Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators and representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of July 9-13.
OPIOIDS (H 4725) — House 147-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill aimed at combating the opioid problem in the Bay State by addressing opioid addiction, prevention and treatment.
The bill creates the Community-Based Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention Trust Fund to support evidence-based and evidence-informed programs for children and young adults; requires providers to check the Prescription Monitoring Program prior to issuing any prescription for a benzodiazepine; prohibits discounts and rebates for prescription opiates; requires electronic prescribing for all controlled substances, with a few exceptions, effective Jan.1, 2020; and requires facilities to accept MassHealth coverage on a non-discriminatory basis.
Other provisions establish a statewide standing order for Narcan, expanding access to this opioid overdose-reversing drug without an individual prescription; require emergency rooms to have the protocols and capacity to provide evidence-based interventions following an opiate overdose, including medication-assisted treatment; and establish a two-year pilot program to offer medication-assisted treatment at six prisons.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Yes
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps, Yes
STUDY AND DELAY 72-HOUR HOLD FOR SOME PATIENTS (H 4725) — House 111-36, approved an amendment to replace a proposal that would allow licensed medical professionals or police officers to authorize the transporting of a patient to a substance use treatment facility for emergency assessment and treatment for 72 hours when the patient presents a risk of serious harm due to addiction and the patient will not agree to voluntary treatment.
The amendment would replace the proposal with a study of the efficacy of involuntary inpatient treatment for non-court involved individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. The study commission would report back to the Legislature by July 1, 2019.
The study amendment was proposed by Rep. Denise Garlick, D-Needham. “The commission is an example of the Legislature’s thoughtful and proactive approach to the opioid epidemic — not only by passing the best bill possible but also by immediately exploring, in a deliberate way, if the present system of involuntary care … is effective, if it should be expanded, and if there are regulations that could be changed today to address this epidemic,” Garlick. said. “This work requires input from agencies, providers, the recovery community, and other stakeholders to ensure the commonwealth has a process that is mindful of stigma and is compassionate and trauma-informed.”
“It’s disappointing to say the least that we are now going to do a study of this issue, after two other legislative committees thought it was important enough to include the 72-hour involuntary commitment language,” said the 72-day hold proposal’s sponsor Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “This is all about saving lives and helping people overcome addiction. The sooner we can get individuals into treatment, the sooner they can get started on a path to recovery.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the study. A “No” vote is against the study and favors the 72-hour hold.)
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Yes
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps, Yes
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (H 4714) — House 143-1, approved an economic development package that would authorize $50 million for a grant program targeting coastal communities and create jobs in the maritime economy sector; $300 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program which provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking public infrastructure funding; and $12.5 million in capital dollars for MassVentures to continue providing competitive grants to Massachusetts-based companies commercializing technologies.
The package also includes several tax breaks including $20 million in credits for any projects designated as an extraordinary economic development opportunity; tax credits to businesses to occupy vacant storefronts in downtown areas; and establishes a $2.5 million Apprenticeship Tax Credit program for apprenticeships in computer occupations, health care and the manufacturing industry.
Supporters said the bill would be a real shot in the arm for the state by stimulating the economy, creating jobs and making Massachusetts friendlier to business.
Rep. Denise Provost, D-Somerville, the lone opponent, said there were some good programs in the package, but they were packaged with big tax benefits for the already-wealthy, making the whole bill became too unpalatable for her.
“The federal government passed a tax bill putting $1.3 trillion in the hands of the wealthiest Americans, with the premise that they would invest this windfall in economic development — so they should,” Provost said. “This bill asks Massachusetts taxpayers to fund a package of new tax credits for investors, when many of those same taxpayers will suffer financial loss from the federal tax bill’s $10,000 cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the package. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Yes
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps, Yes
SALES TAX HOLIDAY (H 4714) — House 127-18, approved an amendment allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 on Saturday, Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug. 12 without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax.
Supporters of the bill said the holiday, which has been in effect for many years, would boost retail sales and noted that consumers would save millions of dollars. They argued that the state’s sales tax revenue loss would be offset by increased revenue from the meals and gas tax revenue generated by shoppers on those two days.
Some opponents of the bill said the state cannot afford the up to $30 million estimated revenue loss and argued the holiday actually generates little additional revenue for stores because consumers typically buy the products even without the tax-free days. They said that the Legislature should be looking at broader, deeper tax relief for individuals and businesses and not a tiny tax-free holiday. Others said that legislators should not vote for this tax holiday when they have not yet restored all the local aid, education and other important program cuts made over the past few years.
(A “Yes” vote is for the tax-free holiday. )
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Yes
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps, Yes
EDUCATION FUNDING (H 4730) — House 143-0, approved a bill that is a response to some of the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission that in 2015 reported that the current school funding formula and system underestimates the cost of education by $1 billion to $2 billion every year.
The 1993 Education Reform Act established a “Foundation Budget” to make sure all school districts could provide their students with a quality education.
The bill provides some $500 million to school districts over five years to help cover the increased costs associated with special education and health benefits for employees and retirees.
