Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 19 2022 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and infl uence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Keith Regan and Matt Murphy who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. $200,000 FOR RECYCLING CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINTS (H 5050) House 126-27, Senate 36-3, overrode Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of $200,000 for a pilot program for the recycling of child passenger restraints. In his veto message, Baker said, “I am striking language that earmarks funding for a program not recommended.” Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham) said that “overriding Gov. Baker’s veto of this common-sense pilot program was a no-brainer.” “Reducing landfi ll waste and pollution in Massachusetts requires creative solutions,” said Rausch. “My successful budget amendment to create a statewide car seat recycling pilot program is a win for families and our commonwealth’s climate action goals, creating a way to divert up to 5,000 car seats out of landfi lls and into our recycling stream.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $200,000. A “No” vote is against the $200,000.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes SKATING RINKS (H 5050) House 133-20, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of a provision that requires Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) skating rinks to remain open and staff ed for the full rink season and that ice skating be available from September 1, 2022 to April 15, 2023. The provision also requires the MDC to prepare and submit reports to the House and Senate including the status of hiring for additional staffi ng levels; the staffi ng levels for the previous ten fi scal years; and the average staffi ng level at each park. “I am striking this language because it is not consistent with my … recommendation and the required report is unduly burdensome,” said Baker in his veto message. Supporters of overriding the veto said it is important to keep the rinks open as long as possible for the benefi t of many residents who use them. They noted the required reports will ensure that there are appropriate staffi ng levels at the rinks. (A “Yes” vote is for the rinks remaining open and for requiring the submission of the reports. A “No” vote is against the required rink openings and against requiring the reports.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes $125,000 TO MONITOR REFORMS AT BRIDGEWATER STATE HOSPITAL (H 5050) House 131-32, Senate 39-0, overrode the governor’s veto of $125,000 for the Disability Law Center to monitor the effi cacy of service delivery reforms at Bridgewater State Hospital and the Old Colony Correctional Center. The governor also vetoed a section that gives the Department of Corrections the authority to reduce the danger of the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable inmate populations through the use of furloughs and home confi nement. “I am striking this language because it is not consistent with my … recommendation,” said Gov. Baker in his veto message. Override supporters said Bridgewater State Hospital delivers poor services in some areas of treatment and noted the $125,000 the governor vetoed would ensure that the problems are identifi ed and fi xed. They also noted that the safe reduction of vulnerable inmates in prisons is necessary to reduce the cases of COVID-19. (A “Yes” vote is for the $125,000. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL – BILLS SIGNED BY GOV. CHARLIE BAKER LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING (H 5164) – Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a bill that legalizes sports betting on professional and college sports for Massachusetts residents over 21 years old at the state’s casinos, slots parlors, simulcast centers and through mobile platforms. Betting on Massachusetts colleges and universities would not be allowed unless the school is playing in a tournament like March Madness. The betting would be regulated by the Gaming Commission, the same commission that regulates the state’s casino gambling. “Our administration fi rst fi led legislation to legalize sports wagering in the commonwealth several years ago, and I am glad to be able to sign this bill into law today,” Gov. Baker said. “We appreciate the dedication and compromise that the Legislature demonstrated on this issue, and we look forward to supporting the work of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on the responsible implementation of the law over the next several months.” “After a four-year process, sports betting is now legal in Massachusetts,” said sponsor Sen. Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow). “This new law will give residents new ways to engage with sports, generate new jobs and investment and includes some of the strongest consumer and player safeguards in the country. I’m confi dent this law will be a model for other states, and I look forward to seeing its full implementation in the months ahead.” INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE(S 3097) – Gov. Baker signed into law a bill designed to make mental health care more accessible in the Bay State. Provisions include mandating coverage for an annual mental health wellness exam, comparable to an annual physical; a public awareness campaign on the state’s red fl ag laws that limit access to guns for people at risk of hurting themselves or others; implementation of the nationwide 988 hotline to access 24/7 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis services; mandating coverage and eliminating prior authorization for mental health acute treatment and stabilization services for adults and children; establishing an Offi ce of Behavioral Health Promotion to coordinate all state initiatives that promote mental, emotional and behavioral health and wellness for residents; and creating an interim licensure level for licensed mental health counselors so that they can be reimbursed by insurance for their services and be eligible for state and federal grant and loan forgiveness programs. “Today I am pleased to sign legislation that expands access to behavioral health services, enhances our understanding of behavioral health challenges and takes steps to ensure our health care system treats mental health the same way we do physical health,” Gov. Baker said. “The COVID-19 pandemic underscored long-standing challenges in this area, which is why our administration has made signifi cant investments to increase access through our Behavioral Health Roadmap. The new law signed today will build on that work and affi rms the shared commitment of our administration, the Legislature and our health care community to better support our residents’ behavioral health needs.” “While Massachusetts has made great strides in expanding health coverage, many families still face barriers to accessing the care they need,” said Amy Rosenthal, executive director at Health Care for All. “This is especially true as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already growing behavioral health crisis, especially among young adults and children. The bill also establishes enhanced reporting and monitoring of the behavioral health system and addresses the specifi c needs of children, adolescents and their families. We are pleased that residents will receive the essential care needed to help them thrive at home, in their workplace and in the community.” $11.3 BILLION TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE (H 5151) – The governor signed into law an $11.3 billion transportation and infrastructure package that includes $1.375 billion for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) modernization and $1.27 billion for non-federally aided roads and bridges. Other provisions include $114 milBEACON | SEE PAGE 11
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