THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 21, 2023 Page 13 BEACON | FROM PAGE 12 have already made in their local by-laws,” noted sponsor Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont). CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HOUSING (H 29) – The Housing Committee held a hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment requiring that the state provide “suffi cient and comprehensive planning, for aff ordable, well-constructed and reasonably varied housing for all residents.” The housing policies would focus on restoration, rehabilitation and new construction of housing units to all identifi able population groups, without discrimination. “Housing needs to be a right, more than just ‘shelter’ and ultimately, looking at improved building codes, that would encourage construction of longer-lasting and better-quality housing that will help to keep our often expanding workforce, and their families, with dignity and quality,” said private citizen Vincent Dixon who sponsored the bill under a state law that allows a private citizen to ask their state legislators to fi le bills on his or her behalf. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EMPLOYABLE SKILLS TRAINING (H 39) – The Labor and Workforce Development Committee held a hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment providing that “each and every inhabitant of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, has a right to employable skills training.” “Employable skills training must be a fl exible and dynamic goal of economic, and professional mechanisms for the success of the Massachusetts workforce,” said sponsor Vince Dixon. “Looking forward, updating skills for workers in many fi elds, including those that change dramatically, will strengthen the lifelong ladder of workforce success and provide employers with better quality worker skills, and greater opportunities for success.” BRING BACK THE ANNUAL TIP OFF CLASSIC TO SPRINGFIELD – Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfi eld) and other Springfield officials have begun a campaign lobbying National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President and former Bay State Gov. Charlie Baker to return the annual Tip-Off Classic game to Springfi eld, the home of the Basketball Hall of Fame. The city hosted the games for some 26 years at the former Springfi eld Civic Center from 1979 to 2005. “Basketball has been a part of the city since it was invented by Springfi eld College instructor and graduate student James Naismith in 1891 and has grown to a worldwide fan favorite through the years,” Rep. Puppolo wrote in a letter to Baker. “On the heels of a very successful Final Four Tournament, and given your commitment and dedication to Springfi eld and western Massachusetts as governor of the commonwealth, I am respectfully requesting that you now return the NCAA Tip-Off Classic to the City of Springfi eld, the city where basketball was born.” 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 fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length 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 April 10-14, the House met for a total of four hours and 18 minutes while the Senate met for a total of one hour and 19 minutes. Mon.April 10 House 11:04 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. Senate 11:21 a.m. to 11:29 a.m. Tues. April 11 No House session No Senate session Wed.April 12 No House session No Senate session Thurs. April 13 House 11:01 a.m. to3:13 p.m. Senate 11:03 a.m. to 12:14 p.m. Fri.April 14 No 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.
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