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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 27, 2023 Page 21 BEACON | FROM PAGE 20 ment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle (A “Yes” vote is for the amendNo EMPLOYERS MUST DISCLOSE A SALARY RANGE WHEN POSTING A JOB (S 2468) Senate 38-1, approved a bill, named the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, in honor of the fi rst woman to serve as U.S. Labor Secretary. The measure would require employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a job position. The measure also would require employers with 100 or more employees to fi le annual employment data reports, including information on employee demographics and salaries, with the state. In addition, the bill directs the Executive Offi ce of Labor and Workforce Development to track compensation data and fi le an annual report on data showing the state’s progress toward equal pay for equal work. The House has already approved a diff erent version of the proposal. The Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. Supporters said that in the Greater Boston area in 2021, women on average were paid 70 cents for every dollar earned by a man. They noted this gap widens among communities of color. “Many workers, especially women and people of color, underestimate their own value in the job market,” said Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville). “The 2016 Equal Pay Act made real progress on breaking down barriers by banning employers asking applicants for salary history. This helped women and people of color who were changing jobs because their past low pay didn’t follow them their whole lives. However, it didn’t help applicants learn how much a job could pay or how to assess their work’s value to be able to get past the new barrier of their salary expectations. This bill will give workers a better chance to be paid fairly by giving them straight forward information and help them have reasonable expectations.” “In the commonwealth of Massachusetts, we take pride in our world-class academic institutions, competitive talent pool and vast opportunities for economic success,” said Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough). “Yet when we take a closer look at the earnings of commonwealth residents, it is clear we continue to fall short of closing long-standing racial and gender wage gaps that dramatically suppress the earnings of women and people of color. By requiring disclosure of salary ranges for an open job posting, publishing aggregate demographic data to track wage inequities by race and gender across industries, and protecting an employee’s right to ask for salary range information in the workplace, we have the opportunity to recruit and retain skilled workers while closing the wage gap and ultimately boosting our commonwealth’s competitive edge.” “While I agree with the overarching concept of salary range transparency postings for larger businesses, I voted no on this bill because it would place an undue burden on small business,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), the lone opponent of the measure. “Subjecting small businesses, who employ even as few as 25 individuals, to the salary range posting portion of the bill with violation fi nes for failing to properly disclose said information is unnecessary. Most small businesses are not equipped with the technical tools to develop the most accurate salary ranges for their job postings. With its existing laws, Massachusetts already makes it difficult to run a business free of excessive government mandates and penalties.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL REGULATE TICKETS TO CONCERTS AND OTHER EVENTS (S 2442) – The Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee held a hearing on legislation that would require that the total price of tickets for live entertainment events, including fees, be displayed to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner at the beginning of the purchasing process. The measure would also prohibit price increases during the purchasing process. “Far too often, surprise fees pop up at the end of the ticket purchasing process that consumers throughout Massachusetts had no idea about,” said sponsor Sen. John Velis (D-Westfi eld). “Whether it’s tickets to a Taylor Swift concert or a Patriots game, people shouldn’t have to struggle through the process of fi nding tickets and then learn that they can’t even afford them anymore. At the most fundamental level, this legislation enables folks to know their budget when they go in to buy tickets and know the amount that they’re ultimately going to be asked to spend.” HEARING AIDS (H 3554) – The Financial Services Committee held a hearing on a proposal that would require all health care plans to provide coverage for hearing aids. “I have heard from constituents about the high cost of hearing aids, and as a caregiver myself, I witnessed the vital need for seniors to be able to hear in order to communicate and advocate for themselves,” said sponsor Rep. Kristin Kassner (D-Hamilton). “It’s stunning to me that these important medical devices are not covered by insurance. This bill seeks to rectify that.” ESTABLISH STUDENTS ENTREPRENEURIAL AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT FUND (H 415) – The Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies held a hearing on a measure that would create a Student Entrepreneurial and Economic Investment Fund to provide an opportunity for interested students to gain experience in entrepreneurialism and early-stage business development while fostering an economic environment that will attract students to the commonwealth and forge a relationship between the public higher education system and the Massachusetts business community. “Under Massachusetts’ current exam-driven public education system, attention to