--will be In Order.
Chair recognizes the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
For what purpose does the gentleman rise?
Why, thank you, Mr. President, and good morning.
What a wonderful thing it is to be joined here with you
and our colleagues so that we can
begin day two of what we affectionately
know as the budget adventure.
Mr. President, in addition to complimenting you
on your outstanding purple tie, I
would call attention to the outstanding purple tie
of the gentleman from Westfield, who
has obviously spent considerable time researching
all options for such things and has been successful.
Mr. President, so that all of us can
partake in the splendor of your haberdashery
and that of the gentleman from Westfield,
and also that of the gentle lady from Worcester,
who has quite an interesting interpretation, and nice one
this morning, of the color purple,
I doubt the presence of a quorum.
The gentleman doubts the presence of a quorum.
And the Chair can ascertain that, in fact, a quorum is not
present.
The court offices will summon the members
and secure the doors.
To the children from the Seach school in Weymouth.
We're going to ask you to join the veterans who are standing
in the back of the room in leading us
in the Pledge of Allegiance as soon as we have
a quorum of the Senate present.
So be prepared to lead us.
And I think the way we'll do it is
I will count one, two, three.
And then you'll speak.
Got it?
I would ask all members to please take their seats.
Members, please take your seats.
And the Chair would ask all members, staff, and guests
to please rise and join the children from the William Seach
school in Weymouth, and the Veterans Council from Weymouth
in the Pledge of Allegiance.
One, two, three.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America.
And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
It's my pleasure to ask Senator O'Connor to introduce
his special guests.
Thank you, Mr. President and through you, to the membership,
I'd like to welcome the Weymouth Veterans Council and Weymouth
Veterans Services Director, George Pontes,
to the Senate today, the members of the Veterans Council
are here, fulfilling their annual tradition
of visiting the Statehouse to lay
a wreath at the plaque for Ralph Talbot which is outside
of the house chambers.
I also want to thank the fourth grade
class from the William Seach Elementary School
for being here today.
William Seach is one of the five Congressional Medal
of Honor recipients in Weymouth, which
is the most amount of Congressional Medal
recipients for one community in the entire nation.
Weymouth and this Senate chamber are
very proud of the tradition we have
for supporting our veterans.
So I wanted to join my colleagues
in welcoming both the Seach school, as well
as our Veterans from Weymouth and the Veterans Service Office
from Weymouth.
So thank you for coming to the Senate today.
[APPLAUSE]
On behalf-- on behalf of the members of the Senate,
we want to thank the Veterans Council members
for joining us this morning.
And just to let you know that later today we
will be observing our annual Memorial Day Senate
ceremony here in the chamber.
And we want to thank all of our veterans for their service
and sacrifice over the years.
And now, several resolutions have been presented,
which the Clerk will read.
By Mr. Rosenberg, resolutions commending,
Pam Wilmont and the occasion of her receiving the John Gardner
Public Service Achievement Award, by Mr. Ross,
resolutions congratulating [?
Cindy ?] [?
Xi, ?] [?
Lily ?] [?
Bergstrom, ?] [?
Jyah ?] [?
Mills, ?] and who else?
And Megan [INAUDIBLE] all of the town of Wayland,
on receiving the Silver Award of the Girl Scouts of America.
The question comes on adoption of the resolutions
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The ayes have it.
And the resolutions are adopted.
Senate will be in a very brief recess.
The Senate will be In Order.
We are now going to entertain three amendments.
The first will be 605, by Mr. Hinds.
The second, 425 by Mr. Timilty, and the third, 572, by Mr. Cyr.
The Chair would ask all members to please remain in their seats
and cease all conversation, so that the remarks
of our recently-elected members may be heard and appreciated.
The next amendment is number 605, offered by the Senator
from The Berkshires, Mr. Hinds, the title of which
the Clerk will read.
Amendment number 605 by Mr. Hinds, Brookshire County
Workforce Alignment.
Chair recognizes the Senator from The Berkshires, Mr. Hinds.
Thank you, Mr. President.
And through you, to the members.
I rise in support of amendment number 605, which I filed.
Good morning to all of you.
And I rise today, for the first time
here, filling the chair of my predecessor.
And like him, I rise without a full head of hair.
But I do rise as someone with a full and deep sense
in the belief in the power of this body.
And the collective wisdom that it brings to bear.
I stand here very conscious of the moral authority that
is called upon every time this body convenes,
because it represents a direct lineage
from the founding fathers of this great country
and the principles upon which it was established.
Mr. President, Amendment 605 focuses
on workforce development by creating a workforce czar
or czarina, who will fill a critical gap between workers
and businesses alike.
It ensures the regional employment board
can work closely with local businesses
to directly link their workforce needs with local neighborhoods,
high school graduates, colleges, and training programs.
You see, I come from a district with a rich manufacturing
history.
We were once home to GE, which employed,
at its height, 13,000 people.
It spurred a range of supplier companies.
And it provided something even more distinct and important
than that.
It provided residents in the whole community
with the confidence and the comfort
of knowing that if you work hard,
you can retire with dignity.
And your children can get a job, and they can raise a family.
And in many ways, this tradition continues today.
We have a global company of General Dynamics
that has a business base in Pittsfield,
and continues to hire 200 people every year.
And in some instances, the buildings
that were once home to this rich manufacturing history
have now given birth to a new incarnation in our economy,
as world-class cultural institutions now
fill the buildings that were the basis for that manufacturing.
And in one instance, we're talking about Mass MOCA.
Which, later this week, in just a few days,
we'll be expanding, opening an expansion
through the great assistance of the legislature.
And by doing so when it does that,
it will become the largest contemporary art
museum in the country right here in Massachusetts.
And yet, we're at a crossroads in our region.
To be sure, we have world-class art and culture.
We have unparalleled access to nature.
And we have a cost of living that
make it a great place to start a family and raise that family.
But we also struggle with deeply-concerning trends.
In my district, we have two of the three counties
in the Commonwealth experiencing population loss.
And with it, all of the financial
hardships on education funding and municipal budgets.
Our median household incomes are far behind
the rest of the state.
And yet, as we try to turn the corner and right the ship,
our basic infrastructure isn't even in place.
Too many of our homes, too many of our towns
are without high-speed internet, in one example.
My parents still live in the house
that I grew up in, in a town that I
have the distinct privilege of representing as I stand here
today.
And across the street is a small public library.
And at night, after hours, you'll
see kids on the steps, opening laptops.
You'll see cars pulling up.
You can see the glow of faces from their laptops.
Because they don't have internet at home.
And in this day and age, that is simply unacceptable.
Our transportation systems are not up
to 21st-century standards, keeping our workers
from regional economic centers, or keeping them
from that ability to travel to their jobs.
Energy costs impact development and growth.
Making progress on these challenges
requires tangible action.
And amendment 605 directly confronts
one concerning contradiction.
And that is that we have 2,000 available jobs
every single day in my region.
And yet, we still have people looking for work.
And so what this amendment does, is
it works to provide a bridge from those folks looking
for work and the training programs that already exist,
and the employers looking for workers.
And as a result, it becomes a critical part
of growing our economy.
Now, there are a lot of potential obstacles
on the pathway to sustained employment.
And many of you are very familiar with them.
It might be transportation.
It might be child care costs or mental health, and others.
But by taking a small amount of money, 75,000 in this case,
and creating a dynamic workforce czar or czarina,
as this amendment does, it gives an employers
an address to turn to when they need that assistance.
And it fills one critical gap in creating a thriving economy.
Now, I know all of you understand the value of filling
this need in a community.
It really cannot be overstated.
And some of my previous work with high-risk youth
showed me, firsthand, the value of a job in creating
self-respect and hope for a kid that's
at that moment of which path they might Take
And it also can restore faith in a community that
has struggled economically.
It can be the difference maker for a business owner
who wants to grow.
And so it is for these reasons that I
hope to have your support for this amendment.
Mr. President, there is one final element
that I wish to underscore today.
It is difficult to rise in this august chamber and not also be
keenly aware and acknowledge the broader context.
The choices and decisions that we make here
occur in an incredibly divisive moment in our nation's history.
And many analysts have pointed to the divide that
has emerged between our centers of innovation
in our cities and the more rural areas,
experiencing the challenges that I've outlined today.
It highlights the importance of investing in our areas that
are far from the capital, and ensuring
the dignity of work and opportunity
reach every corner of the Commonwealth.
It is one more reason I hope to have your support
for this amendment.
And this critical moment also calls on all of us
to be very deliberate, as we work in our own communities
to foster dialogue across political perspectives
and experience.
I, for one, am proud that the principles
of this great Commonwealth, as repeatedly reaffirmed
by our residents and voters, serve
as a starting point for all of us
to walk together, shoulder by shoulder,
on the winding path towards constantly improving
this great land.
Mr. President, I am honored to join you in that effort.
To all of you, I am honored to join you and proud to be here.
And I thank you for the opportunity
to speak in support of Amendment 605.
and I hope to have your support.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
The question comes on adoption of the Amendment.
And with that rousing reaction, the answer is obviously yes.
Senate will be in a brief recess.
Senate will be In Order.
And the next amendment, the next amendment
is number 425, offered by the Senator
from Bristol and Norfolk, Mr. Timilty, the title of which
the Clerk will read.
Amendment number 425 by Mr. Timility, Avon Coalition
for Every Student.
Chair recognizes the Senator from Bristol and Norfolk,
Mr. Timilty.
Thank you, Mr. President.
And through you, to the members, it is an honor to be here
before you all today, to stand in support of the work underway
in our communities, and to continue the steadfast advocacy
of this august body to combat the deadly epidemic that is
raging across our Commonwealth,
I would also like to thank the Senator from Ashland,
for not only her immense assistance with this amendment,
but for her outreach.
This redrafted amendment will fund crucial substance abuse
prevention coalitions in the 10 towns in the district
that I am privileged to represent.
The significant toll of the opioid crisis
on all of our communities is abundantly clear.
And that is something we were all painfully aware of.
From 2000 to 2015, the opioid-related death rate
has multiplied more than four times over,
surpassing the national average in this process.
Last year in 2016, an average of 38 people per week
died from opioid overdose.
While stark, these numbers tell only part of the story.
Behind the numbers are real lives affected by this crisis.
Behind the numbers are real lives that we have all lost.
We have lost far too many fathers to overdose.
We've lost far too many mothers to overdose.
Far too many brothers, far too many sisters,
far too many colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
We can do better and we must do better.
Opioid addiction does not discriminate.
There is not a community across our commonwealth
that has been spared from the chilling effects
of this insidious affliction.
That is why I rise today in support of this amendment that
will allocate funds to community substance abuse prevention
coalitions.
These coalitions, as we are all well aware,
are on the front lines fighting back
against monumental dangers of opioid use.
A diverse cross-section of residents, students,
professionals, and town leaders are
working to effectively address this crisis
through a series of community-based responses,
with missions that encompass both prevention and treatment.
Each group promotes enhanced awareness and education,
serves as a gateway to resources for those in need,
and seeks to address the epidemic with compassion,
empathy, and understanding.
By collaborating with devoted community partners,
these coalitions are working to both develop and implement
an evidence-based approach to this most
lethal of afflictions, plaguing each and every one
of our neighborhoods.
These coalitions are thoroughly invested in our communities.
Now it is that time to further the investment in them,
investment that has been so hardly worked
on by this chamber in most recent times.
With our support, these tireless advocates
will be able to continue expanding
their outreach, awareness, and prevention efforts.
With additional funding, further collaboration
with trained mental health counselors
and other professionals will be possible,
allowing those in desperate need to access
necessary and lifesaving resources.
There is no overnight solution, as we're all painfully aware.
That fact is clear.
But the people that work in our communities are signs of hope.
It is time for us to renew and extend our support
to these vital efforts.
It is time for us to join together,
as we have in the past so proudly in this chamber,
with grassroots practices that are already
underway in our communities.
It is time for us to continue our own ongoing efforts
to ensure that no more families are
left to sustain the painful loss of a loved one
as a result of an opioid overdose.
I am heartened by the progress that
is evident in our communities progress that
has been made possible in many instances
by the efforts of people in this chamber
and throughout the State government
and the Commonwealth.
I ask you to join me in supporting this amendment so we
may grow those seeds of hope into tangible change
on behalf of all communities of all men and women
across this commonwealth.
And with that, I hope this amendment is adopted,
and I thank you all.
[CHEERING]
[APPLAUSE]
--no, the ayes have it.
And the Amendment offered by the Senator
from Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth, Mr. Timilty,
is adopted.
The Senate will stand in a brief recess.
Senate will be In Order.
The next amendment is Amendment 572, offered by the Senator
from the Cape and The Islands, the title of which
the Clerk will read.
Amendment number 572 by Mr. Cyr, Small Business Technical
Assistance
The Senator from the Cape and Islands, Mr. Cyr.
--through you to the members, I am
honored to join my colleagues from Pittsfield and Milton,
to join in addressing this chamber for the first time.
They have set the bar very high.
And just really honored to join with all of you
in this unsettled and consequential time
to speak in support of Amendment 572 Small Business Technical
Assistance.
The Mass Growth Capital Business Technical Assistance Program
provides competitive grants to community-based based
organizations across the Commonwealth.
These organizations, in turn, use the grants
to support aspiring entrepreneurs
and small business owners that dream
of sustaining their own livelihood by starting
or growing their own enterprise.
Small businesses supported through this program
provide needed services and new local products,
the kind of economic activity that revitalizes local business
districts, creates jobs, and builds wealth in communities
across Massachusetts.
The small business Technical Assistance Program
has served thousands of small businesses
since it was first established by this body in FY 2007.
It has been especially essential to jump-starting and sustaining
successful minority and women owned businesses
in low and moderate-income communities
across the Commonwealth.
The reach of this program is quite impressive.
In FY '16, when this line item was funded at $2 million,
the program achieved the following,
grants of 32 nonprofit organizations across the state,
between $10,000 and $120,000, and many grants
for professional services to 65 small businesses
to help them in areas such as accounting, legal services,
marketing, and technology.
Providing technical assistance and training
to providers of 1,891 business clients.
1,056 new jobs were created.
And 1,594 jobs were preserved, which
is a 22% increase over the results from FY 2015.
And 367 businesses received financing that
totaled nearly $30 million.
And 75% of businesses that were supported by these monies
had achieved a positive outcome.
Either they opened, they grew, they stabilized.
That's quite an impressive track record.
The assistance provided through this program
is often the difference between success and failure.
The assistance to write a viable business plan,
obtain new customers, secure a storefront or processing
facility, obtain financing, and otherwise navigate
the many complexities of owning a small business.
As you can see, this modest investment by the Commonwealth
does an awful lot of good.
