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Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025 be rebutted. The list of diseases includes By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on the only roll call from the week of May 26-30. There were no roll calls in the House last week. $189.6 MILLION FOR CHILDCARE (S 2521) Senate 39-0, approved, House approved on a voice vote without a roll call, and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a $189.6 fi scal 2025 supplemental budget that provides $95.6 million for the Department of Children and Families and Department of Transitional Assistance-related childcare, and another $94 million for income-eligible childcare. Supporters said the additional funding is necessary because of the diffi culty of advance funding, with precision, these childcare accounts that are “caseload driven.” “For our early education and care providers, without the authorization of such spending, our providers will not receive their scheduled June childcare fi nancial assistance that’s due them,” said Senate Ways and Means Chair Sen Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport). “Passing this supplemental budget ensures families across Massachusetts continue to receive the aff ordable, high-quality childcare they depend on,” said Sen. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “Investing in early education and care isn’t just about helping children thrive — it’s about supporting working parents and building a stronger economy.” The Senate approved the bill as Rodrigues was showing visiting New Bedford fourth graders around the Senate chamber. “Just like that, we spent $189 million,” Rodrigues told them. (A “Yes” vote is for the $189.6 million for childcare.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AND POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL (H 2961) — The Public Service Committee held a hearing on a bill that would provide that police, fi re and EMT personnel making claims for death, disability or medical services from contagious diseases — who did not evidence any such condition at the time of entry into service — will be presumed to have acquired these contagious conditions in the line of duty. If it can be shown that non-service-connected risk factors accidents, or hazards caused such incapacity, the presumption can COVID-19, Hepatitis A, B or C, TB, HIV and other conditions found by the Commissioner of Public Health to have a statistically signifi cant correlation with police, fi re or emergency medical service. The bill would expand current law which establishes that disability or death of public safety personnel resulting from certain conditions of cancer, as well as disease of the lungs/respiratory tract, is presumed to be caused in the line of duty. Co-sponsor Rep. Greg Schwartz (D-Newton) said that as a physician he understands the increased risk these public service workers face of contracting infectious diseases. “We ask our fi rst responders to engage with the public in situations that often carry increased risk of personal harm to the responder,” said Schwartz. “They perform invaluable, often lifesaving, service to strangers in the line of duty. It is the least we can do to acknowledge the risk to themselves that they take on to serve others in times of need, and we should support them when that service likely is the cause of disease, disability or death.” PTSD AND POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL (S 1821) — Another bill before the Public Service Committee would require that the disability or death of police, fi re or various other public safety personnel resulting from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is presumed to have been suff ered in the line of duty. “This legislation is needed to safeguard the health and well-being of our public safety personnel who are on the front lines daily to protect their community members,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “Thanking these public servants is not enough. We need to put action behind our words and make real improvements by passing bills … which would support those dealing with PTSD and reduce stigma around mental health.” 4-DAY WORK WEEK PILOT PROGRAM (S 1330) — The Labor and Workforce Development Committee held a hearing on legislation that would create a voluntary 4-day work week pilot program in the Bay State. Participating employers would transition employees to a 4-day work week without any reduction in pay, status or benefi ts. Private employers that complete at least one year in the pilot program and meet reporting requirements, may qualify for state tax credits. Public employers can participate but are not eligible for tax credits. “Americans are overstressed and overworked,” said Sen. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “The data shows that a 4-day work week creates a happier workforce, fuels company productivity and helps businesses attract top talent. This pilot program studies its efficacy in Massachusetts to determine whether the 4-day work week could benefi t commonwealth employees and businesses.” PAID PRENATAL LEAVE (S 1361) — Another proposal heard by the Labor and Workforce Development Committee would require employers to provide up to 24 hours of paid prenatal leave per year for pregnant individuals, and up to ten hours for their partners, to support attendance at medical appointments and related care. The proposal is modeled after a similar policy adopted in New York and aims to provide more fl exibility for working families to access critical prenatal care. “I sponsored this bill because expanding prenatal leave helps ensure healthier pregnancies and better birth outcomes,” said sponsor Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow). “When we give families the time they need for early care, we strengthen not just individual health but also public health and workplace stability.” INSURANCE COMPANIES MUST NOTIFY DRIVERS (H 1200) — The Financial Services Committee held a hearing on legislation that 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 any additional fees they may assess for conducting these types of transactions.” EXPIRED INSPECTION STICKERS (H 1195) — Another measure before the Financial Services Committee would remove an expired inspection sticker violation from being a moving violation, which add points to your driver’s record and sometimes surcharges, and instead make it a nonmoving violation, with no points or surcharge. “I filed this consumer-oriented bill to correct, what I feel, is an unfair insurance surcharge assessed to Massachusetts drivers,” said sponsor Rep. Steve Howitt (R-Seekonk). FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS — The Healey Administration is urging all students and families, particularly low-income families, to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025-2026 college academic year. The federal form is required for students to be eligible for certain federal and state fi nancial aid, including free community college and opportunities to attend the state’s public fouryear universities without paying tuition and fees. “Earlier this year, we visited high schools across Massachusetts for our Higher Educa

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