entrepreneurship and personal improvement beyond the classroom is often forgotten,” said sponsor House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This legislation will provide valuable opportunities for students, encourage them to develop relationships with the public higher education system and the Massachusetts business community, and contribute to the present and future economic growth of the commonwealth.” SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS (H 1169) – The Health Care Financing Committee held a hearing on a bill that would expand smoking cessation benefi ts for MassHealth recipients by providing coverage for additional cessation services including individual, group and phone counseling by a physician, dentist, behavioral health counselor, mental health counselor, certifi ed tobacco use cessation counselor or other qualifi ed clinicians. MassHealth the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for low-income and disabled persons. “[The bill] would increase the number of certified practitioners available to provide evidence-based counseling for those seeking assistance quitting tobacco,” said sponsor Rep. Christine Barber (D-Somerville). “Not only will this legislation help smokers identify their resources for quitting, but it could inspire someone who would not otherwise have taken on the diffi cult task of ending their addiction to do so.” BAN STATE FUNDS FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD (H 1224) – Another measure heard by the Health Care Financing Committee would prohibit any state funds from being made available to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, or to any of its affi liates. “Planned Parenthood is a well-funded organization that is often very politically active and very partisan,” said Rep. Jospeh McKenna (R-Webster). “I believe that this alone is enough to keep it from receiving state funding. I further feel that those who believe that abortion, the taking of human baby’s life, is morally reprehensible should not have their tax dollars go to a private organization who has this as its core mission.” LIMIT TRAIN IDLING (H 3268) – The Transportation Committee held a hearing on legislation that would prohibit a locomotive train engine from idling longer than 30 minutes. The measure would also require the Department of Environmental Protection to investigate idling violations and conduct emissions tests to determine whether a train’s emissions exceed carbon regulations, in which case BEACON | SEE PAGE 22 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller How to Find a Medical Escort After a Procedure Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some medical escort services that help seniors get home after a medical procedure? I need to have a colonoscopy, but my doctor’s clinic won’t schedule my appointment unless I supply them with a name and phone number of the person taking me home afterward. I live alone with no family nearby, and my friend doesn’t drive anymore. Any suggestions? Need a Lift Dear Need, Good question! Finding “door-through-door” medical escort services for outpatient screenings and procedures that involve anesthesia can be challenging for older patients without nearby family or friends to rely on. Door-through-door escorts that most clinics require is a safety measure. With a colonoscopy, for example, patients often receive an anesthetic, like propofol, or a narcotic such as Demerol or fentanyl, combined with anti-anxiety medication like Versed or Valium. These drugs affect the brain, and they can stay in the system for four to six hours. So, what’s needed is someone to escort you out of the building, take you back home and see you into it. While there’s no one simple solution to this medical escort problem, there are wide variety of local service providers, nonprofits and home-care companies that may be able to assist you. But what’s available to you will depend on where you live. Finding Help A good fi rst step in making medical escort arrangements is to talk to your health care provider that’s doing the procedure to fi nd out if their clinic off ers transportation services or if they can refer you to a local medical escort service or person who can help you. If not, see if you can remain in the clinic for an extended period of time, until the drugs wear off , so you can safely drive yourself home or hail an Uber, Lyft or taxi to take you. If these options aren’t available, here are some sources you should check into. Area Agency on Aging (AAA): Your local AAA is one of your best resources for locating transportation services and should be able to refer you to medical escorts available in your community. To fi nd your AAA call the Eldercare Locater 800677-1116 or visit Eldercare. acl.gov. L o c al nonpr ofit groups: The National Volunteer Caregiving Network (NVCNetwork.org) connects about 700 community organizations nationwide, most of which provide doorthrough-door transportation without charge. Shepherd’s Centers of America: There are 55 affi liates in 17 states that provide support services for older adults – see ShepherdCenters.org. Most off er escorts to and from medical appointments without charge. Village to Village Network: There are around 250 local village networks across the country (see VTVNetwork.org) that often help with medical escorts, though there’s an annual fee – usually subsidized for lower-income seniors – to join a village. Home - care companies: You may also be able to hire a medical escort through a home-care agency, or you can find someone on your own through websites like Care. com or CareLinx.com. Note that Medicare doesn’t cover medical escorts, but in many states Medicaid does. If you choose this option, be sure you give plenty of notice before your appointment. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior

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