I have a deep appreciation for the opportunities
and challenges that small businesses
across the Commonwealth--
but especially those on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard,
ad Nantucket face--
because I had a front-row seat witnessing
how small businesses come into being, quite literally.
My parents opened their own small business,
a restaurant on Cape Cod, in 1985,
when they were three months pregnant with me.
After working for 11 years in other people's establishments,
they opened a hole-in-the-wall eatery in Truro's center with
20 seats and $7,000 that they had gotten loaned from family.
And when I came along, they put me in a bassinet on the counter
and hugged my toys from the clothespin
that had held order slips.
Later came my sister, and the business
grew to a bustling 200-seat restaurant.
I admit, this makes for a rather saccharin story.
But But in the Lower Cape community where I grew up,
it was nothing special.
Growing up in Truro, a hamlet of 2,003 individuals,
I took for granted how integral small businesses were
to who we were and who we are, and how we sustained ourselves
30 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean.
It seemed that most everyone's families were
involved in small business.
And if their families didn't own a business outright,
then they worked in one.
Unless you worked for the town, taught in the schools,
or served on the police force, you relied on small business.
In Truro Elementary School, it wasn't unusual
if your parents were proprietors or entrepreneurs.
The [?
Caguines ?] started Royal Flush Plumbing.
My friend's best dad was a contractor
who employed a crew of 12.
One [?
Sousa ?] family operated the local garden center.
Another [?
Sousa ?] clan [? plyed ?] the waters of Cape Cod Bay
for lobster.
The Johnsons lobstered too.
And the Austins were among the first
to grow oysters in Wellfleet's nascent shellfish industry.
The [?
Yinglings ?] started in an iconic pizza joint with cash
savings.
The [?
Endidges ?] owned a penny candy store on Commercial street.
The [?
Savarids ?] and the [?
Maluskis, ?] and the Evans owned inns.
The [?
Dunns ?] and the Sears had restaurants.
The Sparrows opened the first coffee shop
that had an espresso bar and gourmet chocolate on the Cape.
And the [?
Althouse ?] bakers operated a kitschy and irreverent store
that sold their fine art and poetry.
Now, growing up in your family's small business
isn't necessarily always easy.
Teenage angst and demanding customers,
especially on a slammed August night, can be a recipe for [?
picant ?] family feuds.
But we persevered.
My sister and I worked and bickered
in the family restaurant for 14 seasons,
doing everything from cooking behind the line
to waiting tables, I note with some pride
that I will have to be elected to this body up to seven terms
to surpass that, the time of service
that I spent serving people on Cape Cod.
And my family, like so many others,
put our hearts fully into this family business together.
It sustained us.
It defined us.
Not solely paying the bills, but giving our lives
purpose and agency.
My generation's parents came to the Outer Cape to build a life,
and were able to do so through the opportunities
of entrepreneurship and small business.
Most had either grown up on the Cape
or relocated from working-class enclaves in Upstate New York,
in Connecticut, in Southie, or from the Blackstone Valley.
They sought to eke out a living through hard work
and creativity.
Not everyone was successful.
And each family enterprise had their own share of woes.
But the barriers to getting in and launching your dreams
could be scaled.
Unfortunately, it's become harder and harder
for dreams like those dreams of my parents' generation
to be realized on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard,
and Nantucket.
Mounting demands, an out-of-state real estate
market, a limited workforce, corporate competition
that focuses on the bottom line, not the community,
the sheer cost of goods, mounting health care
costs, a housing shortage, and so much else provide
a pretty hard high bar to start off a small business,
let alone succeed.
A generation ago, you could build a life
and make a good living in the trades,
in hospitality industry, or in our fishery.
Now, without some support or unfortunately,
independent wealth, this is harder to do.
That's why the Small Business Technical Assistance
Program is so important to Cape Cod, to Nantucket, to Martha's
Vineyard, and our communities and neighborhoods all
across the Commonwealth.
I'll give you three examples.
J'amie and Christian Sparrow came home to Cape Cod
five years ago with a dream, to open their own business that
would serve up fresh local food, but also
be a warm engaging place for both their staff
and for our Lower Cape community.
J'amie had spent Summers in the Lower Cape
as a child and a young adult. She
met Christian, a native Cape Codder like me, one summer.
They headed off to the West Coast
to start their careers in food and hospitality.
But their families were here.
The Cape was home.
And they wanted to move back.
When they did, they came with an ambitious plan.
But when Jamie and Chris sought financing for what they hoped
would become their new livelihood,
they were very discouraged.
Rejections from local banks due to the startup nature
of their business in a very high-risk industry--
9 out of 10 restaurants fail in the first five years--
landed them at the door of the Community Development
Partnership, which receives funding through this amendment.
A micro loan, paired with business counseling,
helped them open Sunbird Food Truck in Wellfleet in 2012.
With a focused vision, strong staff, and certainly
some tweaks along the way, they did launch their business,
the same dream my parents had a generation ago.
And it was such a success, they soon
embarked on an additional adventure, Sunbird Kitchen.
This time, with a business partner
and yet another small loan from this program
to round out local bank financing,
they opened their brick-and-mortar Orleans
restaurant in 2015.
In four years, Sunbird has grown from one seasonal food
truck with a handful of seasonal employees
to a full-fledged year-round restaurant shared
by 3 partners, 13 year-round employees,
and a faithful customer following.
And did I mention, Sunbird is open year round, which is
the big deal on the Lower Cape.
Native Cape Codders Chris and Virginia Smith
had found their way to growing a successful business
on the Lower Cape by doing it together.
The business, Full Service Landscaping,
started off as a side project for Chris,
who had a horticulture degree.
In 2008, he transitioned it into a full-time business, Cape Cod
Tree and Landscaping.
Within a few years, it became clear more hands were needed
for the day-to-day operations.
Virginia, who was a teacher, left her job
and decided to join her husband in
the rapidly-growing business.
They incorporated in 2013.
And their business grew via word of mouth,
Virginia's efforts with online marketing,
and Chris's networking skills.
They had an upward trajectory, now employing nine individuals.
But with the rapid growth, challenges surfaced.
The business faced constant repair and maintenance issues
with equipment, particularly a work truck.
The issues resulted in mounting expenses.
In spring 2015, the Smiths approached the local Community
Development Corporation about a microloan
funded through this program.
After presenting a compelling business plan,
they were approved for a $25,000 loan to buy a newer dump truck.
With four-wheel drive, the new truck expanded their season,
enabled them to plow in the winter
and tackle tree repair as well.
They said, "The loan bridged the gap for us
to take our business to the next level," said Virginia.
"Our cost for equipment, maintenance, and repairs
had become too burdensome.
With a new truck, those burdens have been reduced."
As they contemplate a future, the Smiths
are quite optimistic about their business.
And finally, Katie Murphy and Michael DeVasto
wanted to take their small local business, Field Point Oyster
Farm, to the next level.
Again, with a sound business plan
that focused on sustainable oyster cultivation, freshness
and quality, they were poised to grow.
The only missing piece was financing.
After working with staff-- again, funded by this program--
to hone their financial projections,
they applied for and received a microloan
to finance the purchase of gear and inventory.
According to Michael, quote, "We wouldn't
have been able to grow the volume of oysters
we're now growing without the gear
we purchased as a result of the microloan
made possible by the Small Business Technical Assistance
Program.
The injection has been integral for us to grow our business."
So I rise in support of this line item
because the small businesses that these programs help
are inextricably linked to the Cape and Islands district.
And they are also very much core to who I am,
and to how I've come to serve in this historic and soon-to-be
renovated chamber.
Businesses like these carry the tradition of prior generations.
They also help make us a community
by providing us space to work, to commune, and to eat.
We have a ways to go, to restore opportunity
and to ensure that those who have opportunity
are not just based on their inherited wealth,
whether or not you can be determined to be
successful in entrepreneurship.
And while this body charts a course for a more equitable
Commonwealth, this amendment is something meaningful
that will make a difference to small communities
and left-behind neighborhoods in cities and towns
all across the Commonwealth.
Mr. President, I ask for a favorable adoption
of this amendment.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
--the amendment, all those in favor say aye.
Opposed, no.
The ayes have it.
And the amendment is adopted.
The Senate will be in a brief recess.
--several amendments will be considered as one.
Is there objection?
The Chair hears none.
So the question will come at adoption of the amendments
and under the Constitution.
Excuse me, under the rules, not the Constitution,
a call of the ayes and nays is required.
The Clerk will call the roll, beginning with the [AUDIO OUT]
What roll call number is this?
24.
Yes.
Michael J. Barrett.?
[?
Yes.
?]
Joseph A. Boncore.
Yes.
Michael D. Brady?
Yes.
William N. Brownsburger?
Yes.
Harriette L. Chandler?
Yes.
Sonia Chang-Diaz, Cynthia Stone Creem, Julian Cyr?
Yes.
Viriata M. deMacedo?
Yes.
Sal N. DiDomenico?
Yes.
Eileen M. Donoghue?
Yes.
James B. Eldridge?
Yes.
Ryan C. Fattman?
Yes.
Jennifer L Flanagan?
Yes.
Linda [INAUDIBLE] Forry?
Yes.
Anne M. Gobi?
Yes.
Adam G. Hinds?
Yes.
Donald F. Humason?
Jr?
Yes.
Patricia D. Jalen?
Jalen?
Yes.
John F. Keenan?
Yes.
Eric P. Lesser?
Yes.
Jason M. Lewis?
Yes.
Barbara L'Italien?
Yes.
Joan B. Lovely?
Yes.
Thomas M. McGee?
Yes.
Mark C. Montigny?
Yes.
Michael O. Moore?
Yes.
Patrick M. O'Connor?
Yes.
Kathleen O'Connor Ives?
Yes.
Marc R. Pachedo?
Yes.
Michael J. Rodrigues?
Yes.
Richard J. Ross?
Yes.
Michael F. Rush?
Yes.
Karen E. Spilka?
Yes.
Bruce E. Tarr?
Yes.
Walter F. Timilty?
Yes.
James T. Welch?
Yes.
Chair, have all members been recorded?
The Senator from Middlesex and Norfolk [INAUDIBLE]..
--from Middlesex, Mr. Barrett.
Mr. Barrett, [? that was recorded impermanent. ?]
Michael J. Barrett votes yes.
The Senator from Suffolk, Ms. [?
Chang-Diaz? ?]
Mr. President, I have [INAUDIBLE]..
Sonia Chang-Diaz votes yes.
Yeah.
[GAVEL]
All of the body members have voted in the affirmative,
none in the negative.
The bundle is adopted by a single vote.
And now, we will return to Amendment 266, Amendment 266.
Where is Senator Brady?
--say it first, Mr. President.
The senator from Plymouth and Bristol, Mr. Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Through you to the members, I would
like to thank yourself and the gentle lady,
the Chairwoman of Ways and Means,
and all the members of this body for all the work.
The Chair apologizes for interrupting the gentleman.
The Chair made an error by not actually
having the amendment read again by the Clerk, as is required.
So the Senator from the South Coast
moves an amendment, the title of which the Clerk will read.
Amendment 266 by Mr. Brady, GIC composition.
And now the chair recognizes the senator
from Plymouth and Bristol, Mr. Brady, for remarks.
Again, thank you, Mr. President.
And I'd also like to thank the gentle lady, the Chairwoman
of Ways and Means, and all the members of this body for all
the work being done today.
It's a difficult year, as we know,
under these tough fiscal constraints.
But as we work through much deliberation on the budget,
we're working to protect the consumer out there
and to protect the Commonwealth and the taxpayers,
but also to protect the workers, the people that work day in
and day out to put food on their table,
to pay for their mortgages and their rents,
and to provide for their families.
So as we move through this, we also
want to protect everybody and have everyone
to have a seat at the table when we're
making some of these decisions that affects their lives.
And I think this amendment does just that,
with more transparency and more openness in government
which we have worked on over the past year.
Like we did with the Commonwealth
Conversation Tours, going out to the public,
when we did with our President [INAUDIBLE]
Senator Pacheco on the environment and energy,
delivering our message out to the public
and hearing from the public, and getting the public's input
when we vote on issues that affect their lives.
So with this being said, I think this amendment does just
that, giving everyone a chance at the table
to have a chance up to the plate,
and to do just what we're trying to do, to protect the consumers
and get everyone a plate at the table.
So when the vote is said, can I ask for a standing
vote, Mr. President?
The gentleman the vote on this matter
be taken by a standing vote.
This is Amendment 266, a Redrafted amendment.
Those voting in favor, please rise and be counted.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, [INAUDIBLE]..
Yourself, Mr. President?
Those opposed, please rise.
One.
One, Mr. President.
How many?
25 in the affirmative, 1 in the negative.
25?
25.
25 having voted in the affirmative, 1 in the negative,
the amendment is adopted.
Mr. Leader?
[GAVEL]
Now we're going to return to the amendments in order,
starting with number one, those that
were not completed yesterday in the first three subject matters
that we dealt with yesterday are up first.
And then we will proceed in order,
starting with number one.
And that amendment is offered by the Senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which the Clerk will read.
Amendment number one by Mr. Tarr, Community Preservation
Act, Consolidated Net Surplus.
The Chair recognizes the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Mr. President, I move the Senate be in a brief recess.
The Senate will be in a brief recess.
--recognized the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President.
And through you to the members, Mr. President,
I request unanimous consent to withdraw the pending amendment.
The gentlemen asks unanimous consent
to withdraw the pending amendment.
Is there an objection?
The chair hears none.
It is withdrawn.
The Senate will be in a brief recess.
--Order.
The next amendment is number 10, offered by the senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which-- oh, I'm sorry,
that is on hold.
And the next item is number 11, offered by the same Senator,
the title of which the Clerk will read.
Amendment 11 by Mr. Tarr, Room Occupancy Tax Modernization.
Chair recognizes the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President--
Vinnie, it's recess.
Senate will be in order.
We are on Amendment number 11, the title of which
the Clerk will re-read.
Amendment 11 by Mr. Tarr, Room Occupancy Tax Modernization.
Chair recognizes the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Why, thank you, Mr. President, and through you ,
to the members.
Mr. President, it was clear that at the outset
of putting the budget together, somebody
threw a switch and the tax-omatic went on.
And there was a search far and wide
to find additional things to be able to impose a tax on.
And one of the very interesting ones
is this hybridized situation, if I
can use that term, for those that
are renting rooms through the use of electronic platforms.
And Mr. President, it has long been said--
and I believe there is some merit to this argument
that for those that are running what
amounts to an accommodation business
through that electronic platform,
then the current means of shielding them from taxation
is inappropriate.
And so Mr. President, the question left to us
is what the best way is to approach
what is an inequity between those
who are in the business of renting hotel
rooms and such, and those who are in the business of renting
other occupiable spaces using an electronic platform.
