Volume 49 – Report No. 10 March 4-8, 2024
Copyright © 2024 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen.
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Our Legislators in the House and Senate for Somerville:

barber_webRep. Christine Barber
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Thirty-fourth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts in wards 4 and 5, precinct 1 of ward 7, and precinct 2 of ward 8, of the city of Medford, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 4, and all precincts of ward 7, of the city of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.
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Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-seventh Middlesex. – Consisting of precinct 3 of ward 2, all precincts of ward 3, precinct 3 of ward 4, and all precincts of wards 5 and 6, of the city of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex.
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Rep. Mike Connolly
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-sixth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts of ward 1, precinct 1 of ward 2, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 3, and precinct 1 of ward 6, of the city of Cambridge, and all precincts of ward 1 and precincts 1 and 2 of ward 2, of the city of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.
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Sen. Patricia Jehlen
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Second Middlesex. – Consisting of the cities of Cambridge, wards 9 to 11, inclusive, Medford and Somerville, and the town of Winchester, precincts 4 to 7, inclusive, in the county of Middlesex.
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on  roll calls from the week of March 4-8. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week.

SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET INCLUDING $245 MILLION FOR SHELTERS (H 4460)

House 121-33, approved and sent to the Senate a supplemental budget that includes $245 million for the Emergency Assistance Program that funds the emergency family shelter system which houses migrants.

The measure limits the maximum length of stay to nine consecutive months and an additional three months for those currently employed or enrolled in a job training program. The bill allows some families or individuals, including veterans, pregnant women, victims of domestic violence and people with a disability to be eligible for 12 consecutive months.

Other provisions keep in place some pandemic-era programs, set to expire, in place including allowing restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails for take-out and expanding outdoor dining.

“Ensuring that people exit the shelter system in a timely manner is crucial to the emergency assistance program’s long-term viability,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “This is the current reality due to the status of the migrant crisis, the lack of federal support, the number of people on the waitlist and the revenue challenges facing Massachusetts. It’s also critical that we ensure that folks in the shelter system receive ample support aimed at helping them to successfully enter the workforce, which is exactly what this legislation does.”

“Since the beginning of the migrant crisis, we have attempted to uphold the commonwealth’s right to shelter law while also being mindful of the long-term fiscal sustainability of the program,” said House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston). “The reforms contained in this proposal will ensure that right to shelter is maintained by capping the length of stay while also refocusing the emphasis on workforce development. By concentrating on job training, we can focus on getting migrants the job skills they need while also enhancing the commonwealth’s economic output.”

“By committing an additional $245 million in state funding to cover the ongoing costs of providing emergency housing to migrants, [the bill] does nothing but throw more taxpayer money at the problem without addressing the underlying causes driving up the program’s costs,” said House Republican Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “If you factor in the $325 million that was included in the fiscal year 2024 budget and the $250 million added through the supplemental budget that was approved in December, the state has now committed over $820 million to the Emergency Assistance Housing Program in fiscal year 2024 alone, with no end in sight. This money drain is already crowding out other priorities in the budget and has created a financial situation that is simply unsustainable without implementing meaningful reforms to the program.”

“To the credit of Democratic House leaders, the bill did propose several new limits to migrant housing stays in an effort to curtail expenses,” said Rep. Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable). “However, in my opinion, these new limits don’t go far enough and the bill is fiscally irresponsible. Our state very simply cannot afford to continue paying these ever-mounting expenses.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Christine Barber            Yes
Rep. Mike Connolly                No
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven        No

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS (H 4460)

House 28-128, rejected an amendment that would change the state’s Right to Shelter Law which requires the state to provide shelter and other necessities to homeless parents with young children, pregnant women and recently the many migrant families arriving in the Bay State. Homeless individuals are not covered by the Right to Shelter law.

The amendment would require that people provide proof that they have lived in the state for at least six months to qualify for the program. It also exempts from the requirement a victim of domestic violence or a person whose living situation has been affected by a fire or other natural disaster that occurred in Massachusetts.

Amendment supporters said the current interpretation of residency in Massachusetts by the Healey administration is that the person can be in the state for a matter of minutes to qualify to get services.

