WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.968 align:middle line:90% [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:00:03.968 --> 00:00:21.222 align:middle line:90% 00:00:21.222 --> 00:00:22.180 align:middle line:90% House will be in order. 00:00:22.180 --> 00:00:23.140 align:middle line:90% Paper from the Senate. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:30.870 align:middle line:90% 00:00:30.870 --> 00:00:34.350 align:middle line:84% A petition of Marc R. Pacheco and Keiko M. Orrall 00:00:34.350 --> 00:00:37.080 align:middle line:84% For legislation to release certain land in Berkley 00:00:37.080 --> 00:00:39.810 align:middle line:84% from the operation of an agricultural preservation 00:00:39.810 --> 00:00:42.290 align:middle line:84% restriction comes to the Senate with the endorsement. 00:00:42.290 --> 00:00:44.190 align:middle line:84% It's referred by said branch under suspension 00:00:44.190 --> 00:00:46.260 align:middle line:84% of [? Journal ?] 12 to the committee and state 00:00:46.260 --> 00:00:50.090 align:middle line:84% administration and regulatory oversight. 00:00:50.090 --> 00:00:51.560 align:middle line:84% Question now comes on concurrence. 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:53.580 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed nay. 00:00:53.580 --> 00:00:54.288 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 00:00:54.288 --> 00:00:55.687 align:middle line:90% The house concurs. 00:00:55.687 --> 00:00:57.020 align:middle line:90% House will be in a brief recess. 00:00:57.020 --> 00:02:06.600 align:middle line:90% 00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:10.079 align:middle line:90% [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:02:10.079 --> 00:02:21.510 align:middle line:90% 00:02:21.510 --> 00:02:23.742 align:middle line:90% House will be in order. 00:02:23.742 --> 00:02:25.950 align:middle line:84% Following [INAUDIBLE] bill having rightly [INAUDIBLE] 00:02:25.950 --> 00:02:28.080 align:middle line:84% is now before the House for final passage. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:32.490 align:middle line:84% House 3995, and act authorizing the commission of asset 00:02:32.490 --> 00:02:35.580 align:middle line:84% management and maintenance to convey a certain parcel of land 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:37.180 align:middle line:90% in the city of Revere. 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:40.110 align:middle line:84% Under the Constitution, a separate vote is required. 00:02:40.110 --> 00:02:43.710 align:middle line:84% The roll call machine will now be open and remain open 00:02:43.710 --> 00:02:44.460 align:middle line:90% for three minutes. 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:46.110 align:middle line:84% Court officers, summon the members. 00:02:46.110 --> 00:02:47.730 align:middle line:84% Indicate a roll call is in progress. 00:02:47.730 --> 00:02:58.260 align:middle line:90% 00:02:58.260 --> 00:03:00.040 align:middle line:84% Under Rule 49, the court officers 00:03:00.040 --> 00:03:02.308 align:middle line:84% will vote for Representative [INAUDIBLE].. 00:03:02.308 --> 00:03:48.622 align:middle line:90% 00:03:48.622 --> 00:03:50.280 align:middle line:90% Clerk will make an announcement. 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:52.650 align:middle line:84% The voting stations of representatives 00:03:52.650 --> 00:03:56.230 align:middle line:84% Chris Walsh, Calter, and Vieira are locked. 00:03:56.230 --> 00:10:38.433 align:middle line:90% 00:10:38.433 --> 00:10:40.810 align:middle line:84% Have all members voted who wish to do so? 00:10:40.810 --> 00:11:54.120 align:middle line:90% 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.210 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 00:11:55.210 --> 00:15:31.360 align:middle line:90% 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:34.990 align:middle line:84% Have all members voted who wish to do so? 00:15:34.990 --> 00:15:36.850 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 00:15:36.850 --> 00:15:38.110 align:middle line:90% Time for voting has expired. 00:15:38.110 --> 00:15:39.870 align:middle line:84% The clerk will display the tally. 00:15:39.870 --> 00:15:42.620 align:middle line:84% On this matter, 151 members voted in the affirmative, none 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.585 align:middle line:90% in the negative. 00:15:43.585 --> 00:15:45.630 align:middle line:84% The bill is passed to be enacted. 00:15:45.630 --> 00:16:51.030 align:middle line:90% 00:16:51.030 --> 00:16:53.726 align:middle line:90% Paper from the Senate. 00:16:53.726 --> 00:16:55.457 align:middle line:84% A report of the committee of conference 00:16:55.457 --> 00:16:57.290 align:middle line:84% on the disagreeing votes of the two branches 00:16:57.290 --> 00:16:59.420 align:middle line:84% with reference to the house amendment-- 00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:00.920 align:middle line:84% striking out an [? acting ?] clause 00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:03.320 align:middle line:84% and inserting in place the text of House document number 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:07.560 align:middle line:84% 4043 of the Senate bill relative to criminal justice reform, 00:17:07.560 --> 00:17:09.319 align:middle line:90% Senate number 2200. 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.480 align:middle line:84% Report in part recommending a bill 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.550 align:middle line:84% relative to criminal justice reform, 00:17:13.550 --> 00:17:17.150 align:middle line:84% Senate number 2371 having been accepted by the Senate. 00:17:17.150 --> 00:17:24.650 align:middle line:90% 00:17:24.650 --> 00:17:28.430 align:middle line:84% Miss Cronin of Easton moves suspension of the rules. 00:17:28.430 --> 00:17:30.852 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, opposed no. 00:17:30.852 --> 00:17:31.560 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 00:17:31.560 --> 00:17:32.559 align:middle line:90% The rules are suspended. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:35.760 align:middle line:90% 00:17:35.760 --> 00:17:38.490 align:middle line:84% Question now comes on acceptance of the conference committee 00:17:38.490 --> 00:17:38.990 align:middle line:90% report. 00:17:38.990 --> 00:17:43.180 align:middle line:90% 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:45.070 align:middle line:84% Members are asked to please take their seats 00:17:45.070 --> 00:17:47.800 align:middle line:90% and subdue their conversations. 00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:50.020 align:middle line:84% Court officers are asked to clear the aisles. 00:17:50.020 --> 00:18:12.020 align:middle line:90% 00:18:12.020 --> 00:18:14.360 align:middle line:84% Question comes on acceptance of the conference committee 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:15.830 align:middle line:90% report. 00:18:15.830 --> 00:18:22.050 align:middle line:84% The chair recognizes Ms. Cronin of Easton. 00:18:22.050 --> 00:18:27.440 align:middle line:84% Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker and through you to the members. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:31.920 align:middle line:84% I rise in support of the conference committee report. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:36.690 align:middle line:84% This day is a momentous occasion, the culmination 00:18:36.690 --> 00:18:41.520 align:middle line:84% of a significant amount of hard and passionate work 00:18:41.520 --> 00:18:44.040 align:middle line:84% by the members of the legislature 00:18:44.040 --> 00:18:48.000 align:middle line:90% and so many, many others. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:52.680 align:middle line:84% I couldn't help but think that 50 years ago today, 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:56.010 align:middle line:90% we lost the great Dr. King. 00:18:56.010 --> 00:19:02.230 align:middle line:84% On that day, hope was lost and dreams were crushed. 00:19:02.230 --> 00:19:08.070 align:middle line:84% Today, 50 years later, through the work of so many, 00:19:08.070 --> 00:19:12.460 align:middle line:84% the hope for a fairer, more equitable, and stronger 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:17.632 align:middle line:84% criminal justice system is being realized in this chamber today. 00:19:17.632 --> 00:19:21.006 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:19:21.006 --> 00:19:26.310 align:middle line:90% 00:19:26.310 --> 00:19:29.250 align:middle line:84% But before I begin, I would like to thank 00:19:29.250 --> 00:19:33.630 align:middle line:84% Speaker DeLeo for his unwavering support 00:19:33.630 --> 00:19:37.320 align:middle line:84% as we endeavored to reform and improve our criminal justice 00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:38.580 align:middle line:90% system. 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:44.910 align:middle line:84% He made very clear, and early on, the criminal justice reform 00:19:44.910 --> 00:19:47.490 align:middle line:90% was one of his top priorities. 00:19:47.490 --> 00:19:49.170 align:middle line:90% And he kept his word. 00:19:49.170 --> 00:19:53.220 align:middle line:84% I thank you for your continuous, constant support 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.730 align:middle line:90% of this process. 00:19:54.730 --> 00:19:56.670 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:19:56.670 --> 00:20:04.920 align:middle line:84% I also want to specifically thank my Senate co-chair-- 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:07.890 align:middle line:90% he's up in the galley-- 00:20:07.890 --> 00:20:10.230 align:middle line:90% the gentleman from Belmont. 00:20:10.230 --> 00:20:18.330 align:middle line:84% It has been my sincere pleasure to work with him. 00:20:18.330 --> 00:20:22.640 align:middle line:84% He has worked not just recently, but for many, many years 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.390 align:middle line:84% on the issues that have driven criminal justice reform. 00:20:26.390 --> 00:20:31.090 align:middle line:84% His work has made a difference in the lives of many people. 00:20:31.090 --> 00:20:35.060 align:middle line:84% I want to thank my colleagues on the conference committee. 00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:39.880 align:middle line:84% We were seeking to reconcile two very complex and broad 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:41.950 align:middle line:90% ranging bills. 00:20:41.950 --> 00:20:45.730 align:middle line:84% We hear about the lack of cooperation in politics, 00:20:45.730 --> 00:20:48.820 align:middle line:84% but the work this committee did speaks 00:20:48.820 --> 00:20:53.410 align:middle line:84% to the highest level of bipartisan and bicameral 00:20:53.410 --> 00:20:55.060 align:middle line:90% cooperation. 00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:57.550 align:middle line:84% I want to especially give a shout out 00:20:57.550 --> 00:21:00.670 align:middle line:84% to our leader from Quincy and the gentlelady 00:21:00.670 --> 00:21:02.530 align:middle line:90% lady from Broughton. 00:21:02.530 --> 00:21:06.570 align:middle line:84% We are here today because of your efforts. 00:21:06.570 --> 00:21:11.630 align:middle line:84% The staff, the unsung heroes of this extraordinary 00:21:11.630 --> 00:21:13.280 align:middle line:90% undertaking-- 00:21:13.280 --> 00:21:18.320 align:middle line:84% for months, they have worked long days, late nights, 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:19.580 align:middle line:90% and weekends. 00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:21.290 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:21:21.290 --> 00:21:22.586 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:21:22.586 --> 00:21:25.870 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:21:25.870 --> 00:21:31.720 align:middle line:84% But I also want to specifically thank the members of the House. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:37.960 align:middle line:84% So many of you worked so hard to ensure that the reforms we made 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:41.870 align:middle line:84% would be meaningful and far-reaching. 00:21:41.870 --> 00:21:43.030 align:middle line:90% And they are. 00:21:43.030 --> 00:21:46.150 align:middle line:90% This is your bill. 00:21:46.150 --> 00:21:49.540 align:middle line:84% Why should we undertake criminal justice reform? 00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:53.860 align:middle line:84% The research and data show that the answer is pretty clear 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:56.320 align:middle line:84% because we know that criminal justice 00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:59.830 align:middle line:90% reform will reduce recidivism. 00:21:59.830 --> 00:22:03.130 align:middle line:84% We know that it will increase public safety. 00:22:03.130 --> 00:22:06.370 align:middle line:84% And we know that it will provide long-term cost savings 00:22:06.370 --> 00:22:08.230 align:middle line:90% to the taxpayer. 