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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 16, 2024 Page 17 al elements of the bill I enthusiastically support,” continued Connolly. “And yet, as I stand here today, I still cannot bring myself to support the total price tag of $1.1 billion once fully implemented. Not after we just spent a decade working to pass the Fair Share Amendment to gain desperately needed new revenue … A lot more needs to be done, including bigger public investments in programs, services and infrastructure — investments that could be significantly constrained by the overall cost of today’s tax cut bill.” (A “Yes” vote is for the tax relief package. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Rep. Steven Ultrino Sen. Jason Lewis Yes Yes Yes FREE PHONE CALLS FOR PRISONERS (H 4051) House 132-26, (Senate on a voice vote without a roll call vote), approved a proposal that beginning on December 1, 2023, would provide free phone calls and video calls for all prisoners in Massachusetts. The vote was mostly along party lines with all Republicans and one Democrat voting against the bill and all other Democrats voting for it. Currently there is no legal requirement for free phone calls in prisons. Each facility contracts separately for telephone service. “The telephone is a lifeline for people locked in prisons and their families, but phone company profiteering and kickbacks to prisons, have made calls unaffordable,” said Aaron Steinberg, Communications Director of Prisoners' Legal Services of Massachusetts. "This landmark law will allow for precious human contact between incarcerated people and their children and other loved ones. This will help families thrive and help incarcerated people succeed when they return to our communities.” Steinberg continued, that under current law, “each facility contracts separately for telephone service and with current contracting provisions, facilities are given kickbacks called ‘site commissions,’ with little incentive to negotiate for the lowest rate.” “Every law abiding citizen that has a job and works 40 plus hours a week has to pay for phone calls,” said Boldyga. “Why are criminals entitled to free phone calls? It’s completely ridiculous and absurd that Democrats are giving free anything to criminals. Criminals and their families should be paying for their phone calls, not taxpayers. “ (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes Yes NEW CABINET POSITION: SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES (H 43) Senate 39-0 (No House roll call), approved Gov. Maura Healey’s reorganization plan that would split the current Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development into two separate cabinet level departments: the new Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities and the renamed Secretary of Economic Development. “The creation of a new Secretariat will bring a cabinet-level focus to the commonwealth’s housing crisis,” said Sen. Nick Collins (D-Boston), Chair of the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.He noted that Gov. Healey will now be able put her vision for housing and livable communities into action.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Jason Lewis Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL CHARITABLE DONATIONS (H 2280) - The House has given initial approval to a bill that would require that any group or individual soliciting contributions for a charitable organization by mail or telephone, to inform potential donors what percentage of contributions go directly to the charity. Supporters said that oftentimes people who make donations assume that 100 percent of their donation goes directly to the charity when in fact a private fundraising company is getting a percentage of the money raised. "People should feel secure that their charitable donations are being used in an appropriate manner and going to the organization they chose to support" said sponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). "This added disclosure by solicitors protects both the commonwealth's donors and charitable organizations." PROHIBIT “LEGACY” COLLEGE ADMISSIONS– (No bill number yet assigned) – The Committee on Higher Education has given a favorable report to and recommended passage of a bill that would prohibit public and private colleges in the Bay State colleges from using “legacy admissions” – a tradition that gives to a boost in a prospective student’s odds of admission to a college just because the applicant is related to a current student or alumnus. “The practice of legacy admissions has perpetuated inequalities in higher education for too long,” said Mary Tamer, Executive Director of Democrats for Education Reform Massachusetts,“It serves as a barrier to equity and opportunity, granting an unearned advantage to children of alumni – often from wealthy or well-connected families – at the expense of deserving students from diverse backgrounds.” NOMINATION PAPERS NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2024 CANDIDATES – Nomination papers are now available for candidates who are planning to run for office in the September 2024 primary election and November 2024 general election. Under state law, candidates are required to gather a certain number of signatures in order to qualify for the ballot.Papers are available in the Office of the Secretary of the State’s Elections Division, located at 1 Ashburton Place in Boston and Galvin’s other offices in Springfield and Fall River. Offices to be filled at this year’s election include President and Vice-president, U.S. Senator, U.S. representative, Governor’s Councilor, State Senator, State Representative, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Courts, County Commissioner. Candidates for district and county offices have until April 30, 2024 to gather signatures and submit their papers to local registrars of voters for certification. Those certified signatures must then be filed with the Secretary of State by May 28, 2024. Party-affiliated candidates running in the State Primary for federal office have until May 7, 2024 to gather their signatures and submit them to local registrars, and until June 4, 2024 to file with the Secretary of State. Non-party candidates for federal office have