“We’re a huge incentive for groups at our southern U.S. border to send folks here, directly here, because they know we’re going to take care of them, we’re going to give them shelter of some kind, food, health care and what have you,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn). “The solution is you can’t be eligible the day you show up. You just can’t. Let’s make it six months — you have to be a resident of Massachusetts for six months before you can access the program. I think that’s fair and I think it’s reasonable.”

Some amendment opponents said the amendment might be unconstitutional. Others said people from around the world who are the victims of rape, violence and oppression are coming to Massachusetts and the state should not impose residency requirements on these suffering migrants.

(A “Yes” vote is for the 6-month requirement. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Christine Barber               No
Rep. Mike Connolly                   No
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven           No

REQUIRE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR COMPANIES SUPPLYING FOOD (H 4460)

House 154-0, approved an amendment that would require any funds spent for providing food for people through the program be subject to a competitive bidding process.

Amendment supporters said that according to news reports, the state is currently spending $64 a day per person to feed people in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program under a six-month, $10 million no-bid contract, including $16 for breakfast, $17 for lunch and $31 for dinner.

“These meal costs far exceed the necessary funds to feed families in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program and go well beyond what most families in the commonwealth can afford to feed their own families,” said amendment sponsor House GOP Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “At a time when state revenues are declining, we must ensure that we spend responsibly and conserve our resources to best serve the residents of Massachusetts. By requiring a competitive bidding process, we can ensure that the state is getting the best price, and that spending is brought down to a more reasonable level.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.)

Rep. Christine Barber            Yes
Rep. Mike Connolly                Yes
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven        Yes

TRAINING PROGRAMS (H 4460)

House 25-128, rejected an amendment that would expand eligibility for a program, created in the bill, which allows employers to offer training programs to assist individuals in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program in developing the skills needed to enter the workforce. Under the program, employers would be eligible for a tax credit of $2,500 for each qualified trainee who receives training. The amendment would allow low-income Massachusetts residents to participate in these training

programs even if they are not in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program.

“The supplemental budget offers a pathway to entering the workforce by going through a job training program, but it is limited to those individuals who are already in the emergency shelter system,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This amendment would open up these training programs by also giving low-income Massachusetts residents who are eager to work an opportunity to participate.”

Opponents said this funding is aimed at helping people in the emergency assistance program. They noted the state already has programs for low income residents and is developing even more of them.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment allowing low income residents to be eligible. A “No” vote is against allowing it.)

Rep. Christine Barber             No
Rep. Mike Connolly                 No
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven         No

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE (H 4460)

House 154-0, approved an amendment that would require that veterans in the shelter program are automatically given the maximum length of time to stay in the program, regardless of other factors.

“My amendment prioritizes veterans when it comes to our emergency shelter program,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “While other families will have restrictions on staying in the program based on employment and job training status, this amendment says that veterans in the shelter program are automatically given the maximum length of time to stay in the shelter program, regardless of other factors.

Fernandes continued, “Our state is one that recognizes the selflessness which veterans have served our commonwealth and country and we give priority to veterans in many other state programs. I believe they deserve priority when it comes to shelter and this amendment enshrines that priority.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment giving veterans preference.)

Rep. Christine Barber            Yes
Rep. Mike Connolly                Yes
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven        Yes

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ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

LEARNING DISABILITY SCREENING DAY (H 4210) – The House gave initial approval to a bill designating October 2 as Learning Disability Screening Day, to raise awareness of the necessity of screening for reading disabilities.

“Former Duxbury Rep. Josh Cutler filed this legislation to promote awareness around dyslexia and other reading disabilities,” said Cole Angley, a Cutler spokesman. “Dyslexia affects an estimated 20 percent or one in every five people of the U.S. population. However only around one in 20 of the population are diagnosed. This legislation would help to promote awareness and screening across the commonwealth.”

Cutler resigned from the House on February 4 to become Gov. Maura Healey’s Undersecretary of Apprenticeship, Work-based Learning and Policy in the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

LOCAL PLANNING BOARDS (H 3555) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that allows associate members of local planning boards to act on any matter before a planning board, mirroring the current law that applies to associate members of Zoning Boards of Appeal. An associate planning board members is one that is appointed to act in place of regular members because of absence, conflict of interest or when a seat is vacant.

