Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 23, 2024 House or Senate last week. 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 influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. 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://massterlist.com/subscribe/ THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the $1 MILLION FOR AUTISM (H 4800) House 155-2, overrode Gov. Maura Healey’s veto of $1 million (reducing funding from $11 million to $10 million) for contracted support services for families of children with autism. The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $1 million was eliminated. “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary,” said Gov. Healey in her veto message. “This reduced level reflects anticipated caseload levels and is not expected to have an impact on services.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1 million. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes $500,000 FOR JOBS PROGRAM FOR ATRISK-YOUTH (H 4800) House 155-2, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $500,000 (reducing funding from $15.9 million to $15.4 million for a Youth-at-Risk program. The program would target highrisk areas for the development and implementation of a year-round employment program for youths-at-risk, including programs that serve youth who are not more than 25 years-of-age; including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth; youth of color, youth of all abilities; youth of all national origins and religions; low-income youth; and youth who are experiencing housing insecurity. The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $500,000 was eliminated. “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary due to the availability of alternative resources,” said Gov. Healey in her veto message. “This operating funding overlaps with alternative funding intended to support this purpose.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $500,000. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes $1 MILLION FOR URBAN ENTREPRENEURS (H 4800) House 155-2, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $1 million (reducing funding from $2.5 million to $1.5 million) for a competitive grant program to work with urban entrepreneurs to promote small businesses, create new jobs and support workforce development and training initiatives in urban communities. The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $1 million was eliminated. “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary due to the availability of alternative trust funding that can be maximized to maintain programming,” said Gov. Healey in her veto message. “Specifically, the Executive Office of Economic Development will work towards utilizing the Workforce Investment Trust Fund to offset the funding being vetoed.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1 million. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL DON’T MISS THIS EVENT: City of Everett Purchasing Department 484 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 The City of Everett invites qualified bidders to submit bids for the supply and delivery of HVAC equipment for the Old High School located at 548 Broadway, Everett, MA. I. GENERAL INFORMATION AND BID SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS. Bids can be obtained from https://cityofeverett.com/city-hall/departments/finance-department/ purchasing/#BidOpportunities and will be accepted at the City of Everett, Purchasing Department, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, September 12, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. and will be publicly opened in accordance with M.G.L. c 30B. One (1) Original and one (1) copy of the bid are required. The bid envelope must be sealed and clearly marked: If any changes are made to this IFB, an addendum will be issued. Addenda will be posted to all bidders on record as having requested the IFB. Each responder shall acknowledge receipt of any and all addendum issues by submitting acknowledgement forms provided with any Addenda. Failure to do so shall be cause to reject the submittal as being unresponsive. Questions concerning this IFB must be submitted in writing to: Chief Procurement Officer, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149. Questions may be emailed to allison.jenkins@ci.everett.ma.us by or before September 3, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. (noon). Written responses will be posted on the City website in the form of an Addendum and posted to all bidders on record as having requested the IFB. This bid/contract is subject to M.G.L. c. 30B. The city reserves the right to cancel this bid and or waive minor informalities if it is in the best interest of the City of Everett. August 23, 2024 “They’re Leaving Massachusetts” - Join leading legislators, business leaders, advocates, along with representatives from the emerging workforce, for a policy forum that explores challenges and opportunities to make Massachusetts an even greater place to live and work, hosted by the State House News Service and MASSterList on September 19 in Boston. To register and learn more, go to: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/theyre-leaving-massachusetts-competitiveness-and-workforc e - challenges-tick - ets-976830786177?aff=oddtdtcreator MATERNAL HEALTH (H 4999) – The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey a maternal health bill that would require certified professional midwives and lactation consultants to be licensed; encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers; establish a grant program to address maternal mental health and substance use disorder; expand the statewide universal postpartum home visiting program; and mandate that insurers provide coverage for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder screenings for perinatal individuals. “Massachusetts has some of the best health outcomes in the country, but we have a glaring and persistent disparity in maternal health outcomes, especially when it comes to the experience of Black mothers,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro), House chair of the Committee on Public Health. “The maternal health bill passed by the Legislature will expand access to care for all mothers and ameliorate the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis here in Massachusetts.” “I am proud that this important legislation will take positive steps toward addressing the disparities in maternal healthcare,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “Strengthening access to physical and mental health in Massachusetts will provide a more inclusive support system that keeps parents and children healthy as they embark on their new journey. Every single family in our commonwealth deserves high quality care and support. Not only are we safeguarding the health of new families, but also laying a stronger foundation for future generations.” “While the commonwealth’s health care system is amongst the best in the world, inequities in maternal health remain prevalent, and certain aspects of care are woefully insufficient,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “That’s why the reforms included in this legislation are so important, as they will help to close racial inequities and improve maternal health care statewide.” “Today the Legislature took much needed action to strengthen access to physical and mental health care for pregnant people and new parents in Massachusetts,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This is an important step to help ensure all expecting individuals regardless of background or economic status have access to the health services they need. PROTECT FIREFIGHTERS (S 2902) – Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would require a manufacturer or person that sells Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment to any person or government agency, to provide, beginning January 1, 2025, written notice to the buyer, at the time of sale, if the equipment contains toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance chemicals, known as PFAS. The seller would also have to provide the reason the chemicals were added to the equipment. Beginning on January 1, 2027, the bill goes further and would prohibit any person or company from manufacturing, knowingly selling or distributing any equipment containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. “Our firefighters are our heroes,” said Gov. Healey. “They selflessly run into harm’s way to protect their neighbors. BEACON | SEE PAGE 19
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