00:22:08.230 --> 00:22:11.750 align:middle line:84% But we also know that by doing so, 00:22:11.750 --> 00:22:14.290 align:middle line:84% we will improve the lives of many 00:22:14.290 --> 00:22:17.000 align:middle line:90% and for many years to come. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:19.540 align:middle line:84% I would like to highlight some significant portions 00:22:19.540 --> 00:22:21.550 align:middle line:90% of this legislation. 00:22:21.550 --> 00:22:24.400 align:middle line:84% It addresses our criminal justice system 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:27.820 align:middle line:84% from the earliest point at which an individual first 00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:31.210 align:middle line:84% makes contact with our criminal justice system, 00:22:31.210 --> 00:22:34.570 align:middle line:84% sometimes as children, up until the time 00:22:34.570 --> 00:22:42.610 align:middle line:84% that an individual re-enters society after incarceration 00:22:42.610 --> 00:22:46.780 align:middle line:84% or is released for compassionate medical reasons. 00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:52.000 align:middle line:84% We have touched on every aspect of our justice system, soup 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.440 align:middle line:90% to nuts. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.910 align:middle line:90% And where does it all begin? 00:22:54.910 --> 00:22:57.020 align:middle line:90% It begins with our children. 00:22:57.020 --> 00:22:59.770 align:middle line:84% We know that the earlier a child becomes involved 00:22:59.770 --> 00:23:03.820 align:middle line:84% in the criminal justice system, the more likely that child 00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:07.990 align:middle line:84% will remain in the system throughout his or her life. 00:23:07.990 --> 00:23:11.530 align:middle line:84% We recognize that there is an indisputable link 00:23:11.530 --> 00:23:15.640 align:middle line:84% between the support our youngest and most vulnerable children 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:19.760 align:middle line:84% receive and incarceration later in life. 00:23:19.760 --> 00:23:24.430 align:middle line:84% And that's why this legislation creates a task force to examine 00:23:24.430 --> 00:23:27.250 align:middle line:84% how to improve the identification 00:23:27.250 --> 00:23:30.400 align:middle line:84% and diagnosis of children in our schools 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:33.160 align:middle line:84% who have been affected by childhood trauma 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:36.610 align:middle line:84% and provide them with necessary services. 00:23:36.610 --> 00:23:39.310 align:middle line:84% We have improved our juvenile justice system 00:23:39.310 --> 00:23:44.110 align:middle line:84% by increasing the age of criminal responsibility to 12, 00:23:44.110 --> 00:23:47.140 align:middle line:84% decriminalizing some low level offenses, 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:51.100 align:middle line:84% and increasing opportunities for diversion and restorative 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.900 align:middle line:90% justice. 00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:57.550 align:middle line:84% We recognize that children and young adults make mistakes. 00:23:57.550 --> 00:24:00.280 align:middle line:84% And that is why we have created a mechanism 00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:05.140 align:middle line:84% for expunging certain offenses for juveniles 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:09.050 align:middle line:84% and our young adults up to the age of 21. 00:24:09.050 --> 00:24:13.630 align:middle line:84% We also allow expungement in limited situations for adults. 00:24:13.630 --> 00:24:16.300 align:middle line:84% This includes expunging records for an offense 00:24:16.300 --> 00:24:21.340 align:middle line:84% that is no longer a crime, for example, marijuana convictions. 00:24:21.340 --> 00:24:24.310 align:middle line:84% A very high percentage of individuals involved 00:24:24.310 --> 00:24:28.000 align:middle line:84% in our criminal justice system are struggling 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.400 align:middle line:90% in one way or another. 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.650 align:middle line:84% For the first time, we have required 00:24:32.650 --> 00:24:36.700 align:middle line:84% that our district attorneys create diversion programs 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.710 align:middle line:90% in three categories-- 00:24:38.710 --> 00:24:41.740 align:middle line:84% for those suffering with mental health issues, 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:44.170 align:middle line:84% for those struggling with addiction, 00:24:44.170 --> 00:24:46.700 align:middle line:90% and for our veterans. 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:49.540 align:middle line:84% We have eliminated the age requirements for access 00:24:49.540 --> 00:24:54.460 align:middle line:84% to diversion programs for those people who are first offenders. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:57.040 align:middle line:84% Whatever the age, a first offender 00:24:57.040 --> 00:25:00.820 align:middle line:84% should have access to treatment and programming. 00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:04.120 align:middle line:84% We would be remiss for not encouraging people 00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:06.740 align:middle line:90% to get the help that they need. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:09.520 align:middle line:84% We have reformed our bail system to ensure 00:25:09.520 --> 00:25:12.640 align:middle line:84% that no one is incarcerated solely 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:17.170 align:middle line:84% for the inability to have the financial resources to make 00:25:17.170 --> 00:25:18.130 align:middle line:90% bail. 00:25:18.130 --> 00:25:21.070 align:middle line:84% In the same regard, we have reformed our system 00:25:21.070 --> 00:25:25.450 align:middle line:84% of fines and fees, ensuring that no one is incarcerated 00:25:25.450 --> 00:25:30.250 align:middle line:84% solely because of an inability to pay a fine or fee. 00:25:30.250 --> 00:25:35.530 align:middle line:84% We have eliminated mandatory minimums for certain low level 00:25:35.530 --> 00:25:37.030 align:middle line:90% drug offenses. 00:25:37.030 --> 00:25:42.070 align:middle line:84% And by doing so, we'll provide greater access to treatment. 00:25:42.070 --> 00:25:45.100 align:middle line:84% But at the same time, we are in the midst 00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:51.400 align:middle line:84% of an opioid epidemic, a public health and public safety crisis 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:55.420 align:middle line:84% that is like nothing we have received or experienced 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:57.220 align:middle line:90% in recent history. 00:25:57.220 --> 00:26:02.290 align:middle line:84% We are presented with new drugs, fentanyl and carfentanil, 00:26:02.290 --> 00:26:04.990 align:middle line:84% drugs that are so potent that even 00:26:04.990 --> 00:26:08.290 align:middle line:90% the tiniest amount is deadly. 00:26:08.290 --> 00:26:12.580 align:middle line:84% We have moved both of these drugs into the Class A category 00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:18.730 align:middle line:84% and strengthened the penalties for those individuals that 00:26:18.730 --> 00:26:23.440 align:middle line:84% seek to profit from the misery of others. 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:30.290 align:middle line:84% We will have the strongest carfentanil law in the country. 00:26:30.290 --> 00:26:33.122 align:middle line:84% And for those in our prison system. 00:26:33.122 --> 00:26:38.840 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:41.630 align:middle line:84% We recognize that our corrections officers 00:26:41.630 --> 00:26:45.470 align:middle line:84% must have the tools to ensure the safety of individuals 00:26:45.470 --> 00:26:48.890 align:middle line:84% within the correctional facilities, both employees 00:26:48.890 --> 00:26:50.720 align:middle line:90% and prisoners alike. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:55.100 align:middle line:84% But we also recognize that the use of segregation, commonly 00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:57.950 align:middle line:84% referred to as solitary confinement, 00:26:57.950 --> 00:27:02.060 align:middle line:84% can have negative consequences for the individual 00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:04.550 align:middle line:90% as well as for public safety. 00:27:04.550 --> 00:27:07.550 align:middle line:84% We will ensure that there is accountability 00:27:07.550 --> 00:27:09.680 align:middle line:84% for the use of solitary confinement. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:12.390 align:middle line:90% 00:27:12.390 --> 00:27:15.800 align:middle line:84% We have also precluded the use of segregation 00:27:15.800 --> 00:27:19.040 align:middle line:84% for pregnant women and juveniles. 00:27:19.040 --> 00:27:21.950 align:middle line:84% For the first time, we have created a mechanism 00:27:21.950 --> 00:27:24.440 align:middle line:84% for compassionate medical release 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:27.410 align:middle line:84% for terminally ill prisoners that 00:27:27.410 --> 00:27:31.580 align:middle line:90% pose no safety risk to others. 00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:34.370 align:middle line:84% We have reformed our CORI system. 00:27:34.370 --> 00:27:38.330 align:middle line:84% This will allow those that have paid their debt to society 00:27:38.330 --> 00:27:42.170 align:middle line:84% to move on with their lives, find jobs, and live 00:27:42.170 --> 00:27:45.470 align:middle line:84% as productive members of our community. 00:27:45.470 --> 00:27:48.530 align:middle line:84% If we want people to re-enter society, 00:27:48.530 --> 00:27:51.760 align:middle line:84% we must let them re-enter society. 00:27:51.760 --> 00:27:54.590 align:middle line:84% And as we move forward with these reforms, 00:27:54.590 --> 00:27:59.720 align:middle line:84% we must never forget victims or the need for public safety. 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:02.570 align:middle line:84% To that end, we have increased the efficiency 00:28:02.570 --> 00:28:07.640 align:middle line:84% of collecting DNA samples for the DNA database. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:09.620 align:middle line:84% We expect that law enforcement will 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:15.180 align:middle line:84% be able to solve many unsolved rapes and murders as a result. 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:17.700 align:middle line:84% This will increase public safety, 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:21.720 align:middle line:84% but also provide some measure of comfort or closure 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:25.210 align:middle line:84% to the victims and their families. 00:28:25.210 --> 00:28:28.860 align:middle line:84% We have strengthened our laws that deal with multiple OUI 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:30.510 align:middle line:90% offenses. 00:28:30.510 --> 00:28:35.730 align:middle line:84% These are just a few of the many provisions of this legislation. 00:28:35.730 --> 00:28:40.530 align:middle line:84% It is comprehensive and will have a meaningful impact 00:28:40.530 --> 00:28:42.972 align:middle line:90% for many years to come. 00:28:42.972 --> 00:28:46.880 align:middle line:84% Please join me in this historic vote. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:49.250 align:middle line:84% And I ask that when a vote be taken, 00:28:49.250 --> 00:28:53.260 align:middle line:84% it be taken by a call of the yeas and nays. 00:28:53.260 --> 00:28:55.150 align:middle line:84% Miss Cronin asks when a vote be taken, it 00:28:55.150 --> 00:28:56.867 align:middle line:90% be taken by the yaes and nays. 00:28:56.867 --> 00:28:58.450 align:middle line:84% All joining with her will please rise. 00:28:58.450 --> 00:28:59.105 align:middle line:90% First division? 00:28:59.105 --> 00:28:59.605 align:middle line:90% 20. 00:28:59.605 --> 00:28:59.890 align:middle line:90% 20. 00:28:59.890 --> 00:29:01.240 align:middle line:90% There being sufficient number. 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:03.130 align:middle line:84% When a vote is taken, it shall be taken 00:29:03.130 --> 00:29:06.430 align:middle line:90% by call of the yeas and nays. 00:29:06.430 --> 00:29:08.650 align:middle line:84% Chair recognizes Mr. Mariano of Quincy. 00:29:08.650 --> 00:29:16.280 align:middle line:90% 00:29:16.280 --> 00:29:17.120 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.950 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 00:29:18.950 --> 00:29:23.300 align:middle line:84% I, too, hope that this conference report is adopted. 