THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL

By Bob Katzen

“The misinformation coming from the Trump administration about vaccines is dangerous and puts the health of our children and families at risk. We must continue to be clear: Vaccines – including the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns – are safe, effective and lifesaving. Massachusetts will continue to base our public health decisions on science and make sure that people have access to the vaccines that they want and need.”
—Gov. Maura Healey
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PROTECT ALL PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS FROM ASSAULT AND BATTERY (S 2697)

By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that would expand the current law which punishes anyone who commits assault and battery against a public employee including police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. The bill ensures that all transit workers are covered, including those who are not directly employed by the state, such as workers employed by Keolis, the state’s contracted commuter rail operator. The bill would also add “assault and battery by means of a bodily substance including saliva, blood or urine” to the current law.
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WORKPLACE VIOLENCE IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES (H 4767)

By Bob Katzen

House 153-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that supporters said would strengthen protections for health care workers, establish preventive and protective standards to reduce the risk of violence, improve health care facility incident reporting, enhance interagency coordination to safeguard privacy and create legal protections for certain employees harmed in the line of duty.
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$3.65 BILLION TO MODERNIZE BAY STATE PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (H 4750)

By Bob Katzen

House 146-5, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that funds the modernization of Bay State public colleges and universities by using the revenue from the 2022 voter-approved law, known as the Millionaire’s Tax, that imposes an additional 4 percent income tax, in addition to the current flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. Continue reading $3.65 BILLION TO MODERNIZE BAY STATE PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (H 4750)