Page 22 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2023 (H 4040) House 153-0, Senate 37-1, overBy 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 GET A 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. 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 get your free subscription, go to: https:// lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/ aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes from recent roll calls on overriding Gov. Maura Healey’s veto of several items in the $56.2 billion fi scal 2024 budget. $2.5 MILLION HOME AND HEALTHY FOR GOOD PROGRAM 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Daily 4:00 PM Closed Sunday Starting Monday, September 11... We’re back to serving our Full Menu featuring all your favorite Italian Specialties and American Classics! Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s www.eight10barandgrille.com rode Gov. Healey’s veto of $2.5 million (reducing funding from $8,890,000 to $6,390,000) for the Home and Healthy for Good Program. According to its website, this is a permanent supportive housing program for chronically homeless individuals. “I am striking language that earmarks funding not necessary for the operation of the program, and I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary,” said Healey in her veto message. (A “Yes” vote is for the $2.5 million. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Rep. Jeff Turco Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes Yes Yes $1 MILLION FOR NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANTS PILOT PROGRAM (H 4040) House 130-24, Senate 38-0, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $1 million (reducing funding from $2.5 million to $1.5 million) for the nonprofi t Security Grant Pilot Program. According to its website, the program provides resources to assist at-risk nonprofi ts improve physical security at their locations. “I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my House [budget] recommendation,” said Healey in her veto message. “Alternate funding for this purpose was appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1 million. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Rep. Jeff Turco Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes Yes Yes $4,988,680 FOR LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH (H 4040) House 152-2, Senate 37-1, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $4,988,680 (reducing funding from $15,050,000 to $10,061,320) for grants to local and regional Boards of Health. “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary,” said Healey in her veto message. “$197 million is available through the American Rescue Plan Act funding to achieve the objectives of this line item to enhance the local public health system through data and per~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS...Iron Works location for this Beautiful Dutch Colonial 7 room 3 bdrm 2 full baths. Enter this home thru a lovely enclosed front porch into a great foyer with a double stairway to the 2nd open concept leading to formal dining room with built in china access thru a nice mudroom from the kitchen to a lovely trek View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. formance tracking, workforce development and grants.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $4,988,680. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Rep. Jeff Turco Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes Yes Yes $1 MILLION FOR CIVICS EDUCATION (H 4040) House 151-3, Senate 38-0, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $1 million (reducing funding from $2.5 million to $1.5 million) for the Civics Education Trust Fund. According to the Department of Education’s website, “The purpose of this competitive grant program is to support civics teaching and learning, including … implementation of student-led, nonpartisan civics projects. “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary,” said Healey in her veto message. “This account funds a trust fund, which has a carry forward balance. The balance with the addition of the transfer proposed here is suffi cient to meet projected demand.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1 million. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Rep. Jeff Turco Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes Yes Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL REVENGE PORN (H 4115) – The Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to legislation that would prohibit the posting of sexually explicit images of another person online without their permission—commonly referred to as “revenge porn.” The practice is often used by ex-spouses or ex-partners. “I fi led [my original bill] after hearing from victims throughout Massachusetts who have had their lives torn apart and who do not have an avenue to pursue justice,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfi eld), the sponsor of an earlier version of the measure. “It is unacceptable that Massachusetts is one of the last two states to criminalize revenge porn, and I am grateful that the Judiciary Committee has included my bill to rectify this issue as part of this comprehensive redrafted legislation.” Another provision in the bill changes current law under which minors, under 18 years of age, who share explicit images of themselves or other minors, can be charged with violating Massachusetts child pornography laws and be required to register with the Sex Offender Registry. The bill allows minors to be punished by a commitment to the Department of Youth Services or to be diverted to an educational program that would provide them with information about the consequences of posting or transmitting indecent visual depictions of minors. Supporters say that under current law, when faced with an incident of sexting among teenagers, law enforcement offi cials are faced with either charging them with a felony or taking no action. They note the proposal provides law enforcement offi - cers with a middle ground that will allow them to educate kids about the consequences of their actions without ruining their lives. The House and Senate approved diff erent versions of similar measures last year but the proposals eventually died in the House from inaction. EXEMPT SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FROM JURY DUTY (H 1570) – A bill heard by the Judiciary Committee would exempt from jury duty a person who is the sole owner of a business, if their juror service would require them to close the business while serving on the jury. Current law provides several exemptions from jury duty including if a person is under the age of 18; cannot speak and understand English; has a physical or mental disability that makes them incapable of satisfactorily rendering juror service; has been convicted of a felony within the past seven years; or is solely responsible for the daily care of a permanently disabled person living in the same household whose health would be adversely impacted due to the caregiver’s juror service. “Jury duty is one of the most basic responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy, but the law has long recognized there are some instances in which an individual cannot carry out this duty,” said sponsor House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Small business owners help drive our economy and maintain a spirit of community. In some cases, these men and women operate their businesses completely by themselves, or with minimal assistance. [The bill] recognizes their important contributions to the commonwealth as a whole and exempts them from juror service if performing that service would require the closing of the business.” MAKE ELECTION DAY A LEGAL HOLIDAY (H 3004) – The Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing on a proposal that would make Presidential Election Day, every four years, a statewide holiday. “The United States is one of the few fi rst-world economies that does not recognize Election Day as a holiday,” said sponsor Rep. Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “The legislation will reduce the barriers that voters who are forced to choose between voting or taking time off from work face.” NEW TAX ON REAL ESTATE SALES (S 1771) - The Revenue Committee held a hearing on a measure that would allow cities and towns to impose a transfer tax of between.5 percent and 2 percent on real estate transactions above $1 million. The city or town would decide whether the buyer or seller pays the tax. If the county’s median sale price for a single family home is below $750,000, the bill allows cities and towns in those counties to set their own threshold for when sales are subject to the new tax, provided that the threshold is above their county’s median single family home sales price. All funds raised by a local transfer fee would be dedicated to affordable housing production and preservation. “Massachusetts is in the midst of BEACON | SEE Page 23
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