00:29:23.300 --> 00:29:26.990 align:middle line:84% And let me begin by saying I would like to congratulate 00:29:26.990 --> 00:29:29.870 align:middle line:84% the two chairmen of the conference 00:29:29.870 --> 00:29:34.010 align:middle line:84% committee, the Senate chairman who did an outstanding job 00:29:34.010 --> 00:29:37.220 align:middle line:84% and has been one of the more knowledgeable people 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:40.160 align:middle line:84% about criminal justice that I've ever run into, 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:44.230 align:middle line:84% and our new chairman of judiciary, Representative 00:29:44.230 --> 00:29:45.890 align:middle line:90% Cronin. 00:29:45.890 --> 00:29:48.420 align:middle line:84% I've been on an awful lot of conference committees. 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:53.390 align:middle line:84% And these two folks know this bill as well as any two people 00:29:53.390 --> 00:29:55.820 align:middle line:90% could know any bill. 00:29:55.820 --> 00:30:01.040 align:middle line:84% Sometimes I believe they were in the weeds a little bit. 00:30:01.040 --> 00:30:04.250 align:middle line:84% I'm still trying to figure out the senator's explanation 00:30:04.250 --> 00:30:06.920 align:middle line:84% on sentencing that he did on a white board. 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:11.630 align:middle line:84% And I may never ever come into a full understanding 00:30:11.630 --> 00:30:14.740 align:middle line:90% of what it means. 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:19.640 align:middle line:84% But as someone who was on this committee with very little 00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:21.600 align:middle line:90% criminal justice background-- 00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:23.960 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker-- 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:28.670 align:middle line:84% it was a learning experience, a tremendous learning experience 00:30:28.670 --> 00:30:35.220 align:middle line:84% for me and one of many, many fine lunches that I will miss. 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:37.670 align:middle line:84% So if we get any more conference committees, 00:30:37.670 --> 00:30:42.020 align:middle line:84% I'll be happy to serve as long as lunch is involved. 00:30:42.020 --> 00:30:47.180 align:middle line:84% But there are a number of things that were very important to me 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:51.740 align:middle line:84% as we began to bridge the gaps that were apparent 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:53.870 align:middle line:90% when we began the process. 00:30:53.870 --> 00:30:56.450 align:middle line:84% When we began this process, I really 00:30:56.450 --> 00:31:01.080 align:middle line:84% felt I was looking at a very, very long and drawn 00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:06.430 align:middle line:84% out road to getting some sort of compromise. 00:31:06.430 --> 00:31:09.740 align:middle line:90% Because we were miles apart. 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:12.100 align:middle line:84% And I want to take a minute to thank the Senate 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:17.110 align:middle line:84% chairman for his work in initiating 00:31:17.110 --> 00:31:21.280 align:middle line:84% the beginning of a strong dialogue that 00:31:21.280 --> 00:31:24.594 align:middle line:84% allowed us to begin to talk about substantive issues. 00:31:24.594 --> 00:31:27.010 align:middle line:84% And I want to just mention a few of the substantive issues 00:31:27.010 --> 00:31:31.320 align:middle line:84% that I think were important to me. 00:31:31.320 --> 00:31:32.652 align:middle line:90% And one of them-- 00:31:32.652 --> 00:31:35.310 align:middle line:84% well, there isn't much left because the chairman 00:31:35.310 --> 00:31:37.710 align:middle line:84% did an excellent job of describing just 00:31:37.710 --> 00:31:39.810 align:middle line:84% about everything that's in the bill. 00:31:39.810 --> 00:31:41.860 align:middle line:84% Didn't leave much for the rest of us. 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:45.550 align:middle line:84% But the diversion program for people 00:31:45.550 --> 00:31:48.430 align:middle line:84% coming into the system at an older age 00:31:48.430 --> 00:31:50.476 align:middle line:90% was extremely important. 00:31:50.476 --> 00:31:51.850 align:middle line:84% And it's important because we are 00:31:51.850 --> 00:31:55.780 align:middle line:84% faced with an opioid crisis in which people are entering 00:31:55.780 --> 00:32:00.580 align:middle line:84% the system in their 30s, people hurt on the job who 00:32:00.580 --> 00:32:04.750 align:middle line:84% are addicted to painkillers and then 00:32:04.750 --> 00:32:09.670 align:middle line:84% that turns into a full-blown opioid addiction and then 00:32:09.670 --> 00:32:12.130 align:middle line:84% an entry into the criminal justice system, 00:32:12.130 --> 00:32:17.100 align:middle line:84% now have an opportunity to get clean 00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:19.230 align:middle line:84% and take advantage of the diversion programs 00:32:19.230 --> 00:32:22.690 align:middle line:84% that were only offered to young offenders. 00:32:22.690 --> 00:32:27.640 align:middle line:84% That's a tremendous opportunity, one that was sorely lacking 00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:29.500 align:middle line:90% and should have been obvious. 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.460 align:middle line:90% And it was. 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:32.320 align:middle line:84% We agreed on that very, very quickly. 00:32:32.320 --> 00:32:38.190 align:middle line:90% 00:32:38.190 --> 00:32:45.570 align:middle line:84% The gentlelady from Easton talked about carfentanil. 00:32:45.570 --> 00:32:51.810 align:middle line:84% And those of us in urban areas that see the trends-- 00:32:51.810 --> 00:32:57.590 align:middle line:84% the dealings with this deadly substance-- 00:32:57.590 --> 00:33:00.530 align:middle line:84% are very, very nervous about it, because it 00:33:00.530 --> 00:33:06.770 align:middle line:84% is a killer in extremely small quantities, 00:33:06.770 --> 00:33:13.040 align:middle line:84% in such small quantities that you can detect them very, very 00:33:13.040 --> 00:33:14.090 align:middle line:90% infrequently. 00:33:14.090 --> 00:33:15.215 align:middle line:90% And detection is a problem. 00:33:15.215 --> 00:33:17.900 align:middle line:84% Our crime labs, as they exist today, 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:24.230 align:middle line:84% have an awful time detecting fentanyl. 00:33:24.230 --> 00:33:27.500 align:middle line:84% But what we've done is allowed you to be charged 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:30.370 align:middle line:90% with a mixture of fentanyl. 00:33:30.370 --> 00:33:33.260 align:middle line:84% So that in and of itself is enough to bring 00:33:33.260 --> 00:33:39.250 align:middle line:84% a conviction, which is a necessary evil in today's 00:33:39.250 --> 00:33:40.240 align:middle line:90% society. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:42.880 align:middle line:84% We need to get this off the street. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:47.440 align:middle line:84% People have to understand that a little touch of fentanyl 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.280 align:middle line:90% is killing people. 00:33:48.280 --> 00:33:51.380 align:middle line:90% 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:57.935 align:middle line:84% And I think this plays that song loud enough so that people 00:33:57.935 --> 00:33:58.835 align:middle line:90% will get the message. 00:33:58.835 --> 00:34:01.510 align:middle line:90% 00:34:01.510 --> 00:34:08.820 align:middle line:84% We don't want this trafficking in our system now. 00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:10.199 align:middle line:90% We're seeing it in cocaine. 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:12.540 align:middle line:90% We're seeing it in marijuana. 00:34:12.540 --> 00:34:16.530 align:middle line:84% It is used to increase the high, to make 00:34:16.530 --> 00:34:19.610 align:middle line:90% the product more potent. 00:34:19.610 --> 00:34:20.750 align:middle line:90% We just can't have it. 00:34:20.750 --> 00:34:24.199 align:middle line:84% And our law enforcement folks need 00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:27.170 align:middle line:90% tools to attack this problem. 00:34:27.170 --> 00:34:31.250 align:middle line:84% And those are just a couple of the things that 00:34:31.250 --> 00:34:34.460 align:middle line:90% were extremely important to me. 00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:37.380 align:middle line:84% And before I leave, I want to thank the staff. 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:41.889 align:middle line:84% I want to thank the lady from Groton who was on the committee 00:34:41.889 --> 00:34:46.179 align:middle line:84% and helped explain a lot of things to me 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:48.760 align:middle line:84% and helped bring an understanding 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:52.389 align:middle line:84% of a lot of different things in criminal justice 00:34:52.389 --> 00:34:54.159 align:middle line:90% to me personally. 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:57.550 align:middle line:90% And who has a beautiful dog. 00:34:57.550 --> 00:35:00.130 align:middle line:84% And we actually had the dog as one 00:35:00.130 --> 00:35:04.000 align:middle line:84% of the voting members of the conference committee. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.410 align:middle line:90% He was with us. 00:35:05.410 --> 00:35:06.680 align:middle line:90% He was with us. 00:35:06.680 --> 00:35:10.180 align:middle line:84% So on that note, I ask that my colleagues 00:35:10.180 --> 00:35:13.750 align:middle line:84% please consider voting for this conference report 00:35:13.750 --> 00:35:16.120 align:middle line:84% because I do think there's an awful lot 00:35:16.120 --> 00:35:19.790 align:middle line:84% of good things in here, doing an awful lot of things for people. 00:35:19.790 --> 00:35:22.090 align:middle line:84% So with that, I thank my colleagues. 00:35:22.090 --> 00:35:27.730 align:middle line:84% And I ask for the vote be taken, unless you want to-- 00:35:27.730 --> 00:35:32.540 align:middle line:90% 00:35:32.540 --> 00:35:34.940 align:middle line:84% Question comes on acceptances of the conference committee 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.440 align:middle line:90% report. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:37.950 align:middle line:84% The chair recognizes Miss Harrington of Groton. 00:35:37.950 --> 00:35:51.850 align:middle line:90% 00:35:51.850 --> 00:35:55.700 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and through you to the members. 00:35:55.700 --> 00:35:58.600 align:middle line:84% This truly was an honor and a mission 00:35:58.600 --> 00:36:00.910 align:middle line:90% to be part of this committee. 00:36:00.910 --> 00:36:07.180 align:middle line:84% We met, I think, far more often than any other committee 00:36:07.180 --> 00:36:08.590 align:middle line:90% I think I have ever been on. 00:36:08.590 --> 00:36:11.590 align:middle line:84% In fact, we even met on holidays. 00:36:11.590 --> 00:36:16.480 align:middle line:84% And we would have met weekends and evenings, too, 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:19.420 align:middle line:84% if the Senate chair had had his way. 00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:20.680 align:middle line:90% But we didn't. 00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:23.620 align:middle line:84% However, the two chairs seemed to work well into the wee 00:36:23.620 --> 00:36:25.810 align:middle line:90% hours of the night very often. 00:36:25.810 --> 00:36:28.610 align:middle line:84% I do have to make a clarification, too. 00:36:28.610 --> 00:36:31.690 align:middle line:84% As the majority leader spoke, he said 00:36:31.690 --> 00:36:33.670 align:middle line:84% that he did not understand a white board 00:36:33.670 --> 00:36:35.670 align:middle line:90% presentation on sentencing. 00:36:35.670 --> 00:36:40.340 align:middle line:84% And neither did I, so I couldn't help him at all with that part. 00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:43.180 align:middle line:84% But I do have to take part of the blame. 00:36:43.180 --> 00:36:45.490 align:middle line:84% That particular meeting of the conference committee 00:36:45.490 --> 00:36:51.280 align:middle line:84% took place late on the afternoon prior to St. Patrick's Day, 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:53.230 align:middle line:90% on that Friday. 00:36:53.230 --> 00:36:56.780 align:middle line:84% It was a meeting that we had decided to hold very quickly. 00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:59.050 align:middle line:84% And I had to take my dog with me, 00:36:59.050 --> 00:37:04.120 align:middle line:84% who is not a lap dog, but a big yellow Labrador retriever. 