied social, income, and ethnic backgrounds. Bilingual in Haitian Creole or Spanish is desirable. The wage rate for this position is $24.60 maximum 18hrs/wk. with no benefits. Submit resume and cover letter to Roberta Correale, Assistant Director, Everett Housing Authority, 393 Ferry Street, Everett MA 02149 or email rcorreale.eha@comcast.net. Applications accepted until the position is filled. Everett Housing Authority is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. January 20, 2023 the best methods and timeline for that transition.” ---Gov. Maura Healey’s press secretary Karissa Hand when asked why Gov. Healey is still being driven by state police in a 17 to 20 mile-per- gallon Ford Expedition that she used as attorney general. “There’s a reason that people are paying so much in heating bills and electric bills. It’s because we’ve been hostage to the fossil fuel industry for so long.” ---Gov. Healey. “We thought it was important for this, the first meeting, that it just be a meeting among the four of us. We have known each other and worked together, but in different capacities over the last many years and I think it is appropriate for this initial meeting, as we sit down and talk about the future and what we all want to accomplish together, for us to sit together. I certainly look forward to continued conversation and communication with minority leadership.” --- Gov. Healey on why she and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll met with Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano and did not include Senate and House Republican Minority Leaders Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Brad Jones. Former Gov. Baker included the two minority leaders in the group’s semi-weekly meetings. “Regular, bipartisan leadership meetings have been one of the distinguishing hallmarks of a state government that operates in a collaborative way, with effective communication between its leaders. They have served us well during very challenging times and are as important now as ever. We look forward to the continuation of these conversations, which are powerful in symbol and substance, and to taking part in them as before. We stand ready to do whatever is necessary to facilitate that continuity.” ---Tarr and Jones in a joint statement in response to being left out of the meeting. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brieflength of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of January 9-13, the House met for a total nine minutes and the Senate met for a total of 17 minutes. MON.JAN. 9 House11:02 a.m. to11:07 a.m. Senate 11:09 a.m. to11:25 a.m. TUES.JAN. 10 No House session No Senate session WED.JAN. 11 No House session No Senate session THURS. JAN. 12 House11:03 a.m. to11:07 a.m. Senate 11:19 a.m. to11:20 a.m. Fri.Jan. 13No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. Everett students named to Dean’s List at Fitchburg State FITCHBURG, Mass. – Fitchburg State University President Richard S. Lapidus has announced the names of students included on the President’s and Dean’s Lists for the Fall 2022 semester. A student is placed on the Dean’s List for the semester if an average grade of 3.20 or better is attained and the student is attending the university full time. Everett residents Jhier N. Littles, Schekina R. Pericles and Monica I. Quinones all achieved the honor. Fitchburg State University enrolls day and evening students in more than 50 programs of undergraduate and graduate study. The university was established in 1894. Learn more at fitchburgstate.edu.
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