THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024 Page 15 sign that reads as follows: “Veteran parking Only. This space is reserved for those who have served. Unauthorized vehicles may be removed at the vehicle owner’s expense.” Violators would be fi ned $100 and cities and towns would be allowed to tow the offending vehicles at the owners’ expense. “Supporting veterans is a fundamental duty and reserving parking spaces for them through this bill is a modest way to show our gratitude” said sponsor Sen. Pavel Payano (D-Lawrence). “It’s a small step, but it refl ects our ongoing commitment to honor their service.” BAN COAL ROLLING (H 1698) — The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would prohibit anyone driving a diesel-powered vehicle from releasing signifi cant quantities of soot, smoke or other particular emissions that obstruct or obscure another driver’s view of the roadway. The measure also bans anyone from retrofi tting a dieselpowered vehicle with a device, smokestack or other equipment that enhances the vehicle’s capacity to emit these pollutants. Violators would be fi ned from $100 to $1,000. “Coal rolling … is the practice of deliberately emitting soot from the modifi ed exhaust pipes of a diesel-powered truck that can be directed at other vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians and pose a serious danger as the black smoke can intentionally impair visibility” said sponsor Rep. Brian Murray (D-Milford). “It serves no useful purpose and is clearly harmful to the environment, as well as associated with known health risks and respiratory issues. This bill would make it unlawful to add equipment to a vehicle for coal rolling and subject those who may continue this practice to a penalty of not less than $100 or more than $1,000.” USE OF BREAKDOWN LANE (H 3370) — The House gave initital approval to legislation that would double fi nes for motor vehicles speeding in the far-right lane, or “breakdown” lane in areas where travel in that lane is permitted during peak commuting hours. “While allowing travel in the far-right lane is essential on some highways in the commonwealth to temporarily provide traffi c relief during peak hours, many motorists use this lane as a high-speed passing lane, risking the safety of disabled motor vehicles, emergency personnel and themselves,” said sponsor Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick). “Numerous accidents and fatalities have occurred due to excessive speed in the breakdown lanes. This legislation will not only further protect those who dedicate their lives to our safety but will protect motorist safety as well.” A speeding ticket fi ne imposed on a driver is $100 for any speed up to 10 miles per hour above the speed limit. An additional $10 fi ne is added for each additional mile per hour above the fi rst ten. The legislation doubles the total fi ne. For example, if you are traveling 25 miles above the speed limit, the fi ne would be $250 ($100 for the fi rst ten miles above and $150 for the additional 15 miles above). QUOTABLE QUOTES “Our administration is deeply committed not only to preventing overdoses in our state, but also providing the incredible organizations doing the work in communities with the tools they need to improve health outcomes and save lives. By investing in these diverse organizations now, we are laying the foundation for them to have the resources they need to address the overdose crisis appropriately and quickly in the future.” ---Gov. Maura Healey announcing the awarding of $2.9 million to 20 organizations led by Black, Indigenous and people of color to address substance use in the communities they serve, which continue to be disproportionately impacted by increases in overdoses. “We see the impact of the overdose epidemic every day — thousands are dying every year in Massachusetts from preventable overdoses, and we need to utilize every tool we have to address the crisis. Overdose prevention centers are proven, evidence-based facilities that can save lives and connect people to health care, treatment and recovery and their community.” ---Dave Foley, President of SEIU Local 509 announcing support for establishing overdose prevention centers in the Bay State. “We urge everyone to be vigilant when performing transactions or providing information online for RMV-related services. Customers should avoid using any unofficial third-party websites claiming to assist with RMV services and inform their relatives and friends about this as well.” ---Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “Solar power is clean, local and abundant and is already playing a leading role in Massachusetts’ transition away from dirty energy sources. Gov. Healey’s leadership in setting an ambitious yet achievable goal of 1 million solar roofs by 2030 will help turbocharge solar in Massachusetts.” --- Johanna Neumann, Acting Director of Environment Massachusetts, urging Healey and Climate Chief Hoff er to make solar energy a key part of Massachusetts’ strategy to address climate change. 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 April 1-5, the House met for a total of six hour and ten minutes and the Senate met for a total of 42 minutes. Mon. April 1 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tues. April 2 No House session No Senate session Wed. April 3 House 11:03 a.m. to 2:58 p.m. No Senate session Thurs. April 4 House 11:01 a.m. to 1:01 p.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 11:44 a.m. Fri. April 5 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. Choosing a Senior Community That Offers All Levels of Care Dear Savvy Senior, Can you help me identify some good senior living communities that off ers all levels of housing and care from independent living to nursing home care? I am in my late seventies and know I need to downsize from my current house, but I want my next move to be my last. One Move Mary Dear Mary, If you want your next move to be your last, an all-inclusive retirement community — also known as a continuing-care retirement community (or CCRC) — is a great option to consider. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you locate one. What are CCRCs? CCRCs are diff erent from other types of senior housing because they provide all levels of housing, services and care in one convenient location. While the appearance and services of CCRCs can vary greatly, most provide apartments or sometimes singlefamily homes for active independent seniors. In addition, they also off er onsite assisted living for seniors who require help with basic living tasks like bathing, dressing or going to the bathroom, and nursing home care for residents when their health declines. CCRCs also provide a variety of resort-style amenities and services that include community dining halls, exercise facilities, housekeeping, and transportation, as well as many social and recreational activities. But be aware that all these services come at a hefty price. Most communities have entry fees that range from less the $100,000 to more than $1 million, plus ongoing monthly fees that generally range from $2,000 to $5,000 for singles ($3,000 to $6,000 for couples) depending on the facility, services and the contract option you choose. With more than 2,000 CCRCs in operation throughout the U.S, fi nding a facility that fi ts your lifestyle, needs and budget will require some legwork. Here are some steps that can help you proceed. Make a list: To fi nd CCRCs in the area you want to live go to MyLifeSite.net and Caring.com, which provide online lists. Once you’ve located a few, call them to fi nd out if they have any vacancies, what they charge and if they provide the types of services you want. Take a tour: Many CCRCs encourage potential residents to stay overnight and have a few meals in their dining hall. During your visit, notice the upkeep of the facility and talk to the current residents to see how they like living there. Also, check out the assisted living and nursing facilities, and fi nd out how decisions are made to move residents from one level of care to another. Do some research: While on your tour, fi nd out who owns the CCRC and get a copy of their most recently audited fi - nancial statement and review it. Also fi nd out their occupancy rate. Unless it’s a newer community filling up, occupancy below 80 percent can be a red fl ag that the facility is having fi nancial or management problems. To investigate the CCRC’s long-term care services call your state long-term care ombudsman (see LTCombudsman. org) who can tell you if the assisted living and nursing care services had any complaints or problems. You can also use Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/carecompare. Understand the contract and fees: Most CCRCs offer three types of contracts: Lifecare, or Type A contracts, which have the highest entry fee but covers all levels of long-term care as needed; Type B, or modifi ed contracts that have lower entry fees but limits long-term care services in the initial fee; and Type C, or fee-for-service contracts, which off er the lowest entrance fees but requires you to pay extra for long-term care if you need it. You also need to find out what yearly price increases you can expect? How much of your entry fee is refundable to you if you move or die? And what happens if you outlive your fi - nancial resources? To help you sort through all this, consult with your fi nancial advisor or lawyer before committing. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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