00:37:04.120 --> 00:37:06.562 align:middle line:84% So I feel part of the fact that we may not 00:37:06.562 --> 00:37:08.020 align:middle line:84% have understood the white board had 00:37:08.020 --> 00:37:10.270 align:middle line:84% to do with the yellow lab running through the room 00:37:10.270 --> 00:37:12.950 align:middle line:90% through the entire meeting. 00:37:12.950 --> 00:37:15.370 align:middle line:84% But I do want to thank wholeheartedly 00:37:15.370 --> 00:37:19.840 align:middle line:84% the chairs and the staff who worked tirelessly on this bill. 00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:23.830 align:middle line:84% And I do want to thank my fellow conference committee members, 00:37:23.830 --> 00:37:27.970 align:middle line:84% in particular from the House, because when the majority 00:37:27.970 --> 00:37:30.160 align:middle line:84% leader said there were difficult moments, 00:37:30.160 --> 00:37:32.920 align:middle line:84% I think that was an understatement. 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:35.200 align:middle line:84% In fact, there were some moments that I 00:37:35.200 --> 00:37:37.780 align:middle line:84% think I felt very discouraged about the likelihood 00:37:37.780 --> 00:37:39.490 align:middle line:90% of reaching resolution. 00:37:39.490 --> 00:37:43.070 align:middle line:84% And the majority leader kept me in line on that one. 00:37:43.070 --> 00:37:45.670 align:middle line:84% So we kept persevering and we came 00:37:45.670 --> 00:37:50.260 align:middle line:84% to what I believe to be a fine resolution. 00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:53.590 align:middle line:84% I won't go through the particulars of every section 00:37:53.590 --> 00:37:55.880 align:middle line:84% because I think you've now heard that. 00:37:55.880 --> 00:38:00.130 align:middle line:84% But I do want to go to some of the philosophical things that 00:38:00.130 --> 00:38:06.230 align:middle line:84% brought about these new reforms in our criminal justice system. 00:38:06.230 --> 00:38:09.170 align:middle line:84% One of the things was a shift in our philosophy, 00:38:09.170 --> 00:38:12.100 align:middle line:84% especially with regard to juveniles 00:38:12.100 --> 00:38:16.120 align:middle line:84% and our hope of learning more about our emerging 00:38:16.120 --> 00:38:18.190 align:middle line:90% adult population. 00:38:18.190 --> 00:38:20.780 align:middle line:84% And the reason that we are focusing on that 00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:25.930 align:middle line:84% is because it is in fact in the Commonwealth's best interest 00:38:25.930 --> 00:38:30.910 align:middle line:84% to reduce our recidivism, to increase our training, 00:38:30.910 --> 00:38:35.860 align:middle line:84% to increase restorative justice when it can be done. 00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:40.030 align:middle line:84% And these tenets are things that we took into consideration 00:38:40.030 --> 00:38:43.060 align:middle line:84% with all members of the population, 00:38:43.060 --> 00:38:45.430 align:middle line:84% but in particular we tried to focus 00:38:45.430 --> 00:38:49.900 align:middle line:84% on what is going to change our system and even 00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:52.180 align:middle line:90% the juvenile system as well. 00:38:52.180 --> 00:38:54.760 align:middle line:84% For many of you who have been in a courthouse, in a district 00:38:54.760 --> 00:38:56.830 align:middle line:84% courthouse, and been in a district courtroom 00:38:56.830 --> 00:39:01.240 align:middle line:84% on any given day, you may see certain people, juvenile age 00:39:01.240 --> 00:39:04.000 align:middle line:84% people or emerging adult people, well-dressed 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:05.050 align:middle line:90% with their parents. 00:39:05.050 --> 00:39:08.560 align:middle line:84% And bail is not going to be an issue for those people. 00:39:08.560 --> 00:39:10.300 align:middle line:84% But then you're going to see people 00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:12.910 align:middle line:84% who don't have the financial resources, who 00:39:12.910 --> 00:39:15.700 align:middle line:84% don't have someone standing behind them to pay it, 00:39:15.700 --> 00:39:18.910 align:middle line:84% and that's where we had to really reform our system. 00:39:18.910 --> 00:39:20.150 align:middle line:90% It has to be fair. 00:39:20.150 --> 00:39:23.980 align:middle line:84% It has to be blind as to your socioeconomic background. 00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:27.410 align:middle line:84% And we have to recognize that kids are kids. 00:39:27.410 --> 00:39:30.880 align:middle line:84% We also had to work extensively with the information we've 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:33.670 align:middle line:84% received with regard to solitary confinement 00:39:33.670 --> 00:39:37.840 align:middle line:84% to make sure that it's done in a humane and decent way while 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:41.320 align:middle line:84% also making sure that there is safety among the prison 00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:44.350 align:middle line:84% systems for both the staff of the prisons, 00:39:44.350 --> 00:39:47.020 align:middle line:84% the fellow inmates, and the inmates 00:39:47.020 --> 00:39:50.440 align:middle line:84% themselves that may be in solitary confinement. 00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:53.680 align:middle line:84% We took a lot of advice on that from various resources. 00:39:53.680 --> 00:39:56.980 align:middle line:84% And we had had an extensive hearing with regard to that. 00:39:56.980 --> 00:40:00.550 align:middle line:84% And I believe, with the help of all other resources 00:40:00.550 --> 00:40:02.050 align:middle line:84% and the information we received, we 00:40:02.050 --> 00:40:05.170 align:middle line:84% came up with the best plan with regard to that. 00:40:05.170 --> 00:40:06.947 align:middle line:84% With regard to the mandatory minimums, 00:40:06.947 --> 00:40:08.530 align:middle line:84% I know there are some of you out there 00:40:08.530 --> 00:40:12.040 align:middle line:84% that had hoped they would be abolished in their entirety. 00:40:12.040 --> 00:40:14.090 align:middle line:90% That just isn't possible. 00:40:14.090 --> 00:40:16.150 align:middle line:84% What you do need to understand is 00:40:16.150 --> 00:40:20.140 align:middle line:84% that we have to balance two things at all times. 00:40:20.140 --> 00:40:22.690 align:middle line:84% And the two things that we have to balance 00:40:22.690 --> 00:40:26.320 align:middle line:84% is the safety of the public that we serve 00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:30.350 align:middle line:90% as well as the need for reform. 00:40:30.350 --> 00:40:33.220 align:middle line:84% So although mandatory minimums, there 00:40:33.220 --> 00:40:36.250 align:middle line:84% is great amount of information and discussion 00:40:36.250 --> 00:40:39.160 align:middle line:84% on that they needed to be reformed-- and we did; 00:40:39.160 --> 00:40:41.590 align:middle line:84% we took some away at the lower level. 00:40:41.590 --> 00:40:45.190 align:middle line:84% But we had to add them with fentanyl and carfentanil 00:40:45.190 --> 00:40:50.210 align:middle line:84% because the risk that they pose to the public 00:40:50.210 --> 00:40:52.560 align:middle line:90% is insurmountable. 00:40:52.560 --> 00:40:55.840 align:middle line:84% And I would suggest that along with the desire to prevent 00:40:55.840 --> 00:41:02.440 align:middle line:84% recidivism and the belief that putting people 00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:07.420 align:middle line:84% in on a mandatory minimum does not stop recidivism-- 00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:09.610 align:middle line:90% and I believe that is correct-- 00:41:09.610 --> 00:41:13.210 align:middle line:84% there is an inherent interest in keeping these high level 00:41:13.210 --> 00:41:15.670 align:middle line:90% dealers off the streets. 00:41:15.670 --> 00:41:18.820 align:middle line:84% And we focused on the dealers and the traffickers. 00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:22.550 align:middle line:84% And we had to make new types of arrangements, 00:41:22.550 --> 00:41:25.540 align:middle line:84% such as the mixtures with fentanyl and carfentanil 00:41:25.540 --> 00:41:28.990 align:middle line:84% because of the difficulty in really nailing down 00:41:28.990 --> 00:41:32.530 align:middle line:84% the amount that people have and being able to prosecute them 00:41:32.530 --> 00:41:34.930 align:middle line:84% this was something that our law enforcement people felt 00:41:34.930 --> 00:41:37.450 align:middle line:90% very strongly about. 00:41:37.450 --> 00:41:40.840 align:middle line:84% Our CORI reform and our expungement changes 00:41:40.840 --> 00:41:44.920 align:middle line:90% are also a shift in philosophy. 00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:48.280 align:middle line:84% What we did learn, through hearing 00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:50.980 align:middle line:84% and through the resources we were given, 00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:55.060 align:middle line:84% is that sometimes something someone has 00:41:55.060 --> 00:41:57.010 align:middle line:84% done at an early time in their life 00:41:57.010 --> 00:41:59.830 align:middle line:84% will plague them for the rest of their life. 00:41:59.830 --> 00:42:05.080 align:middle line:84% That doesn't help us as a society, nor does it help them. 00:42:05.080 --> 00:42:08.740 align:middle line:84% A few of us here last week went to Berlin 00:42:08.740 --> 00:42:11.950 align:middle line:84% in order to learn more about criminal justice 00:42:11.950 --> 00:42:14.944 align:middle line:84% in the emerging adult population. 00:42:14.944 --> 00:42:16.360 align:middle line:84% And although I can assure you, I'm 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:19.930 align:middle line:84% not going to be saying [GERMAN] very soon, because there were 00:42:19.930 --> 00:42:22.780 align:middle line:84% many things I disagreed with, there were 00:42:22.780 --> 00:42:26.500 align:middle line:84% certain things that I thought that they talked about that 00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:28.780 align:middle line:90% do have resonance with us. 00:42:28.780 --> 00:42:30.520 align:middle line:84% And one of the things that they said 00:42:30.520 --> 00:42:36.160 align:middle line:84% was, these people are going to be your neighbors. 00:42:36.160 --> 00:42:38.530 align:middle line:84% When they get out, they're going to maybe 00:42:38.530 --> 00:42:40.180 align:middle line:90% be your next door neighbor. 00:42:40.180 --> 00:42:42.650 align:middle line:84% They're going to live in your community. 00:42:42.650 --> 00:42:45.370 align:middle line:84% And I think in any criminal justice reform, 00:42:45.370 --> 00:42:47.380 align:middle line:90% we have to bear that in mind. 00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:50.900 align:middle line:84% People have to pay the consequences of their action, 00:42:50.900 --> 00:42:54.160 align:middle line:84% but there has to be an opportunity to live anew, 00:42:54.160 --> 00:42:56.020 align:middle line:90% an opportunity for hope. 00:42:56.020 --> 00:42:59.140 align:middle line:84% So for that reason, we looked very carefully 00:42:59.140 --> 00:43:03.850 align:middle line:84% at the various crimes and the ages of people and the ability 00:43:03.850 --> 00:43:06.670 align:middle line:84% to maybe expunge records so that they 00:43:06.670 --> 00:43:11.180 align:middle line:84% could get a fresh start at an earlier point in their life. 00:43:11.180 --> 00:43:14.050 align:middle line:84% I think all of the provisions have been gone over, 00:43:14.050 --> 00:43:18.580 align:middle line:84% but I do want to say that I was contacted after we 00:43:18.580 --> 00:43:19.690 align:middle line:90% had put the report out. 00:43:19.690 --> 00:43:23.320 align:middle line:84% And they wanted to know what parts I really hated, 00:43:23.320 --> 00:43:26.150 align:middle line:84% what parts I thought were not good at all. 00:43:26.150 --> 00:43:28.480 align:middle line:84% And I said, I can't think of a part that's not good 00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:31.210 align:middle line:84% at all because I want to tell you that it was done-- 00:43:31.210 --> 00:43:34.210 align:middle line:84% as a member of the minority party, 00:43:34.210 --> 00:43:37.480 align:middle line:84% I can tell you it was in a very bipartisan fashion. 00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:40.360 align:middle line:84% And it took into consideration all of your concerns, 00:43:40.360 --> 00:43:44.380 align:middle line:84% as well as the advocacy groups, as well as law enforcement, 00:43:44.380 --> 00:43:47.470 align:middle line:84% as well as the courts, as well as the prisons. 00:43:47.470 --> 00:43:50.120 align:middle line:84% So everybody was involved in this project. 00:43:50.120 --> 00:43:52.450 align:middle line:84% And I think that's why it came out so great. 00:43:52.450 --> 00:43:55.990 align:middle line:84% So I want to especially thank again the House chair, Claire 00:43:55.990 --> 00:44:00.400 align:middle line:84% Cronin, who really never slept for a couple of months, 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:03.970 align:middle line:84% nor the Senate chair Will Brownsberger and their staffs. 