By Bob Katzen

“As part of our public health toolkit, the administration is committed to increasing access to convenient at home COVID-19 tests for our residents. Partnering with these trusted community organizations is the right thing to do to ensure that individuals facing financial hardship and food insecurity have easy access to getting these tests.” Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

Bill (S 426) – Would offer protection to persons who make good faith reports of an allegation of patient or resident abuse, mistreatment or neglect in a senior assisted living facility. The measure allows employees of the facilities who are fired after reporting credible allegations of abuse to file a cause of action for relief in court and potentially have their employment reinstated if the court sees fit. Continue reading PROTECT REPORTERS OF PATIENT ABUSE IN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES →

By Bob Katzen

Bill (H 564) – Would require that 50 percent of the entrees served for lunch in schools are healthy foods containing whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes and other fiber-rich proteins. The measure also prohibits the serving of more than 20 percent of foods that that are ultra-processed or have a nutritional composition that includes more than 30 milligrams of cholesterol or more than 5 percent of its total calories from saturated fat. Continue reading HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES →

By Bob Katzen

This bill Would require financial education to be offered in all Massachusetts schools and establishes a trust fund to finance course materials and teaching resources. Continue reading TEACH FINANCIAL LITERACY IN SCHOOLS →

By Bob Katzen

Would set up a system for tracking complaints about bullying seniors in senior elderly public housing. Continue reading PROTECT SENIORS FROM BULLYING →

By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a bill that would repeal a current law which prohibits adoption of children by family members including older siblings, aunts and uncles. Continue reading MAKE ADOPTION BY FAMILY MEMBERS EASIER →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved a bill that would require the state to develop and implement a Women’s Rights History Trail Program. The measure includes requiring the state to designate properties and sites that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women’s rights and women’s suffrage. Another provision provides that the state promote education and awareness of the struggle for women’s rights in the state. Continue reading CREATING WOMEN’S RIGHTS HISTORY TRAIL PROGRAM →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would create a Special Commission on Drugged Driving to do research on the development of technology and methods that would reliably test individuals suspected of operating motor vehicles under the influence of marijuana. Continue reading COMMISSION ON DRUGGED DRIVING →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 8-31, rejected an amendment that would create a state-funded Host Community Technical Assistance Fund to help cities and towns in developing and negotiating Home Community Agreements (HCAs)—which are agreements between a city or town and the business looking to open a marijuana-related business in the community. Continue reading CREATE A FUND TO HELP CITIES AND TOWNS DEVELOP AGREEMENTS →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 3-36, rejected an amendment that would require a city or town to hold a voter referendum on any proposal that would allow the sale of marijuana and marijuana products for consumption on the premises where they are sold. The amendment would replace language in the bill that gives two options to cities and towns: hold a referendum or have the option to give the authority to the City Council or Board of Selectmen. Continue reading REQUIRE REFERENDUM ON ONSITE CONSUMPTION →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that makes changes in the cannabis industry including creating a social equity fund, to provide grants and loans, including forgivable and no-interest loans, designed to assist entrepreneurs and businesses from communities disproportionately harmed by the decades of marijuana prohibition. Continue reading MARIJUANA LAWS →

By William Tauro

I know many of you over the past few months have seen some very bizarre postings on different websites coming from different fictional characters with multiple fictional names, with fictional email addresses talking and fighting with each other over politics and obsessed mainly with me.
Continue reading Going Back and Forth With Yourself Online, A Mental Illness Struggling With Different Personalities aka “Split Personality Disorder” →