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Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE–Wednesday, November 27, 2019 ingly, many of these families have channeled their pain into making our roadways safer, and it has been a privilege to have worked closely with them over the past 15 years to ensure a strong law. I hope this measure provides some solace, as it is their tenacious advocacy in memory of their loved ones that has fi nally achieved these new life-saving protections.” “I wholeheartedly support the THE HOUSE AND SENATE Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local senators and representatives from the week of November 18-22. SUBSCRIBE TO MASSTERLIST - IT’S FREE! Join more than 19,000 other people from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens who start their morning with a copy of MASSterList! MASSterList is a daily ensemble of news and commentary about the Legislature, Politics, Media and Judiciary of Massachusetts drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced editor Jay Fitzgerald. Jay introduces each article in his own clever and never-boring, inimitable way. Go to: www.massterlist.com/subscribe Type in your email address and in 15 seconds you will be signed up for a free subscription with no strings attached. $1.5 BILLION FOR EDUCATION (H 4157) House 156-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker the Student Opportunity Act that invests $1.5 billion, mostly in the form of Chapter 70 Aid for local school districts, in the state’s public K-12 education system over the next seven years. The measure implements the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission which found the state was underfunding schools by more than $1 billion annually. “Access to a high-quality public education is a fundamental right for every child, and that’s why the Student Opportunity Act will make an unprecedented $1.5 billion investment in our public schools, ensuring that school districts across the commonwealth have adequate and equitable resources to provide all students, especially those facing adversity, with a high-quality public education,” said Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), the Senate chair of the Education Committee. “I am confi dent that the Student Opportunity Act will eff ectively address achievement and opportunity gaps and make a meaningful difference to generations of Massachusetts students.” “Today’s enactment of the Student Opportunity Act will lead to greater resources for public school students across the commonwealth.” said House Education Committee chair Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley). “The House vote is a clear indication of our commitment to ensuring that all students, and especially low-income students and English learners, have full access to the high quality education that Massachusetts provides its children.” “This historic bill represents a milestone for our students, for our communities and for racial and economic justice,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “It will have a dramatic impact on the education of more than 900,000 students, especially benefiting low-income students and students of color who have been left behind by the state’s outdated school funding formula.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Bob DeLeo Rep. RoseLee Vincent Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes Yes Yes BAN HAND-HELD CELL PHONES (S 2216) House 154-1, Senate 38-1, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would prohibit drivers, except on-duty public safety personnel, from using a hand-held cellphone or other electronic device to make a call or access social media. The measure allows drivers to use only a handsfree phone but allows him or her to perform a single tap or swipe to activate or deactivate the hands-free mode feature. Public safety personnel are exempt from the ban. Use of a hand-held phone would be permitted in emergencies including if the vehicle is disabled; a disabled vehicle or an accident are present on a roadway; medical attention is required; police, fi refi ghter or other emergency services are necessary for the personal safety of the operator or a passenger or to otherwise ensure the safety of the public. Violators would be fi ned $100 for a fi rst off ense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third and subsequent off ense. A third off ense would count as a surchargeable offense that could lead to higher insurance rates for the violator. The measure basically keeps the current mandate that police departments document the driver’s race only when they issue a ticket, write a warning, or make an arrest after a traffi c stop. Some say that will not gather enough data and that the only way to do so is to get the information on all cars that are stopped regardless of whether they are arrested, received a ticket or a warning. Supporters said that the bill would save lives and prevent accidents. They noted that the measure does not ban cellphone use but simply requires the use of hands-free ones. They pointed to accidents, deaths and injuries involving handheld cell phones. Some opponents say that the restriction is another example of government intrusion into people’s cars and lives. Others note that there are already laws on the books prohibiting driving while distracted and that the bill is a bonanza for insurance companies which will collect millions of dollars in surcharges. “Today marks a signifi cant milestone in increasing safety on our roadways,” said Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), longtime sponsor of hands-free legislation. “While this should have happened years ago, I am thankful that we have delivered a strong bill to the governor. For far too long, distracted driving has claimed the lives of innocent people and wreaked havoc upon families, forever robbed of planning graduations, weddings and holidays. Amazprovisions of the compromise bill that outlaw distracted driving, and I so much wanted to vote yes to enact this legislation,” said Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “But I could not get to a ‘yes’ vote because the data provisions do not mandate data collection on all traffi c stops or