00:44:03.970 --> 00:44:06.610 align:middle line:84% And I want to particularly thank the staff member that 00:44:06.610 --> 00:44:10.180 align:middle line:84% was by my side the entire time, Patrick George, who 00:44:10.180 --> 00:44:13.870 align:middle line:84% was a fountain of knowledge every single time 00:44:13.870 --> 00:44:16.370 align:middle line:84% we met and really helped me through a lot of it. 00:44:16.370 --> 00:44:18.220 align:middle line:90% So thank you very much. 00:44:18.220 --> 00:44:20.200 align:middle line:84% And I do hope that this bill is passed. 00:44:20.200 --> 00:44:21.192 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:44:21.192 --> 00:44:25.160 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:44:25.160 --> 00:44:26.660 align:middle line:90% 00:44:26.660 --> 00:44:29.060 align:middle line:84% Question comes on acceptance of the committee report. 00:44:29.060 --> 00:44:31.516 align:middle line:84% The chair recognize Mr. Sanchez of Boston. 00:44:31.516 --> 00:44:39.960 align:middle line:90% 00:44:39.960 --> 00:44:42.671 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Mr. Speaker and through you to the members. 00:44:42.671 --> 00:44:45.500 align:middle line:90% 00:44:45.500 --> 00:44:49.070 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, thank you for your leadership, as well as 00:44:49.070 --> 00:44:51.680 align:middle line:84% the leadership of the gentlelady from Easton, 00:44:51.680 --> 00:44:56.730 align:middle line:84% the gentleman from Quincy, the gentlelady from Groton, 00:44:56.730 --> 00:44:59.730 align:middle line:84% for all of your hard work in this conference committee 00:44:59.730 --> 00:45:04.010 align:middle line:84% report that we are going to vote on today. 00:45:04.010 --> 00:45:09.760 align:middle line:90% Mr. Speaker, you made a promise. 00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:12.820 align:middle line:84% And you made a big promise to so many communities and so many 00:45:12.820 --> 00:45:14.830 align:middle line:90% people in this Commonwealth. 00:45:14.830 --> 00:45:16.330 align:middle line:84% And it was that you were going to be 00:45:16.330 --> 00:45:19.220 align:middle line:90% thoughtful with all of us. 00:45:19.220 --> 00:45:22.400 align:middle line:84% And you were going to engage all of us. 00:45:22.400 --> 00:45:24.710 align:middle line:84% And you were going to make sure that you 00:45:24.710 --> 00:45:28.070 align:middle line:84% had an understanding of something that was 00:45:28.070 --> 00:45:29.605 align:middle line:90% going to be big and profound. 00:45:29.605 --> 00:45:30.980 align:middle line:84% It was going to make a difference 00:45:30.980 --> 00:45:33.020 align:middle line:90% in the lives of so many. 00:45:33.020 --> 00:45:36.050 align:middle line:90% And that product is here today. 00:45:36.050 --> 00:45:38.860 align:middle line:84% It started in the discussion with the CSG group 00:45:38.860 --> 00:45:40.820 align:middle line:90% that was put together. 00:45:40.820 --> 00:45:45.730 align:middle line:84% Remember, folks, we voted on a CSG report last year. 00:45:45.730 --> 00:45:47.200 align:middle line:84% Not only did we vote on a report, 00:45:47.200 --> 00:45:52.850 align:middle line:84% we voted on adding funding to the amount 00:45:52.850 --> 00:45:55.413 align:middle line:90% of $3 and 1/2 million as well. 00:45:55.413 --> 00:45:58.660 align:middle line:90% 00:45:58.660 --> 00:46:05.990 align:middle line:84% Today, that piece is also coming together. 00:46:05.990 --> 00:46:08.120 align:middle line:84% But the reform package that is before us 00:46:08.120 --> 00:46:11.570 align:middle line:84% today is the culmination of your leadership 00:46:11.570 --> 00:46:13.620 align:middle line:84% and the leadership of everyone here 00:46:13.620 --> 00:46:17.600 align:middle line:84% in making sure that we tackle a criminal justice 00:46:17.600 --> 00:46:19.860 align:middle line:90% system that's been broken. 00:46:19.860 --> 00:46:23.570 align:middle line:84% And the way that you brought us together, and listening 00:46:23.570 --> 00:46:26.900 align:middle line:84% to our constituents, listening to the advocates of which 00:46:26.900 --> 00:46:28.279 align:middle line:90% so many here today-- wave. 00:46:28.279 --> 00:46:28.820 align:middle line:90% There you go. 00:46:28.820 --> 00:46:30.890 align:middle line:84% There's a whole bunch of people that are excited. 00:46:30.890 --> 00:46:34.190 align:middle line:90% And we're happy to see you here. 00:46:34.190 --> 00:46:37.210 align:middle line:84% The way that you brought us together, 00:46:37.210 --> 00:46:40.500 align:middle line:84% with Justice Ireland in your office, 00:46:40.500 --> 00:46:45.740 align:middle line:84% with the gentlelady from Easton, with the gentleman from Quincy, 00:46:45.740 --> 00:46:49.430 align:middle line:84% in the beginning, back in the summer, to talk about what 00:46:49.430 --> 00:46:52.820 align:middle line:84% were those provisions that we were going to focus on. 00:46:52.820 --> 00:46:54.375 align:middle line:90% Just think of it folks. 00:46:54.375 --> 00:46:57.980 align:middle line:84% There's over 15 provisions in this bill. 00:46:57.980 --> 00:47:01.850 align:middle line:84% This is a once in an era bill because 00:47:01.850 --> 00:47:04.310 align:middle line:84% of the so many provisions in there 00:47:04.310 --> 00:47:07.940 align:middle line:84% that tackle from the beginning until the end 00:47:07.940 --> 00:47:10.037 align:middle line:84% of the entire criminal justice process. 00:47:10.037 --> 00:47:12.900 align:middle line:90% 00:47:12.900 --> 00:47:19.200 align:middle line:84% By engaging Chief Justice Ireland, Mr. Speaker, 00:47:19.200 --> 00:47:22.350 align:middle line:84% it brought a profound amount of gravitas 00:47:22.350 --> 00:47:24.840 align:middle line:84% to what we were doing because he's 00:47:24.840 --> 00:47:29.500 align:middle line:84% a gentleman with such profound respect in our communities 00:47:29.500 --> 00:47:33.630 align:middle line:84% as well as here in the Commonwealth as someone 00:47:33.630 --> 00:47:37.650 align:middle line:84% who's done so much on the bench, as well as off the bench. 00:47:37.650 --> 00:47:40.320 align:middle line:84% And having him in the room to be thoughtful with us 00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:46.540 align:middle line:84% throughout the process deserves applaud 00:47:46.540 --> 00:47:48.080 align:middle line:84% for your vision and your leadership 00:47:48.080 --> 00:47:55.420 align:middle line:84% in bringing people to the table in everything that we do. 00:47:55.420 --> 00:47:58.300 align:middle line:84% Remember, we bought members of the courts. 00:47:58.300 --> 00:48:00.070 align:middle line:84% Aside from Justice Ireland, we talked 00:48:00.070 --> 00:48:04.180 align:middle line:84% to the district attorneys, those criminal justice 00:48:04.180 --> 00:48:07.750 align:middle line:84% advocates that have been working on these issues for so 00:48:07.750 --> 00:48:12.580 align:middle line:84% many years, and, yes, all of you, the members. 00:48:12.580 --> 00:48:14.430 align:middle line:90% I saw a picture. 00:48:14.430 --> 00:48:18.520 align:middle line:84% Actually, I have a book in my office 00:48:18.520 --> 00:48:24.000 align:middle line:84% where the gentleman from Boston, back in 1970-something, 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:29.110 align:middle line:84% was working on these issues and standing up 00:48:29.110 --> 00:48:33.160 align:middle line:84% because here in this building back then, 00:48:33.160 --> 00:48:36.070 align:middle line:84% it was really difficult to talk about disparities 00:48:36.070 --> 00:48:39.010 align:middle line:84% in the criminal justice system relative to blacks, 00:48:39.010 --> 00:48:41.156 align:middle line:90% relative to Latinos and others. 00:48:41.156 --> 00:48:44.370 align:middle line:90% 00:48:44.370 --> 00:48:48.000 align:middle line:84% This bill allows us not only to have those conversations 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:54.010 align:middle line:84% and for the system to be thoughtful with everyone who 00:48:54.010 --> 00:48:57.210 align:middle line:84% is stopped in their car or on the street 00:48:57.210 --> 00:49:00.720 align:middle line:84% by a law enforcement official, to also the judges 00:49:00.720 --> 00:49:03.480 align:middle line:84% as well, because the disparities have 00:49:03.480 --> 00:49:08.690 align:middle line:84% been great in so many different areas for way too long. 00:49:08.690 --> 00:49:13.420 align:middle line:84% And to do this on this special day, Mr. Speaker, 00:49:13.420 --> 00:49:17.380 align:middle line:84% on this special day, where we remember the legacy 00:49:17.380 --> 00:49:21.380 align:middle line:84% and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King-- 00:49:21.380 --> 00:49:25.310 align:middle line:84% remember, Dr. Martin Luther King spoke from that very spot 00:49:25.310 --> 00:49:27.950 align:middle line:84% that you're standing on right now, Mr. Speaker, back 00:49:27.950 --> 00:49:31.680 align:middle line:90% in April of 1965. 00:49:31.680 --> 00:49:34.900 align:middle line:84% 50 years ago today, he was assassinated 00:49:34.900 --> 00:49:39.750 align:middle line:84% on that fight for social justice and equality 00:49:39.750 --> 00:49:42.700 align:middle line:90% for people of color. 00:49:42.700 --> 00:49:46.780 align:middle line:84% He dedicated his life to love and to justice 00:49:46.780 --> 00:49:50.510 align:middle line:90% for his fellow human beings. 00:49:50.510 --> 00:49:55.530 align:middle line:84% And Mr. Speaker, I could think of no better way 00:49:55.530 --> 00:50:00.330 align:middle line:84% to commemorate his teachings than with this criminal justice 00:50:00.330 --> 00:50:03.390 align:middle line:84% reform legislation that is before us today. 00:50:03.390 --> 00:50:07.360 align:middle line:90% 00:50:07.360 --> 00:50:10.090 align:middle line:84% I'm proud of this report that we have before us, 00:50:10.090 --> 00:50:15.962 align:middle line:84% again, because it gets reform from beginning to end. 00:50:15.962 --> 00:50:17.420 align:middle line:84% With this bill, our system is going 00:50:17.420 --> 00:50:23.330 align:middle line:84% to focus on individuals, on people as who they are 00:50:23.330 --> 00:50:27.110 align:middle line:84% and where they're at in their lives, 00:50:27.110 --> 00:50:35.340 align:middle line:84% rather than being seen or being impacted and treated 00:50:35.340 --> 00:50:36.920 align:middle line:90% as a broad based policy. 00:50:36.920 --> 00:50:40.850 align:middle line:90% 00:50:40.850 --> 00:50:46.770 align:middle line:84% This reform package that we have before us today, 00:50:46.770 --> 00:50:49.320 align:middle line:90% it's not a trade-off. 00:50:49.320 --> 00:50:54.566 align:middle line:84% It is a-- we reached that point of balance that all of us 00:50:54.566 --> 00:50:55.065 align:middle line:90% can support. 00:50:55.065 --> 00:50:57.990 align:middle line:90% 00:50:57.990 --> 00:51:02.970 align:middle line:84% We ensure the public safety, while making sure 00:51:02.970 --> 00:51:06.780 align:middle line:84% that we help those who want to turn their lives around 00:51:06.780 --> 00:51:11.630 align:middle line:84% and break the cycle of incarceration. 00:51:11.630 --> 00:51:14.420 align:middle line:84% For the first time ever, we're going 00:51:14.420 --> 00:51:19.370 align:middle line:84% to have a process to expunge records for offenses 00:51:19.370 --> 00:51:20.780 align:middle line:90% that are no longer crimes. 00:51:20.780 --> 00:51:24.560 align:middle line:90% 00:51:24.560 --> 00:51:31.240 align:middle line:84% Growing up in the housing projects here in Boston, 00:51:31.240 --> 00:51:37.870 align:middle line:84% I can't tell you the number of times growing up in the '80s 00:51:37.870 --> 00:51:45.530 align:middle line:84% having my pockets frisked and my friends being thrown up 00:51:45.530 --> 00:51:52.910 align:middle line:84% against cars and being thrown in cars 00:51:52.910 --> 00:51:57.330 align:middle line:84% and being brought into a cell at a very 00:51:57.330 --> 00:52:03.120 align:middle line:84% young age in a decrepit system, buildings falling apart-- 00:52:03.120 --> 00:52:05.069 align:middle line:90% those jails. 00:52:05.069 --> 00:52:06.610 align:middle line:84% Remember the Suffolk County Jail that 00:52:06.610 --> 00:52:09.910 align:middle line:84% was shut down because of human rights violations? 00:52:09.910 --> 00:52:12.250 align:middle line:84% There were kids that were brought to those buildings 00:52:12.250 --> 00:52:14.156 align:middle line:84% because they had a joint in their pocket. 00:52:14.156 --> 00:52:17.820 align:middle line:90% 00:52:17.820 --> 00:52:26.330 align:middle line:84% This bill will make sure that those adults now that were 00:52:26.330 --> 00:52:31.850 align:middle line:84% affected, they will be able to expunge that interaction, 00:52:31.850 --> 00:52:34.730 align:middle line:90% that piece of their life. 00:52:34.730 --> 00:52:36.960 align:middle line:84% They'll be able to check off the box and say, 00:52:36.960 --> 00:52:43.872 align:middle line:84% I have no record when they're applying for housing or a job. 00:52:43.872 --> 00:52:47.344 align:middle line:90% 00:52:47.344 --> 00:52:49.740 align:middle line:90% And earlier this week-- 00:52:49.740 --> 00:52:54.920 align:middle line:84% guess what, folks-- over 100 people from those communities 00:52:54.920 --> 00:52:59.640 align:middle line:84% applied for licenses to start a business. 