And Mr. President, what is presently in the budget
is certainly the most extreme version
of that, which is to suggest that anyone,
who for any amount of time, at any moment, who engages
in using an electronic platform, to be
able to make available their home or sub component thereof,
is engaged in the business of public accommodation.
Now, Mr. President, we know that in many cases
that is simply not the case.
And so earlier in looking at this,
the administration proposed that someone
that did this for a period of greater than 150 days
would be considered to be in the business of providing
public accommodation and subject to the hotel and motel tax.
Well, clearly, Mr. President, there
was room for some other considerations in that.
And so it really left the question to determine what is
and what is not someone who is in the business of doing this.
Now, if we were having the discussion
about the intermediary that is brokering these arrangements,
I think we could have a fair discussion
that they are actually in the business of providing
these units.
But when we're talking about someone
who is offering their home or sub component they
thereof for a shorter period of time, and does it incidentally,
they don't appear to be someone who
was engaged in the business of providing public accommodation.
So Mr. President, this particular amendment
would leave intact that component of the budget that
currently stands relative to applying this tax,
but suggests that it be applied to those who are actually
in the business of doing this, and sets the standard,
the benchmark for that, at a period of 30 days or greater,
which really reflects someone who is in this business.
So we know, Mr. President, that we can't certainly not
fulfill what the tax somatic has identified.
And I know why there's a lot of consultation going on,
Mr. President in the chamber about this,
about what the 30 days means.
And it's clear that someone who is doing this for that short
period of time cannot fairly be said to be in this business.
And so this amendment very simply says that for 30 days,
if it's longer than that, then clearly you are in the business
and the tax should apply.
Mr. President, I hope the amendment is adopted.
The senator from Plymouth and Barnstable, Mr. DeMacedo.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I too rise in support of this amendment.
We all know that this is an issue that
has been evolving here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
much like the Uber situation of here
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
And we, those of us who deal with public policy,
have to find a way to address this.
And so we've had many iterations of this particular piece
of legislation and how to address this.
As the gentleman from Gloucester said,
the administration came out with their perception
of how they think we should address this,
with the 150 days.
We know the gentleman from the north
end over in the House of Representatives,
Aaron Michlewitz, put together a piece of legislation that
addressed this the way that he sees how it would go.
And certainly, this body put together
a piece of legislation.
My sense is, what we're trying to do
here is we want to make sure that for those individuals who
just incidentally put a piece of property
up for a short window of time because they have
this stranded asset and there's a way
to make a little bit of revenue for friends or family
or whatnot under 30 days, that they are not
in the business of renting these properties out,
because they are already being taxed.
They're being taxed on their property taxes.
And they have already addressed that issue there.
And any income would be taxed.
But in this particular case, this addresses it.
So it is my understanding that, how
do we do this in a way that creates a level playing
field so that we do address the bigger
players, those individuals that are actually buying facilities
to rent them out through this platform
that we see happening nowadays?
I think that's something that's fair.
It should be looked at.
But I also think we should encourage
those individuals that have an opportunity, a stranded asset
that they own.
There's clearly creativity in what
we're seeing here, entrepreneurism
that we want to foster here.
And we believe the 30 days allows for that opportunity
so that individuals who are already having probably
trouble paying their property taxes
and some of the expenses of their home
can be helped in this regard.
So it is my hope that we encourage this new platform.
We encourage it to foster.
It's creative.
But we also don't stifle it with greater tax burden.
So we believe this is a great compromise,
and I hope the amendment is adopted.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say-- oh, the chair
recognizes the senator from Bristol and Plymouth, Mr.
Rodrigues.
[AUDIO OUT]
--me.
I just want to take this opportunity
to express why I do not think it's a good idea that we adopt
this amendment.
And I appreciate the gentleman from Gloucester
and the gentleman from Plymouth trying to establish or create
a timeline of when someone is engaged
in the business of room sharing, room renting,
or in the lodging business.
I will argue that it is from the first day
that you rent a room or your house or your condo
or whatever you're renting for money,
for revenue, you are gaining, you are generating revenue.
You are engaged in the business.
At that point in time, you are responsible for all
of the items that it takes in order to be in business.
You are responsible to ensure that your premise is properly
insured so there's public safety.
You are responsible for all of the components
of being in business.
And it's from day one, if you are renting a room, your house,
your cottage for revenue, you have revenue,
you're making money, you are engaged
in the business of lodging.
Now, I also appreciate the fact that we
want to do everything we can to encourage this.
But I'll say that the millennials are encouraging it.
Today, short-term rental, the nontraditional lodging market,
is 15% of the market in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, and growing exponentially.
Just in the city of Boston alone,
there were over 10,000 hosts on the Airbnb platform.
And that's only one platform.
There are many, many other platforms.
So I hope this amendment is not adopted, Mr. President.
[?
Question on the ?] adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye.
Opposed, no?
The no's have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is Amendment #12, offered
by the same senator, the title of which the clerk will read.
[AUDIO OUT],, Restoring the income tax to 5%.
The chair recognizes the senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President.
For the members' edification or refreshment,
this was an amendment that was put on hold yesterday
at our request so that we could get
an accurate count of the foregone revenue
from this amendment.
And Mr. President, to update members
from the Department of Revenue, this
would be about approximately $175 million
when it's fully phased in.
And Mr. President, I would point out--
and if folks want to come over and look at our charts--
we've identified at least $268 million
in savings opportunities that are not currently
included in the Senate Ways and Means budget.
So if we wanted to strike a balance
and comply with the mandate of the voters at the ballot box,
we could do that.
And at the same time, we could also
make state government more efficient.
I hope that we would all agree to a proposition like that,
and therefore I hope the amendment is adopted.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is offered by the same senator, Amendment
#13 the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #13 by Mr. Tarr, restoring the sales tax to 5%.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The chair will not be reading amendments
that are still on hold from yesterday,
only amendments upon which there is an expected result
from this stage of the process.
And Mr. Brady asks--
for what purpose does Senator Brady rise?
Thank you, Mr. President.
I ask for no action be taken.
The gentlemen asks that we consider no action as having
been taken an Amendment #30.
Is there an objection?
The chair hears none, and we will consider no action
as having been taken on that matter.
Yes, when we get to it.
[INAUDIBLE]
[INAUDIBLE] is the Amendment #61,
offered by the senator from the Cape
and the Islands, Mr. Cyr, the title of which the clerk will
read.
Amendment #61 by Mr. Cyr, Provincetown Nursing Home
reimbursement rate.
I think you can just tell the clerk.
[AUDIO OUT]
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Withdrawn.
--#92 and #95 have been withdrawn.
We are now on Amendment #122.
--offered by the senator from Essex and Middlesex,
Ms. L'Italien, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #122 by Ms. L'Italien, Andover special education
one-time funding.
The chair recognizes the senator for remarks.
[AUDIO OUT]
One second.
[AUDIO OUT]
--sought to be able to access some
of the funding that's in the circuit breaker line item.
We no longer do a pothole account,
which I truly wish we did, because I think we all
have occasion when we have our towns that
are up against serious and significant one-time needs
for excessive expenditures that are
received within the special education budget.
My town is home to Melmark School in Andover,
which is one of the exemplary autism schools in the state.
They take some of the toughest children in the state,
and in fact take kids that have been institutionalized
and bring them back, and take kids
that are very seriously self-injurious
and bring them back and manage them through positive behavior
management.
That's not cheap.
That's very labor- and time-intensive.
And I had two particular students
that came into my town that cost close to $700,000,
for two students.
So I was hoping, with this amendment--
and this was my highest priority this year--
that we would allow my town to qualify
for this exceptional high cost, again,
under the money that was in the circuit breaker account.
So I don't think I'm going to be successful in this,
but I just wanted to highlight--
this could be any one of our towns at any point.
I do think we need to either allow towns to access
this money or get serious about reestablishing
the pothole account.
I've represented Andover for close to 15 years on and off.
This is the first time they've asked for this.
Actually, this is the second year we've asked for this.
But the fact that we don't have a pothole account
is very troubling to me, so I felt
compelled to get up and bring this
to the members' attention--
because again, this could be anyone else's town
at any given time.
We understand that these are extraordinary--
[AUDIO OUT]
--one-time.
This is not meant to be a year in, year out thing.
So this continues to be a problem for Andover.
I'll probably be up here again next year talking about this,
unless we establish a pothole account.
Thank you, Mr. President.
[AUDIO OUT]
--opposed no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is Amendment #160, offered
by the senator from Middlesex and Norfolk,
Ms. Creem, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #160 by Ms. Creem, parent-child home program.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is #162, offered by the senator from Bristol
and Plymouth, Mr. Rodrigues, the title of which
the clerk will read.
Amendment #162 by Mr. Rodrigues, veteran educational services
center at Bristol Community College.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr?
--sounds like an outstanding program,
and we'd like to hear a little bit more about it.
I'm searching about the chamber for the author
of this particular amendment.
I do not see him at this moment, but I'm
hoping that we can get an explanation either from he
or somebody qualified to do so from the Committee
on Ways and Means.
I hope that everyone is not currently
engaged in using the tax somatic and there
might be someone left in the chamber that can explain
this particular amendment.
And Mr. President, it appears that a senator
with an outstanding purple tie has risen.
But oh, no, perhaps there's going
to be a handoff to the gentleman who was
the sponsor of this amendment.
And just to give him a moment to be
able to compile all of his materials
on this, Mr. President.
Again, this appears to be an earmark
relative to veteran educational services,
something that we all historically
have been supportive of.
And I'm hoping that we can hear from him
about the next opportunity to be supportive that's represented
in this particular amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The senator from Bristol and Plymouth, Mr. Rodrigues.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you, to my good friend
from Gloucester, the minority leader.
Thank you very much for asking about this amendment.
This amendment would earmark $100,000
for the Veterans Education Center
at Bristol Community College.
Bristol Community College, with over 13,000 full-time
equivalent students--
with campuses in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton,
and Attleboro--
was the only community college out of the 15
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
without a veterans center.
One of the largest components of students
at not just Bristol Community College but all
of our community colleges are veterans, those that
after high school chose not to pursue higher education
but joined our armed forces, served honorably
in the armed forces, now are through with that service,
and are beginning their next phase in their life
through higher education.
The path generally starts in our community colleges,
so it's important that we have these veteran centers
in our community colleges in order
to help guide them, assist them, ensure that they are getting
all of the services that they should be receiving
in the community colleges.
And I hope this amendment is adopted.
The question comes on the amendment of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The ayes have it.
The amendment is adopted.
The next is #217, offered by the senator from the Cape
and the Islands, Mr. Cyr, the title of which the clerk will
read.
Amendment #217 by Mr. Cyr, Massachusetts Oceanographic
Research Sea Time Program.
The senator from the Cape and the Islands, Mr. Cyr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you, to the members.
Many of you are probably most familiar
with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute because
of their discovery of the wreck of the Titanic in the 1980s.
And then of course, who could forget the iconic film
that my generation absorbed and loved?
But this discovery is just one example
of how WHOI, as it's affectionately
called on the Cape and Islands, has carved out
a preeminent place in the field of ocean sciences,
from advances in aquaculture that benefit our local economy
to breakthroughs in the science of climate change
that are beneficial across the globe,
WHOI's contributions in the field of science
are without compare.
And so this amendment was filed to encourage the Commonwealth
to invest in this institution and ensure
that students and researchers at our public universities
can be part of groundbreaking research that
is happening in Woods Hole.
And so this amendment would establish a fund
to be known as the Oceanographic Research Grant Program fund,
administered jointly by WHOI and the University of Massachusetts
at Dartmouth.
Funds would be distributed in the form of grants
to eligible public universities and research institutions,
essentially for the purpose of chartering vessels
in the US Academic Fleet to conduct oceanographic research.
Massachusetts is one of the only states
that does not support at some level
this sort of vessel research.
Thank you.
The senator from Plymouth and Barnstable, Mr. DeMacedo?
Thank you, Mr. President.
I too stand with the gentleman from the Cape and Islands
in support of Amendment #217.
We all, despite the fact that Woods Hole is in our district,
the reality is that particular institution not only
helps our district, but it helps the entire commonwealth
of Massachusetts--
and frankly, the entire nation.
It is the premier oceanographic institute for research,
and it has done a phenomenal job.
And we have learned so much about our oceans because
of this institute.
We have people that come from all over the country and all
over the world to this particular facility.
And we have that talent here, and they have the ability
to foster and grow that beyond what they
do to our public institutions.
And this particular amendment would help that
so that our public and private institutions can
access these research vessels.
As the gentleman shared, every other state in the nation
does this and supports a research vessel
at some level to better understand our oceans.
So I stand with the gentleman from the Cape and Islands
to support this amendment.
We think it makes a lot of sense,
and we know that it makes a lot of sense
for the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The chair would ask Senator L'Italien
to come to the rostrum for the purposes of making
an introduction of some very special guests.
We are joined this afternoon by the Lawrence Adult Learning
Center students.
I had the privilege of touring their center a couple of weeks
ago.
I actually worked there in 1980.
They represent folks from many different countries
who are here learning English, gaining citizenship, getting
their high school equivalency, and moving on and up
through the system.
I mentioned to them that we had increased our funding
for adult basic ed yesterday.
I'm sure they are thrilled.
So they're clapping for us.
But I just wanted to welcome them to the chamber.
And they are joined by Frank Cirillo, Pat Hollander,
and Sandy [INAUDIBLE].
Thank you for coming, everybody.
[APPLAUSE]
[INAUDIBLE] with Amendment #218, offered by the senator
from Middlesex, Mr. Lewis, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #218 by Mr. Lewis, Triangle's School
to Career program.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
The senator from Middlesex, Mr. Lewis?
[AUDIO OUT]
I am pointing out to the minority leader
that although I hate clothes shopping, in honor
of the budget debate I did go out and buy
some new purple ties, which I'm proudly displaying today.
[APPLAUSE]
So I rise in support of Amendment
#218, which would provide some funding
for a wonderful community-based organization called Triangle.
About 80% of adults with developmental disabilities
are not working--
they're unemployed-- even though we know that many of them
would love to have a job.
Triangle is a community-based nonprofit
that's been working in many of our communities since 1971
to support the needs of individuals
with developmental disabilities to try, in their words
as they say in their mission statement,
to help the world realize that we are all people of ability.
I wanted to share with you an example of a young man who I
had the pleasure of meeting recently .
His name is Nick.
He has a developmental disability.
And he graduated from Malden High School in 2013.
He was eager to pursue a career in emergency services,
but really didn't know how he would go about doing that.
Nick was able to work with Triangle to assess his options
and then to figure out a way to pursue his career goal.
