Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages. com/su/aPTLucK GET FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and infl uence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Keith Regan and Matt Murphy who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from late night sessions in May. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. LIFT BAN ON DOCTORS DISPENSING RXs (4700) House 6-149, rejected an amendment that would repeal a current law that prohibits doctors from storing and dispensing some prescription medications directly to a patient. Amendment supporters said Massachusetts is one of only four states that still bans this practice. They argued that the amendment would save patients money by eliminating a layer of middlemen and allowing doctors to off er prescription drugs at wholesale costs. They noted that patients will save - LEGAL NOTICE - D CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for of requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: of be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve on the bond in administration. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (S 2844) Senate 14-26, rejected an amendment to a section of the bill that would legalize sports betting in the Bay State. A section of the bill establishes the application process when applying for a license to operate sports betting. The amendment would require that not less than 25 percent of an applicant’s score in the evaluation of their license shall be accounted for by the applicant’s diversity, equity and inclusion commitments and implementation plan; the applicant’s record of past performance on metrics related to diversity, equity and inclusion; and the applicant’s plan for inclusion of minority business enterprises and women business enterprises in development, fi - nancing, ownership, design, construction and operations. Amendment supporters said the amendment is based on a successful licensing model which is currently used by Massport. They noted the model has opened doors to many contractors and business owners of color that previously did not get the same consideration their white counterparts did—all while preserving fl exibility and competitiveness in the overall bidding process. Amendment opponents said that the bill already requires that the application’s score be based on several things about the applicant in addition to diversity, equity and inclusion. They argued that elevating the diversity requirement to account for a trip to the pharmacy and argued that studies indicate that compliance rates among patients will increase. Rep. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick), the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment. “Direct dispensing would eliminate the vital screening and counseling services performed by pharmacists at local pharmacies,” said amendment opponent Rep. Adrian Madaro (D-East Boston). “Decentralizing the dispensing of drugs to consumers away from pharmacists to thousands of doctor and clinic locations should not occur without more careful consideration by experts. The amendment would have added unnecessary confusion to well-established policies under the current legislation.” (A “Yes” vote is for allowing doctors to store and dispense some prescription medications directly to a patient. A “No” vote is against allowing it). Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Jeff Turco N o 25 percent of an applicant’s score is unfair to the very other important things that help develop the applicant’s score. Sens. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport) and Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow), two opponents of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL ADOPT ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH (S 613) – The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill that would require research labs to take reasonable steps to off er healthy animals up for adoption rather than euthanizing them when the research is done. According to supporters, more than 60,000 dogs and nearly 20,000 cats are used for animal experimentation in the US. “I fi led the bill to give animals used in medical and product testing experiments a life after the lab,” said sponsor Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) who noted that beagles are very docile and because of that they are often used in laboratories. In fact the majority of animal testing facilities rely on dogs—the greatest proportion of which are beagles. Dogs and other animals involved in research in Massachusetts make tremendous sacrifi ces to save our lives and make us healthier. We have a moral imperative to give them the opportunity for life after the lab.” ADOPT-A-SENIOR (S 427) – A proposal that would establish a statewide Adopt-A-Senior volunteer program to assist seniors with snow removal and property or home maintenance services received a favorable report from the Elder Aff airs Committee back on December 20, 2021 but has been languishing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee since that time. Provisions include creation of a registry of volunteers to match and place volunteers with seniors within their community. “The commonwealth’s seniors need support with things that many younger, able people would happily donate their time to provide,” said sponsor Sen. Mike Rush (D-Boston). “Connecting the people who need assistance with those who are willing to provide it is a no-brainer.” “I have always felt that volunteers make a community stronger,” said Rep. Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow). “There are many older residents who deserve to stay in their home but are no longer able to do all the maintenance that comes along with owning a home. Hiring someone can be diffi cult and too expensive on a fixed income. The Adopt-A-Senior program will allow seniors of any community access to the assistance they need while promoting community service—a winwin for everyone.” DONATE FOOD (S 954) A proposal that would provide civil liability protections to individuals, restaurants and organizations that make direct food donations to persons in need received a favorable report from the Judiciary Committee back on February 28, 2021 but has been languishing in the House Ways and Means Committee since that time. The donor would receive a tax credit or deduction. The bill also provides Massachusetts farmers who donate locally produced excess crops to nonprofi t food distribution organizations a tax credit for the year of the donation. “This legislation would encourage the donation of food during a time in which the commonwealth continues to struggle with food insecurity as a result of the pandemic,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). Our state saw the highest rate of growth in food insecurity in the nation during the pandemic and food donations are needed to serve our most vulnerable residents. This bill will also incentivize farmers to donate food, setting up a pipeline between farms and food donation organizations, strengthening our food system, and off ering farmers the opportunity for a tax credit.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “We have … more support in the Statehouse in both bodies than we’ve ever had before, and I can tell you as someone who works in other states as well, we have the most support in any Legislature that we’ve ever seen across the country. We really feel like now is the time and this is the session to do it.” --- Melissa Stacy, Northeast regional advocacy manager for Compassion and Choices, on the future of the “Right to Die” bill allowing terminally ill patients to request and receive medication to end their lives. “Students across the commonwealth were significantly impacted by the disruption to their learning and their social and emotional well-being caused by COVID-19, and it is imperative that we continue to provide the resources and support they need to thrive. We are pleased to be able to again provide this funding, and we are grateful to the community and educational partners statewide who will take advantage of these opportunities and greatly benefi t the commonwealth’s children.” ---Gov. Charlie Baker announcing nearly $60 million in state and federal funding is now available to school districts and community organizations to off er summer learning and recreational programs designed to help students grow academically and socially. “No matter what the time of year, we fi nd that young people love and get so inspired taking BEACON | SEE Page 21
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