00:52:59.640 --> 00:53:03.540 align:middle line:84% We are changing lives with this bill. 00:53:03.540 --> 00:53:07.110 align:middle line:84% This legislation today ensures that they have an opportunity 00:53:07.110 --> 00:53:10.770 align:middle line:84% to lift themselves up as they embark on their business 00:53:10.770 --> 00:53:12.780 align:middle line:90% enterprises. 00:53:12.780 --> 00:53:15.960 align:middle line:84% We do the same for youth, allowing juveniles 00:53:15.960 --> 00:53:19.630 align:middle line:90% to expunge those records. 00:53:19.630 --> 00:53:26.420 align:middle line:84% So if you were a gentleman at 16 from a particular community who 00:53:26.420 --> 00:53:31.430 align:middle line:84% might have gotten into a fight, maybe from Quincy or maybe 00:53:31.430 --> 00:53:35.870 align:middle line:84% from somewhere else, that charge won't haunt them 00:53:35.870 --> 00:53:39.480 align:middle line:84% for the rest of their lives as they apply for jobs, housing, 00:53:39.480 --> 00:53:41.590 align:middle line:90% and schools. 00:53:41.590 --> 00:53:45.130 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, the gentlelady from Easton 00:53:45.130 --> 00:53:48.190 align:middle line:84% provided a great summary of the topics of this legislation-- 00:53:48.190 --> 00:53:54.220 align:middle line:84% bail reform, elimination of certain mandatory minimums, 00:53:54.220 --> 00:53:58.380 align:middle line:84% raising the felony larceny threshold, policies 00:53:58.380 --> 00:54:00.300 align:middle line:84% to stop trafficking fentanyl, and so many 00:54:00.300 --> 00:54:03.750 align:middle line:90% other important reforms. 00:54:03.750 --> 00:54:07.020 align:middle line:84% And all of this complements that CSG report. 00:54:07.020 --> 00:54:09.005 align:middle line:84% Again, this was a collaborative effort. 00:54:09.005 --> 00:54:16.290 align:middle line:90% 00:54:16.290 --> 00:54:20.760 align:middle line:84% In the days after the news broke of Dr. King's assassination, 00:54:20.760 --> 00:54:23.990 align:middle line:84% protests erupted around the country. 00:54:23.990 --> 00:54:26.550 align:middle line:84% And those moments were filled with anger, hatred, 00:54:26.550 --> 00:54:28.730 align:middle line:90% and bitterness. 00:54:28.730 --> 00:54:32.060 align:middle line:84% But Dr. King lived a life of love and peace. 00:54:32.060 --> 00:54:36.980 align:middle line:84% And his teachings inspired people to serve and to lead. 00:54:36.980 --> 00:54:40.370 align:middle line:84% He once said, law and order exist for the purposes 00:54:40.370 --> 00:54:43.330 align:middle line:90% of establishing justice. 00:54:43.330 --> 00:54:47.590 align:middle line:84% By working together, we've been able to identify areas which 00:54:47.590 --> 00:54:50.920 align:middle line:84% can improve the lives of people in the communities we 00:54:50.920 --> 00:54:53.150 align:middle line:90% represent. 00:54:53.150 --> 00:54:58.780 align:middle line:84% And in many communities, in my community in particular, 00:54:58.780 --> 00:55:00.970 align:middle line:90% we say si, se puede. 00:55:00.970 --> 00:55:02.500 align:middle line:90% Yes, we can. 00:55:02.500 --> 00:55:04.690 align:middle line:90% Si, se puede. 00:55:04.690 --> 00:55:11.060 align:middle line:84% This conference report improves justice throughout our system. 00:55:11.060 --> 00:55:13.970 align:middle line:84% [SPEAKING SPANISH] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 00:55:13.970 --> 00:55:16.262 align:middle line:90% I hope this passes. 00:55:16.262 --> 00:55:20.246 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:55:20.246 --> 00:55:29.708 align:middle line:90% 00:55:29.708 --> 00:55:31.730 align:middle line:84% The House will be in a brief recess 00:55:31.730 --> 00:55:36.207 align:middle line:84% as we pay honor to our former member, Peter Kocot. 00:55:36.207 --> 00:56:24.500 align:middle line:90% 00:56:24.500 --> 00:56:27.110 align:middle line:84% Mr. Parisella of Beverly and Mr. Collins of Boston 00:56:27.110 --> 00:56:30.180 align:middle line:84% asked to be recorded on the last roll call. 00:56:30.180 --> 00:56:30.930 align:middle line:90% Chair objection. 00:56:30.930 --> 00:56:33.650 align:middle line:90% The chair has none. 00:56:33.650 --> 00:56:38.690 align:middle line:84% On roll call number 319, Mr. Parisella yes, Mr. Collins yes. 00:56:38.690 --> 00:56:50.430 align:middle line:90% 00:56:50.430 --> 00:56:53.280 align:middle line:84% Today, we have a number of guests 00:56:53.280 --> 00:56:58.865 align:middle line:84% gathered in this chamber for a very special and important 00:56:58.865 --> 00:56:59.365 align:middle line:90% purpose. 00:56:59.365 --> 00:57:01.880 align:middle line:90% 00:57:01.880 --> 00:57:05.780 align:middle line:84% On behalf of the House of Representatives, 00:57:05.780 --> 00:57:08.030 align:middle line:84% I'd like to welcome the family and loved 00:57:08.030 --> 00:57:14.930 align:middle line:84% ones of our dear friend, Peter Kocot, to the House. 00:57:14.930 --> 00:57:19.790 align:middle line:84% Chairman Kocot, I think we all will agree, 00:57:19.790 --> 00:57:25.070 align:middle line:84% was the epitome of what a public servant should be. 00:57:25.070 --> 00:57:29.160 align:middle line:84% And today, we take a moment to reflect on his legacy. 00:57:29.160 --> 00:57:34.040 align:middle line:90% 00:57:34.040 --> 00:57:38.560 align:middle line:84% I'd like to recognize his wife, Shauneen, who is present here 00:57:38.560 --> 00:57:39.060 align:middle line:90% today. 00:57:39.060 --> 00:57:40.054 align:middle line:90% Shauneen. 00:57:40.054 --> 00:57:43.533 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:57:43.533 --> 00:58:26.280 align:middle line:90% 00:58:26.280 --> 00:58:28.570 align:middle line:84% Although his son Jake could not be present today, 00:58:28.570 --> 00:58:34.020 align:middle line:84% we also have his son Luke and a number of Peter's siblings 00:58:34.020 --> 00:58:35.040 align:middle line:90% and friends. 00:58:35.040 --> 00:58:38.384 align:middle line:84% And I like all of them to stand to be recognized as well. 00:58:38.384 --> 00:58:42.336 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:58:42.336 --> 00:59:05.080 align:middle line:90% 00:59:05.080 --> 00:59:10.360 align:middle line:84% To Shauneen and to Jake and Luke and Peter's siblings 00:59:10.360 --> 00:59:14.720 align:middle line:84% and friends, we understand that there's nothing 00:59:14.720 --> 00:59:20.490 align:middle line:84% that we can say to take away what happened this winter. 00:59:20.490 --> 00:59:24.200 align:middle line:84% But I hope that hearing about the incredible Peter 00:59:24.200 --> 00:59:27.980 align:middle line:84% had on the Commonwealth, the House, and all of us 00:59:27.980 --> 00:59:31.790 align:middle line:84% here today, will be of some comfort 00:59:31.790 --> 00:59:37.880 align:middle line:84% as you continue to grieve and as you continue to heal. 00:59:37.880 --> 00:59:39.860 align:middle line:84% I can't tell you the number of letters 00:59:39.860 --> 00:59:43.430 align:middle line:84% which I have received from Peter's constituents 00:59:43.430 --> 00:59:47.360 align:middle line:84% and nonconstituents alike who knew 00:59:47.360 --> 00:59:50.030 align:middle line:84% what he was all about in his service 00:59:50.030 --> 00:59:53.260 align:middle line:90% here to the Commonwealth. 00:59:53.260 --> 00:59:55.840 align:middle line:84% And the way they have spoken to him, in summary, 00:59:55.840 --> 01:00:02.640 align:middle line:84% about a man of integrity, great intellect, understanding, 01:00:02.640 --> 01:00:04.360 align:middle line:84% and a man who really tried to make 01:00:04.360 --> 01:00:06.370 align:middle line:84% a difference in the lives of many people 01:00:06.370 --> 01:00:09.200 align:middle line:90% in this Commonwealth. 01:00:09.200 --> 01:00:12.230 align:middle line:84% It's amazing to me, as I sometimes 01:00:12.230 --> 01:00:16.000 align:middle line:84% have gone to different events, where people 01:00:16.000 --> 01:00:23.510 align:middle line:84% will have a moment of silence for Peter Kocot, 01:00:23.510 --> 01:00:27.240 align:middle line:90% just to honor this great man. 01:00:27.240 --> 01:00:32.170 align:middle line:84% Although he may have been somewhat quiet, 01:00:32.170 --> 01:00:36.465 align:middle line:84% he's a man whose actions spoke very, very loudly and clearly. 01:00:36.465 --> 01:00:39.880 align:middle line:90% 01:00:39.880 --> 01:00:41.920 align:middle line:84% To say that things have not been the same here 01:00:41.920 --> 01:00:47.980 align:middle line:84% without Peter's big presence is an understatement. 01:00:47.980 --> 01:00:51.930 align:middle line:90% We think about him all the time. 01:00:51.930 --> 01:00:57.690 align:middle line:84% And the health care bill that we are working on right now 01:00:57.690 --> 01:01:02.430 align:middle line:84% will carry the name Peter V. Kocot Healthcare 01:01:02.430 --> 01:01:04.756 align:middle line:90% Legislation in his honor. 01:01:04.756 --> 01:01:09.220 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:01:09.220 --> 01:01:29.600 align:middle line:90% 01:01:29.600 --> 01:01:31.440 align:middle line:84% But today, we are also honored to have 01:01:31.440 --> 01:01:36.000 align:middle line:84% two of his closest friends here in the house 01:01:36.000 --> 01:01:38.340 align:middle line:90% say a couple of words. 01:01:38.340 --> 01:01:40.500 align:middle line:84% I now would like to call upon the gentleman 01:01:40.500 --> 01:01:43.156 align:middle line:84% from South Hadley, Representative John Scibak. 01:01:43.156 --> 01:01:56.550 align:middle line:90% 01:01:56.550 --> 01:02:00.282 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Mr. Speaker and through you to the members. 01:02:00.282 --> 01:02:04.470 align:middle line:84% To Shauneen, to Luke, Mary, Kathy, Paul, 01:02:04.470 --> 01:02:09.810 align:middle line:84% Joe, the rest of the family and friends, 01:02:09.810 --> 01:02:12.460 align:middle line:84% when I first walked into this chamber a little 01:02:12.460 --> 01:02:16.290 align:middle line:84% over 15 years ago, it was one of the first times 01:02:16.290 --> 01:02:19.230 align:middle line:90% I'd been in this building. 01:02:19.230 --> 01:02:23.720 align:middle line:84% And I'm sure many of you experienced a similar thing. 01:02:23.720 --> 01:02:26.790 align:middle line:84% When Peter Kocot walked in to be sworn 01:02:26.790 --> 01:02:31.330 align:middle line:84% in in a special election in 2002, 01:02:31.330 --> 01:02:34.322 align:middle line:84% he'd already been here for 20 years. 01:02:34.322 --> 01:02:36.280 align:middle line:84% Peter probably has more tenure in this building 01:02:36.280 --> 01:02:38.440 align:middle line:90% than almost anyone. 01:02:38.440 --> 01:02:41.320 align:middle line:84% And so where you and I, the newbies, 01:02:41.320 --> 01:02:44.560 align:middle line:84% had trouble finding Gardner Auditorium that first day, 01:02:44.560 --> 01:02:46.810 align:middle line:84% we weren't sure with the restrooms were, 01:02:46.810 --> 01:02:49.970 align:middle line:84% Peter knew how this building worked. 01:02:49.970 --> 01:02:55.800 align:middle line:84% I knew of Peter at the time, but I really didn't know him then. 01:02:55.800 --> 01:03:00.400 align:middle line:84% And over the past 15 years, I got to know him pretty well. 01:03:00.400 --> 01:03:03.700 align:middle line:84% And I just want to appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, 01:03:03.700 --> 01:03:06.960 align:middle line:84% to share some of my thoughts and memories. 01:03:06.960 --> 01:03:10.430 align:middle line:84% First thing that struck you about Peter was his size. 01:03:10.430 --> 01:03:13.220 align:middle line:84% And after Peter passed, the gentleman from Medford 01:03:13.220 --> 01:03:16.180 align:middle line:84% referred to him as a gentle giant. 01:03:16.180 --> 01:03:18.730 align:middle line:84% But everyone knows to the gentleman from Medford, 01:03:18.730 --> 01:03:20.087 align:middle line:90% everyone is a giant. 01:03:20.087 --> 01:03:23.009 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 01:03:23.009 --> 01:03:24.470 align:middle line:90% 01:03:24.470 --> 01:03:27.879 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:03:27.879 --> 01:03:28.853 align:middle line:90% 01:03:28.853 --> 01:03:31.190 align:middle line:84% See, I know that because the gentleman from Medford 01:03:31.190 --> 01:03:35.930 align:middle line:84% and I really see eye to eye, and I resemble that remark as well. 01:03:35.930 --> 01:03:41.270 align:middle line:84% While Peter's size could be imposing, he was anything but. 01:03:41.270 --> 01:03:43.420 align:middle line:84% Because it was never about Peter. 01:03:43.420 --> 01:03:44.850 align:middle line:90% It was about his family. 01:03:44.850 --> 01:03:48.560 align:middle line:84% It was about his constituents, his colleagues, 01:03:48.560 --> 01:03:51.720 align:middle line:84% doing what he could do to help and quietly doing his job 01:03:51.720 --> 01:03:53.730 align:middle line:90% the best way he could. 