In the summer of 2015, thanks to Malden Mayor Gary Christenson's
commitment to disability inclusion,
Nick had the opportunity to be employed by the Department
of Public Works in Malden.
He cleaned the Bike to the Sea bikeway trail,
he helped maintain public parks, and he developed job skills
and learned about what it takes to be a successful employee.
Then, later that same summer, Nick
was offered an internship cleaning and preparing
ambulances at Cataldo Ambulance Service, which
is based in Chelsea.
Nick made the most of his internship.
He was incredibly enthusiastic, quickly
became a part-time employee.
Nick loves his job.
He's well respected by his colleagues.
He can list every single part on a Cataldo ambulance,
and I saw this firsthand when I met him.
In recent months, Nick has learned
to be able to ride the MBTA independently,
and he is now actually training another young man who
also has a developmental disability, named Alex, who
is a fellow Malden High School graduate.
And Alex will be similarly joining the Cataldo team.
This would not have happened and would not
be possible without Triangle's School to Career program.
And that's what this amendment will direct $100,000 to,
which is to help Triangle expand that program so
that more young men and women like Nick and Alex
can help to live out their dreams and find not just a job,
but actually start a career.
I just want to point out--
I don't see her in the chamber right now,
but the senator from Salem was incredibly
helpful and supportive in this amendment, and in fact,
has a client of Triangle who is interning in her office right
now.
So thank you to the senator from Salem.
Mr. President, thank you, and I hope
the amendment will be adopted.
Good job.
Thank you.
--adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The ayes have it, and the redrafted amendment is adopted.
The next is #225, offered by the senator from Essex,
Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #225 by Mr. Tarr, credit card audit.
The chair recognizes the senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Why, thank you, Mr. President, and through you,
to the members.
Mr. President, we all know that credit cards can
be wonderful tools, and in fact, some
would argue that some components of this budget
are akin to using a credit card.
But putting that aside for the moment, Mr. President,
they often are deployed throughout the ranks
of state government.
And so this very simple amendment
proposes that we audit the use of credit cards,
understand how they are being used--
including the number of cards issued by each agency,
the accounting of the credit cards issued
to agency employees, whether those employees are active
or formerly employed by a particular agency,
and the monetary amount of credit card
transactions per agency--
so, Mr. President, we can understand and ensure
that these cards are being used judiciously.
Now, it is true, Mr. President, that from time to time,
we do read accounts about some of the misuse
of these particular tools.
And I would not suggest that everyone is misusing them.
But I would suggest that it makes sense from time to time
to audit the use of credit cards to make sure
that they're being used in the best interest of the taxpayers
of the Commonwealth.
And Mr. President, I'm hoping that
given the simplicity and the virtue
of that proposal, that we would all support it,
because it makes just good common sense.
And so, Mr. President, so that we can all
endorse the proposal, I move that when
a call is taken on this matter, a vote
is taken to be taken by the yeas and nays.
Credit card audit?
Yeah.
The chair-- I'm sorry, the gentleman
asked that when a vote on the matter be taken,
it be taken by a call of the yeas and nays [INAUDIBLE]
rise and be counted.
A sufficient number having risen, when the vote is taken,
it will be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
The Senate will be in a brief recess.
The Senate will be in order.
And the chair recognizes the senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you, to the members.
Ever in search of common ground, Mr. President,
I move that this amendment be temporarily held.
It will be.
We are now on Amendment #226, offered by the same senator,
the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #226 by Mr. Tarr, cap on sick time usage.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr?
--Senate be in a brief recess?
The senate will be in a brief recess.
--rise.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you, to the members.
Mr. President, I sense that there
may be other iterations of this particular amendment to come.
And so that we may consider them in due time,
I request unanimous consent to withdraw the pending amendment.
--withdraw the amendment is in objection.
The chair hears none.
It is so ordered.
We're now going to take up a number of matters
that have been resolved through the bundling process.
And we'll begin with Amendment #56,
offered by the senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr,
the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #56 by Mr. Tarr, Gloucester High Risk Task
Force.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
--recess.
[INAUDIBLE]
I just checked to see 441 on your list.
Now the question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment #87, offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #87 by Mr. Tarr, $40 minimum per pupil aid.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment #91 is offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #91 by Mr. Tarr, special education services
delivery.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment #143, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #143 by Mr. Tarr, Foundation Budget Review
Commission.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is 165, offered by the senator from Worcester,
Mr. Moore, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #165 by Mr. Moore, above foundation spending
percentage.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#264, authored by the senator from Middlesex and Norfolk,
Ms. Spilka--
I'm sorry, Ms. Creem, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #263 by Ms. Creem, technical changes to the Betsy
Lehman Center.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number #299, authored by the senator from Worcester, Ms.
Gobi, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #299 by Ms. Gobi, senior farm share.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment #305, authored by the senator
from Worcester, Ms. Flanagan, the title
with which the clerk will read.
Amendment #305 by Ms. Flanagan, SBIRT implementation.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#307, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #307 by Flanagan, behavioral health integration.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#309, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #309 by Ms. Flanagan, DCF child welfare trial
attorneys.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is item #312, authored by the senator
from Suffolk, Mr. Rush, the title of which the clerk will
read.
Item #312 by Mr. Rush, Self-Esteem Boston.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
Amendment is not adopted.
#313, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #313 by Mr. Rush, Office of State Veterans Homes
and Housing.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
Do The amendment is not adopted.
#314, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #314 by Mr. Rush, virtual manufacturing.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#317, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #317 by Mr. Rush, home-based program Two.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment #318, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #318 by Mr. Rush, home-based program One.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment #334, offered by the senator
from Worcester, Ms. Flanagan, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #334 by Ms. Flanagan, failed first improved
medication management.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#338, authored by the senator from Suffolk,
Mr. Boncore, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #338 by Mr. Boncore, high acuity pediatric care.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment #345, authored by the senator
from the Berkshires, Mr. Hines, the title
of which the clerk read.
Amendment #345 by Mr. Hinds, Youth Development Project.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#346, authored by the senator from Essex,
Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #346 by Mr. Tarr, moratorium
on mandated benefits.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#348, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #348 by Mr. [AUDIO OUT], financial literacy.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#349, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #349 by Mr. Tarr, health information and analysis
oversight coverage.
The Person comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#350, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #350 by Mr. Tarr, increased bed capacity.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#352, authored by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #352 by Mr. Tarr, North Andover Youth Center.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#353 is withdrawn.
#354, authored offered by the senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #354 by Mr. Tarr, transportation voucher
for substance abuse.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#357 is withdrawn.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr,
offers Amendment #358, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #358 by Mr. Tarr, reporting
of assault on DYS staff.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#362, offered by the senator from Norfolk and Plymouth,
Mr. Keenan, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #362 by Mr. Keenan, [?
Quincy ?] [? dementia-friendly ?] community.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#365, offered by the senator from Essex,
Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #365 by Mr. Tarr, mass health cost containment
council.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#367 is offered by the senator from Plymouth and Norfolk,
Mr. O'Connor the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #367 by Mr. O'Connor, Senior Center.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is offered by the senator from--
which number?
368.
#368 is on hold.
#369, offered by the senator from Plymouth and Norfolk,
Mr. O'Connor, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #369 by Mr. O'Connor, Weymouth Teen Center Job Youth
Jobs Program.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#376, authored by the senator from Worcester,
the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #376 by Ms. Flanagan, early childhood mental health
consultation services.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is #379, offered by the senator from Plymouth
and Norfolk, Mr. O'Connor, the title of which
the clerk will read.
Amendment #379 by Mr. O'Connor, interface mental health
referral service.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is offered, #381, by the senator from Norfolk
and Plymouth, Mr. Keenan, the title of which the clerk will
read.
Amendment #381 by Mr. Keenan, [?
Manette ?] community health center behaviorial.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is offered by the senator from Worcester
and Middlesex, Ms. Flanagan, #387, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #387 by Ms. Flanagan, DTA specialist caseload.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The same senator offers #394, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #394 by Ms. Flanagan, child sexual abuse prevention
task force.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#398 is offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #398 by Ms. Flanagan, DTA caseworkers.
The next amendment, #400, is offered
by the senator from Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex,
Mr. Ross, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #400 by Mr. Ross, Attleboro Area Social
Responsibility Consortium.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#402 is offered by the senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #402 by Mr. Tarr, restoration of funding
for veterans outreach.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#403, offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #403 by Mr. Tarr, restoration
of vets war memorial funding.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#405, offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #405 by Mr. Tarr, [INAUDIBLE]
exploration exchange.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#407, offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #407 by Mr. Tarr, report on biometric fraud
protection.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next amendment, #410, offered
by the senator from Plymouth and Barnstable,
Mr. DeMacedo, title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #410 Mr. DeMacedo, Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.
The question comes and on of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#417 is withdrawn.
The next is offered by the senator from Plymouth
and Norfolk, Mr. O'Connor, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #421 by Mr. O'Connor, Plymouth Regent Family Resource
Center.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is amendment #432, which has been withdrawn.
#434, offered by the senator from Essex,
Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #434 by Mr. Tarr, transparency with the health
connector board.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#438, offered by the senator from Hampshire and Hampden,
Mr. Lesser, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #438 by Mr. Lesser, Narcan bulk purchase program.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#439 has been withdrawn.
The next item is #443, offered by the senator from Hamden
and Hampshire, Mr. Lesser, the title of which
the clerk will read.
Amendment #443 by Mr. Lesser, Boys and Girls Club.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#447 is offered by the senator from Hamden, Mr.
Welch, the title of which the clerk will read.
[INAUDIBLE], Mr. President.
The chair is in error.
The 447 has been withdrawn.
#451 is offered by the senator from Essex, Ms. O'Connor
Ives, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #451 by Ms. O'Connor Ives, congenital heart defects.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
#454 is offered by the senator from Norfolk, Bristol,
and Middlesex, Mr. Ross, the title
to which the clerk will read.
Amendment #454 by Mr. Ross, substance abuse coalition
in Franklin.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next, 456, is offered by the senator
from Middlesex, Mr. Barrett, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment #456 by Mr. Barrett, community health center work
force development.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
Can we get a brief recess after this?
--aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Soon to be in a brief recess.
--to Amendment #438, and a motion
is made to consider no action as having been previously taken.
The matter was supposed to be on hold,
and the chair read it in error.
Any objection to holding that matter
is now reconsidered and held, and we will now
do the same with Amendment #443.
We will consider no action as having previously been taken,
if there's unanimous agreement.
Does the chair hear objection?
443.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Mr. President, I move the Senate consider having taken
no action on Amendment #443.
Thank you.
The question is there an objection--?
The chair hears none.
443--
Mr. President, I move that Amendment number 443 be held.
Thank you so much.
And the motion is, shall it be held?
And the question comes on that.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The ayes have it, and the matter will be held.
OK, now, where were we?
458.
#464, offered by the senator from Hampden, Mr. Welch--
464, 465, 466, and 471 are withdrawn.
464 has been withdrawn?
Yes.
Yes, 465, 466, [INAUDIBLE].
--that Amendment #464 has been withdrawn.
We are now on Amendment #465, offered
by the senator from Hampden, Mr. Welch The chair
recognizes the senator.
This amendment has been withdrawn,
but I do ask permission to make a brief statement.
The gentleman intends to withdraw Amendment #465.
Is there objection?
The chair hears none.
It's withdrawn.
The gentleman now asks unanimous consent
to make a brief statement.
Is there an objection?
The chair hears none.
The chair recognizes the senator from Hampden Mr. Welch.
Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you
to my fellow colleagues who are enduring this wonderful budget
time here.
Now I know what it's like to speak in Congress,
because it's with all the empty chairs.
But no, this is--
I wanted to take a moment just to speak about this amendment,
because it is an important amendment.
And although we are not going to be taking it
up this in this budget session, in this budget deliberation,
there have been well-publicized instances where patients would
go to a pharmacy to obtain a prescribed drug,
and the amount that they have to pay out
of pocket with their insurance turns out
to be higher than if they had to pay for the drug
without their insurance.
Health insurance is supposed to make health care services
and prescriptions more affordable, not more expensive.
The reason this occurs is due to contractual requirements
between the pharmacy, benefit manager, and the plan
and the pharmacy.
The co-pay ends up being higher because the PBM, pharmacy
benefit manager, has an arrangement where
most of the money paid by the patient at the pharmacy
is used to compensate the pharmacy benefit manager.
This is known as a clawback, and it
is used to artificially lower insurance premiums
by having the insurance company shift the cost of working
with the pharmacy benefit manager
to patients that actually need to fill a prescription.
Worst of all, these business arrangements
also prohibit the pharmacist from telling the patient
that the cash price is in fact lower
than what the insurance would require them to pay.
This amendment would require that a patient
be told by the pharmacist how much a prescription costs
with or without using their insurance,
and require that the patient pay the lower of the two amounts.
Now, while we won't be taking this up today--
Mr. President, I know with your commitment
with cost containment legislation,
not only on the health care side of things and your leadership
on that, but also as we pursue alternatives
in the world of pharmaceutical costs under your leadership--
I know this will be a discussion that we
can have on another day.
And I thank you for the time, and I thank the minority leader
for his assistance on this important issue, as well.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr?
Mr. President, I request unanimous consent
to make a brief statement.
--asks unanimous consent to make a brief statement.
Is there an objection?
The chair hears none.
The senator from Essex?
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you, the members.
Mr. President, I rise first and foremost so
that the gentleman who just took his seat
won't feel lonely speaking in the chamber
under the current circumstances.
But even more importantly than that, Mr. President,
I want to thank the gentleman for calling
to our attention as a body one element of what
is a very complex issue, and suggest,
Mr. President, that we need to address not only the one
that the gentleman described, which is important,
but all of the issues around the interactions of pharmacy
benefit managers with patients, with pharmacies,
and with other providers.
Mr. President, I am disappointed that we have not taken action
yet on requiring audits--
at least one, and hopefully regular audits for pharmacy
benefit managers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
because they play an important role, an impactful role,
in the delivery of health care, in the delivery
of pharmaceuticals.
And yet we don't fully understand
what those impacts are.
We don't fully understand what the arrangements are
of the nature that the gentleman from Springfield
just described.
And yet, Mr. President, this critical component
of our health care complex year after year
goes without appropriate oversight and inspection.
So the gentleman who was obviously
studious in this regard, has obviously
chosen to take a look at some of these issues,
has identified one of the particularly perverse impacts
of the arrangement that these entities have with others
in the health care networks.
And I'm appreciative that he's done that.
I'm appreciative of his interest in this issue.
Because as a matter of primary importance
as we try to look at cost containment,
as we look at quality of care, and as we look,
Mr. President, at the ever changing musical dance
that is going on with regard to networks of providers,
that which is being facilitated by federal legislation,
and also that which is being driven
in part by the marketplace.
