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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 22, 2022 Page 17 BHRC | FROM PAGE 16 process of litigation,” said Velis. “What happened at the home will forever leave a scar on our commonwealth, especially Western Mass. Now we must continue to work to get much needed reforms for the home signed into law as well.” PROHIBIT REVOCATION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES IF A PERSON DEFAULTS ON A STUDENT LOAN (H 425) – House gave initial approval to legislation that would repeal current state laws which created professional licensure consequences for anyone who defaults on their student loan. Under existing law, a borrower’s state-issued professional or occupational certificate, registration or license can be suspended, revoked or cancelled if the borrower is in default on an education loan. “As a former seventh grade public school teacher and an education attorney for more than a decade, I’ve come to expect Massachusetts to be identified as a pioneer in a promising practice or out in front on an education issue,” said sponsor Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose).“So I was quite surprised to find that Massachusetts is one of the only states that mandates the denial of professional licenses to student loan defaulters. This draconian approach prevents an individual from access to the profession for which he or she has trained and has the perverse result of furthering hindering their ability to earn a living and making it more difficult to make loan payments. And as families work to recover from the financial fallout of the pandemic, the last thing the state should do is deny them access to their professional pursuits because of student loan defaults.” “CROWN ACT” – FORBID DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A PERSON WITH A NATURAL HAIRSTYLE(H 5028) – The House and Senate approved a new version of a bill that would prohibit any person or entity including educational institutions workplaces and public spaces from implementing any policy that would explicitly target someone who wears their natural hairstyle. The measure defines natural hairstyle as hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles including braids, locks, twists and other formations. Only final Senate approval is needed prior to the measure going to Gov. Baker for his signature. “Racial discrimination is unacceptable in all of its forms,” said bill sponsor Rep. Mike Day (D-Stoneham). “I was proud to join my House colleagues in unanimously advancing a bill which would ensure that Black students and workers won’t be told that their hair is unprofessional or be forced to cut it in order to participate in activities or go to work. I hope that the governor will join the Legislature in standing against discrimination by signing these protections into law.” “On the long march toward justice, and especially racial justice, the Legislature’s passage of this legislation marks another step forward,” said Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), Senate Chair of the Committee on Education. “We would not be at this point without the great courage and strength of Mya and Deanna Cook, who as 15-year-old students faced discrimination and abuse from their high school for their hairstyles, and bravely stood up for their rights and those of so many other black women.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Taxpayers are experiencing the largest inflation spike in 41 years and our Statehouse leaders have a pile of money they could give back to help taxpayers with these high costs. Instead, they are choosing to hold onto the vast majority of the money and they even have the nerve to continue to push for their graduated income tax surcharge amendment which will increase the state income tax by 80 precent on some high-income earners and small businesses.” ---Paul Craney, spokesman for the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “This legislation is critically important because despite the well-known hazards, Massachusetts law still permits schools and childcare centers to use toxic pesOBITUARY John 'Jack' Freker Sr. Longtime Florida resident, formerly of Malden, at 86 John C. "Jack" Freker Sr., of Stuart, FL. and formerly of Malden, MA, and Charlestown, MA, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2022. He was 86 years old. Jack was born in 1936 in Presque Isle, ME, and lived there for several years and then in Long Island, NY before moving to Charlestown, MA He was a Charlestown High School graduate, Class of 1954, and excelled on the school's basketball and baseball teams. After high school he served active duty for two years in the U.S. Army and continued to live in Charlestown, beginning a family there before moving to Malden in 1965. There he lived for nearly 30 years while raising his family of six children. He also lived in Saugus for several years. Mr. Freker began working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the mid1960s, where he was employed in the MIT stockroom, eventually rising to supervisor, while also taking night classes at Northeastern University and working a second job with the US Postal Service. In 1969, he began working in the subcontracting department at MIT Instrumentation Laboratory which was later named the Dr. Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, internationally known for developing the computer guidance systems for the Apollo Space missions under the direction of NASA. Mr. Freker continued to be employed at Draper Lab for the remainder of his working years, becoming supervisor of the subcontracting department until his retirement in 1998, nearly 40 years with MIT and Draper. Jack, as he was known to his friends and family, had a full life, raising his large family in Malden. He always put a lot of effort into making holidays a special time for his family, and presided over summer outings to Canobie Lake Park in NH, serving as grill master for family cookouts, and for several years spending vacation time in Wells Beach, ME. Jack loved competitive and recreational sports, which he passed on to his children. He prided himself on being a lifelong athlete, playing basketball into his 60s and competitive, slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball for many years, into his 70s, in Malden men's leagues and later, after moving to Florida in 1998, where he played in 3 leagues simultaneously and where he made his home until his passing. He was also an avid skier and traveler, with his wife “Kitty,” often visiting some of the most well-known ski slopes in the U.S., favoring Squaw Valley, Jackson Hole, and Aspen. He particularly enjoyed traveling to Aruba where he and his wife recently counted more than 20 visits. He was a member of the MIT Quarter Century Club and was fond of gardening, DIY home repair projects, and capturing great deals via couponing. rk. Later in life, after moving to Florida, he developed a love of boating and liked to refer to himself as “Captain Jack”. He and his wife doted on their cat, “Maxx”. Jack was the beloved husband of Katherine “Kitty” Atwood of Stuart, Fla., and the son of the late Albert E. Sr. and Charlene M. (Tompkins) Freker. He was the father of John C. "Jack" Freker Jr. and his wife Leidy Suarez of Miami Beach, FL, Steve Freker of Malden, Gary Freker and his wife Lisa (Scarlett) of Lowell, Karen Freker, and her partner Wendy Ziesemann of Shrewsbury, Linda Freker of Conroe, TX and Michael Freker and his wife Jennifer Stafford of Denville, New Jersey. He was the brother of Marie Mendes of Boston, Albert E. Freker Jr. and his wife Margaret (“Peggy”) of Chelmsford, David Freker and his wife Louise of Tucson, AZ, and Cheryl Freker and her husband Ray of Georgia. He was the grandfather of John C. Freker III, Beau Freker, Angela Freker, Ryan Freker, Ashley Freker, Brodie Freker, Hunter Freker and the newest addition, sixweek-old Abigail Suarez Freker. He was the great-grandfather of Eliza Freker, Olympia Freker, and Felix Freker and leaves many nieces, nephews, and friends. Jack also leaves the mother of his children, and his first wife, Marjorie A. Freker, of Chelmsford, MA with whom he was married for 33 years. The family requests that those who knew Jack to please take a moment and cherish a happy memory of time spent with him through the years, of which there were many. Services are private. A celebration of Jack’s life will be held Saturday, July 30 from 2-5 PM at Anthony’s, 105 Canal St. in Malden, MA. All friends are welcome to join the extended Freker family for food and beverages and celebrate his life, and the impact he had on so many. As a tribute to Jack’s inimitable personality and style, casual attire and summer wear is the preferred dress of the day, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. A guestbook where messages and condolences may be offered is available online at: www. treasurecoastseawinds.com ticides … on playgrounds and playing fields. Shielding our communities and children from these damaging pesticides ought to be a public health priority.” ---From an open letter from several representatives and organizations to House Speaker Ron Mariano, supporting a bill that would improve pesticide protections for Massachusetts schoolchildren. “This train is leaving the station.” ---Sen. Jo Comerford(D-Northampton) during debate on railway service. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK'S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature's job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately Tues.July 12 House11:01 a.m. to11:07 a.m. No Senate session. Wed. July 13 House11:06 a.m. to 6:02 p.m Senate1:13 p.m. to 5:32 p.m. Thurs. July 14 House 1:02 p.m. to 9:43 p.m. Senate 11:23 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. Fri.July15 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall. comBob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall. comBob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of July 1115, the House met for a total of 15 hours and 16 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 14 hours and 46 minutes. Mon. July 11 House11:05 a.m.to11:40 a.m. Senate 11:14 a.m. to2:37 p.m.

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