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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 2, 2024 Page 15 BHRC | FROM PAGEМС in the lives of pets and consumers.“ (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes BAN ELEPHANTS AND OTHER ANIMALS (H 4915) House 155-0, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that effective January 1, 2025, would ban elephants, bears, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and other wild animals from being used in traveling circuses and other traveling shows in Massachusetts where they would be used to perform tricks, give rides or otherwise participate as an accompaniment for the entertainment of a live audience.Violators would be fined between $500 and $10,000. The ban would not apply to zoos or to performances that take place at other non-mobile, permanent facilities if the covered animal is a resident animal at the same facility in which the performance takes place. “Massachusetts has long been a leader in promoting animal welfare by enacting laws to protect animals from abuse and neglect, but most of our current laws apply to domestic animals and common household pets,” said co-sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “[The measure] would extend these same protections to exotic animals that are used in traveling exhibits and shows. These animals are often subject to cruel and inhumane treatment, including prolonged periods of confinement and other forms of neglect and abuse, all to provide entertainment. Several communities in Massachusetts have already implemented local bans, but a statewide ban on traveling animal acts is long overdue.” “I was deeply moved by the compelling evidence and public sentiment against the use of wild animals in traveling acts,” said co-sponsor Rep. Carole Fiola (D-Fall River). “After taking a safari in Africa in 2019 … seeing these animals in their natural state highlighted the unnatural inhumane treatment these animals face in traveling acts. Now, as a sponsor of this legislation, I feel a strong obligation to ensure we bring about significant change. With over two-thirds of Massachusetts voters in favor of banning wild animal acts, it’s clear our constituents desire a future free of animal exploitation for entertainment. This bill, that has finally passed the House after 23 years of being filed, embodies that sentiment, underscoring our commitment to the humane treatment of animals.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes FOSTER HOMES AND DOGS (H 4911) House 156-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that prohibits the Department of Children and Families (DCF) from prohibiting placement of a child in a foster home solely based on the presence of any specific breed of dog in the home. Supporters said that currently, DCF is allowed to prohibit placement of a child in a home with German Shepherds, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. “Current DCF regulations for foster homes impose a blanket ban on certain breeds of dogs.” said sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “Instead of eliminating countless prospective families, this bill empowers DCF to undertake a holistic review of the family, child and dog to ensure appropriate placement. This bill also amends reporting laws for animal abuse, extending the timeframe in which human services employees or contractors can report animal abuse. “As co-chair of the Protecting Animal Welfare Caucus … I am proud to spearhead the passage of this bill in the House. There is an urgent need for supportive foster families in the commonwealth, and this bill will open many loving homes to adoptive and foster children.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Paul Donato Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes Yes PHARMACEUTICAL ACCESS, COSTS AND TRANSPARENCY (H 4910) House 158-0, approved a bill that supporters say would make major changes and reforms to the state’s pharmaceutical system by lowering the cost of drugs at the pharmacy counter and improving oversight of the pharmaceutical industry. They said the measure protects patients and independent pharmacists by regulating the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry; banning many of the industry’s worst business practices; and reducing or eliminating co-pays for certain chronic conditions. “Many folks in Massachusetts face cost barriers in access to the medications they are prescribed, especially for many of our most vulnerable residents who live with chronic disease,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “This bill aims to reduce the out-of-pocket cost of certain lifesaving drugs and ban certain business practices that are commonly used by PBMs to increase their own profits at the expense of patients.” "[The bill] would go a long way toward helping people in Massachusetts living with diabetes and other chronic conditions by reducing barriers to care, improving access to lifesaving and life-sustaining medication and reducing out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions,” said Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition Board Chair, Hunter Limbaugh.“We are encouraged by its progress and will continue to advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors by working with the Massachusetts Legislature all the way to the governor's desk." The Senate has already approved a different version of the bill and a House-Senate conference committee will try to hammer out a compromise version. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes LONG TERM CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING (S 2889) Senate 39-0, approved a bill making changes to the state’s long term care and assisted living industry which supporters said will take “a powerful step towards delivering the high quality and safe care that Massachusetts seniors deserve by substantially strengthening oversight and enforcement while also requiring facilities to create outbreak plans should a health issue arise.” Provisions include allowing assisted living residences to offer basic health services such as helping a resident administer drops, manage their oxygen or take a home diagnostic test; requiring long-term care facilities to produce infection outbreak response plans; requiring the Department of Public Health (DPH) to inspect facilities every nine to 15 months and authorizing it to restrict or revoke licenses when facilities are failing to provide adequate care or not complying with regulations; allowing for a temporary manager to be appointed to bring floundering facilities into compliance; raising penalties that the attorney general can impose for the abuse and neglect of patients; and creating an LGBTQ+ bill of rights for aging residents to prohibit discrimination based on their LGBTQ+ identity or HIV status. “Today the Senate took an important step forward to ensure that our aging residents have safe, equitable and high quality care,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “It is far too common—and unacceptable—for residents in assisted living facilities to receive subpar care. By boosting transparency and accountability, the Senate is continuing to create a compassionate commonwealth where all residents can age with dignity.” Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), Senate Chair of the Committee on Elder Affairs, said the bill will improve care and stability in nursing homes and assisted living residences. “The pandemic revealed starkly the lack of nursing home preparedness for the spread of fatal diseases,” said Jehlen. “Many of us knew someone or relatives of someone who passed during that disaster.” “Even homes with consistently high ratings lost many residents,” continued Jehlen. “This bill offers measures to address issues in nursing homes and assisted living facilities; issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community when looking for care; bariatric care; and pooled trusts. It also ensures facilities that are not compliant with safe standards face consequences and are held responsible.” The House has already approved a different version of the bill and a conference committee will attempt to hammer out a compromise version. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Jason Lewis Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL HEALEY SIGNS FIREARMS CHANGES (H 4885) –Gov. Healey signed into law a bill that would change some of the state’s gun laws. Provisions include cracking down on untraceable "ghost guns;" banning firearms in additional public spaces like schools, polling places and government buildings;expanding the 2018 "red flag" law that allows school administrators and licensed health care providers to petition a court to temporarily take firearms away from someone deemed a threat to themselves or others; closing loopholes that allow the modification of legal firearms into illegal automatic weapons; and providing a legacy clause so all firearms legally owned and registered in Massachusetts as of the effective date of the bill will continue to be legal and may be bought and sold within the state. “Massachusetts is proud of our strong gun laws, but there is always more work to be done to keep our communities safe from violence,” said Gov. Healey. “This legislation updates our firearms laws in response to the Supreme Court’s misguided Bruen decision.It cracks down on ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons, which I have long advocated for, enhances our ability to prevent guns from falling into dangerous hands and invests in our communities to address the root causes of violence. This law will save lives.” “This legislation reflects the input of many, including law enforcement officials, community advocates, gun owners and healthcare workers,” said Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “It provides the tools needed to better protect our residents from the epidemic of gun violence and to prevent future tragedies. With support from both chambers and the governor’s signature today, Massachusetts can once again stand proudly by its record as a national leader on gun safety and more importantly, we will save countless lives.” "Massachusetts has taken a huge step forward today towards keeping our communities safer from gun violence,” said Ruth Zakarin, CEO of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. “There is no one size fits all solution to the gun violence crisis that plagues our nation, and we appreciate the comprehensive, multifaceted approach that this bill takes towards ending this epidemic.” RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY FOR JAILED PRISONERS (S 2883) – The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill that would provide a Massachusetts identification card to incarcerated individuals who will soon be released from prison and will be re-entering society. Supporters said the proposal codifies the Healey administration’s efforts to provide identification to citizens returning to society.They noted that many people returning to society will do so without any means of proving who they are, which presents a significant challenge when accessing