Whatever the reason, Mr. President,
we need to begin to audit these particular entities so
that we understand their impacts and we understand
if the Senate and state government
should take action to be able to intervene to make sure
that these agreements and the situation by which PBMs are
operating, is in fact beneficial and in the best
interests of the citizens of the Commonwealth.
So I hope that when we continue to offer an audit mechanism
that it will gain the approval that it has not
thus far gotten.
And the gentleman from Springfield
points out one very important reason to do that.
There are many others.
So Mr. President, we will persist
for a minority [INAUDIBLE],, and I
know that others in the chamber will do so as
well, to seek auditing of these particular entities
so that we can have a full understanding
and that we can act accordingly.
And it may be, Mr. President, that collectively we decide
that action at this time is not necessary,
but we cannot responsibly make that decision right now
for lack of information.
We need more information.
We need to have audit and investigation done
in this area, and I look forward to the day, Mr. President,
where your gavel will bang in the affirmative for measures
such as pharmacy benefit manager audits.
And on that day, we will all be the better served,
those of us who care about this particular issue.
So thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you to the gentleman from Springfield.
Our next amendment is number 468, which
has been withdrawn, as has 471.
That brings us to amendment number 473 authored
by the senator from Plymouth and Barnstable,
Mr. deMacedo, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 473 by Mr. deMacedo,
commission on the status of grandparents
raising grandchildren.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 475 is offered by the senator
from Middlesex, Mr. Lewis, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 475 by Mr. Lewis, school-based health
centers.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
[AUDIO OUT] favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 476 is withdrawn.
The same senator offers number 477, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 477 by Mr. Lewis, elder homelessness
prevention and support.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next, 478, is offered by the senator from Plymouth
and Bristol, Mr. Brady, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 478 by Mr. Brady,
modernizing smart tiering of health insurance.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 480 is offered by the senator
from Middlesex, Mr. Lewis, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 480 by Mr. Lewis.
Children's vision commission.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
481 is offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 481 by Mr. Lewis, unaccompanied youth
homeless funding.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 484 offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 484 by Mr. Lewis, office of health equity.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next, 485, offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 485 by Mr. Lewis, department
of developmental services.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
489 is offered by the senator from Suffolk, Mr.
Rush, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 489 Mr. Rush, quality care for ALS patients.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The senator from Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex,
Mr. Ross offers number 491, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 491 by Mr. Ross, Plainville Senior Center
parking lot repairs.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 506, offered by the senator from the Cape
and Islands, Mr. Cyr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 506 by Mr. Cyr, elder protective services.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The senator from Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth,
Mr. Timilty, offers amendment number 515, the title
of which the clerk will read.
515 is by Mr. Timilty, clarifying
the data that will be provided.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Senate will be in a brief recess.
Senate will be in order.
The next, 523, is offered by the senator from Hampden
and Hampshire, Mr. Humason, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 523 by Mr. Humason, South Holyoke
safe neighborhood initiative.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 525, offered by the senator from Worcester,
Mr. Moore, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 525 by Mr. Moore, foster care
reimbursement rates.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 531 is offered by the senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 531 by Mr. Tarr,
Seekonk senior center relocation.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 532 is offered by the senator
from Worcester, Ms. Flanagan, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 532 by Miss Flanagan, elder mental health
services.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 538 is offered by the senator
from Worcester, Mr. Fattman, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 538 from Mr. Fattman, prescription copay
assistance.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 539 is offered by the senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 539 by Mr. Tarr, common application.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The same senator offers number 540, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 540 by Mr. Tarr, infant care necessities.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 541 offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 541 by Mr. Tarr, rebates for health
care services extension.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 558 is offered by the senator
from the Berkshires, Mr. Hinds, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 558 by Mr. Hinds,
Berkshire opioid abuse prevention collaborative.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendment number 561 is offered by the senator
from Suffolk, Ms. Forry, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 561 by Ms. Forry, prostate health
education network.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 567 offered by the senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 567 by Mr. Tarr, [?
contribution lien ?] tax.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next, 574, is offered by the senator
from Worcester, Ms. Flanagan, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 574 by Ms. Flanagan, home and healthy
for good.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Amendments number 578, 579, and 580 have all been withdrawn.
Amendment number 588 is offered by the senator
from Middlesex, Ms. Donoghue, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 588 by Ms. Donoghue,
Brownfields redevelopment fund.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
589, offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 589 by Ms. Donoghue,
head of the Charles regatta.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
Number 590 offered by the same senator, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 590 by Ms. Donoghue, fintech study.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The Senate will in recess.
--order and the Senate will stay in recess until 1:30 PM.
The Senate can proceed with its business.
The chair calls upon the senator from Essex, Mr. McGee,
for the purposes of making a special introduction
and presentation.
The chair would ask all members to take their seats.
In a few moments, we will begin our Memorial Day Ceremony.
10 years ago on April 16, 2007, Ross Alameddine
of Saugus and 31 others were tragically
taken by gun violence on the campus of Virginia Tech
University.
Ross was an English major with minors in French and business.
He attended St. Mary's Grammar School in Melrose
and was a 2005 graduate of Austin Preparatory
School in Reading.
Ross loved rollerblading, movies, and music.
He played piano and sang at the coffeehouse at Austin Prep.
Ross's fondness of language and voicing strong opinions
made him an active participant in French and debate clubs
at Austin Prep.
He was survived by his parents, Lynette Alameddine of Saugus,
Dr. Abdullah Alameddine, and his sister, Yvonne Alameddine.
I ask for a moment of silence.
Thank you.
Lynette is here today with their nieces [?
Janine ?] and [?
Ashley ?] [?
Reardon. ?] I am pleased to welcome and present her with
the Massachusetts state flag which was flown over the state
house on the 10th anniversary, April 16, 2017,
in honor of Ross Alameddine and the victims of the Virginia
Tech tragedy.
Thank you.
[INAUDIBLE] to call the offices of senators
who are not present.
I would ask all members who are present to please remain
in their seats so that in just a few minutes
we may begin the ceremony.
Mr. Tarr, for what purpose does the gentleman rise?
Mr. President, I move the Senate be in a brief recess.
[INAUDIBLE] a brief recess.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr, for what purpose
does the gentleman rise?
Thank you, Mr. President, [INAUDIBLE] the members.
Mr. President, I rise to ask the Senate to take a moment
to recognize the tragic events that have happened on May 22nd
in Manchester, England.
[INAUDIBLE] all members to rise.
Mr. President, on the night of May 22nd in Manchester,
England, an attacker took his own life along with many others
outside of a pop concert where, unfortunately, many
of the victims were children and teenagers.
Mr. President, there have been 22
confirmed deaths in the days following this cowardly act
of terror with many more injured and some
still among the missing.
The known victims are Nell Jones, 14 years old,
Martyn Hett, Michelle Kiss, Jane Tweddle-Taylor,
Marcin and Angelika Klis, Kelly Brewster, Olivia Campbell,
John Atkinson, Alison Howe, Lisa Lees, Georgina Callander,
and Saffie Rose Roussos, who was only eight years old.
Mr. President, despite this senseless attack,
the people of Manchester have been
resilient in their willingness to provide comfort, care,
and shelter for those affected.
They are standing up to this violence
and have joined together as a community
to support the victims and their families.
Mr. President, I hope that we will all join together
in a moment of silence not only to recognize the tragedy that
has occurred, but to stand in support
of the people of Manchester and the people of England
at this difficult time.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Ms. Chandler moves that the remarks
of the senator from Essex, Mr. McGee, and the remarks
of the senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr,
be spread upon the record.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, no.
The ayes have it.
And the motion passes.
Please remain in your seats.
In just a couple of minutes, when a couple more members
arrive, we will begin our annual Memorial Day ceremony.
Engage in our annual recognition of Memorial Day.
We do so each year during our budget debate.
We pause to memorialize the men and women of our commonwealth
who lost their lives in service to our country.
The chair recognizes the senator from Suffolk, Mr. Rush.
Thank you, Mr. President.
[INAUDIBLE] to the members.
As the chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs,
it is the highest honor to stand before you
and offer remarks on the extreme importance of Memorial
Day, in which we remember those who
have given their lives in service to this country.
I want to especially thank you, Mr. President, and the minority
leader and the leadership team, for ensuring
that we pause each year to do just this
and read the names of those who have given their lives
and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
I would like to thank the Ways and Means
chair, whose budgets have been reflective of this body's
commitment to our commonwealth veterans, their families,
and our goals for [INAUDIBLE] families.
Today we also acknowledge that there are soldiers, sailors,
marines, airmen, and coast guardsmen standing
watch around the world at this very moment.
They are ready to die, just as the brave women
and men who we honor today.
As we continue to be a nation fully at war, they--
these young women and men, embody the American spirit
that make our country great and forever unique
throughout history.
It was Pericles who called on the sons of Athens not
to let their war--
their war dead die in vain.
He said the empire has been acquitted
by men who knew their duty and had the courage to do it.
Make them your examples.
Likewise, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once
said in a Memorial Day address, not
long ago I heard a young man ask, why do people
keep up Memorial Day?
He answered the question by saying Memorial Day celebrates
and solemnly reaffirms from year to year, a national act
of enthusiasm and faith.
It embodies in the most impressive form
our belief that to act with enthusiasm and faith
is a condition of in fact acting greatly.
Our nation has made the important decision
to establish this day, this Memorial Day,
so that we remember those who died in service to our nation.
Communities across the Commonwealth
have chosen to do the very same by honoring these brave
women and men.
Their memories through street corner memorials,
memorials in the park, and by having ceremonies
this coming Monday where we will reflect
on the service and the sacrifice that they have given
to protect the democratic principles, way of life,
and love of country.
President Wilson said of the American flag the lines of red
are lines of blood nobly and unselfishly shed
by men and women who loved the liberty of their fellow men
more than they loved their own lives and fortune.
I would especially like today, in light
of the action that this body took last night, to acknowledge
our Gold Star Families.
General William Tecumseh Sherman once said that war is hell.
To those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so
that we may stand here today, truer words
have never been spoken.
For their wives, husbands, parents,
and children who never had the opportunity
to say welcome home, never received another embrace,
never got to celebrate another holiday, a birthday,
and never got to see their loved ones
grow old, for those families know that in fact war is hell.
Let us work together, all of us, and continue
the great work that's done here and by each
and every one of you to ensure that the war dead have never
died in vain by honoring their sacrifices
this Memorial Day and each and every day of the year.
Thank you, Mr. President, and God bless
the United States of America.
Thank you.
At this time, we will start the roll call beginning
with the majority leader.
Captain Christopher J. Sullivan.
Specialist Kyle A. Little.
SBC Brian K. Arsenault.
[?
Captain David S. Connelly.
?] Specialist Michael Cook.
Master Sergeant Shawn Simmons.
Major Brian M. Mescall.
Sergeant [?
Gregory Anthony Wright. ?] Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M.
Wells.
Specialist Peter G. Enos.
Lance Corporal Patrick J. Gallagher.
Lance Corporal Matthew Rodriguez.
Staff Sergeant Joseph Camara.
Lance Corporal Michael Ford.
Lance Corporal Gregory E. MacDonald.
Major Michael J. Donahue.
Private Michael E. Bouthot.
Sergeant Robert J. Barrett.
Specialist Scott Anthony Andrews.
Specialist Ethan L. Goncalo.
Petty Officer Second Class Tyler J. Trahan.
Sergeant Kyle J. Harrington.
Sergeant Daniel J. Londano.
Specialist Edgardo Zayes.
Specialist Stephen Fortunado.
Sergeant Benjamin E. Meija.
Sergeant James Ayube II.
Specialist [?
Christine M. Naduri.
?] Staff Sergeant Darren J. Cunningham.
Sergeant William Woitowicz.
Corporal Paul N. King.
Private First Class Paul E. Conolan, Jr.
Private First Class John D. Hart.
Lance Corporal Travis Desiato.
Corporal Andrew Zabierek.
First Lieutenant Scott Milley.
Petty Officer Brian Ouelette.
Captain Seth R. Michaud.
Staff Sergeant Matthew A. Pucino.
Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells.
Sergeant Daniel Vasselian.
Corporal Ciara Durkin.
Lance Corporal Walter O'Haire.
Specialist Matthew M. Pollini.
Private First Class Markus J. Johnson.
Specialist David J. Babineau.
Specialist Gabriel T. Palacios.
Staff Sergeant Christopher N. Piper.
Sergeant First Class Keith A. Callahan.
Corporal Scott Procopio.
Specialist Jared Raymond.
Captain Jennifer Harris.
Specialist Matthew Stanley.
Sergeant First Class Daniel H. Petithory.
Specialist Mitchell Daehling.
Specialist Jeremy Bouffard.
Private First Class Michael R. Demarsico II.
Sergeant Glenn R. Allison.
Captain Joel E. Cahill.
Specialist Keith D. Benson.
Corporal Donald E. Fisher II.
Captain Anthony Palermo.
Specialist Jonathan M. Curtis.
Sargent Marquis R. Porter.
Specialist Corey M. Shea.
Master Sergeant Gregory R. Trent.
Captain Benjamin Sammis.
Lance Corporal Eric P. Valdepenas.
First Lieutenant Andrew J. Basevich.
Specialist Daniel F. Cunningham.
Sergeant Nelson D. Rodriquez Ramirez.
Major General Howard J. Green.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Karen E. Kennedy.
Staff Sergeant Joan J. Duran.
Sergeant Alberto Montrond Jr.
Private First Class Kenneth J. Iwasinki.
First Lieutenant Travis J. Fuller.
Sergeant Joshua D. Desforges.
Lance Corporal Edward M. Garvin.
Staff Sergeant Joseph P. Bellavia.
Lance Corporal [?
Jeffrey Care. ?] Private First Class Jonathan R. Roberge.
Specialist Christopher Holland.
First Lieutenant Ryan P. Jones.
Sergeant Justin Garvey.
Specialist Matthew Boule.
Sergeant Pierre A. Raymond.
Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez
Sergeant Jordan M. Shea.
First Lieutenant Derrick S. Hines.
Lance Corporal [?
Demetrius Gabriel.
?] Lance Corporal [?
Nicholas D. Chiavoni.
?] Private First Class Evan W. O'Neill.
Corporal David Marquez Vicente.
Major David L. Brodeur.
Private First Class Terry Scott.
First Lieutenant Michael A. Cerrone.
Specialist Brian M. Moquin, Jr.
Chief Petty Officer SEAL Kevin A. Houston.
Sergeant Alexander H. Fuller.
Sergeant Zachary D. Tellier.
Sergeant Mark [INAUDIBLE].
Staff Sergeant Alicia A. Birchette.
Private First Class Daniel Acey McGuire.
