THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 Page 19 MVES Commits To Justice on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day MALDEN — June 15 marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a time to bring attention to this critical issue aff ecting older adults worldwide. Elder abuse can include physical, emotional, sexual, caregiver neglect, selfneglect, and fi nancial exploitation. It impacts seniors from all walks of life. The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health OrganizaBEACON | FROM Page 18 Geoff Beckwith, the executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, is one of the biggest advocates for increased Chapter 90 funding. “With the local road construction season underway, passage of the Chapter 90 bond bill is an important priority so that communities can maximize the number of projects that can be completed this year,” said Beckwith. Many local offi cials across the state continue to advocate for additional money to increase the funding and argue that the cost of repairing roads has increased by up to 40 percent while the state has kept this funding fl at at $200 million for the past 11 years. EXPANDED USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA (H 4537) – A bill that would add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder to the current list of conditions for which a doctor could prescribe medical marijuana, is stuck in the Committee on Health Care Financing which gave it a favorable report on March 24. The bill is a redrafted diff erent version of an earlier bill, sponsored by Rep. Michael Soter (R-Bellingham), designed to expand access to medical marijuana for veterans. “This legislation is the result of a collaboration with a constituent of mine, Stephen Mandile, who is a veteran, local elected offi cial and father,” said Soter. “The initial intent of the bill was to expand access to medical marijuana for veterans. However, I am disappointed to say that specific veteran-related pieces of the original bill were removed during the committee process, the scope of the bill has changed and the current language works to benefi t a broader population while straying away from the initial intent of a strong veterancentric bill. Beacon Hill Roll Call asked Soter several times whether he supports the new version of the bill since his version is now essentially dead. Soter’s “non-answer” came from his chief of staff Eric Eisner. ““The representative stattion at the United Nations (UN) launched the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2006 in an eff ort to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for our communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders, and reaffi rm our country’s commitment to the principle of justice for all. ed that he is disappointed that the veteran-centric language within the bill has been stripped out during the committee process,” said Eisner. Further, this is not the fi rst session that this legislation has been presented. “ SEVERAL BILLS ON THEIR WAY TO A “STUDY” COMMITTEE – The Committee on Cannabis Policy recommended that several bills be shipped off to a study committee where bills are rarely actually studied and are essentially defeated. It is a way to kill a proposal without holding a vote on the bill itself. Here are some of the bills that will soon be sent off to a study committee: PREVENT YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE (S78) – Would direct 1 percent of the state tax revenue generated from the cannabis excise tax toward a fund that would be responsible for supporting programs dedicated to prevention of youth substance use. “A report released this week by the Department of Public Health indicated the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths increased 8.8 percent in 2021 compared to 2020,” said sponsor Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “With the continued rise in substance use deaths, I believe we need to provide as much support as possible to ensure we do not lose any more of our neighbors. The state currently financially benefits a great deal from the legalization of cannabis, and I believe this legislation provides us with an opportunity to educate young people on the dangers of addiction. I am looking forward to fi ling the bill again next session.” PROHIBIT TESTING FOR MARIJUANA USE WITHOUT CONSENT (H 4026) – Would prohibit doctors and health care facilities from testing a patient for the presence of marijuana without fi rst obtaining written consent from the patient. If written consent is given, the measure prohibits the release of the results to anyone except for the patient unless the patient gives written consent. Sponsor Rep. Russell Holmes (D-Boston) said he fi led the bill after hearing from a constituent who was tested for marijuana, without her consent, by her Elder abuse is widespread. Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is signifi cantly under-reported, in part because so many of our communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it. Research suggests that as few as 1 in 14 cases primary care physician during a routine physical that included standard urine and blood work. Holmes noted she was under federal probation and marijuana, while legal in Massachusetts, is still prohibited federally and a positive test could have forced her again away from her family and back to federal prison. “My constituent changed her primary care physician because she could no longer trust her,” said Holmes. “That was the only recourse she had. The bill will be filed again next term because more protection is needed.” FINE FOR OPEN CONTAINER OF MARIJUANA IN VEHICLE (H 149) – Would apply the current alcohol open container law to marijuana. This would impose a $100 to $500 civil penalty on anyone who is driving with an open container of marijuana or any marijuana products in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. Sponsor Rep. Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk) said the bill doesn’t criminalize anything but it simply imposes a civil fi ne—the same as having an open container of beer. He noted that police have a very hard time enforcing impaired driving under the infl uence of marijuana use due to lack of a Breathalyzer-type test. “As dispensaries become more popular and accessible—there will naturally be more of a chance for use while driving,” said Dooley. “And while I believe the vast majority of users are responsible—this is meant to hopefully incentivize those few who might partake while driving— just like with alcohol to not do it and wait till they are not behind the wheel.” of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities. Mystic Valley Elder Services Protective Services Department plays a proactive role in addressing elder abuse by not only investigating cases but by proactively off ering education and trainings in the 11 communities served. MVES has developed a strong rapport with mandated reporters of elder abuse such as police offi cers and hospitals. The agency QUOTABLE QUOTES “I think on this matter I will turn it over to [Sen. Brendan Crighton] the real expert on this subject matter, the gentleman from Lynn, the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. Because he truly is the expert on this and so many other issues before this body.” ---Ways and Means chair Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport) when asked during fl oor debate to comment on the bill providing $350 million for local roads and bridges and other transportation projects. “I want to say thank you to the chair of Ways and Means for his very kind and exaggerated remarks.” ---Sen. Crighton responding to Sen. Rodrigues. “I’m finding I’m being introduced these days in the past tense, which is actually a little nerve-wracking. But I suspect the closer we get to January, the more it’s going to sound that way.” ---Gov. Baker who is not seeking re-election and will leave the governor’s offi ce in January. “I’m not going to go away quietly, and I’m certainly not going to -- I am not going to retire. My wife would never let me. That would cause all kinds of issues. I think I’ll end up doing a bunch of diff erent things. Some of them will be related to government, some will be related to traditional private sector-type stuff .” ---Gov. Baker on his future plans. 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 legislaalso educates seniors themselves by off ering seminars and resources. The goal is to build awareness while enabling seniors to remain safe and independent living in the community. If you suspect elder abuse of a loved one or are being abused yourself, please call the state’s Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-9222275 or file online at https:// www.mass.gov/how-to/reportelder-abuse tors 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 June 6-1,. The House met for a total of three hours and 12 minutes and the Senate met for a total of fi ve hours. Mon. June 6 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:13 a.m. Senate 11:32 a.m. to 11:43 a.m. Tues. June 7 No House session No Senate session Wed. June 8 House 11:06 a.m. to 1:52 p.m. No Senate session. Thurs. June 9 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. Fri. June 10 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.
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