Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of July 6 to July 11.
The House, 158 to 0, approved a bill that would grant additional tools to the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board to combat mosquito-borne illnesses including Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).
The measure gives the board the authority to take preventative, management and eradication measures to address mosquito control problems when the risk is elevated. The board must notify local authorities, property owners, agricultural entities and other stakeholders about spraying plans, products and timelines.
Other provisions include allowing cities and towns to opt out of mosquito control efforts if they provide a suitable alternative control plan; requiring the board after each spraying action to provide a written report summarizing efforts and details of products used to stakeholders; and creating a Mosquito Control for the 21st Century Task Force to develop a sustainable, long-term mosquito plan using input from stakeholders and experts with the goals of protecting public health while minimizing environmental impacts.
The House version of the bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. The Senate passed a different version of the bill in early June.
“With this bill, we’re ensuring that the Department of Public Health can respond to the most imminent health concerns posed by EEE, while moving the commonwealth toward a more sustainable, comprehensive and environmentally protective plan for the future,” said Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston.
“Cases of EEE and WNV are on the rise and we need to be vigilant,” said Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury. “Mosquitoes don’t stop at the town line, so having a coordinated, statewide approach is necessary. This legislation also ensures that voices of farmers and the impacts on our water supplies and organic agriculture are included.”
During the hearing on the original version of the legislation in May, many groups and individuals testified against the bill. They expressed concern about land, rivers and wetlands conservation, organic agriculture, wildlife and exposure to toxic chemicals.
On June 11, the Senate approved its own version of the bill that addressed some of these concerns. Many opponents of the original version said the Senate draft was more acceptable.
The reaction to the approval of last week’s House version has been slow. Beacon Hill Roll Call contacted several opponents of the original bill and asked them to comment on the new House bill. Only one responded.
“It appears to be an improvement over the original version of the bill, which was subsequently improved by the Senate after (we) and others voiced concern about potential environmental impacts,” said Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. “But we need time to study the details of this version passed by the House.”
About 20 minutes after the House approved the bill, public health officials announced that this year’s first case of WNV was found in mosquitoes collected in Belmont. No human or animal cases have yet been identified.
The Department of Public Health has advised residents to protect themselves by using mosquito repellents with an Environmental Protection Agency-registered active ingredient; wearing long pants, a long-sleeve shirt and socks when outdoors; keeping mosquitoes out of your home by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to your doors and windows; and removing areas of standing water around your home.
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
Rep. Natalie Blais — Yes
Rep. Paul Mark — Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
The House, 158 to 0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would require the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to meet new reporting requirements and be more accountable.
Provisions include requiring an annual survey from the department detailing case counts, rates of adoption by race and ethnicity, and the number of children who die in the care and custody of DCF. The measure also requires DCF to study protections in place for vulnerable children, and to improve the working relationship between the state and foster parents.
Another key section creates a Foster Parents’ Bill of Rights including prohibiting discrimination against a foster parent on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age or physical ability; keeping information regarding the foster parent and household members confidential; requiring foster parents to be considered as the first choice for adoption when a non-relative is not involved; providing more training and resources; and ensuring that foster parents receive as much information as possible ahead of time about children to be placed in their care.
“Behind every data point required of DCF under this legislation there are families struggling to stay together and children experiencing trauma who are looking for stability and love,” said Rep. Kay Khan, D-Newton. “This data and all of the requirements of (the bill) build on the House of Representatives’ longstanding commitment to promoting the welfare of the commonwealth’s most vulnerable children and families.”
“I share the grave concerns about the precipitous drop in child abuse and neglect reports during the COVID-19 crisis, which we believe is because the children, usually interacting with mandated reporters including their educators, coaches, early education staff and child care providers, have not been ‘seen,’” said Rep. Denise Garlick, D-Needham. “With this bill, the House has demonstrated that we have not lost sight of the children, DCF’s accountability and the commonwealth’s responsibility.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
Rep. Natalie Blais — Yes
Rep. Paul Mark — Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
The Senate approved a bill that would allow restaurants to sell sealed containers of mixed drinks with takeout and delivery orders.
A law passed in April allows restaurants and bars to sell limited quantities of beer and wine, in their original containers, with takeout and delivery orders. However, the order did not include mixed drinks.