Captain Kyle R. Vandegyson.
Private First Class Clinton E. Springer II.
Corporal [?
Nicholas G. Zarros.
?]
Staff Sergeant Robb L. Rolfing.
Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arrendondo.
Staff Sergeant William J. Callahan.
Sergeant Alan L. Synder.
Gunnery Sergeant Elia P. Fontecchio.
Sergeant Theodore L. Perreault. Corporal John Michael Dawson.
Specialist Matthew R. Gallagher.
Specialist Robert Rooney.
Lance Corporal Jeffrey Burgess.
Sergeant Benjamin W. Sherman.
Specialist Steven E. Gutowski.
First Lieutenant Brian McPhillips.
Private First Class Matthew A. Bean.
Captain Eric A. Jones.
Sergeant Adam Kennedy.
Lance Corporal Shayne M. Cabino.
Staff Sergeant Robert R. Perelli.
And Sergeant Charles Caldwell.
Private First Class John Landry, Jr.
First Lieutenant Timothy J. Steele.
Sergeant Michael Kelley.
Sergeant Andrew K. Ferrar Jr.
Captain John W. Maloney.
Staff Sergeant Daniel A. Newsome.
Specialist Christopher M. Wilson.
Staff Sergeant Clint Storey.
Chief Warrant Officer Erik Halvorsen.
First Lieutenant Joshua L. Booth.
Specialist First Class Kevin A. Dupont.
Private First Class [?
Brian Odilon.
?]
Lance Corporal Kevin Preach.
Private First Class Norman Darling.
Corporal Brian Oliveira.
Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti.
Sergeant Shane P. Duffy.
Lance Corporal John J. Vangyzen.
Gregory Belanger.
Specialist Ari D. Brown-Weeks.
Please join me in a moment of silence in honor and memory
of those whose names were spoken in this chamber this afternoon,
as well as for those who have died in the line of duty,
sacrificing their lives in this country and elsewhere
in the name of freedom.
The senator from Worcester, Ms. Chandler,
moves that the remarks of the senator from Suffolk, Mr. Rush,
be spread upon the record.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed, nay.
The ayes have it.
And the motion prevails.
Senate will stand in a brief recess.
--order.
We're going to take up a number of amendments now
that relate to veterans and veterans-related services
and policies.
The first is amendment number 10, offered by the senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 10 by Mr. Tarr, Medal of Liberty.
Question comes on the amendment.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through to the members.
Mr. President, there have been situations
where the medal of liberty has not
been able to be awarded because of restrictions
on family members who can receive the Medal of Liberty.
This particular amendment would extend
to allow the next closest surviving relative of someone
who has made the ultimate sacrifice to be eligible
for the-- to receive the medal if there is no surviving
spouse, sibling, children, or parents.
It allows a way for that individual
to be fittingly remembered and this medal
to be presented in the absence of those other living
relatives.
Mr. President, I move that this amendment be adopted
and that when it be voted upon, the vote
be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
The gentleman asks for the vote on the matter
to be taken-- to be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
Those joining with him rise and be counted.
A sufficient number having risen, when the vote is taken,
it will be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
The senator from Middlesex, Mr. Lewis.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I also want to rise and join the minority leader
in supporting this amendment.
I actually filed a very similar amendment
and think that this is an important gesture we
can make to allow a next of kin to receive
the Medal of Liberty.
I do have a gentleman in my district
who is the nephew of a Korean War veteran who unfortunately
was killed in action, and this particular amendment
would allow him and others in a similar position
to receive the Medal of Liberty.
I'm very pleased to see the Senate taking
this action today.
I appreciate the leadership of the minority
leader in this body.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The yeas and nays having previously been ordered,
the chair calls the clerk to call the roll.
--Barrett.
Yes.
Joseph A. Boncore.
Yes.
Michael D. Brady.
Yes.
William M. Brownsberger.
Yes.
Harriette L. Chandler.
Yes.
Sonia Chang-Diaz.
Yes.
Cynthia [INAUDIBLE] Creem.
Yes.
Julian Cyr.
Yes.
Viriato M. deMacedo.
Yes.
Sal N. DiDomenico.
Yes.
Eileen M. Donoghue.
Yes.
James B. Eldridge.
Yes.
Ryan C. Fattman.
Yes.
Yes Jennifer L. Glanagan.
Yes.
Linda [INAUDIBLE] Forry.
Yes.
And Anne Gobi.
Yes.
Adam G. Hinds.
Yes.
Donald F. Humason, Jr.
Yes.
Patricia G. Jehlen.
John F. Keenan.
Yes.
Eric B. Lesser.
Yes.
Jason M. Lewis.
Yes.
Barbara A. L'Italien.
Yes.
Joan B. Lovely.
Yes.
Thomas M. McGee.
Yes.
Mark C. Montigny.
Yes.
Michael L. Moore.
Yes.
Patrick M. O'Connor.
Yes.
Kathleen O'Connor Ives.
Yes.
Marc R. Pacheco.
Yes.
Michael J. Rodrigues.
Yes.
Richard J. Ross
Yes.
Michael F. Rush.
Yes.
Karen E. Spilka.
Yes.
Yes Bruce E. Tarr.
Ta
Yes.
Walter F. Timilty.
Yes.
James T. Welch.
Yes.
Stanley C. Rosenberg.
Yes.
Patricia D. Jehlen votes yes.
38 having voted in the affirmative, none
in the negative, the amendment is adopted.
The next and final amendment for the moment on veterans' matters
is amendment number 233 offered by the senator from Norfolk
and Suffolk, Mr. Rush, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 233 by Mr. Rush, veterans' bonus.
Question comes on the amendment.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Mr. President, I also want to take this opportunity
to thank the gentleman who chairs
the relevant committee of subject matter jurisdiction
relative to our veterans.
He is a tireless advocate.
He has been unceasing in his efforts in this chamber
and in this building to ensure that we continue
to lead the nation in our support of those
who serve our country.
And Mr. President, this budget debate is no exception.
I know we have several amendments for that purpose
that we'll be discussing, but I hope
that we can give-- he can give us
an explanation of the one that currently
comes before the Senate.
Senator from Suffolk and Norfolk--
I'm sorry, Norfolk and Suffolk, Mr. Rush.
Thank you, Mr. President, through to the members,
and I thank my colleague and good friend,
the gentleman from Essex, who has been working tirelessly
for many, many years before I ever showed up
to this chamber on behalf of the veterans of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and has been an outstanding partner in showing
how government works best when we work together
in getting issues solved.
And our veterans community in Massachusetts
has the benefit of this terrific work of many hands
make light work and many dedicated individuals
make a fantastic product.
So I thank you for the kind words and for all
that you have done.
Mr. President, to you and your leadership team
and to the Ways and Means, because this
is a big piece, and again, our budgets
have continuously under the chair
reflected our commitment to the veterans, their families,
our Gold Star Families, and how we put veterans
at the forefront of Massachusetts.
So I want to give a very special thank you
the chair of Ways and Means.
Under your leadership, Mr. President, and many members
in this body had the opportunity in 2005
to vote on what we called the Welcome Home Bill, which
was the first of many omnibus bills
that we have done to again put Massachusetts
at the forefront in terms of benefits
we bestow upon our veterans, more so than the other 49
states.
This is not unusual, however.
Historically looking back, this body, this legislature,
has been giving veterans benefits to soldiers, sailors,
marines, airmen, and coast guardsmen
from the very beginning.
Massachusetts soldiers who have fought in the Revolutionary
War and every subsequent war--
think about that, every subsequent war
since the revolution--
had been granted benefits by the governing legislative body.
It's pretty amazing.
More recently codified, if you were
to go onto the veteran's benefits site
on our state web site, you'll see
that we've bestowed benefits to our World War II veterans,
our Korean War veterans, our Vietnam veterans, Gulf War
veterans, and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
The 2005 piece of legislation was the most recent
to update that.
What this amendment does here is it adds on and clarifies
the 2005 Welcome Home Bill.
And I've had the opportunity to work with our state treasurer,
who has made it a point to want to make sure all folks serving
overseas are included in the benefit that we give.
So what this does is it expands the bonus
to those serving in hostile territories
as designated by the Department of Defense
under federal guidelines.
Some of the countries that will be included that currently
do not exist are Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya,
Pakistan, just to name a few.
So this will modernize the Welcome Home Bill,
as we have members of all branches of our armed forces
serving in all corners of the world as we speak today.
It's an outstanding amendment, and it
reaches many, many veterans who have served admirably
and have come home and will include them in the goodwill
that this body continues to do on behalf of our veterans.
Mr. President, I hope that the amendment is adopted.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and I thank the gentleman
for his explanation.
And part of that explanation, Mr. President,
was very important, and that is that this chamber has always
stood firm in support of our veterans.
And in order for us to be able to do that once again,
I move that when a vote is taken on this matter,
it be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
[INAUDIBLE] be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
Who is joining with him?
Rise and be counted.
A sufficient number having risen, when the vote is taken,
it will be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
The clerk will call the roll, beginning with the chair.
--Rosenberg.
Yes.
Michael J. Barrett.
Yes.
Joseph A. Boncore.
Yes.
Michael D. Brady.
Yes.
William N. Brownsberger.
Yes.
Harriet L. Chandler.
Yes.
Yes Sonia Chang-Diaz.
Yes.
Cynthia Stone Creem.
Yes.
Julian Cyr.
Yes.
Yes Viriato M. deMacedo.
Yes.
Yes Sal N. DiDomenico.
Yes.
Eileen M. Donoghue.
Yes.
James B. Eldridge.
Yes.
Ryan C. Fattman.
Yes.
Jennifer L. Flanagan.
Yes.
Linda [INAUDIBLE] Forry.
Yes.
Anne Gobi.
Yes.
Adam G. Hinds.
Yes.
yes Donald F. Humason, Jr.
Yes.
Patricia D. Jehlen.
Yes.
John F. Keenan.
Yes.
Eric P. Lesser.
Yes.
Jason M. Lewis.
Yes.
Barbara A. L'Italien.
Yes.
Joan B. Lovely.
Yes.
Thomas M. McGee.
Yes.
Mark C. Montigny.
Yes.
Michael O. Moore.
Yes.
Patrick M. O'Connor.
Yes.
Kathleen O'Connor Ives.
Yes.
Marc R. Pacheco.
Yes.
Michael J. Rodrigues.
Yes.
Richard J. Ross.
Yes.
Michael F. Rush.
Yes.
Karen E. Spilka.
Yes.
Bruce E. Tarr.
Yes.
Walter F. Timilty.
Yes.
James T. Welch.
Yes.
Have all members been recorded?
In this matter, 38 having voted in the affirmative, none
in the negative, the amendment is adopted.
The senator from Worcester and Middlesex, Ms. Flanagan,
asks that we consider no action as having been
taken on amendment number 305.
Is there an objection?
The chair here [INAUDIBLE] and we
will consider no action as having been
taken on amendment number 305.
The next amendment is number 21, offered
by the senator from Plymouth and Norfolk,
Mr. O'Connor, a redrafted amendment, the title of which
the clerk will read.
Amendment number 21 by Mr. O'Connor,
conductive concrete study.
The senator from Plymouth and Norfolk, Mr. O'Connor.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you to the membership.
This amendment, this refiled, redrafted amendment,
again would call for the Massachusetts Department
of Transportation to partnership with the University
of Massachusetts School of Engineering
in order to create a feasibility study in conductive concrete.
It's a relatively new technology that
was created by Christopher Tuan, a doctor
and professor of engineering at the University of Nebraska
at Lincoln.
Essentially what this does is include
20% of regular concrete structure
and replace that with steel shavings and carbon particles.
This attached with the source of 48 volt batteries
into a 220 volt source of electricity
would allow for this concrete to be heated
at 35 to 55 degrees in order for no icing and no snow
to accumulate on areas of pavement.
This has been studied in Nebraska
by the Department of Roads on a bridge in Nebraska
that the University of Nebraska commissioned.
I believe this is something that, when you look at--
I mean, there's no one that doesn't see the effects of snow
and the effects of salt and the effects
the plows have on our roads on a day-to-day basis
during the winter months.
This is something that I believe could
be a innovative technique that the Commonwealth could use.
And I think this study is going to be something that hopefully
produces results that include cost
savings to our municipalities, cost
savings to the Commonwealth, as well
as huge benefits to our environment,
that we're not putting the salt, we're not putting the sand down
on our streets.
It may actually create some sort of electric source
that is able to heat these roads at 35 to 55 degrees.
And I want to thank you Mr. President for your leadership
on putting this through, and reconstructing this amendment
to make it make a lot more sense.
So thank you, Mr. President, I appreciate it,
and I hope this amendment passes.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The ayes have it.
The amendment is adopted.
The next amendment is number 37 offered by the Senator
from Worcester and Norfolk, Mr. Fattman, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 37, amendment, Mr. Fattman,
single sales rate factor analysis.
The questions comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The ayes have it.
The amendment is adopted.
The next amendment is amendment number 187,
offered by the Senator from Norfolk and Plymouth,
Mr. Keenan, the title of which the court will read.
Amendment number 187 by Mr. Keenan, child care resource
and referral programs.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next is a redrafted amendment, number 194,
offered by the Senator from Essex, Mr. McGee, the title
to which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 194 by Mr. McGee, quality enhancements
in after school and out of school time, ASOT--
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
The Senator from Essex, Mr. McGee.
The after school out of school time
quality grant is the only dedicated after school line
item in Massachusetts.
This amendment would increase funding for grants or subsidies
for after school and out of school programs to $3,750,000.
Children youth and families need better access to high quality
after school and out of school time programming.
Currently, 80% of the approximately 1.3 million
school-age children and youth in Massachusetts
do not have access to affordable high quality
after school and expanded learning opportunities.
Currently, there were over 16,000 school age children
on the Department of Early Education and Care's wait list
alone.
The ASOG grant, the after school and out of school time grant
provides essential supports for working families
and keeps students safe during out of school time hours.
Over 78% of the students served through the ASOG grant
are from low-income families, as defined by their eligibility
for free or reduced lunch.
Language includes funding to increase access to after school
and summer programs.
The ASOG grant currently funds 84 grants
to public school districts, non-public schools
and community based organizations
across Massachusetts to provide high quality
academic and non-academic programming for approximately
12,000 students in grades K through 12 during the school
year and summer.
The ASOG grant supports program enhancements
in the following areas, comprehensive and balanced
academic and nonacademic programming,
serving special populations, particularly students
with IEPs and English language learners,
in inclusive settings, partnerships,
family involvement, and highly qualified staff.
By following the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education and Early Education and Cares,
well-defined guidelines for quality enhancements,
and the state's curriculum frameworks,
ASOG grantees providing high quality out
of school time programming that complements their school day
learning, strengthens family engagement,
and meets the needs of all students.
