Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 6, 2025 THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on the only roll call from the week of May 26-30. There were no roll calls in the House last week. $189.6 MILLION FOR CHILDCARE (S 2521) Senate 39-0, approved, House approved on a voice vote without a roll call, and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a $189.6 fi scal 2025 supplemental budget that provides $95.6 million for the Department of Children and Families and Department of Transitional Assistance-related childcare, and another $94 million for income-eligible childcare. Supporters said the additional funding is necessary because of the diffi culty of advance funding, with precision, these childcare accounts that are “caseload driven.” “For our early education and care providers, without the authorization of such spending, our providers will not receive their scheduled June childcare fi nancial assistance that’s due them,” said Senate Ways and Means Chair Sen Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport). “Passing this supplemental budget ensures families across Massachusetts continue to receive the affordable, high-quality childcare they depend on,” said Sen. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “Investing in early education and care isn’t just about helping children thrive — it’s about supporting working parents and building a stronger economy.” The Senate approved the bill as Rodrigues was showing visiting New Bedford fourth graders around the Senate chamber. “Just like that, we spent $189 million,” Rodrigues told them. (A “Yes” vote is for the $189.6 million for childcare.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes CITY OF EVERETT ~ Legal Notice ~ ~ Legal Notice ~ PUBLIC HEARING FOR PETITION FROM MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A NATIONAL GRID OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS To all parties interested in the public hearing. Be it hereby ordered: Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid of North Andover, Massachusetts requests permission to construct a line of underground electric conduits, including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures, under and across the public way or ways hereinafter named. The following are the streets and highways referred to: No. # 31121198 – Revere Street - National Grid to install underground facilities on Revere Street beginning at a point approximately 35 feet Southwest of the centerline of the intersection of Revere Street and Chelsea Street and continuing approximately 110 feet in a Southerly direction. National Grid to install approximately 90’ of 2-4” conduit from existing manhole B-751 to private property and approximately 110’ of 2-4” conduit from existing manhole B-751 to pole #1655-0 to provide a permanent underground service at 51 Chelsea Street. Everett, MA Wherefore it prays that after due notice and hearing as provided by law, it be granted permission to excavate the public highways and to run and maintain underground electric conduits, together with such sustaining and protecting fixtures as it may find necessary for the transmission of electricity, said underground conduits to be located substantially in accordance with the plan filed herewith marked - Revere Street - Everett - Massachusetts. Hearing to be held with the Everett City Council, held on Monday at 7:00PM, on the 23rd of June, 2025 at the Everett City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Everett City Hall. June 06, 2025 ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AND POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL (H 2961) – The Public Service Committee held a hearing on a bill that would provide that police, fire and EMT personnel making claims for death, disability or medical services from contagious diseases – who did not evidence any such condition at the time of entry into service – will be presumed to have acquired these contagious conditions in the line of duty. If it can be shown that non-service-connected risk factors accidents, or hazards caused such incapacity, the presumption can be rebutted. The list of diseases includes COVID-19, Hepatitis A, B or C, TB, HIV and other conditions found by the Commissioner of Public Health to have a statistically signifi cant correlation with police, fi re or emergency medical service. The bill would expand current law which establishes that disability or death of public safety personnel resulting from certain conditions of cancer, as well as disease of the lungs/respiratory tract, is presumed to be caused in the line of duty. Co-sponsor Rep. Greg Schwartz (D-Newton) said that as a physician he understands the increased risk these public service workers face of contracting infectious diseases. “We ask our fi rst responders to engage with the public in situations that often carry increased risk of personal harm to the responder,” said Schwartz. “They perform invaluable, often lifesaving, service to strangers in the line of duty. It is the least we can do to acknowledge the risk to themselves that they take on to serve others in times of need, and we should support them when that service likely is the cause of disease, disability or death.” PTSD AND POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL (S 1821) – Another bill before the Public Service Committee would require that the disability or death of police, fi re or various other public safety personnel resulting from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty. “This legislation is needed to safeguard the health and well-being of our public safety personnel who are on the front lines daily to protect their community members,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “Thanking these public servants is not enough. We need to put action behind our words and make real improvements by passing bills … which would support those dealing with PTSD and reduce stigma around mental health.” 4-DAY WORK WEEK PILOT PROGRAM (S 1330) - The Labor and Workforce Development Committee held a hearing on legislation that would create a voluntary 4-day work week pilot program in the Bay State. Participating employers would transition employees to a 4-day work week without any reduction in pay, status or benefi ts. Private employers that complete at least one year in the pilot program and meet reporting requirements, may qualify for state tax credits. Public employers can participate but are not eligible for tax credits. “Americans are overstressed and overworked,” said Sen. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “The data shows that a 4-day work week creates a happier workforce, fuels company productivity and helps businesses attract top talent. This pilot program studies its effi cacy in Massachusetts to determine whether the 4-day work week could benefi t commonwealth employees and businesses.” PAID PRENATAL LEAVE (S BEACON | SEE PAGE 19
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