“This bill implements the findings and recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission by establishing a concrete schedule for the implementation of increases to the special education and employee benefits rates in the school funding formula and by directing the commissioner to submit an implementation plan for the low-income and English learner increment changes identified by the commission’s report, said Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, the sponsor of the bill. “As a co-chair of the commission, I strongly support the recommendations and look forward to having a concrete schedule in place for all of the recommended changes as soon as possible.”
Unlike the Senate version of the bill, the House measure did not include plans to immediately address and fund underfunded costs of cities and towns tied to educating English language learners (ELL) and low-income students.
Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, D-Boston, said that the state created the Foundation Budget 25 years ago precisely to help close the achievement and opportunity gaps.
“Those gaps have not narrowed in the quarter century since,” Chang-Diaz said. “Yet, the House bill abandons the commission’s recommendations that would target these gaps, opting for yet another study … How long should poor children have to wait while we continue ‘studying,’ rather than simply giving them the resources they need to learn?”
A House-Senate conference committee will try to hammer out a compromise version of the bill.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Yes
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps, Yes
AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION (H 4671) — Senate 38-0, approved a House-approved bill that would automatically register to vote a person who fills out an application with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) or MassHealth, unless the person opts out. Officials at the RMV and MassHealth would be required to explain to each person that the transaction automatically registers them to vote, unless they opt out; and also inform them that non-citizens are ineligible to vote.
Supporters said an estimated 680,000 eligible voters in the Bay State are not registered to vote.
“Automatic voter registration will make voting more accurate, more secure and more available to all,” said Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts which was part of the coalition pushing for the bill. “That’s good for democracy, for election security and for voters. It’s a win for democracy, it’s a win for security, and it’s a win for voters. Utilizing existing technology to modernize the voter registration process just is basic common sense.”
“I thank the Senate for acting so quickly in passing this important piece of legislation, which will allow us to add more citizens to our voter rolls and make the voter registration process even simpler and more convenient,” said Secretary of State Bill Galvin who endorsed the bill back in March. “My office is ready to begin preparing for implementation of this crucial voting reform as soon as this bill is signed into law. I am excited to have this new system in place in time for the 2020 presidential primaries.”
Although no senators voted against the bill, there were 20 representatives who voted against the bill when it was approved by the House last month.
“We need to preserve the integrity of our elections,” Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, R-Taunton, said at that time. “This new law is riddled with major problems from creating another unfunded mandate on cities and towns to giving felons with stolen identities the right to vote.”
Only final approval in each branch is needed before the measure goes to Gov. Charlie Baker.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. )
Sen. Adam Hinds, Yes
$2.2 BILLION FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (S 2591) — Senate 38-0, approved a bond bill allowing the state to borrow up to $2.2 billion for climate change adaptation, environmental and natural resource protection and investment in recreational assets. The House has approved a different version of the bill and a House-Senate conference committee will try to hammer out a compromise.
The package includes earmarks for hundreds of millions of dollars for hundreds of projects in legislators’ districts across the state — most of which will never be funded. The Baker administration ultimately decides which projects are affordable and actually get funded, but it cannot fund most of them because the governor’s office is also required to adhere to the state’s annual bond borrowing cap.
Provisions include $475 million for the construction, reconstruction and repair of forests, parks, campgrounds, comfort stations, harbor islands, skating rinks, skate parks, swimming and wading pools, spray parks, golf courses, tennis courts, basketball courts, ball fields, playgrounds and exercise and fitness paths; $60 million for the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of seawalls, jetties and retaining walls; and $180 million for state and local dams; and $95 million for water and air quality protection.
An amendment proposed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, and approved on a voice vote would ban stores from providing single-use carryout bags to customers at the point of sale starting in August 2019.
“There is no need for our sea life or wildlife to have such an ending of their lives,” Eldridge said, citing a whale that died in Thailand that had 80 plastic bags in its stomach.
“A goal of the Environmental Bond Bill is to preserve our natural resources and promote economic growth, while at the same time maintaining fiscal responsibility,” said Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, Senate chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. “We are fortunate in Massachusetts, especially in our area, to have so many wonderful natural resources that make our region an ideal place to live and work. This bill is a prime example of how Massachusetts continues to lead in environmental stewardship; strengthening our commitment to the environment, while maintaining our ability to address our budget needs.”
“Massachusetts experienced three severe coastal storms this past winter,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor, R-Weymouth. “It’s clear that the commonwealth, and the South Shore in particular, need to make significant investments in order to improve our resiliency during these events. The investments in the environmental bond bill will allow us to bolster our power grids, strengthen our seawalls, and be better prepared for climate change.”
No senators voted against the bill but when the House passed its version a few weeks ago, there were three votes against it.
“Over the last month or so, the House has approved nearly $10 billion in bond spending,” said Rep. Marc Lombardo, R-Billerica, one of the opponents at the time. “We are already at the top of the list for states with the highest debt per capita. We can’t continue to saddle our children with enormous debt.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the package.)
Sen. Adam Hinds, Yes