ASOG grantees support a wide range
of programming, STEM, health and wellness, arts and cultural.
The ASOG quality enhancement grant
is extremely cost effective.
The ASOG grant is a direct service grant
with no funds for administration.
The ASOG grant requires grantees to leverage private funding
and resources equal to at least 20%.
This amendment includes funding for a data sharing
pilot, which is very important, and I'm
glad that it's included.
This allows collaboration between school districts
and community based organizations,
a $100,000 earmark for a pilot data sharing program designed
to provide school districts with funds to partner
with local community based organizations
and to share data.
When community based organizations access students
in-school test scores, attendance records and behavior
results, it allows them to better serve
the kids in general.
Academic data isn't the only valuable tool for the after
school and summer programs.
Social and emotional learning, health and wellness,
and other non-academic indicators
will be valuable in the overall success
of the students involved.
The pilot project would establish a secure web portal
between the two locations, allowing seamless access
to the student data on both ends.
The $100,000 earmark would allow DECI to continue implementation
of a data sharing pilot, working with one or two school
districts, and local CBL is willing to participate,
bringing in a data sharing tool and providing data
security training.
Overall, the process helps everyone, the school,
community, CBOs, parents, and most importantly children
and youth.
Thank you for listening.
This is very important.
And I ask your support on this amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The question comes on adoption of the redrafted amendment.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The ayes have it.
And the redrafted amendment is adopted.
The next is Amendment number 229, offered by the Senator
from Essex, Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 249 by Mr. Tarr, Commission Corps veteran
service.
The question comes on this redrafted amendment.
All those in favor-- the chair recognizes the senator
from Essex.
Mr. President, this particular amendment
addresses a group of veterans who
have been preempted from being able to enter our retirement
system through what I consider to be a serious and egregious
oversight.
Mr. President, the amendment allows a member
in service of a retirement system, who
served in the Commission Corps of the US Public Health
Service, the Commission Corp of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, and who have completed
four or more years of membership in those services,
and retired after January 1st, 1975,
to be able to receive full credit
for the period of that service.
Mr. President, these are individuals
who have served our country.
They have served our country in uniform.
And they deserve to be able to be treated
fairly and equally with regard to other veterans
of similar status.
So Mr. President, I hope that this amendment is adopted.
And I hope that when a vote is taken on this matter,
it be taking by a call of the yeas and nays.
Taken by a call of the yeas and nays,
[INAUDIBLE] rise and be counted.
A sufficient number having arisen, when the vote is taken,
it will be taken by a call of the ayes and nays.
It appears to be right now.
The clerk will call the roll.
Stanley C. Rosenberg?
Yes.
Michael J. Barrett?
Yes.
Joseph A. Boncore?
Yes.
Michael D. Brady
William M. Brownsberger?
Harriette L. Chandler?
Sonia Chang-Diaz?
Yes.
Cynthia Stone-Creem?
Yes.
Julian Cyr?
Yes.
Viriato M. deMacedo?
Yes.
Sal DiDomenico?
Yes.
Eileen M. Donoghue?
Yes.
James B. Eldridge?
Yes.
Ryan C. Fattman?
Yes.
Jennifer L. Flanagan
Yes.
Linda Dorcena Forry?
Yes.
Anne M. Gobi?
Yes.
Adam G. Hinds?
Yes.
Donald F. Humason, Jr.?
Yes.
Patricia D. Jehlen?
Yes.
John F. Keenan?
Yes.
Eric P. Lesser?
Yes.
Jason M. Lewis?
Yes.
Barbara L'Italien?
Yes.
Joan B. Lovely?
Yes.
Thomas M. McGee?
Yes
Yes.
Mark Montigny?
Yes.
Michael O. Moore?
Yes.
Patrick M. O'Connor?
Yes.
Yes
Kathleen O'Connor-Ives?
Yes.
Marc Pacheco?
Yes.
Michael M. Rodrigues?
Yes.
Richard J. Ross?
Yes.
Michael F. Rush?
Yes.
Karen E. Spilka?
Yes.
Bruce E. Tarr?
Yes.
Walter F. Timilty?
Yes.
James T. Welch?
Yes.
Have all members been recorded?
The Senator from Plymouth and Bristol, Mr. Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President, have I been recorded?
You have not, Sir.
[INAUDIBLE]
Michael D. Brady votes yes.
The Senator from Middlesex, Mr. Brownsberger.
[INAUDIBLE]
You have not, Sir.
William N. Brownsberger votes yes.
The Senator from Worcester, Ms. Chandler.
Harriett L. Out Chandler?
Yes.
On this matter, 38, having voted in the affirmative, none
in the negative, the amendment is approved.
The next amendment before us is--
that one was-- what was the number of that?
That one is number 250, offered by the Senator
from Suffolk and Middlesex, Mr. Brownsberger.
The title of which--
The title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 250 by Mr. Brownsberger Commission
on the status of Asian-Americans.
A question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye, oppose no.
The ayes have it.
The amendment is adopted.
The next amendment is amendment number 280,
authored by the Senator from Worcester and Norfolk,
Mr. Fattman.
Amendment number 280 by Mr. Fattman, sick time reform.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
The Senator from Worcester and Norfolk, Mr. Fattman.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you, to the members.
The pervasive theme of this budget debate has been revenue.
Some people have talked a little bit
about the taxomatic in the minority leader.
Perhaps he could be credited for talking about the tax redactic
too.
But for those of us who are looking at the budget
and concerned about revenue, the word reform is also an option.
And when it comes to sick leave and some of the stories
that we've heard over the past few months,
and over the past few years, we know
that this is a significant problem, people
being able to purchase sick leave
at their end of employment for the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
In fact, this problem is so large, it is a $500 million
unfunded liability to the state.
This proposal would seek to start to chip away
at that, capping all sick leave time that
could be cashed out at 1,000 hours, which
is 125 working days.
And for those who are already beyond 1,000 hours,
it would freeze them in the position that they stand.
This is one of those initiatives that has to be undertaken.
Every budget we discuss this.
We're talking about cuts.
We're talking about not having money.
The governor last December cut $98 million.
At some point, we have to look at the reform issues.
We have to have a group of people
who are Commonwealth employees that reflect sort of what's
happening in the real world.
The Senator from Bristol and Plymouth,
Mr. Rodrigues, for what purpose does the gentleman rise?
Mr. President, we're having difficulty
listening to the gentleman speaking--
or hearing.
Respectfully ask members to please
subdue their conversation so that the gentleman who
is speaking may be heard.
The Chair recognizes the Senator from Worcester and Norfolk,
Mr. Fattman.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you,
thank you to the gentleman from Westport.
The question is how can we reform state government to be
more reflective of its people.
And most people that I run into on a day to day basis,
when it comes to sick leave at work,
they don't get to cash it out at the end of their stay.
We've seen sensational headlines of people getting
$300,000, $200,000 payouts.
That's not the typical situation.
However, going back to the fact that this is a $500 million
liability when it comes to all state employees across,
and you consider the fact that that's
half of what we spend on an annual basis
to fund local governments with the UGGA funds, Unrestricted
General Government Aid, this is a significant problem.
This is a reform that would cap sick leave purchases out
at 1,000 hours and grandfather that.
And anybody who is above 1,000 hours,
it would basically freeze them where they're at.
That's 125 days that people can cash out.
I think that's a fairly generous policy as it is.
But we need to start chipping in and making sure
that we can pay for these obligations.
Mr. President, I ask that when a vote
be taken it be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
The gentleman asks when a vote on the matter, it
be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
Those joining with him, rise and be counted.
A sufficient number having arisen, when the vote is taken,
it will be taking by a call of the yeas and nays.
The Senate will be in a brief recess.
Senate will be in order.
There's been a request that this matter be temporarily set aside
as a rejection.
The Chair hears none.
It will be temporarily held.
The next item is item number 296 offered by the Senator
from Essex and Middlesex, Mr. Tarr, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 296 by Mr. Tarr, spouses as caregivers.
The Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
[INAUDIBLE] or in the Senate reading room,
so that the debate may be heard.
The Chair recognizes the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you to the members.
Mr. President, one of the things that we've
learned over the last several years
is that one of the most effective ways
to provide care for someone who needs that care
and who wants to remain in their homesteading
is to be able to have the assistance of family members.
And Mr. President, currently, we allow those family members
to be compensated unless they are a spouse.
Now, Mr. President, that seems somewhat illogical,
since most often, a spouse is in the best position
to be able to provide that type of care.
And Mr. President, I would suspect
that if we allow spouses to be compensated
for that type of care, number one,
we'll further advance our goal of not prematurely
institutionalizing folks that could otherwise
remain living independently at home with the assistance
of a caregiver.
And number two, Mr. President, that we will, in fact, maximize
the effort of that caregiver, given the fact that a spouse is
likely to provide much more care than that
which would be compensated by a program, such as this.
So Mr. President, we know that in the past,
the federal government has not looked favorably
upon this type of an extension of this program.
So what this amendment does would
require us to apply for a waiver so that we could compensate
spouses as caregivers.
And Mr. President, we know that if, in fact,
that waiver was granted, that the cost of paying
those caregivers would be split, given
that it would be a Medicaid waiver,
and the federal government compensates us for roughly half
of the cost of that provision of care.
So Mr. President, this has been an issue
that has been discussed in this chamber,
and elsewhere in this building, for quite some time.
And Mr. President, according to the Massachusetts AARP,
caregiving for relatives with chronic,
disabling, or serious health problems so that they
can remain in their home is estimated
to be valued at more than $11 million.
So by having this waiver, we can have this valuable element
of care, we can partner with the federal government
to be able to provide it, and Mr. President, we
can continue the efforts that we have
made to find cost effective caregivers who
happen to be related to the person who's
receiving the care.
And we know that in these situations, that
can be a very comforting, effective way of delivering
that care, as opposed to having someone
who may not be a family member.
So Mr. President, we have discussed this time and again.
And I am confident that if it is not cost effective, then
our waiver will in fact be rejected.
But if it is cost effective, and our waiver is granted,
then we will be able to extend the effort that we've
made with other family members to people
who are most suitable to this effort, those were spouses.
So Mr. President, I hope that this amendment is adopted.
And Mr. President, I know that my good friend
from the upper Merrimack Valley also
has been leading the effort in this regard.
And I look forward to hearing her comments as well.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The Senator from Essex and Middlesex, Ms. L'Italien.
Mr. President, I have to agree with my colleague
that the concept of having spouses as caregivers
is long overdue.
We do need to take a look at this.
We do need to file a federal waiver.
As Chair of Elder Affairs, I would
like to collaborate with the Senator.
In 2004, we started a program called
Caring Homes, which allowed family members
to care for their loved one.
We're paying for care, rather than the bricks
and mortar of a building, an institution, at a cost
a quarter of nursing home placement.
At that point in time, then Governor Romney
objected to the concept of a spouse
being a paid caregiver, feeling it was
part of the marital contract.
We know we have family members who
can take care of their loved one,
but have to put aside work.
And allowing us to do this would be much more cost effective,
much more compassionate.
We do talk about this year in and year out.
I suspect it might not be included in the budget.
I don't know, but we really have to perhaps do
a working group on this and get down to business.
Because this is really federal match money
that we are leaving on the table that could help
keep people at home in the most compassionate setting possible.
So I completely agree, we have to start looking at this issue.
Thank you.
The senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, I move the Senate
be in a brief recess.
The Senate will be in a brief recess.
The Senate will be in order.
The Chair recognizes the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Mr. President, there may be the opportunity
to develop some consensus here.
I move that this amendment be temporarily held.
The amendment be temporarily held, is there an objection?
The Chair hears none.
It is so ordered.
The next amendment is number 300?
The next amendment that we will take up
is number 304, offered by the Senator
from the Cape of the Islands, Mr. Cyr, the title of which
the clerk will read.
Amendment number 304 by Mr. Cyr, sight loss services.
The question comes on adoption of the redrafted amendment
by Mr. Cyr, number 304.
The Chair recognizes the Senator from Essex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, I know that he has already
hit the ground running in this chamber.
He delivered an outstanding maiden speech earlier.
And the gentleman from the Cape of the Islands
has apparently found his way to the redraftaton.
So, Mr. President, I'm hoping that he can give us
an explanation of this redrafted amendment
before the Senate takes action on it.
Amendment number 308-- we can, in fact,
take up amendment number 304.
And he is prepared to offer comments at this time.
The Chair recognizes the Senator from the Cape
of the Islands, Mr. Cyr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you to the members.
On amendment 304, imagine gradually
losing your ability to drive, to read,
write, and recognize faces because of the loss of vision.
Imagine knowing that your vision is deteriorating,
irreversibly each day, and you cannot access treatment until
you're considered legally blind.
This is the reality for many people
with macular degeneration and other diseases of the eye.
Most blindness does not come on rapidly,
but comes on gradually.
And most diseases of the eye are diseases of age.
Barnstable County of Cape Cod has twice the percentage
of residents over 65 compared to the rest of Massachusetts,
and we're also the third oldest county in the nation.
This amendment would provide desperately needed funding
to Sight Loss Services of Cape Cod.
Sight Loss Services provides services at no cost
to individuals and families of all ages and incomes,
and works with all levels of vision loss,
from diagnosis to total blindness.
Sight Loss Services seeks to treat people, especially
the aging population on Cape Cod,
so that their vision loss is treated and managed
to prevent progressive blindness.
Thank you, Mr. President.
From Essex, Mr. Tarr.
I thank the gentleman for his explanation.
I do hope the amendment is adopted.
And Mr. President, I would also point out
that in addition to his other many accomplishments
today, the gentleman from the Cape of the Islands
has been able to express a purple tie a very
innovative way, and one that's appreciated.
So we appreciate that as well.
Thank you, Mr. President.
For the adoption of the amendment, all those in favor
say aye, opposed no.
And the redrafted amendment is approved.
The next is offered by the same Senator, Amendment number
306, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 306 by Mr. Cyr, special commission
of unaccompanied homeless youth and the annual youth court.
Question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
-- is Amendment number 308, the Senator from Worcester
and Middlesex, Ms. Flanagan has submitted an amendment,
the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 308 by Ms. Flanagan, DYS fingerprinting.
The Senator from Worcester and Middlesex, Ms. Flanagan.
This amendment would allow the Department of Youth Services
to fingerprint their employees, rather than wait
for the Department of Early Education and Care
to implement the fingerprinting program.
DEC has very different screening requirements than DYS,
and DYS has agreed with the unions
that DYS will pay the cost of employees to be fingerprinted.
In turn, this will expedite the process for DYS
to better screen their employees and ensure
that the youths in the DYS custody
are safe by the people who are caring for them.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I hope this amendment is adopted.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The ayes have it and the amendment is adopted.