define “racial or gender profiling.” The bill also creates concerning precedent about access to public records, such as the data actually collected, even though all of the data contemplated by the bill must be de-identifi ed. Further, I have serious concerns about the path the data will take to its fi nal analysis.” “Today’s fi nal bill is a major public safety improvement for the residents of Massachusetts,” said Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett), House chair of the Committee on Transportation. “Distracted driving has caused too many unnecessary tragedies and I am pleased that our state will now join the ranks of other states who have adopted a ban on holding a phone while driving.” “For decades, the ACLU has advocated to make roads and highways safer by collecting race data for all motor vehicle stops and ensuring equity in traffi c enforcement,” said Rahsaan Hall, racial justice program director at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts. “Without data on all stops, police departments cannot have a complete picture of their practices, and where reforms may be necessary. This version of the bill continues to require data collection only for the subset of traffi c stops that result in a warning or citation, as required under current law. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Bob DeLeo Rep. RoseLee Vincent Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes Yes Yes CHILDREN’S HEALTH (S 2368) House 155-0, Senate 40-0, approved and sent to Gov. Baker legislation designed to make it easier for children and their families to navigate the state’s complicated and often difficult to understand health care system. A key provision requires health insurance companies to perform monthly updates of their provider databases that tell patients which doctors and other medical resources are available to them. Patients complain that many physicians are listed as local and taking new patients despite having retired, moved or stopped accepting new patients. The measure also allows foster children to remain covered by MassHealth until they turn 26, the same option that children covered by their parents’ private insurance currently have; examines the barriers to mental and behavioral health supports for children; establishes a commission to study mandated reporting laws; and provides for increased education around child sex abuse and exploitation. “I am proud of the eff orts of the Legislature this week to expand access to behavioral health services for children in Massachusetts,” said Rep. Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg), the House chair of the Committee on Healthcare Financing. “This bill bridges the gap between our children and the services available to them and gives parents the information they need to make informed health care decisions.” “There are several barriers to access for children in the commonwealth who are in need of behavioral health services, and this legislation takes several steps to address them,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate chair of the Committee on Health Care Financing. “I’m especially proud that this comprehensive bill requires provider network directories to be more transparent and include accurate, up-to-date information to help connect children with the mental health providers that they need.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Bob DeLeo Rep. RoseLee Vincent Sen. Joseph Boncore 4087) Yes Yes Yes CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS (H House 155-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the governor a bill making changes in the state’s campaign fi nance laws. Current law exempts legislative candidates and some candidates for mayor from the requirement that they use a depository reporting system which currently must be followed by statewide, county and many other municipal candidates. The bill requires legislative candidates and some candidates for mayor to adhere to the same strict requirements. The depository reporting system requires candidates to fi le a monthly report that discloses all campaign fi nance activity. Legislative reports are under the current non-depository system and are fi led only two or three times a year. Another provision directs the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) to write regulations regarding the appropriate use of websites and social media for campaign purposes. The measure also creates a special legislative commission to examine the feasibility of allowing candidates for state, county or municipal elected offi ce to use campaign funds to pay for family care and childcare services for the candidate. “I’m proud of the Senate for passing this updated campaign fi nance reform legislation,” said Elections Committee Senate chair Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover). “The depository system will lead to increased transparency and uniformity, while minimizing the accidental errors in reporting that often plague campaigns. Voters deserve to know how we get our money as candidates and how we spend it, and the move to the depository system will make all of that data more readily available.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Bob DeLeo Rep. RoseLee Vincent Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes Yes Yes BAN FLAVORED VAPING AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS (H 4196) House 119-33, Senate 32-6, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would ban the sale of fl avored vaping and tobacco products—including mint and menthol cigarettes—and impose a 75 percent excise tax on e-cigarettes. Businesses that don’t comply with the bill’s provisions could have their Lottery licenses temporarily suspended. The bill also requires commercial health insurers and MassHealth to cover the costs of smoking cessation programs and nicotine replacement therapy. Another provision raises the penalties on retailers for illegal tobacco sales. “For far too long, Big Tobacco has targeted our kids with fl avored products,” said Sen. John Keenan (D–Quincy), the lead sponsor of the BEACON| SEE PAGE 17 Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com

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