THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024 Page 15 more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a job position. The measure also would require employers with 100 or more employees to fi le annual employment data reports, including information on employee demographics and salaries, with the state. “I have long supported wage equity legislation and, as attorney general, I was proud to work together with the business community to implement the 2016 Equal Pay Act,” said Gov. Healey. “This new law is an important next step toward closing wage gaps, especially for people of color and women. It will also strengthen the ability of Massachusetts employers to build diverse, talented teams.” “I am proud that we as a commonwealth are taking concrete and nation-leading steps to close long-standing gender and racial wage gaps that persist across our economy,” said Sen. Paul Feeney (DFoxborough) a lead supporter of the bill. “These gaps not only erode the integrity of work in the commonwealth but also continue to exacerbate an uneven economy for working people, especially women and people of color who have historically faced persistent and glaring inequities in the workplace. By bringing partners in labor, business and community together to establish common sense wage and workplace transparency, we will ensure Massachusetts can continue attracting and retaining diverse and skilled workers that enable our commonwealth to compete and thrive. With the signing of this bill, workers are empowered and businesses are supported.” $1.26 BILLION BOND FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (H 4889) — Gov. Healey signed into law a bill that would invest in information technology (IT) upgrades, improvements and new projects across state government. The measure authorizes $1.23 billion in bonded spending and $400 million in anticipated federal funds. “We’ve talked a lot about this administration’s desire to lean into applied artifi cial intelligence in ways that benefi t not only the way the state delivers services to residents and businesses, but also the way that our businesses and economic sector are able to thrive,” said Healey. “And we think that making applied AI a cornerstone of our economic development bill is really important. It’s further supported by this FutureTech Act.” “When it comes to advancing the delivery of government services for our residents and for our state and municipal workers, information technology opens that digital door to meet people where they are,” said Chief Information Offi cer and Technology Services Secretary Jason Snyder. “The impact of IT on the services the commonwealth provides cannot be overstated. To that end, we are already hard at work on many of the investments in this legislation.” DISABILITY PENSION FOR POLICE OFFICERS (H 2536) — Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would provide police offi cers who have suffered a violent act injury, 100 percent regular compensation and pension benefi ts, until they reach the age of mandatory retirement. Violent act injury is defi ned as “a serious and permanent personal bodily injury sustained as a direct and proximate result of a violent attack upon a person by means of a dangerous weapon, including a fi rearm, knife, automobile, explosive device or other dangerous weapon.” “Our first responders go above and beyond to keep our communities safe and respond to emergencies,” said Gov. Healey. “That’s why it’s critical that we support them when they experience emergencies of their own. This legislation ensures that fi rst responders who are injured in the line of duty have access to the pay and health care, including mental health care, that they need to support their families and their road to recovery.” Supporters said that under current law, a first responder forced to retire due to a violent act injury can only receive benefi ts through the local retirement board via the home rule legislative process. They said this process is onerous and has resulted in disparate benefi ts being granted on a case-by-case basis. “This legislation ensures that fi rst responders who are forced to retire due to a violent injury received in the line of duty do not struggle to make ends meet,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington). “Frankly, this cannot come soon enough. Recognizing the extreme burden placed on these fi rst responders and their families, mandating 100 percent compensation until retirement age is the right way to honor their service and sacrifi ce.” Rep. Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable) said workers who are the victims of traumatic events at work would also be eligible to receive certain mental health services to assist with their recovery. “The bill was inspired in part by several recent cases of fi rst responders who suff ered serious injuries in the line of duty, including retired Somerville Police Detective Mario Oliveira and Springfi eld Police Offi cer Nestor Santos,” said Xiarhos. BAN ELEPHANTS AND OTHER ANIMALS (H 4915) — The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that eff ective January 1, 2025, would ban elephants, bears, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and other wild animals from being used in traveling circuses and other traveling shows in Massachusetts. Violators would be fi ned between $500 and $10,000. The ban would not apply to zoos or to performances that take place at other non-mobile, permanent facilities if the covered animal is a resident animal at the same facility in which the performance takes place. “We’re ecstatic that after so many years of advocating for the state to take a stance on the suff ering of animals, as well as the public health and safety risks. The bill to prohibit elephants, primates, bears, giraff es and big cats in traveling animal acts passed both chambers in the Legislature unanimously and is on the governor’s desk,” read a press release from the MSPCA. “This is truly a testament to the perseverance of advocates and legislators to speak for those who cannot. We’re optimistic that the governor will sign the bill and put an end to these archaic acts in our state.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “We were absolutely thrilled to witness the signing of the bill, standing shoulder to shoulder with Gov. Healey, our legislative champions, advocates and survivors from across the commonwealth. At a time when so many states are weakening their legislative responses to gun violence, we are so proud to see Massachusetts take this tremendous step forward. We are also so proud to have been a part of this advocacy every step of the way. This law ensures that Massachusetts will continue to lead the way, showing other states the impact and importance of taking a comprehensive approach to preventing gun violence.” --- Ruth Zakarin, CEO of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence on Gov. Healey signing the bill changing the state’s gun laws. “Massachusetts voters sent these elected offi cials to Beacon Hill to stand up for our health, to protect us from corporate greed and to safeguard our climate. On all counts, the Legislature has failed. Despite two years of mounting evidence from experts, advocates and offi cials in the Healey administration sending a clear signal that it’s time to move beyond gas, the House failed to adopt reasonable measures from the Senate to move the commonwealth off of gas.” --- Mark Dyen of Gas Transition Allies. “Egos may be bruised at the Statehouse, but taxpayers should be feeling pretty good right now. Legislative leaders did not get their way with a handful of pieces of legislation and the taxpaying residents of Massachusetts were the winners. MassFiscal is pleased to have played an important role this legislative session with a voice protecting the taxpayers. We are the fi rst and the last wall of resistance before another set of tax hike policies become law and we will not break. Our commitment lies with the taxpayers and we will continue to disrupt the plans of Statehouse leaders. --- Paul Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “Instead of letting fear or hate drive the narrative around immigrants, we need to embrace the facts: Immigrants without status contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local tax dollars to our region, fueling the services so many of us depend on. Granting those without status work authorization is a common-sense reform that would dramatically increase tax revenues, while helping immigrants feel more safe and welcome in the state and nation they already contribute so much to.” --- Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, citing a study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy showing that Immigrants without status contributed nearly $650 million in state and local taxes to Massachusetts in 2022. “Since October 7th, antisemitism has skyrocketed across the country and continues to spread through our Massachusetts communities and institutions. Schools have posed a special area of concern, as eff orts continue to inject anti-Israel and anti-Jewish content into curricula. In a strong demonstration of leadership and support for the Jewish community, several Massachusetts legislators took initiative to ensure Massachusetts confronts this dangerous hate.” ---From a statement by the American Jewish Committee New England on a section in the recently approved state budget that establishes a Special Commission for Addressing Antisemitism, and prompts the creation of curricula, resources and professional development opportunities to support antisemitism education. 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 latenight 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 July 29-August 2. the House met for a total of 34 hours and 8 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 36 hours and 32 minutes. Mon. July 29 House 11:00 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. Senate 11:10 a.m. to 4:01 p.m. Tues. July 30 House 11:02 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. Senate 11:05 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. Wed. July 31 House 12:17 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Senate 11:07 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Thurs. August 1 House 12:01 a.m. to 9:19 a.m. Senate 12:01 a.m. to 9:57 a.m. Fri. August 2 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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