The proposal requires orders for cocktails to be placed by midnight or earlier if the establishment closes before then. The measure defines mixed drinks as a drink sealed in a container holding up to 64 fluid ounces of liquor and mixer that have been combined.
“Since the start of the COVID-19 emergency, I have heard from our local restaurant owners about the revenue that to-go mixed drinks could generate to help them stay afloat and survive the impacts of the shutdown,” said Sen. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, the sponsor of the measure. “While many mom-and-pop establishments have been able to slowly reopen in recent weeks, they still face significant challenges in their efforts to retain employees and pay their bills. While the Legislature does not have a say in the reopening plan during this continued state of emergency, we still have an obligation to use every legislative tool we have to help those that are struggling due to the pandemic. The passage of this bill will greatly help our job creators in the restaurant community, as well as their employees, many of whom have faced challenges with unemployment and uncertainty over whether their jobs will be there for them in the future.”
The House approved a different version of the bill on June 3, but the Senate has not yet acted on it. The House bill includes more than the “cocktails to go” in the Senate measure. The House version would also cap delivery fees by third parties like GrubHub, DoorDash and Uber Eats at 15 percent of the order price until 45 days after the COVID-19 state of emergency ends. When the pandemic struck, many restaurants were not equipped to offer online ordering or delivery, and are forced to rely heavily on these delivery companies.
The House measure also allows cities and towns to authorize some changes to state licensing and local zoning procedures to make it easier and faster for restaurants to open outdoor seating. Another provision would temporarily waive late fees for any restaurants that are behind on paying the revenue from the meals tax to the state.
The Senate bill now goes to the House for consideration.
The state Department of Unemployment Assistance announced that it has verified 58,616 fraudulent unemployment claims through June 20. The department has not yet released how much money was paid out in error.
“Protecting the integrity of the unemployment system and ensuring benefits are only going to valid claimants is the top priority of the Department of Unemployment Assistance,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “It is unfortunate that because of this criminal activity, people who really need our support may face delays in receiving the benefits they need. We will continue to work with our state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as our dedicated constituent service personnel, to ensure that those with valid unemployment claims receive financial assistance during these difficult times.”
Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, and Rep. Jon Santiago, D-Boston, have filed legislation creating a commission that would review Massachusetts’ response to the COVID-19 outbreak and make recommendations on how Massachusetts can better prepare in the future.
“As we gain more insight into the spread of the coronavirus outbreak and its impacts on Massachusetts, it is vital that we establish a dedicated nonpartisan commission to evaluate the response to the crisis and ensure future preparedness,” Lesser said. “The unprecedented nature of COVID-19 has upended our way of life and has revealed pre-existing inequities in our system that need to be evaluated and improved upon, especially as the threat of resurgence lingers.”
“Ensuring that we fully understand our response to COVID-19 is critical, particularly as we prepare for a potential second surge,” Santiago said. “The commonwealth deserves a thorough, deliberate and reflective inquiry of the actions taken to date. We owe it to the countless number of families who lost loved ones and to the many health care and essential workers who continue to risk their lives.”
Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, and Rep. Dan Sena, D-Acton, have filed a jobs bill to help residents who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair said the measure, modeled after the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) program, would create jobs for unemployed and underemployed residents while stimulating the economy.
“Residents are seeking to get back to work and provide for their families, but the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put a strain on the economy with many folks still jobless,” Eldridge said. “I believe it is the government’s responsibility to create jobs in an economic downturn, providing paychecks to residents who are able to rejoin the job market. I’m proud to file this legislation with Rep. Sena, who is acutely aware of the struggle immigrants are undergoing during this pandemic, especially since many immigrant families are still not eligible for unemployment benefits or the federal CARES Act stimulus checks.”
“COVID-19 has been economically disastrous, especially in our immigrant communities and communities of color,” Sena agreed. “We must step up to make sure that our neighbors across Massachusetts have the resources they need to provide for themselves and their families.”
The bill allows the program to consider projects related to infrastructure; contact tracing for COVID-19; climate change resiliency, environmental conservation and water quality; the agriculture, food and beverage industry; home care services; online education and child care; and the cannabis industry.