Supporters of the bill said that the attorney general has ruled that associate members may only act on a special permit application, and none of the other many functions of a planning board. They said that the attorney general’s ruling can handicap a planning board when trying to attain a quorum to open a meeting, or when voting on other matters and permits before them, such as site plans or subdivisions.

“Planning Boards have many responsibilities including but not limited to long range planning and permitting of special permits, site plans and subdivisions,” said sponsor Rep. Kristin Kassner (D-Hamilton). “This will help the Planning Boards in our communities keep permitting on track and move through the business in front of them. Amendments like this clear up confusion in the law and provide needed tools for community success.”

$22 MILLION TO EXPAND HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING – The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech announced the launch of the Residential Internet Retrofit Program, a $22 million statewide program that will be used to equip public and affordable housing units across the state with high-speed internet.

“A substantial portion of public housing buildings are more than 50 years old,” said MBI Director Michael Baldino. “Low-income families in these buildings face barriers to accessing the speeds offered by broadband service if the wiring in their apartment pre-dates the internet age. The Retrofit Program will lead the charge to engage with property managers and then to engage internet service providers, who will work together to build out cutting-edge infrastructure that fully connects public and affordable housing units to high-speed internet.”

HEALEY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES PLAN TO END VETERANS’ HOMELESSNESS – Gov. Maura Healey announced a $20 million campaign to end veterans’ homelessness in Massachusetts.

“Our administration is committed to making Massachusetts a national leader in veterans services,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Today, we are proud to launch the largest investment in our state’s history to end veteran homelessness in Massachusetts. It is through this initiative that we will work to ensure that every veteran in our state has a safe and stable place to call home.”

“This campaign signifies a monumental commitment to addressing veteran homelessness in Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Veterans Services Jon Santiago. “Our mission is clear: bring veteran homelessness to functional zero and establish the necessary infrastructure to sustain this achievement.”

“No one who served our country should ever worry about having a roof over their heads,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “This campaign acts on our administration’s shared commitment to restore dignity, provide hope and keep a promise to our veterans that they will never be forgotten or left behind. As the daughter of a veteran, I appreciate the positive impact this initiative will have on all of Massachusetts’ veterans.”

For more information on the End Veteran Homeless Campaign, visit mass.gov/endvethomelessness.

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QUOTABLE QUOTESBy the Numbers Edition

Research by AAA has found that vehicle crashes tend to increase in the days following moving the clocks ahead in the Spring as drivers get behind the wheel while sleep-deprived and with their circadian rhythms out of whack. Studies have outlined the risks associated with drowsy driving: drivers who slept for less than five hours the night before may have a crash risk comparable to driving drunk, and losing just a couple of hours of sleep can double the risk of a crash.

AAA says that official statistics on the prevalence of drowsy driving have long been underestimated since most drivers don’t admit to being drowsy after a collision. The group says that new research shows just how underreported these crashes are. According to a study, AAA estimates that drowsy driving is a factor in ten times as many traffic fatalities as traditional crash data indicates.

2,692 — Number of crashes in Massachusetts between 2021 and 2023 where police indicated that drowsiness, fatigue or a driver falling asleep was a contributing factor.

30,000 — Number of people nationwide who died between 2017 and 2021 as a result of a drowsy driver.

18 percent — Percentage of nationwide

accidents between 2017 and 2021 that involved drowsy driving.

95 percent — Percent of nationwide drivers who perceive drowsy driving to be very or extremely dangerous.

18 percent — Of the 95 percent of drivers who perceive drowsy driving to be very or extremely dangerous, the percent who say they have engaged in drowsy driving in the past 30 days.

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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 March 4-8 the House met for a total of seven hours and 17 minutes and the Senate met for a total of one hour and one minute.

Mon. March 4
House 11:00 a.m. to 11:26 a.m. 
Senate 11:13 a.m. to 11:31 a.m.

Tues. March 5
No House session
No Senate session

Wed. March 6
House 11:03 a.m. to 5:11 p.m.
No Senate session

Thurs. March 7
House 11:08 a.m. to 11:51 a.m.
Senate 11:08 a.m. to 11:51 a.m.

Fri. March 8
No House session
No Senate session

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Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com