THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 4, 2022 Page 9 BHRC | FROM PAGE 8 tients at unnecessary risk.” “Providing access to groundbreaking treatments that help improve the quality of life for those fi ghting cancer, debilitating diseases and a wide range of other medical conditions is a vitally important step we need to take, which is why the Senate acted again today to pass this critically important legislation,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This bill is a major step forward in ensuring patients and doctors have access to the right medication at the right time,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Committee on Health Care Financing. “We are fi nally joining over half the states in the nation in reforming step therapy practices, putting the focus back on health care providers working with patients to offer the best treatment possible.” SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS (H 5094) – The Senate approved a bill that would allow fully licensed speech pathologists to be granted a provisional license to practice in Massachusetts during their 36-month fellowship. Currently, Massachusetts is one of only eight states that does not provide a provisional license that allows their students to begin practicing during their fellowship. Supporters said that by forbidding their right to practice during their 36-month fellowship, the state runs the risk of losing professionals educated in the Bay State to other states where they become valuable members of their community and welcomed additions to the economy. “The commonwealth has faced a shortage of the vital services our speech language pathologists provide our public-school children—an issue we should not have in a state that is home to eight graduate programs in the fi eld,” said sponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). “This legislation will assure we do not lose these talented professionals to other states during their 36-month fellowship by providing them with provisional licensure to practice during that time.” The House has already approved the measure and only fi nal approval in each branch is needed for the bill to go to Gov. Baker. ROSA PARKS DAY (H 3189) – The House approved and sent to the Senate legislation that would designate February 4th as Rosa Parks Day, in recognition of the historic civil rights leader. Parks famously refused to give her bus seat up to a white man On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama. Co-sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg) said he co-sponsored the measure in order to bring awareness and representation to the heroic actions of Rosa Parks during the Civil Rights Movement. “February 4th is the birthday of Rosa Parks, so it will be a great reminder to all those within the commonwealth to refl ect on the role she played in raising international awareness of the struggles for civil rights…I am ecstatic that the house has acknowledged the importance of honoring Rosa Parks." “Rosa Parks was a hero of the civil rights movement whose small but courageous act to challenge segregation kindled and continues to inspire the fi ght for justice and equality of all peoples,” said co-sponsor Rep. Kip Diggs (D-Barnstable). SEXUAL ASSAULT COUNSELORS (H 5363) – The House approved and sent to the Senate a proposal that would create a task force on sexual assault counselors to make recommendations on establishing statewide certifi - cation and updating training standards for sexual assault counselors. “The standards for training and certifi cation haven’t been updated in decades and sexual violence survivor serving organizations are interested in creating a consensus around updating those standards through this task force before fi ling new legislation,” said co-sponsor Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) … “I worked and volunteered as a sexual violence counselor for nearly a decade across two diff erent organizations in two counties and support the eff orts to reconsider the minimum standards of training.” “While we are proud to have systems in place to provide services to victims of sexual assault here in Massachusetts, we must make sure that those who victims turn to at their most vulnerable moments are properly trained and qualifi ed for the sensitive work they do,” said co-sponsor Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This legislation will ensure that all rape crisis centers and sexual assault counsellors will meet the same strict standards, regardless of how their service is provided.” SIKH MONTH (H 4569) – The House approved and sent to the Senate legislation making the month of April Sikh Appreciation Month in recognition of the signifi cant contributions Sikhs have made to the Bay State and to the 3.50 BHRC | SEE PAGE 16 %APY* 36 Month CD Missing Out Doesn’t Add Up. IMPRESSIVE INTEREST AND A SHORT TERM JUST MAKES SENSE. Here’s your chance to run the numbers in your favor. Everett Bank’s 36 Month CD with an amazing 3.50% APY* gets you closer to those financial goals much faster. Easily calculate better earnings with Everett Bank’s 36 Month CD. Go to everettbank.com for details. ~ Letter-to-the-Editor ~ Malden voters were uninformed on new vocational school O n January 25, 2002 Malden voters were asked to approve funding for construction of a new Vocational High School in Wakefi eld to replace the existing one. The measure in Malden was passed by a vote of 666 - 151, with only 2% of eligible voters voting. What voters were not told before the vote was that the proposed new building would be built on top of a hillside, while student parking would be at the bottom of the hill, 60 feet below the elevation of the school. This will necessitate students walking up and down 105 steps every day, regardless of the weather and/or time of day. Voters were also not told that the site chosen is a relatively pristine forested hillside, which was originally part of Breakheart Reservation. The forest has documented vernal pools, essential habitat for many threatened species, and also hosts a population of Whip-poor-wills, a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts. Adjacent to the forest, and likely to be aff ected by the blasting that will be done to level part of the site, is breeding habitat for Prairie Warblers, Field Sparrows, Eastern Towhees, and Brown Thrashers, all of which are Species of Greatest Concern in Massachusetts as scrubland disappears from the Commonwealth. Finally, voters were also not told that the proposed site on top of the hill was chosen over another site which had previously been recommended in a preliminary feasibility study in 2016. That site would be at the same elevation as the parking lot, and would be more cost-effi - cient (since it would not require blasting of the hilltop). It also would not destroy a pristine forest, the vernal pools found within it, and critical habitat for species of concern. Vocational school students should have up-to-date facilities in which to learn, but do Malden residents want our children to have to climb the equivalent of six stories to get to school every day? Furthermore, do we want to destroy a pristine forest and the creatures in it, when a better and less expensive alternative exists? [Further information about the forest and the proposed new Vocational School can be found at NEMTForest.org.] Craig Jackson Almont Street Malden, MA Ask about our in-home or office concierge service. *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes that interest remains on deposit until maturity. A withdrawal will reduce earnings. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY.
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