THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 “As the former chair of the ComTHE HOUSE AND SENATE. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week, This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call record local senators’ votes on amendments to the “Mental Health ABC Act,” aimed at making major changes in the mental health care system in Massachusetts. Supporters say the bill removes barriers to and expands access to mental health care, boosts the industry’s workforce and strengthens the quality of coverage. PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE (S 2519) Senate 37-0 approved an amendment creating a pediatric mental health care task force to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the delivery of pediatric mental health services in the state and make recommendations to improve the availability, access and cost-eff ectiveness of these services. Amendment supporters said there are thousands of children with treatable mental disorders who are not receiving proper mental health treatment and are falling through the cracks. They argued that the waiting period for a bed in an appropriate facility is too long and these kids are suff ering. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes CONFIDENTIALITY FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS (S 2519) Senate 37-0 approved an amendment adding corrections offi cers to a current law that ensures confi dentiality for police, fi re, EMTs and other fi rst responders who seek mental health service or referrals from a peer counselor. “Adding correctional officers … means they will be afforded the same protections as fi refi ghters, police offi cers and EMTs when seeking confi dential mental health assistance,” said the amendment’s sponsor Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Those that work in corrections are subject to traumatic incidents on a routine basis, making access to confi dential mental health treatment critical to eff orts in preventing suicide among correction offi cers.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes CHILDREN UNDER 22 (S 2519) Senate 37-0 approved an amendment to ensure that individuals under the age of 22 in the emergency room who are in need of inpatient or residential psychiatric treatment are placed in an appropriate facility within 48 hours of admission to the emergency department. mittee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, I am especially sensitive to the urgency of taking care of our most vulnerable young people at a time when failing to treat them can exacerbate their issues and lead to their longer-term failure to thrive,” said Sen. Joan Lovely (DSalem). “I am pleased that my Senate colleagues unanimously voted to pass my amendment to ensure children under 22 receive appropriate emergency psychiatric treatment.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes 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 fi led. 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 of February 17-21, the House met for a total of 20 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 40 minutes. Mon. February 17 No House session Wed. February 19 No House session Fri. February 21 No House session No Senate session Tues. February 18 House 11:03 a.m. to 11:12 a.m. Senate 11:20 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. No Senate session Thurs. February 20 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:13 a.m. Senate 11:13 a.m. to 11:21 a.m. No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com T Page 17 Photo Contest: “The Sun Rises & Sets on Revere” he “Sun Rises and Sets on Revere” Photo Contest has been announced by the City of Revere, DCR and the collaborating nonprofi t organizations: the Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation, the Revere Beautification Committee and others. The competition aims to fi nd the most exceptional photographs of the sunrises and sunsets on Revere from photographers from all over the surrounding communities. The “Sun Rises and Sets on Revere” winning photographs and photographer credit will be featured on SPLASH | FROM PAGE 10 Harpoon Brewery, JetBlue, Mix 104.1, The Daily Catch, The Blue Sky Collaborative, The Boston Foundation, The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation, Beacon Capital Partners, P&G Gillette, National Grid and Comcast. Save the Harbor also thanks Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs State Representative RoseLee Vincent and State Senator Brendan Crighton, the legislative and community members on the Commission, the Baker-Polito Administration, Save the Harbor’s partners at the Department of Conservation & Recreation, the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the YMCA of Greater Boston and the hundreds of people who take part in the Harpoon Shamrock Splash every year for their support. decorative display banners to be placed along Revere Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue during the upcoming 2020 summer and fall season. Each contestant can submit up to two photographs for consideration. The completed project aims to display 40 banners along Revere Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue: 10 to represent sunrise (fi ve) and sunset (fi ve). The deadline for entry is March 2, 2020; you can review the full list of eligibility criteria and instructions to submit your photo at www. revere.org/sunrise. About Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay As the region’s leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, the region’s public beaches and the Boston Harbor Islands, Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay’s mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay and the marine environment and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy. For more information about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the great work it does to restore, protect and share Boston Harbor and the region’s public beaches, please visit the website www.savehtheharbor.org, the blog “Sea, Sand & Sky” at blog.savetheharbor.org or follow ”savetheharbor” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. RHS and Immaculate Conception Classes of 1960 host 60th Reunion – Oct. 9 R evere High School Class of 1960 and Immaculate Conception Class of 1960 are hosting their 60th Reunion on Friday, October 9, 2020, at Spinelli’s in Peabody on Route One, from 5 to 9 p.m. Contact Evelyn Morris at 781-289-1790 for information.
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