Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 5, 2024 BEACON HILL ROLL | FROM PAGE 9 a constant reminder of the importance of fi refi ghter safety,” said Sen. Walter Timilty (D-Milton), Senate Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “I am honored to have shepherded this crucial bill through the committee. Today, the Senate’s action represents an important step forward in ensuring that our remarkable firefighters have the resources that they need to keep themselves safe and protect our communities.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL HOUSE APPROVES SEVERAL BILLS – The House gave initial approval to several bills last week including: CITY AND TOWN ASSESSORS (H 2112) – Amends current law which allows municipalities to give stipends to assessors who receive their Certifi ed Assessment Evaluator certifi cate from the International Association of Assessing Offi cers, or their Certifi ed Massachusetts Assessor certifi cate from the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Offi cers, Inc. The bill increases the stipend municipalities may award for these certificates from $3,000 to $5,000 for full-time assessors and also adds two new certificates which would result in the stipend. “Assessors play a vital role in the fi nancial issues of every city and town in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. Tom Stanley (D-Waltham). “This legislation improves the profession, enhances the assessor’s skillset and improves taxpayer effi ciency and services to property owners.” FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR VETERANS WHO ARE GOING TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS (H 3527) - Provides free transportation on the MBTA system for veterans who travel to or from a Veterans Administration hospital for medical care. The veteran must present proof of a medical appointment on the date of travel in the form of a notice from the Veterans Administration indicating the veteran’s name and the date and the location of the appointment. “I have heard from a number of veterans who say it can be a challenge to get transportation to their medical appointments,” said sponsor Rep. Jerry Parisella (D-Beverly).“This bill would cover the cost of public transit for those seeking care at the Veterans Administration and help reduce one of the barriers, the cost of transportation, for those who have served our country with honor.” ALLOW YOUNGER YOUTH SOCCER REFEREES (H 1852) - Would allow minors who are 12- and 13-years-old to referee youth soccer games for matches in which the age bracket of the players is younger than the 12- or 13-year-old referee. Other provisions require the referee’s parents or guardians to provide the employer with a written consent form; require the employer to provide the parent or guardian with written policies describing the responsibilities of a referee and provide the minor with training; and mandating that an adult representing the employer is on the premise during the match. “This legislation would benefi t both the youths in question and their communities as these programs are extended,” said co-sponsor Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston). ALLOW SOME 17-YEAR OLDS TO VOTE IN PRIMARIES (H 705) – Would allow voters who will turn 18 and be eligible to vote in a November general election to also vote in the preceding primary election even though they will only be 17 at the time of the primary election. Supporters said that allowing 17-year-olds olds to have a voice would establish a foundation for lifelong engagement in the democratic process and bolster civic engagement of these youths. Rep. Joan Meschino (D-Hull) fi rst sponsored the bill in 2020 at the request of then-16-yearold Hingham High School student Samantha Bevins, now a 21-year-old junior at Dartmouth College studying Government and Public Policy, who wanted this group to be allowed to vote in the Bay State’s March 2020 presidential primary. Bevins said she is thrilled to APRIL 13TH learn that the bill received initial approval. “I proposed this legislation … when I was 16 because I wanted first-time voters in the commonwealth to have the same rights as my peers in 27 other states and Washington, D.C.,” said Bevins. “It is crucial that young people have the opportunity to fully participate in their fi rst election cycle by having a say in the primaries on candidates who will ultimately be on the ballot in the general election. I am hopeful our bill will [receive further approval] soon in order to fully enfranchise fi rst-time voters before the next Massachusetts state T MASSACHUSETTS FREEMASONS Planting trees in the community can have a multitude of benefits, including improving air quality, providing shade and cooling effects, reducing storm water runoff and erosion, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing the aesthetic value of urban areas. Participating in community tree planting initiatives can make a positive impact on our environment and create a more livable, beautiful, and sustainable community for ourselves and future generations. Join the Masons in your hometown on Saturday, April 13th and help contribute to a healthier and more vibrant community! primaries.” “This legislation promotes a model of civic engagement and full enfranchisement that is critical to foster among our young people, who are the future of this country,” said Meschino. “Hingham resident Samantha Bevins and her peers’ continued engagement in the advocacy process during consecutive legislative sessions demonstrates that these young adults are fully equipped and ready for the opportunity to fully engage in the election process, and I commend them for their groundbreaking eff orts.” ”[The bill] will lead to inIn cooperation & partnership with: William Sutton Lodge 300 Central St. Saugus, MA 100 Saplings to Beautify Our Town Saturday, April 13, 2024 10:00 am - 2:00 pm creased voter turnout that transcends party lines and further engages the youngest voters,” said co-sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “This furthers our civic engagement goals and aligns the commonwealth with 27 other states including Mississippi, Wyoming, West Virginia and Maine.” AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (H 466) – Would require that American Sign Language (ASL) be taught in all Bay State public elementary and secondary schools to increase interactions between hearing persons and deaf and hardof-hearing persons, as well as children with autism. Current law allows but does not require schools to teach ASL. “Every student deserves access to diverse linguistic opportunities,” said sponsor Rep. Carol Doherty (D-Taunton). “By requiring that ASL courses be offered for credit alongside traditional world languages in Massachusetts public schools, we’re not only fostering inclusivity for the deaf and hardof-hearing community but also enriching our educational landscape with a vibrant and vital language.” SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE ON STUDENT IDS (H 1999) – Would require all public schools with grades 6 to 12, and all public and private colleges to include on their student identifi cation cards the telephone and text number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The bill includes a provision that allows any schools and colleges which have a supply of old ID cards without the 988 line to continue to distribute those IDS until the supply is gone. Supporters said that while suicide is a leading cause of death for people of all ages in the United States, young people are particularly at risk. They noted that according to a study published by the National Center for Health Statistics at the end of last year, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Americans aged 15-24, representing a 56 percent increase in the previous decade. They argued that there are signifi cant disparities in these numbers, with LGBTQ+ youth being at greater risk, and Black youth seeing a 73 percent increase in youth suicide rates in that same time period. “It can be diffi cult for someone to reach out for help even in the best of times and it is essential that we seize every opportunity to provide the necessary resources for our children,” said co-sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “[The bill] is a vital step in connecting those in their most vulnerable years with the lifesaving help and assistance they need and put the commonwealth in line with the 19 states including Arkansas, Louisiana and New York who have passed similar legislation.” “This legislation is one simBEACON HILL ROLL | SEE PAGE 16 E P E L R P A E T N T N A L P A O H
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