By Bob Katzen
THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of February 29-March 4.
CHANGE LANGUAGE (S 2140)
Senate 36-0, approved and sent to the House a bill changing language in state laws including replacing “mentally retarded” with “individuals with a developmental disability” and “handicapped” with “disability.”
Supporters said it is time to remove these outdated phrases from state law. They argued the words stigmatize people and said these changes would have a positive impact on countless people’s lives.
(“Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
HIRING PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY (S 2142)
Senate 36-0, approved and sent to the House a bill requiring the state’s Supplier Diversity Office to develop standards to identify and recruit qualified applicants with disabilities. The proposal also requires all state employees involved in hiring decisions to be trained and educated about the details of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Supporters said the unemployment rate for disabled persons is 80 percent. They noted the state should add disabled persons to its current laws that help veterans and minority and women-owned businesses.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
MAKE BUILDINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (S 1323)
Senate 36-0, approved and sent to the House a proposal that makes several updates to the state’s Architectural Access Board’s responsibilities. The board makes rules and regulations designed to make public buildings accessible for safe use by persons with disabilities. The bill expands the board’s authority to include regulation of spaces around public buildings including parking lots, passageways and sidewalks.
Supporters said the bill would ensure the state meets all the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act and makes public buildings and surrounding areas safer and more accessible to persons with disabilities.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
HEALTH DISPARITIES (H 3969)
Senate 36-0, approved a bill creating a state Office of Health Equity to coordinate an effort to reduce and eliminate disparities in access to quality health care based on race, ethnicity, gender and disability status. The office would set goals for the reduction of disparities and prepare an annual plan to accomplish its goals.
Supporters said minorities still have disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease and mortality than other persons and the bill would help save and improve lives. They noted twice as many minorities die from prostate cancer than the statewide average; black adults have the highest death rates of stroke or cardiovascular disease; and black and Hispanic babies have higher infant mortality rates.
The House has approved a different version of the bill and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration.
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS (H 4030) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would allow cities and towns to exempt up to 50 percent of property taxes for seniors over 65 whose annual property taxes exceed 10 percent of their annual income. The house or condo would have to be owner-occupied and applicants must have lived in the city or town for at least 10 consecutive years.
Supporters said this targeted tax relief would help thousands of senior citizens living on fixed incomes remain in their hometowns. They noted that the bill is a local option one that leaves the decision up to local communities.
SCOTUS (S 2146) – Sen. Kenneth Donnelly (D-Arlington) withdrew his resolutions urging members of the U.S. Senate to fulfill their constitutional responsibility by holding a hearing and a vote on President Obama’s expected nomination of a Supreme Court justice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. The Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate has vowed not to take up the president’s nominee and feels that whoever wins the November 2016 presidential election should nominate the next justice.
Donnelly said that he has decided to take a different approach and send a letter to the U.S. Senate. He told members they are all welcome to sign the letter.
When the resolutions first surfaced two weeks ago, supporters said it is unfair and undemocratic that the court remains short a member until next year. They argued that Obama is still the president and the U.S. Senate should fulfill its responsibility and vote on his nominee.
Supporters of delaying or withdrawing the resolutions said the Massachusetts Senate should focus on working on state issues. They noted there are many important bills being worked on that should take precedence over these toothless resolutions.
MORE TOBACCO RESTRICTIONS (S 2152) – The Public Health Committee unveiled a bill imposing additional restrictions on tobacco use. The measure would prohibit sales of e-cigarettes to minors and include e-cigarettes in the state’s smoke-free workplace law; increase the age of sale for tobacco products from 18 to 21; prohibit tobacco vending machines; and prohibit sales of tobacco in pharmacies.
TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION – The Transportation Committee held a hearing on several bills last week including:
NO TOLLS ON MASSPIKE (S 1877) – Eliminates all tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
MANDATORY EDUCATION FOR USED CAR DEALERS (S 1903) – Requires used car dealers to complete an eight-hour course of educational training related to the rules, regulations and laws about the used car industry. The course would be taught by an organization certified by the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association. The measure also requires dealers to pass a written test and subsequently attend four hours of continuing educational training every two years.
YOUNG DRIVERS (H 2935) – Takes away the driver’s license for at least three months of any drivers under the age of 18 who are convicted of possession of alcohol, marijuana or of any other controlled substance. Violators would also be required to attend a substance abuse program for not less than three months and pay a fine of not less than $1,000.
EXEMPT SCHOOL BUSES FROM TOLLS (H 3049) – Exempts all school buses from paying tolls.
INFORM PARENTS WHEN YOUNG DRIVERS GET A TRAFFIC TICKET (H 2948) – Requires police officers who issue a traffic ticket to any driver under age 18 to also mail a copy to the driver’s parents or guardian.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“Unfortunately, the tobacco industry continues to pose a serious public health risk to our residents. This legislation is an important step to further reduce nicotine addiction among young people.”
Attorney General Maura Healey on legislation regulating tobacco including prohibiting the sale of all tobacco and e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21.
“Women and people with disabilities shouldn’t have second-class status.”
Sen. Michael Barrett (D-Lexington) on legislation that would bill create a state Office of Health Equity to coordinate an effort reduce and eliminate disparities in access to quality health care based on race, ethnicity, gender and disability status.
“Housing is more than just four walls or a roof over someone’s head. It is the building block to vibrant communities, healthy families, upward mobility and a strong economy. However, we are at a point in time in which our seniors, families and young professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to find housing that is affordable.”
Sen. Linda Dorcena-Forry (D-Boston), co-chair of the Massachusetts Special Senate Committee on Housing, about its report on how to address both short-term and long-term housing needs in the Bay State.
“The enthusiasm we’re seeing only confirms our belief that millennials are ready and willing to engage with government, if we connect with them on the channels they use on the issues they’re passionate about.”
Senate President Stanley Rosenberg on the Senate’s Twitter Town Hall and College Student Roundtable seeking input from millennials.
“Within the last year, Massachusetts has been named the most livable state, the best state for education, and … the most innovative state in America.”
House Speaker Robert DeLeo in an address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
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 filed. 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 February 29-March 4, the House met for a total of one hour and 41 minutes and the Senate met for a total of four hours and 11 minutes.
Mon. February 29 House 11:01 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:19 a.m
Tues. March 1 No House session
No Senate session
Wed. March 2 No House session
No Senate session
Thurs. March 3 House 11:05 a.m. to 11:17 a.m.
Senate 11:05 a.m. to 3:02 p.m.
Fri. March 4 No House session
No Senate session
Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com