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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 3, 2025 Page 19 BHRC | FROM PAGE 17 critical funding for hospitals and community health centers in the Bay State while also reimbursing for services for uninsured and underinsured residents. The package includes $199 million in relief for acute care hospitals, including $122 million in targeted payments to facilities serving low-income patients and facing the greatest financial distress. Another $77 million would be transferred to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, which helps reimburse hospitals and health centers for care provided to uninsured residents. Community health centers would receive $35 million, including $2.5 million directed to the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers for initiatives such as shared services. “It is important to support our hospitals and community health centers so our residents get the access and quality of care they deserve across Massachusetts,” said Gov. Healey. “This package is a step forward in maintaining our world-class health care ecosystem. We have the best hospitals in the world, but with existing strains on our health care system and the harm coming from President Trump’s budget cuts, we need to support our trusted institutions that provide people the care they need.” “Our hospitals and community health centers continue to step up to care for those most in need despite being under enormous financial pressure," said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Committee on Health Care Financing. "New policies from the federal government will only exacerbate the strain on our health care infrastructure, so for Massachusetts to continue to be a leader in providing exceptional health care, we need care to be accessible, especially to our most vulnerable populations.” “This funding will help to ensure that financially strained hospitals and community health centers can continue to serve patients across Massachusetts,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “As broad fiscal uncertainty and actions taken by the Trump Administration continue to exacerbate the challenges that hospitals are already facing, this supplemental budget is the latest example of the work that we are doing here in Massachusetts to provide targeted support where it is needed most.” “Massachusetts has a healthcare ecosystem that is the envy of other states, and that doesn’t happen by accident,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “It is in large part because of our health care providers' commitment to providing top-notch care to every resident who comes through their doors. This funding will help stabilize our hospitals and community health centers as we continue to face federal chaos.” REQUIRE ARMCHAIRS IN RESTAURANTS (S 158) – The Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing on a bill that would require all restaurants, lounges and bars to have at least 5 percent of their seating options be armchairs, or have armchairs on-site and available upon request. "I filed this legislation after meeting a constituent in June 2022 who expressed the dangers the elderly and physically impaired individuals face when using chairs without arms, namely that they run the risk of slipping or falling,” said sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “Armchairs provide support for individuals who need assistance standing up or sitting down, while also inhibiting them from falling once seated. It is my hope that by providing the physically handicapped with the available assistance, it will make their service safer and more accommodating." STUDY CHINESE COMPANIES IN MASSACHUSETTS (H 487) – A hearing was held by the Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee on a measure that would establish a special commission to study the financial relationship between Massachusetts entities and companies owned by the Chinese government. “This legislation will provide lawmakers and the public with vital information about the nature and size of Chinese investment in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “In recent years, the Chinese government has attempted to use its economic power to influence the policies of foreign governments, such as Canada and Australia, by imprisoning visiting businesspeople on spurious charges, abruptly terminating contracts with foreign companies after upfront expenses have been paid and stealing intellectual property.” Jones continued, “Massachusetts companies, specifically those in the biotech, software, manufacturing and finance sectors, are particularly vulnerable to pressure applied by the Chinese government. By creating a commission to study the financial relationship between Massachusetts entities and companies owned by the Chinese government, [this bill] will help identify the state’s economic vulnerabilities so we can devise an effective strategy to protect local industries.” POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER DISABILITY PENSION (H 2940) – The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would allow a police officer or firefighter who is granted a disability retirement pension, to have any previous period of leave from their service to be covered as if that time out of service was an absence.By such designation, they will have the right to receive any retroactive pay or personnel actions on account of this absence designation. Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield), the sponsor of the measure, said he filed this legislation after a member of the National Association for Government Employees brought it to his attention that police officers and firefighters were not receiving compensation during their leave of absence prior to them being granted their disability retirement pension. "The negative financial impacts placed on our first responders due to this delay in pay is unjust. Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to serve communities across the commonwealth, and this bill is a step forward in making sure they are supported when they sustain injuries in the line of duty." said Puppolo. BILLS HEARD BY THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY – Several bills had a hearing before the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security including: ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT FOR INJURED POLICE DOGS (H 2738) – Would ensure that specially trained police dogs who are hurt in the line of duty can receive timely, advanced emergency medical care from licensed EMS personnel. The bill authorizes EMTs and paramedics to provide treatment — including advanced life support procedures and transport — to injured K9s without facing liability or regulatory barriers. Supporters said the measure builds on a recently approved law that allows basic first aid for injured police dogs. They noted this bill takes the next step to ensure that these working dogs receive the same level of emergency response available to humans, recognizing their critical role in protecting the public and supporting law enforcement. “I filed this bill because our police dogs are true partners in law enforcement, often putting themselves in harm’s way to protect officers and the public,” said sponsor Rep. Steven Xiarhos (R-Barnstable). “When they are injured, they deserve the very best chance at survival, and that means allowing advanced life support care in the field. This bill ensures that we honor their service with the same urgency and professionalism that they give us every day.” “Our police K9s are on the front lines every day protecting officers and our communities,” continued Xiarhos. “This bill makes sure they get the advanced life-saving care they deserve when injured in the line of duty.” PURPLE ALERT SYSTEM FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (H 2657) – Would create a Purple Alert system to assist law enforcement in identifying and locating missing persons with disabilities. The system would be modeled after the current Amber Alert system which is designed to ask the public for help in finding abducted children. The Purple Alert would apply to a person with at least one of these conditions: a mental or cognitive disability that is not Alzheimer's disease or a dementia-related disorder; an intellectual disability or a developmental disability including Down syndrome; a brain injury; or another physical, mental or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse. “The Amber Alert system has demonstrated extraordinary, life-saving effectiveness, contributing to the recovery of more than 1,000 children since its inception in 1996,” said sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “However, no parallel mechanism currently exists to assist in identifying and locating adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who may be missing or endangered. Several states, including Connecticut, Rhode Island and Florida, have enacted Purple Alert legislation to address this gap. I look forward to examining how similar legislation could strengthen the commonwealth’s capacity to protect and serve all of its residents." BAN USE OF TEAR GAS AGAINST CIVILIANS (S 1758) – Would ban the use of tear gas on civilians and require that police actively work in good faith with organizers of mass demonstrations to avoid conflict. It would require a police department with advance knowledge of the event to designate an officer in charge of de-escalation planning to discuss the logistical plans and strategies with the demonstration organizers. “Tear gas is banned as a weapon of war,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “It should not be used against civilians on domestic soil. Tear gas can cause serious, long-term health impacts, including blindness, emotional trauma and reproductive health repercussions. Using tear gas is an outdated and dangerous crowd-control tactic that adds to chaos and violence rather than reducing it. This ban, which includes support for de-escalation measures, would make the commonwealth safer for demonstrators - LEGAL NOTICE - NOTICE OF TIER CLASSIFICATION 35 GREEN STREET LLC RELEASE TO SOIL AND GROUNDWATER 35 GREEN STREET, MALDEN MA RELEASE TRACKING NUMBER 3-50890 A release of oil and/or hazardous materials has occurred at this location, which is a disposal site as defined by M.G.L. c. 21E, § 2 and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, 310 CMR 40.0000. To evaluate the release, a Phase I Initial Site Investigation was performed pursuant to 310 CMR 40.0480. The site has been classified as Tier II pursuant to 310 CMR 40.0500. On September 25, 2025, 35 Green Street LLC, filed a Tier II Classification Submittal with the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). To obtain more information on this disposal site, please contact Jeffrey L. Arps, Licensed Site Professional, of Tighe & Bond, Inc., The Tier Classification Submittal and the disposal site file can be viewed at MassDEP website http://public.dep.state.ma.us/SearchableSites2/Search.aspx using Release Tracking Number (RTN) 3-50890 at http://public.dep.state.ma.us/ SearchableSites2/Search.aspx or at MassDEP, Northeast Regional Office, 150 Presidential Way, Woburn, MA, 01801, 978-694-3200. Additional public involvement opportunities are available under 310 CMR 40.1403(9) and 310 CMR 40.1404. October 3, 2025 and police alike.” MASSACHUSETTS LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL FUND (H 2728) – Would establish a Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Fund to be used to make annual payments to the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial which memorializes and honors Massachusetts law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty. "Dedicated in 2004, the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial in Ashburton Park commemorates the sacrifices of more than 400 Massachusetts law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty,” said sponsor Rep. Tom Walsh (D-Peabody). “[This bill] provides for the production and sale of specialty license plates with the proceeds directed towards the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, supporting the stewardship and upkeep of the memorial, similar to the funding mechanism providing for the maintenance of the Firefighters Memorial across the park." QUOTABLE QUOTES "A [federal government] shutdown could create challenges for certain spending accounts in the [state’s] General Federal Grants Fund, revenue collected through federal reimbursement and for [state] programs run and funded primarily by the federal government." ---From a memo from the Healey Administration to state government officials which are girding for the possibility of a federal government shutdown, instructing them to summarize concerns about their ability to address payroll concerns and to lay out their plans to protect Massachusetts residents and resources. “Massachusetts leads the nation in education and innovation because we know success starts in our classrooms BHRC | SEE PAGE 20

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