01:03:53.730 --> 01:03:55.590 align:middle line:84% The gentleman from Northampton was never one 01:03:55.590 --> 01:03:57.870 align:middle line:90% seeking out press releases. 01:03:57.870 --> 01:04:02.150 align:middle line:84% He never sought the spotlight or taking credit. 01:04:02.150 --> 01:04:04.770 align:middle line:84% When you went to an event and you looked for Peter, 01:04:04.770 --> 01:04:07.980 align:middle line:84% he wasn't at center stage but really is more comfortable 01:04:07.980 --> 01:04:09.907 align:middle line:90% off to the side. 01:04:09.907 --> 01:04:11.490 align:middle line:84% It was just about getting the job done 01:04:11.490 --> 01:04:14.720 align:middle line:84% and making things better for everyone. 01:04:14.720 --> 01:04:16.940 align:middle line:84% Now, I wish I had a nickel for every time the court 01:04:16.940 --> 01:04:19.730 align:middle line:84% officers asked us to take our seats 01:04:19.730 --> 01:04:22.190 align:middle line:84% or the Speaker banged his gavel to ask us to take 01:04:22.190 --> 01:04:25.380 align:middle line:90% our conversations outside. 01:04:25.380 --> 01:04:28.500 align:middle line:84% But in my 15 years here, every time that happened, 01:04:28.500 --> 01:04:30.660 align:middle line:84% Peter was already sitting stoically in his seat, 01:04:30.660 --> 01:04:33.300 align:middle line:90% paying attention. 01:04:33.300 --> 01:04:36.102 align:middle line:84% Now, as an aside, those of you who attended Peter's funeral-- 01:04:36.102 --> 01:04:38.310 align:middle line:84% and by the way, I've talked to some of our colleagues 01:04:38.310 --> 01:04:41.140 align:middle line:84% who have been here for many, many more years than I have. 01:04:41.140 --> 01:04:43.890 align:middle line:84% And said they had never seen such a large turnout 01:04:43.890 --> 01:04:47.040 align:middle line:84% of current and former colleagues than were there 01:04:47.040 --> 01:04:48.730 align:middle line:90% at Peter's funeral. 01:04:48.730 --> 01:04:51.000 align:middle line:84% The Speaker and I were talking on the phone Monday 01:04:51.000 --> 01:04:53.333 align:middle line:84% and remarked on the fact that if you were in the church, 01:04:53.333 --> 01:04:56.160 align:middle line:84% you actually saw people standing against the walls. 01:04:56.160 --> 01:04:58.960 align:middle line:90% And it was a testimony to Peter. 01:04:58.960 --> 01:05:01.690 align:middle line:84% So those of you who attended the funeral will remember this. 01:05:01.690 --> 01:05:05.396 align:middle line:84% And those of you who didn't, I think you might appreciate it. 01:05:05.396 --> 01:05:07.510 align:middle line:84% Pat Goggins talked about his conversation 01:05:07.510 --> 01:05:10.760 align:middle line:84% with Peter regarding hunting and ice fishing, two of the things 01:05:10.760 --> 01:05:13.919 align:middle line:90% that Peter enjoy doing. 01:05:13.919 --> 01:05:15.460 align:middle line:84% And Pat said he asked Peter, when you 01:05:15.460 --> 01:05:17.820 align:middle line:90% go ice fishing, what do you do? 01:05:17.820 --> 01:05:20.590 align:middle line:84% And Peter said, well, I sit there 01:05:20.590 --> 01:05:23.360 align:middle line:90% and I wait for the fish to come. 01:05:23.360 --> 01:05:25.680 align:middle line:84% When you go deer hunting, what do you do? 01:05:25.680 --> 01:05:29.020 align:middle line:84% Well, I sit there and I wait for the deer to come. 01:05:29.020 --> 01:05:31.055 align:middle line:84% See, the reality that Pat didn't know 01:05:31.055 --> 01:05:34.900 align:middle line:84% is that Peter has practiced those skills for 16 years, 01:05:34.900 --> 01:05:36.670 align:middle line:84% sitting in his seat in the second division 01:05:36.670 --> 01:05:38.666 align:middle line:84% on Wednesdays waiting for something to happen. 01:05:38.666 --> 01:05:41.928 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 01:05:41.928 --> 01:05:43.330 align:middle line:90% 01:05:43.330 --> 01:05:45.200 align:middle line:90% And now, let the truth be told. 01:05:45.200 --> 01:05:47.200 align:middle line:84% Peter was a good fisherman, but his track record 01:05:47.200 --> 01:05:50.760 align:middle line:84% at deer hunting was pretty dismal. 01:05:50.760 --> 01:05:53.380 align:middle line:84% Diana Szynal, his longtime aide, told me 01:05:53.380 --> 01:05:55.090 align:middle line:90% this story the other day. 01:05:55.090 --> 01:05:57.680 align:middle line:90% She called Peter one time. 01:05:57.680 --> 01:06:00.700 align:middle line:84% And Peter answered the phone and goes, hello? 01:06:00.700 --> 01:06:02.460 align:middle line:90% And she says, where are you? 01:06:02.460 --> 01:06:03.580 align:middle line:90% Are you deer hunting? 01:06:03.580 --> 01:06:05.642 align:middle line:90% Yes. 01:06:05.642 --> 01:06:07.100 align:middle line:84% So the next day, did you catch any? 01:06:07.100 --> 01:06:08.260 align:middle line:90% Did you get a deer? 01:06:08.260 --> 01:06:09.460 align:middle line:90% No. 01:06:09.460 --> 01:06:11.620 align:middle line:84% So after a while, she felt sympathy so 01:06:11.620 --> 01:06:15.880 align:middle line:84% had never asked Peter any more whether he got a deer. 01:06:15.880 --> 01:06:19.390 align:middle line:84% Peter actually told me this one story, one of the last time-- 01:06:19.390 --> 01:06:21.700 align:middle line:84% I think it was last season he went deer hunting. 01:06:21.700 --> 01:06:23.470 align:middle line:84% So just imagine, here is Peter Kocot 01:06:23.470 --> 01:06:27.900 align:middle line:84% standing there dressed head to toe in orange. 01:06:27.900 --> 01:06:31.090 align:middle line:84% Imagine a bright orange giant Sequoia tree 01:06:31.090 --> 01:06:32.860 align:middle line:90% that's just standing there. 01:06:32.860 --> 01:06:37.630 align:middle line:84% And Peter is there, waiting for the opportunity. 01:06:37.630 --> 01:06:40.420 align:middle line:84% And Bambi comes walking up to Peter. 01:06:40.420 --> 01:06:43.620 align:middle line:84% And here's this doe who's walking up to Peter. 01:06:43.620 --> 01:06:47.350 align:middle line:84% And Peter's going, sh, go away, go away, 01:06:47.350 --> 01:06:50.060 align:middle line:90% trying to get rid of the deer. 01:06:50.060 --> 01:06:51.700 align:middle line:84% The closest Peter came to the deer 01:06:51.700 --> 01:06:54.909 align:middle line:90% was when the deer came to him. 01:06:54.909 --> 01:06:56.950 align:middle line:84% I believe that what happened is when deer hunting 01:06:56.950 --> 01:07:00.340 align:middle line:84% season started, those deer saw this giant Sequoia in orange, 01:07:00.340 --> 01:07:01.840 align:middle line:84% and said, oh, here's that guy again, 01:07:01.840 --> 01:07:03.440 align:middle line:84% let's go to the other side of the forest 01:07:03.440 --> 01:07:04.481 align:middle line:90% and he'll never catch us. 01:07:04.481 --> 01:07:07.150 align:middle line:90% 01:07:07.150 --> 01:07:09.025 align:middle line:84% Working with Peter for 15 plus years 01:07:09.025 --> 01:07:12.640 align:middle line:84% was both a learning experience for me and a privilege. 01:07:12.640 --> 01:07:15.580 align:middle line:84% When he was given an assignment or a constituent issue 01:07:15.580 --> 01:07:19.420 align:middle line:84% to solve, Peter totally immersed himself in doing the research 01:07:19.420 --> 01:07:22.250 align:middle line:90% and getting the answer. 01:07:22.250 --> 01:07:26.600 align:middle line:84% That's why the Speaker appointed him to the Ethics Commission 01:07:26.600 --> 01:07:28.855 align:middle line:84% when we were doing ethics reform. 01:07:28.855 --> 01:07:30.730 align:middle line:84% That's why Peter cheered state administration 01:07:30.730 --> 01:07:33.797 align:middle line:84% when we were addressing public records reform. 01:07:33.797 --> 01:07:36.130 align:middle line:84% And that's why he named him chair of health care finance 01:07:36.130 --> 01:07:39.139 align:middle line:90% to do the health care reform. 01:07:39.139 --> 01:07:41.680 align:middle line:84% I was talking to the vice chair, the gentleman from Franklin, 01:07:41.680 --> 01:07:43.020 align:middle line:90% yesterday. 01:07:43.020 --> 01:07:47.330 align:middle line:84% And he said when Peter got assigned the chairmanship 01:07:47.330 --> 01:07:52.080 align:middle line:84% mid-term, as the former chair went to ways and means, 01:07:52.080 --> 01:07:55.680 align:middle line:84% it's now the first hearing of health care finance. 01:07:55.680 --> 01:07:58.730 align:middle line:84% And gentleman from Franklin's sitting next to Peter, 01:07:58.730 --> 01:08:00.870 align:middle line:90% has complicated issues. 01:08:00.870 --> 01:08:04.230 align:middle line:84% And Peter's just firing away with questions. 01:08:04.230 --> 01:08:07.299 align:middle line:84% And gentleman from Franklin looked and said, 01:08:07.299 --> 01:08:08.590 align:middle line:90% you just got on this committee. 01:08:08.590 --> 01:08:10.420 align:middle line:90% How did you do that? 01:08:10.420 --> 01:08:14.080 align:middle line:84% Peter said, well, I did a little reading over the weekend. 01:08:14.080 --> 01:08:15.437 align:middle line:90% And that's who Peter was. 01:08:15.437 --> 01:08:17.520 align:middle line:84% We had a meeting in our district a couple of weeks 01:08:17.520 --> 01:08:22.170 align:middle line:84% ago with hospital presidents, several hospital presidents. 01:08:22.170 --> 01:08:24.779 align:middle line:84% And everyone, to a person, came up to me 01:08:24.779 --> 01:08:27.300 align:middle line:84% and said how much they're going to miss Peter 01:08:27.300 --> 01:08:28.859 align:middle line:90% and how impressed they were. 01:08:28.859 --> 01:08:30.483 align:middle line:84% They thought they were going to educate 01:08:30.483 --> 01:08:33.510 align:middle line:84% this man in the first meeting and realized he already knew 01:08:33.510 --> 01:08:35.021 align:middle line:90% everything he needed to know. 01:08:35.021 --> 01:08:37.229 align:middle line:84% And that's why I want to applaud you for the decision 01:08:37.229 --> 01:08:38.770 align:middle line:84% you made to name this bill after him. 01:08:38.770 --> 01:08:42.390 align:middle line:84% It is certainly an honor that's well-deserved. 01:08:42.390 --> 01:08:45.060 align:middle line:84% Peter was always the man with the hard data, 01:08:45.060 --> 01:08:47.370 align:middle line:90% with the facts and figures. 01:08:47.370 --> 01:08:49.029 align:middle line:84% But because he was always prepared, 01:08:49.029 --> 01:08:51.660 align:middle line:84% he had the answers to the questions. 01:08:51.660 --> 01:08:53.250 align:middle line:84% Sometimes he would ask the question 01:08:53.250 --> 01:08:55.710 align:middle line:90% even if he knew an answer. 01:08:55.710 --> 01:08:58.760 align:middle line:84% I was at a meeting one time with the gentleman from Worthington, 01:08:58.760 --> 01:09:03.720 align:middle line:84% gentlelady from Amherst, our former colleague, our senator. 01:09:03.720 --> 01:09:06.870 align:middle line:84% And we were at this meeting, and Peter asked a question 01:09:06.870 --> 01:09:09.349 align:middle line:84% to a group of people, one individual 01:09:09.349 --> 01:09:11.510 align:middle line:84% in particular we were meeting with. 01:09:11.510 --> 01:09:14.290 align:middle line:84% And when he got the answer, he looked at Peter 01:09:14.290 --> 01:09:16.830 align:middle line:84% and he had this little twinkle in his eye. 01:09:16.830 --> 01:09:18.710 align:middle line:84% And you'd see the corner of his mouth 01:09:18.710 --> 01:09:22.943 align:middle line:84% go up in this almost imperceptible smile. 01:09:22.943 --> 01:09:24.359 align:middle line:84% That meant somebody wasn't telling 01:09:24.359 --> 01:09:26.023 align:middle line:84% the whole truth, the whole story, 01:09:26.023 --> 01:09:27.689 align:middle line:84% or they didn't get their facts straight. 01:09:27.689 --> 01:09:29.189 align:middle line:84% And at the end of the meeting, Peter 01:09:29.189 --> 01:09:32.270 align:middle line:84% would tell us exactly what was going on. 01:09:32.270 --> 01:09:35.060 align:middle line:84% One thing Peter took his extreme pride in 01:09:35.060 --> 01:09:37.167 align:middle line:84% was his Polish heritage and the contribution 01:09:37.167 --> 01:09:39.250 align:middle line:84% made by Polish Americans both in this Commonwealth 01:09:39.250 --> 01:09:41.340 align:middle line:90% and across the country. 01:09:41.340 --> 01:09:43.569 align:middle line:84% Peter filed a piece of legislation 01:09:43.569 --> 01:09:46.720 align:middle line:84% to create a special commission to preserve Polish culture 01:09:46.720 --> 01:09:47.964 align:middle line:90% in the Pioneer Valley. 01:09:47.964 --> 01:09:49.880 align:middle line:84% And I had the pleasure, thanks to the Speaker, 01:09:49.880 --> 01:09:52.540 align:middle line:84% of serving on that commission with Peter 01:09:52.540 --> 01:09:56.180 align:middle line:84% and with the gentleman from Palmer 01:09:56.180 --> 01:09:58.580 align:middle line:84% and a couple of members in the Senate as well. 01:09:58.580 --> 01:10:01.090 align:middle line:84% We're close to wrapping up our work. 01:10:01.090 --> 01:10:05.690 align:middle line:84% And that report will be dedicated to Peter as well. 01:10:05.690 --> 01:10:06.810 align:middle line:90% Several years ago now-- 01:10:06.810 --> 01:10:07.910 align:middle line:90% I'm close to concluding. 