Page 22 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2023 cial Services Committee would require insurance companies to provide a written notifi cation to customers when the company charges a fee to process an electronic payment transaction for an automobile insurance policy. “I fi led this bill after hearing from a constituent who was being charged by their insurance company for making online payments and had never been notifi ed that they would be subject to these fees,” said sponsor GOP Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This is a pro-consumer bill that will help to ensure that insurance companies provide full disclosure to their policyholders on WASTE REMOVAL & BUILDING MAINTENANCE • Landscaping, Lawn Care, Mulching • Yard Waste & Rubbish Removal • Interior & Exterior Demolition (Old Decks, Fences, Pools, Sheds, etc.) • Appliance and Metal Pick-up • Construction and Estate Cleanouts • Pick-up Truck Load of Trash starting at $169 • Carpentry LICENSED & INSURED Call for FREE ESTIMATES! any additional fees they may assess for conducting these types of transactions.” TAX CREDITS FOR FAMILIES CARING FOR ILL OR ELDERLY LOVED ONES AT HOME (S 1906 and S 1908) – The Revenue Committee held a hearing on a pair of bills fi led by Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) which would off er tax credits to families taking care of sick or elderly relatives at home. S 1906 would provide a $2,500 tax credit for families that provide more than half of the support for a relative who is at least 70 years old, or a totally disabled relative with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. The relative must have lived with the family for more than six months within the year the tax credit is provided. S 1908 would off er a $5,000 tax credit to individuals who pay for direct home health services for themselves or elderly parents and in-laws aged 60 and over. The legislation would also allow a $5,000 tax credit to individuals who pay for direct home hospice services from a licensed provider for either themselves or another. “Caregivers are most often family members,” said the bills’ sponsor Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “Whether they’re staying home to take care of family or bringing in additional help, these individuals shouldn’t have to worry about difficult financial decisions. These bills seek to ease their burden and allow them to spend more quality time with their loved ones.” EXPAND THE THE BAN ON THE USE OF PESTICIDES WHERE CHILDREN ARE PRESENT (S 444) – The Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on a proposal that would expand a current law which restricts pesticide application where children are present including outdoor property of a school, childcare center or school age childcare program while children are locatCOMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES & RENTALS Happy Spring! Sandy Juliano Broker/President EVERETT - 26-26A Victoria Street. 2 family, 5 & 6 room, $850,000. Call Sandy at 617-448-0854 UNDER AGREEMENT LISTED BY NORMA! Follow Us On: UNDER AGREEMENT EVERETT 5 Bedroom Single Family. 129 Walnut St., Everett $629,900. Call Norma for details 617-590-9143 List Your Home or Apartment With Us! Open Daily From 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. 433 Broadway, Suite B, Everett, MA 02149 www.jrs-properties.com Joe DiNuzzo 617-680-7610 Norma Capuano Parziale 617-590-9143 Rosemarie Ciampi 617-957-9222 ed in, on or adjacent to the area of the pesticide application. The bill would expand the current restrictions to include property occupied by the Department of Children and Families, facilities of the Juvenile Court, facilities of the Department of Youth Services and sports fi elds used for town youth teams. “I believe this bill would help to protect children in and around [these] facilities from pesticide exposure,” said sponsor Sen. Will Brownsberger (DBelmont). QUOTABLE QUOTES “It took over a decade but as a result of this litigation and with credit due to the brave offi cers who filed this case, the commonwealth is now taking steps to create a police promotional exam that will fairly treat Black and Hispanic candidates. This outcome means the officers are going to get some substantial money.” — Harold Lichten, lead attorney for the police offi cers who won a $40 million settlement between the state and a class of minority police offi cers resolving claims made in the class action lawsuit that a promotional exam used by various police departments discriminates against minority police offi cers who took the exam. “When valid alternative methDenise Matarazzo 617-953-3023 617-294-1041 ods are available, there is absolutely no reason why we should allow any company to experiment on such precious creatures. This legislation will enhance protections for these animals and assure consumers that the products they purchase are not created to the detriment of these living beings.” —Sen. Mark Montigny (DNew Bedford) on his legislation that would require companies to use non-animal-based testing methods for cosmetics and other household products. “By allowing all eligible students to receive in-state tuition, Massachusetts would make college dramatically more aff ordable for tens of thousands of individuals currently without status in the commonwealth. Tuition equity would increase enrollment at state colleges and universities and create a stronger, more empowered workforce to drive our state’s future.” — Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) Coalition Executive Director Elizabeth Sweet on a Senate budget proposal that would allow some undocumented/illegal immigrants to qualify for lower in-state tuition rates if they attended high school in the Bay State for at least three years and graduated or completed high school Graduation Equivalency Degree. “While our audit of the Legislature is ongoing, yes, leadership is still refusing to comply. So, in order to conduct this audit in the most meaningful way, our offi ce is currently reviewing every possible legal step we may unfortunately need to take to support the completion of our audit, as a result of their continued non-compliance.” —State Auditor Diana DiZoglio telling the State House News Service about the status of DiZoglio’s plan to audit the Legislature which has met with resistance from House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) who says her intent is without legal support or precedent, and runs contrary to multiple, explicit provisions of the Massachusetts Constitution. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and enate 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 May 8-12, the House met for a total of 21 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 20 minutes. Mon. May 8 House 11:04 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. Senate 11:10 a.m. to 11:18 a.m. Tues. May 9 No House session No Senate session Wed. May 10 No House session No Senate session Thurs. May 11 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:09 a.m. Senate 11:04 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. Fri. May 12 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 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net
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