The next-- brief recess.
--is Amendment number 311, the Senator
from Norfolk and Suffolk, Mr. Rush
offers an amendment, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 311 by Mr. Rush, Office
of State Veterans Home and Housing One.
Senator from Essex and Middlesex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, how wonderful
it is to see that you've ascended to the rostrum.
We look forward to a very interesting afternoon.
Mr. President, I'm hoping that my good friend, the gentleman
who leads the committee of relevant subject matter
jurisdiction will be able to explain
to us this investment in ensuring that veterans
have appropriate housing.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. Rush.
President, and through you to the members,
and thank the minority leader for the question.
So if you remember last year, this body unanimously
passed the Veterans Home Act.
And a piece of the Veterans Home Act
was looking at long-term care and housing of our state's
almost 400,000 veterans.
A commission was set up under Valor Act
2, which we all voted on here unanimously as well,
to basically look at what type of options
would be available for the long-term care and housing
across the entire state.
Part of that is looking at the long-term needs
and the long-term vision for our two state soldiers
homes, one located in Holyoke, the other located in Chelsea.
So the mechanics of the issue is that by the very nature of DVS,
being the size and scope that it is, in the Home Act,
we voted unanimously to create a position as an undersecretary
to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
to specifically look at the long term vision and goals
of the two soldiers homes, and what
the future vision of those two entities would be.
So that did happen.
We did it through Section 16, of chapter 141 of the Act in 2016.
This act was signed by the governor on July 14th, 2016.
And to this date, that office has not been funded or enacted
to work with the Secretary of DVS
to begin to obtain this critical data so that we can improve
our soldiers homes, as well as have
a discussion about other future options
of the housing of our veterans.
And that's exactly what this amendment would do.
Mr. President, I hope that the amendment is adopted.
Thank you.
The adoption of the amendment, all those in favor,
say aye, opposed no.
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted.
The senator from Worcester, Mr. Moore,
moves unanimous consent for consideration
that no action has been taken on the Amendment 171.
Hearing none, the Senator from Worcester, Mr. Moore.
I ask for your support--
Mr. Moore.
I ask for your support in the passage of Amendment 171, which
would create an early education and care workforce study.
I think over the last several years, every year,
we're visiting this issue for rate-- salary rate reserves.
Looking at the qualifications of our early educators,
we have some of the best, or the highest standards
in the country for them.
But we seem to have this issue where we keep losing them
once they attain the prerequisites that they
need for these positions.
There are higher salaries outside
of the early education field.
So we need a way to try to address
the access for our children going to these facilities.
So UMass has come forward with a proposal
to do a study of the early education care and workforce
job sector, so we can try to get a handle on what's
going on in this one segment or sector.
So I would ask for your support.
I would actually like when the vote
is taken, to be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
The gentleman has asked that when a vote is taken,
it be taken by a call of yeas and nays.
Those joining with him, please rise.
Sufficient number having risen, the vote
will be taking by call of yeas and nays.
The Amendment number 171, the clerk shall read the title.
Amendment number 171, by Mr. Moore, early education
and care workforce study.
Barrett?
Yes.
Joseph A. Boncore?
Yes.
Michael D. Brady?
Yes.
William N. Brownsberger?
Yes.
Harriette L. Chandler?
Yes.
Sonia Chang-Diaz?
Yes.
Cynthia Stone-Creem?
Yes.
Julian Cyr?
Yes.
Viriato M. DeMacedo?
Yes.
Sal N. DiDomenico?
Yes.
Eileen M. Donaghue?
Yes.
James B. Eldridge?
Yes.
Ryan C. Fattman?
Yes.
Jennifer L. Flanagan?
Yes.
Linda Dorcena Forry?
Yes.
Anne M. Gobi?
Yes.
Adam G. Hinds?
Donald F. Humason, Jr.?
Yes.
Patricia D. Jehlen?
Yes.
John F. Keenan?
Yes.
Eric P. Lesser?
Yes.
Jason M. Lewis?
Yes.
Barbara L'Italien?
Yes.
Joan B. Lovely?
Yes.
Thomas M. McGee?
Yes.
Marc C. Montigny?
Yes.
Michael O. Moore?
Yes.
Patrick M. O'Connor?
Yes.
Kathleen O'Connor-Ives?
Yes.
Mark R. Pacheco?
Yes.
Michael J. Rodrigues?
Yes.
Richard J. Ross?
Yes.
Michael F. Rush?
Karen E. Spilka?
Yes.
Bruce E. Tarr?
Yes.
Walter F. Timilty?
Yes.
James T. Welch?
Yes.
Have all members been recorded?
Adam G. Hinds votes yes.
Mr. Rush.
Mr. President, [INAUDIBLE]
Michael F. Rush votes yes.
On this matter, 37 in the affirmative,
nine in the negative, the amendment is passed.
The next amendment is Amendment number 321,
filed by the Senator from Middlesex and Suffolk,
the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 321 by Ms. Creem, office
for refugees and immigrants service.
The Senator from Essex and Middlesex, Mr. Tarr.
Why thank you, Mr. President.
And thank you for presiding in such a efficient way.
It's nice to have you on the roster.
Mr. President, I'm hoping that we
can hear from the gentlelady from Newton
on this particular amendment.
We have not heard from her in a while.
I know that she has volumes of wisdom before her.
And she's paging through them right now.
Mr. President, I'm hoping that we
can hear from her about this particular amendment, number
321, which has to do with making sure that refugees
and immigrants have services that were provided
with apparently some providers that have been providing them
already.
So I think this is to ensure continuity of service.
But I'm not sure if that assumption is correct.
I'm hoping she will clarify that.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Middlesex and Norfolk, Ms. Creem.
Thank you, I thank Mr. President,
and through you to the minority leader, who is quite correct.
No one would doubt that the minority leader knew
what the amendment would say before I even got up to speak,
but it does keep the continuity.
And it would allow the Department of Transitional
Assistance to continue to work with the same immigration
and refugee and job training and support programs
this year that they had last year.
Many of those programs continue from one year to the next.
And there's an ambiguity in the language
that it isn't clear that the programs will continue.
And this allows that to happen.
And I hope the amendment passes.
Thank you, and thank you to a minority leader,
who really understood it.
Option of the amendment, all those in favor
signify by saying aye, opposed no.
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted.
The next amendment is Amendment number 325,
filed by the Senator from Worcester and Middlesex,
Ms. Flanagan, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 325 by Ms. Flanagan,
task force on child welfare data reporting.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye, oppose no.
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted.
Amendment number 328, the gentleman from Essex, Mr.
McGee, has filed an amendment, the title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 328 by Mr. McGee,
stabilizing of state nursing facilities.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye--
the gentlemen from--
Mr. President, so I can have the pleasure of approaching
the rostrum with you upon it, I move the Senate
be in a brief recess.
Senate's in a brief recess.
The question now comes on Amendment number 328.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye, opposed no.
The nos have it and the amendment is not adopted.
The next amendment is Amendment number 333,
filed by the Senator from Middlesex, Ms. Donoghue, title
of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 333 by Ms. Donoghue, vocational
and housing stabilization services
for people in recovery.
The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye, opposed no.
The nos have it, and the amendment is not adopted.
The next amendment is Amendment number 340,
filed by the Senator from Essex and Middlesex,
Ms. L'Italien the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 340 by Ms. L'Italien, Psychological Center
Women's View.
The Women's View program in Lawrence,
which helps with critical needs in Lawrence.
Women's View gives women a safe environment
in which they're able to begin their recovery process and gain
stability in their lives.
They're able to get the help they
need so that they can fully reintegrate back
into the community.
The population served is women age 25 and older
who suffer from substance use disorder
and co-occurring disorders.
Women's View serves pregnant and post-partum women, the elderly
and disabled.
The length of stay at the program
varies based on individual needs,
but is typically at least six months.
It takes heart and dedication to serve this population.
Addiction's a widespread problem and issue
that is not only limited to the homeless population.
They help addicts and their families as well.
They help human beings who deserve
to be treated with respect, kindness,
and dignity during a very sensitive and delicate period
in their lives.
The question comes on the adoption of Amendment number
340.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The Senate will be in a brief recess.
The next amendment is Amendment number 356,
filed by the gentleman from Suffolk in Middlesex,
Mr. Boncore, the type of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 356 by Mr. Boncore, Bold purchase
of medication task force.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor say aye, opposed no.
The ayes have it and the amendment is adopted.
The gentleman from Essex and Middlesex, Mr. Tarr.
Mr. President, I move the Senate be in a brief recess.
The Senate is in a brief recess.
Amendment number 356, the gentleman
from Essex and Middlesex asks unanimous consent
that no action has been taken on the amendment.
Hearing none-- is there any objection?
Hearing none, the amendment will be temporarily set aside.
The Senate is in a brief recess.
The next amendment considered is Amendment number 359
filed by the Senator from Essex and Middlesex,
Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 359 by Mr. Tarr, health purchasing
cooperatives.
Senator from Essex and Middlesex, Mr. Tarr.
--through you to the members, Mr. President we
have talked throughout this debate so far.
And I hope that we will continue to talk
about ways that we can try to control
the costs of health care.
And Mr. President, this amendment
relates to private employers who are seeking to control
their cost of health care.
And it looks at a tool that we have
been using, known as health purchasing cooperatives.
But lo and behold, Mr. President,
even though this is a very effective tool,
and helps people control costs, using
the market power of collective purchase, we limit it.
And so Mr. President, this is a very modest increase
in the availability of that tool,
such that we currently have six health purchasing
cooperatives that are sanctioned by Massachusetts law.
This would expand that to eight.
We currently limit the number of covered lives to 85,000.
This would expand that number to 100,000.
These are very modest measures, Mr. President,
to be able to expand this tool and make it more available,
while we contemplate even greater measures to be
able to help control the cost of health care.
Mr. President, I hope the amendment is adopted.
The question comes on the adoption of the amendment.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye, opposed no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next amendment is Amendment number 368,
filed by the gentleman from Essex and Middlesex,
Mr. Tarr, the title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 368 by Mr. Tarr, pharmacy benefit managers
audit.
The gentleman from Essex and Middlesex, Mr. Tarr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you to the members.
Mr. President, we have talked as well
during this debate, in fact, as recently as just an hour
or two ago, about the role that pharmacy benefit managers play
in our health care system, and in the affordability
and availability of pharmaceuticals.
And Mr. President, one very important issue
was highlighted by the gentleman from Springfield.
There are other issues as well.
And Mr. President, I know you are very familiar, personally,
with the issue of pharmacy benefit managers because
of your concern, not only with the benefit managers
themselves, but also with pharmaceutical manufacturers,
that oftentimes have some very interesting relationships
with pharmacy benefit.
Managers and so Mr. President, because I share your concern,
and I share the concern that was woven
through the comments of the gentleman from Springfield,
we offer this modest amendment to require
these entities to be audited and regulated, which Mr. President,
I am just surprised that you have not
descended from the rostrum yet, to advocate for this measure.
But I know in your heart where you stand.
And so, Mr. President, I hope that bodes well
for this critical amendment to be
able to look at these entities that
are so influential in the health care system,
but oftentimes escape the purview of regulation
and oversight.
This amendment would begin to change that.
And I hope the amendment is adopted.
Some would say they're all price gouging,
but for now, the question comes on the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye, opposed no.
The nos have it.
The amendment is not adopted.
The next amendment is Amendment number 372--
the next amendment is Amendment number 371,
filed by the Senator from Norfolk and Plymouth,
Mr. Keenan, title of which the clerk will read.
Amendment number 371 by Mr. Kennan,
strengthening prescription drug safety and drug stewardship.
The Senator from Norfolk and Plymouth, Mr. Keenan.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you to the members.
Back in-- the gentleman from Gloucester
just made some comments about the pharmacy
benefit managers and the audit that should occur there.
And he talked about an interesting relationship
between those pharmacy benefit managers
and the pharmaceutical companies.
And I know, as the gentleman from Gloucester
had referenced-- yup-- his feelings
relative to pharmaceutical companies.
Well, this amendment has to do with
the pharmaceutical industry.
Back in 2016 when we passed an opioid legislation,
this body, this Senate, had a provision in that legislation
that-- it was called the Drug Stewardship Program.
It made pharmaceutical companies responsible for taking back
unused medications, much like we do
when it comes to tires, or CFL light bulbs,
things of that nature.
So we put that in the bill.
It passed the Senate with the Stewardship Program in there.
Ultimately, as that bill made its way to the Governor's desk,
it included a five year sunset provision.
So it, in essence, went from being a permanent program,
requiring pharmaceutical companies
to do what they should do, to a pilot program.
What this amendment does is it restores what we passed here
in the Senate.
It makes pharmaceutical industry responsible for taking back
unused medications.
Now, since it was passed, DPH has issued guidance.
They are accepting proposals from pharmaceutical companies.
But we know how this is going to play out.
It's going to be dribble, dribble, drip,
drip, until five years has come and five years has gone,
and we won't have a pharmaceutical take-back
program that had any impact or any effect.
So what this amendment does is it restores the Stewardship
Program to what we voted on, a permanent obligation
of the pharmaceutical companies to take back unused medication.
To take back the medication that has been widely diverted,
put out there on the streets, and is
fueling the opioid epidemic.
So with all that said, I ask, Mr. President,
that there be favorable action on this amendment.
Thank you.
Senator O'Connor Ives.
Thank you, Mr. President, and through you to the members.
I thank the gentleman from Quincy
for filing this amendment, and I did co-sponsor it.
We, as a body, made a deliberate effort
to set up a system whereby manufacturers would take back
medications and use their industry
expertise to do it in a manner that made the most sense.
It's important for them to do that for two critical reasons.
One, so that people won't flush these medications down
the drain, and these medications inevitably
end up in our water system and can't be treated,
and thereby, are consumed by people.
And secondarily, equally important but a totally
separate reason, we know that when
medications, whether unused or expired,
or languishing in people's medicine cabinets,
they fall into the wrong hands.
Whether it's young people, whether they're
stolen, whether they're misused, it's
an addiction-related problem.
And to let this languish would undo all of that
focused energy, that concerted effort, to solve this problem.
We left it up to them to do it in a way that made sense--
a way that was secure, a way that
was efficient, a way that didn't impede their ability
to do business.
But we would be remiss to not close this loophole,
to actually achieve the policy goals that we set out
to do to ensure that our water quality remains safe,
and to ensure that these medications don't
fall into the wrong hands.
Thank you to the senator from Quincy.
[AUDIO OUT] on adoption of amendment number 371,
all those in favor say aye.
All those oppose, no.
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted.
The next amendment is amendment number 372 filed by--
Mr. President.
Senator's in brief recess.