government assistance programs that help people secure housing, food, employment and various other basic needs. They argued that denying individuals this support is setting them up for failure and making it more likely that they will recidivate. “I am proud to be the lead sponsor of this bill that will give returning citizens access to the services and support they need to move on to the next chapter of their lives and succeed in our state,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “When an individual leaves incarceration, they deserve the chance to provide for themselves and their families without any obstacles in front of them. I am committed to getting this commonsense policy over the finish line to ensure we give every Massachusetts resident the opportunity to thrive.” DNA AND STATUTE OR LIMITATIONS (H 4836) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would amend the law to allow prosecutors to bring rape charges at any time if the perpetrator is identified through DNA evidence collected from a victim. Currently, the 15-year statute of limitations is a barrier to prosecution of serial offenders, as more than 15 years may elapse before a perpetrator is identified through DNA evidence. “By eliminating the statute of limitations when DNA evidence is matched to a perpetrator, this bill will enable more successful prosecution of sexual predators,” said co-sponsor Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “I co-filed this bill … because every survivor of sexual violence deserves justice, and removing this barrier to prosecution will help get dangerous predators off the streets.” “No arbitrary time limit should stand in the way of survivors getting justice for horrific crimes they endure or prevent prosecutors and law enforcement from getting dangerous predators off the streets,” said co-sponsor Rep. Adam Scanlon (D-North Attleborough). “[This] is an important step toward removing that obstacle that currently stands in the way of justice for so many survivors, and I will keep fighting for them until this bill is law.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Expanding our forest canopy is one piece of the larger puzzle to combatting climate change in Massachusetts. With continuous heat waves leading to higher energy bills and greater greenhouse gas emissions, our Greening the Gateway Cities Program leverages our state resources and engages residents to help plant trees and enhance public health. Reducing the urban heat island effect is a top priority, and our non-profit partnerships … will help cool our neighborhoods, towns and cities.” --- Rebecca Tepper, Secretary of the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on awarding $1 million in grants to support tree planting in Gateway Cities across the state. “This collaborative initiative strives to increase the parole system’s transparency while supporting individuals as they navigate the reentry process and plan for a successful return to the community.The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is grateful to our many partners in this effort and reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing innovative programs that enhance public safety, reduce recidivism and build safer communities.” ---Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy on the launch of a pilot program to educate and support incarcerated individuals through the parole process. “We are excited to launch the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, a delicious route that highlights the incredible diversity of our dairy farms and ice cream shops. Massachusetts has a vibrant agricultural sector that thrives thanks to the hardworking farmers who diligently support our communities. This new tourism trail is designed to invite residents and visitors to experience our creative dessert offerings at traditional parlors, innovative shops and local farm stands.” ---Gov. Healey announcing the launch of the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, an initiative celebrating the rich history of ice cream making in the Bay State and encouraging residents and visitors to explore the flavors and experiences offered by more than 100 ice cream destinations across the state. “Gov. Maura Healey, Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka are making policy choices that come with significant economic costs to the taxpayers. While they signal with their lack of policy reforms that the state can afford to cover the financial costs for the world’s migrants, the center’s study shines a light on what their lack of action is costing the taxpayers. Massachusetts taxpayers better be ready for the fiscal time bomb our governor and Statehouse leaders have set us up for. ---Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, commenting on a new study examining the economic cost to Massachusetts taxpayers for the state’s migrant and illegal immigration crisis. 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 preceding the end of an annual session. During the week July 22-26. the House met for a total of 12 hours and 33 minutes and the Senate met for a total of ten hours and eight minutes. Mon. July 22 House11:02 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. Senate 11:45 a.m. to 12:31 p.m. Tues.July 23 No House session No Senate session Wed. July 24 House11:04 a.m. to4:55 p.m. Senate1:07 p.m. to4:25 p.m. Thurs. July 25 House11:00 a.m. to5:28 p.m. Senate 11:06 a.m. to5:10 p.m. Fri. July 26 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.

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