until July 30, 2024 to return their nomination papers into local registrars, and until August 27, 2024 to file them with Galvin’s office. Additional information is at www.sec.state.ma.us/elections CREATE EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM (S 2506) – The Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management held a hearing on a measure that would create an emergency disaster relief program managed by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and funded with $250 million from excess capital gains revenue that would otherwise be transferred to the Rainy Day Fund. Supporters explained that federal disaster declarations can only be triggered when certain and specific criteria occur. They noted the total amount of the storm damage must meet a certain dollar amount threshold, or the disaster must exceed the response capability of the state and local governments. “Massachusetts is one of a few states that does not have a framework in place to respond to disasters, climate-related or otherwise, in our municipalities,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “We saw firsthand this past summer the devastating toll weather events have on our communities’ infrastructure, across the commonwealth.” MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS (H 4142) – A bill heard by the Higher Education Committee would require public state colleges to provide students and employees with mental health awareness and prevention programming. This would cover vital topics including signs of mental health issues and substance abuse, where to access mental health resources and crisis intervention strategies. “I’m sponsoring this bill because as a psychiatric nurse, I recognize that many mental health disorders present themselves in early adulthood and believe in the evidence-based research which recommends that higher education institutions can help improve positive mental health in vulnerable emerging adult populations by implementing training and education initiatives,” said sponsor Rep. Kay Khan (D-Newton). “Studies have shown that more students are presenting with increasingly severe mental health problems in recent decades, a problem exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.” Khan continued, “Prioritizing mental health education by requiring mandatory mental health awareness programming and primary prevention education in public higher education institutions will train students to recognize these issues in their peers and prepare staff for conversations around mental health, resulting in healthier and more successful outcomes for students in Massachusetts.” VETERANS BREAKTHROUGH TREATMENT PROGRAM (H 4218) – The Public Health Committee’s hearing included legislation that would create the Veteran Breakthrough Treatments Program to support the development and deployment of treatments that have been designated as “breakthrough therapies” for veterans and first responders. Breakthrough Therapy designation is given by the FDA to treatments that clinical evidence has shown to be extremely promising. "This legislation is about equipping veterans with innovative and effective therapies to treat PTSD and hidden wounds of war,” said sponsor Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “Allowing veterans access to breakthrough therapies designated by the FDA as promising treatments gives them an additional tool to treat their healthcare needs and empower those struggling on their path to recovery.” CONSUMER BILLS – The Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on several bills including: ALLOW BUSINESSES TO OPT INTO "DO NOT CALL" LIST (S 202) - Would restrict telemarketing companies doing business in the state by allowing businesses to sign up for a "Do Not Call" list and fining companies up to $5,000 if they call a business on the list. Current law only allows individual consumers to sign up for the list. Under the bill, all current laws that now apply to individuals would also apply to businesses including allowing an individual on the list to sue a company for up to $5,000 if the company violates the law and calls the individual more than once a year; preventing companies from blocking their number from appearing on any business' Caller ID; prohibiting companies from using recorded message devices to make these calls; and restricting these calls to between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. “We’re continuing to see a steady rise in spam calls, and this is one of the preferred methods of scammers to obtain personal information,” said Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy). “Small businesses have struggled the last few years, and Massachusetts needs to do whatever we can to protect our economic drivers. Allowing businesses to sign up for the do-notcall list is an easy and efficient way of screening out any nefarious attempts to defraud a small business and take away valuable economic resources for our small business owners.” DIGITAL COUPONS FOR SENIORS (H 4154) – Would require grocery stores to apply all available digital coupons to the orders of senior citizens over 65, even if the person does not have the digital coupons on their phone. “This proposal was filed by request of a constituent,” said sponsor Rep. Jeff Turco (D-Winthrop).“Many senior citizens do not use a smart phone and therefore do not have access to digital coupons and as a result they pay higher prices at the register.This legislation would apply all applicable digital coupons automatically to our seniors.” REVIVE “HAPPY HOURS” (S 157) – Would allow cities and towns to permit restaurants that are licensed to serve alcohol to offer discounted prices on alcoholic beverages during dates and time periods specified by the city or town. The measure prohibits any alcohol from being discounted after 10 p.m. Under current law, passed in 1984, restaurants have been prohibited from holding “happy hours” during which some alcoholic drinks are free or the price is reduced. The 1984 law was sparked by the September 1983 death of Kathleen Barry, a 20-year-old from Weymouth, when Barry and her friend won free pitchers of beer at a Braintree Ground Round. After leaving the bar, Barry and a friend climbed BHRC| SEE PAGE 20

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