01:10:07.910 --> 01:10:11.180 align:middle line:84% Several years ago, Peter, the gentleman from Worthington, 01:10:11.180 --> 01:10:14.750 align:middle line:84% and I, were honored to receive awards in the Mass Municipal 01:10:14.750 --> 01:10:17.510 align:middle line:84% Association as legislators of the year. 01:10:17.510 --> 01:10:19.470 align:middle line:84% Because all three of us are Polish, 01:10:19.470 --> 01:10:23.240 align:middle line:84% they referred to us as the three Polish amigos. 01:10:23.240 --> 01:10:24.842 align:middle line:84% Some people thought that they used 01:10:24.842 --> 01:10:26.300 align:middle line:84% the word amigos because no one knew 01:10:26.300 --> 01:10:28.610 align:middle line:90% the Polish word for friend. 01:10:28.610 --> 01:10:32.420 align:middle line:84% The Polish word is [POLISH],, but we prefer the three amigos. 01:10:32.420 --> 01:10:37.120 align:middle line:84% And that label stuck, and it still sticks. 01:10:37.120 --> 01:10:39.450 align:middle line:84% The best way for me to end is to think back to the Mass 01:10:39.450 --> 01:10:40.450 align:middle line:90% Municipal Association. 01:10:40.450 --> 01:10:43.870 align:middle line:84% I ran into Jeff Beckwith, the executive director, 01:10:43.870 --> 01:10:45.392 align:middle line:90% earlier this week. 01:10:45.392 --> 01:10:47.350 align:middle line:84% And I hadn't realized but in their March issue, 01:10:47.350 --> 01:10:50.080 align:middle line:84% his column was dedicated to Peter. 01:10:50.080 --> 01:10:52.580 align:middle line:84% And these are some of the things he wrote. 01:10:52.580 --> 01:10:54.230 align:middle line:84% "Physically, Peter Kocot was larger 01:10:54.230 --> 01:10:57.530 align:middle line:84% than life, a gentle giant who always exuded kindness 01:10:57.530 --> 01:10:59.840 align:middle line:90% and thoughtfulness and decency. 01:10:59.840 --> 01:11:02.480 align:middle line:84% His nature was always to be himself-- 01:11:02.480 --> 01:11:05.120 align:middle line:84% no varnish, no guardedness, always 01:11:05.120 --> 01:11:09.670 align:middle line:84% authentic, always down to earth, always within himself. 01:11:09.670 --> 01:11:13.090 align:middle line:84% Being elected to the legislature did not change him. 01:11:13.090 --> 01:11:15.160 align:middle line:90% His calling was public service. 01:11:15.160 --> 01:11:17.530 align:middle line:84% His desire was to do what was right 01:11:17.530 --> 01:11:19.840 align:middle line:84% and to do what would help people. 01:11:19.840 --> 01:11:24.340 align:middle line:84% Peter Kocot exemplified our best instincts and our best natures, 01:11:24.340 --> 01:11:26.860 align:middle line:84% the very qualities that inspire so many people to devote 01:11:26.860 --> 01:11:29.520 align:middle line:90% their careers to public service. 01:11:29.520 --> 01:11:32.170 align:middle line:84% I am not singling out Peter as being 01:11:32.170 --> 01:11:35.650 align:middle line:84% a better legislator or neighbor or friend or father 01:11:35.650 --> 01:11:37.750 align:middle line:90% than all the rest of us. 01:11:37.750 --> 01:11:41.120 align:middle line:84% I don't know how to make that judgment, Jeff wrote. 01:11:41.120 --> 01:11:42.620 align:middle line:84% "But I can say that he strove to do 01:11:42.620 --> 01:11:45.380 align:middle line:84% what he thought was right and best for people to improve 01:11:45.380 --> 01:11:48.710 align:middle line:84% our quality of life and to make a positive difference. 01:11:48.710 --> 01:11:52.610 align:middle line:84% For Peter, his legacy will last because he treated people 01:11:52.610 --> 01:11:56.900 align:middle line:84% with respect, because he valued everyone's input, because he 01:11:56.900 --> 01:11:59.840 align:middle line:84% used his intellect and judgment to do what he thought was right 01:11:59.840 --> 01:12:02.200 align:middle line:90% and the best thing to do. 01:12:02.200 --> 01:12:04.600 align:middle line:90% I think Jeff got it right. 01:12:04.600 --> 01:12:06.760 align:middle line:84% And so the only way I can conclude is to say, 01:12:06.760 --> 01:12:08.097 align:middle line:90% adios amigo. 01:12:08.097 --> 01:12:09.588 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:12:09.588 --> 01:12:13.564 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:12:13.564 --> 01:12:42.940 align:middle line:90% 01:12:42.940 --> 01:12:44.830 align:middle line:84% Chair would also like to acknowledge 01:12:44.830 --> 01:12:48.580 align:middle line:84% the staff of Peter Kocot, who's here in the balcony here-- 01:12:48.580 --> 01:12:52.870 align:middle line:84% Matt, Carolyn, Denise, Jim, Tim, Diana, and [? Dodi, ?] 01:12:52.870 --> 01:12:54.786 align:middle line:90% who are here somewhere. 01:12:54.786 --> 01:12:58.730 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:12:58.730 --> 01:13:15.492 align:middle line:90% 01:13:15.492 --> 01:13:17.820 align:middle line:84% Chair would like to recognize the gentleman 01:13:17.820 --> 01:13:19.985 align:middle line:90% from Worthington, Mr. Kulik. 01:13:19.985 --> 01:13:34.550 align:middle line:90% 01:13:34.550 --> 01:13:36.710 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Mr. Speaker and through you 01:13:36.710 --> 01:13:42.260 align:middle line:84% to the members, all of whom are friends and admirers 01:13:42.260 --> 01:13:46.370 align:middle line:84% of our late colleague, Peter Kocot. 01:13:46.370 --> 01:13:48.530 align:middle line:84% Those of us at Peter's funeral in Northampton 01:13:48.530 --> 01:13:51.050 align:middle line:84% heard three eloquent eulogies that 01:13:51.050 --> 01:13:56.870 align:middle line:84% painted a full picture of a very unique and very talented man. 01:13:56.870 --> 01:14:00.260 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, you spoke of Peter Kocot's skill 01:14:00.260 --> 01:14:03.110 align:middle line:84% as a legislator, which he always practiced 01:14:03.110 --> 01:14:08.560 align:middle line:84% with great intelligence, compassion, and humility. 01:14:08.560 --> 01:14:10.950 align:middle line:84% We heard from Peter's friend Patrick Goggins 01:14:10.950 --> 01:14:14.980 align:middle line:84% whose great stories about Peter's skills and adventures 01:14:14.980 --> 01:14:18.730 align:middle line:84% as an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing 01:14:18.730 --> 01:14:21.940 align:middle line:84% helped lighten the mood and reminded us 01:14:21.940 --> 01:14:24.880 align:middle line:84% of Peter's self-effacing sense of humor 01:14:24.880 --> 01:14:28.720 align:middle line:84% and his love of nature and the outdoors. 01:14:28.720 --> 01:14:32.950 align:middle line:84% And we heard strong, loving, and remarkable words 01:14:32.950 --> 01:14:37.780 align:middle line:84% from Peter's sons Jake and Luke about their father and the man 01:14:37.780 --> 01:14:42.760 align:middle line:84% who was a constant presence, a source of inspiration, support, 01:14:42.760 --> 01:14:47.470 align:middle line:84% and fun, for his family and friends. 01:14:47.470 --> 01:14:49.690 align:middle line:84% Today, we stand in this House chamber 01:14:49.690 --> 01:14:53.080 align:middle line:84% and remember Peter Kocot in this place where 01:14:53.080 --> 01:14:55.900 align:middle line:84% he loved to work on behalf of the people who 01:14:55.900 --> 01:15:00.760 align:middle line:84% supported him and sent him here to be their voice. 01:15:00.760 --> 01:15:03.340 align:middle line:84% It is hard to look over at his empty seat 01:15:03.340 --> 01:15:05.860 align:middle line:84% near the back of the second division 01:15:05.860 --> 01:15:08.110 align:middle line:90% and realize that he has left us. 01:15:08.110 --> 01:15:10.930 align:middle line:84% I have to say it's so wonderful to see Shauneen in that seat 01:15:10.930 --> 01:15:13.690 align:middle line:90% here today. 01:15:13.690 --> 01:15:17.860 align:middle line:84% Whenever we were in session, that is where he was. 01:15:17.860 --> 01:15:20.920 align:middle line:84% He was not one to wander around the chamber, 01:15:20.920 --> 01:15:24.010 align:middle line:84% preferring to be at his desk, paying attention 01:15:24.010 --> 01:15:29.110 align:middle line:84% to what was going on or doing committee or constituent work 01:15:29.110 --> 01:15:34.030 align:middle line:84% and welcoming those of us who stopped to talk to him. 01:15:34.030 --> 01:15:38.800 align:middle line:84% And talking to Peter was always a highlight of any day for me. 01:15:38.800 --> 01:15:41.570 align:middle line:84% And I know it was for many of us. 01:15:41.570 --> 01:15:43.780 align:middle line:84% It might have been a conversation 01:15:43.780 --> 01:15:47.390 align:middle line:84% about details of legislation in his committee. 01:15:47.390 --> 01:15:49.960 align:middle line:84% Or it might have been a talk about political developments 01:15:49.960 --> 01:15:53.870 align:middle line:84% in Western Massachusetts or here at the State House. 01:15:53.870 --> 01:15:56.530 align:middle line:84% Or might have been a free-flowing conversation 01:15:56.530 --> 01:16:03.040 align:middle line:84% about family, the weather, food, cooking, restaurants, lacrosse, 01:16:03.040 --> 01:16:08.500 align:middle line:84% football, baseball, fishing, his vegetable garden, 01:16:08.500 --> 01:16:11.950 align:middle line:90% or his favorite recipes. 01:16:11.950 --> 01:16:16.660 align:middle line:84% Recipes-- Peter was a foodie long before that term 01:16:16.660 --> 01:16:18.760 align:middle line:90% became popular. 01:16:18.760 --> 01:16:21.310 align:middle line:84% I think that was closely connected 01:16:21.310 --> 01:16:24.520 align:middle line:84% with his respect and love for agriculture 01:16:24.520 --> 01:16:27.580 align:middle line:84% and the people who farmed in the fertile Connecticut River 01:16:27.580 --> 01:16:31.120 align:middle line:90% bottomland in his district. 01:16:31.120 --> 01:16:35.680 align:middle line:84% He loved talking with farmers about the work they do and was 01:16:35.680 --> 01:16:37.450 align:middle line:84% always talking about ways that he 01:16:37.450 --> 01:16:41.770 align:middle line:84% could help them through state programs and policies. 01:16:41.770 --> 01:16:43.720 align:middle line:84% And he supported strongly programs 01:16:43.720 --> 01:16:47.750 align:middle line:84% like the Buy Local program, the Senior FarmShares, 01:16:47.750 --> 01:16:49.930 align:middle line:84% and the Agricultural Preservation Restriction 01:16:49.930 --> 01:16:50.710 align:middle line:90% program. 01:16:50.710 --> 01:16:53.990 align:middle line:90% He was a true champion of that. 01:16:53.990 --> 01:16:57.580 align:middle line:84% And of course, there was Peter's strong and consistent 01:16:57.580 --> 01:17:01.480 align:middle line:84% leadership every single year in the state budget 01:17:01.480 --> 01:17:07.840 align:middle line:84% for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program, MEFAP. 01:17:07.840 --> 01:17:10.870 align:middle line:84% Peter always was the lead sponsor of this amendment 01:17:10.870 --> 01:17:13.570 align:middle line:90% to increase MEFAP funding. 01:17:13.570 --> 01:17:16.330 align:middle line:84% And it has always been one of the most popular, 01:17:16.330 --> 01:17:19.780 align:middle line:84% heavily co-sponsored, and successful budget amendments 01:17:19.780 --> 01:17:22.270 align:middle line:90% that we see every year. 01:17:22.270 --> 01:17:24.190 align:middle line:90% Peter loved this program. 01:17:24.190 --> 01:17:26.290 align:middle line:84% And I think it was because he combined 01:17:26.290 --> 01:17:30.340 align:middle line:84% his interest in two things that were important to him-- 01:17:30.340 --> 01:17:33.790 align:middle line:84% supporting farmers in our agricultural economy 01:17:33.790 --> 01:17:36.730 align:middle line:84% and providing food to people in need 01:17:36.730 --> 01:17:40.760 align:middle line:90% who might otherwise go hungry. 01:17:40.760 --> 01:17:44.060 align:middle line:84% MEFAP is a program that was a personal priority for Peter 01:17:44.060 --> 01:17:48.240 align:middle line:84% and is a great example of his compassion and caring 01:17:48.240 --> 01:17:51.270 align:middle line:90% commitment for people in need. 01:17:51.270 --> 01:17:54.420 align:middle line:84% This part of him also extended to a wide range 01:17:54.420 --> 01:17:57.480 align:middle line:84% of human services, especially programs 01:17:57.480 --> 01:18:01.110 align:middle line:84% that address homelessness, people with disabilities, 01:18:01.110 --> 01:18:06.600 align:middle line:84% senior citizens, veterans, and women's health. 01:18:06.600 --> 01:18:09.800 align:middle line:84% He was a big man with a huge heart. 01:18:09.800 --> 01:18:13.050 align:middle line:84% And he always used his position and his influence 01:18:13.050 --> 01:18:13.830 align:middle line:90% to help others. 01:18:13.830 --> 01:18:16.770 align:middle line:90% 01:18:16.770 --> 01:18:19.020 align:middle line:84% Being from adjoining legislative districts, 01:18:19.020 --> 01:18:21.450 align:middle line:84% Peter and I and other members of the area delegation 01:18:21.450 --> 01:18:24.030 align:middle line:84% attended many, many meetings and forums 01:18:24.030 --> 01:18:27.930 align:middle line:84% with local officials, advocates, service providers, 01:18:27.930 --> 01:18:31.350 align:middle line:84% and citizens, to talk about a wide range of issues 01:18:31.350 --> 01:18:32.810 align:middle line:90% and challenges. 01:18:32.810 --> 01:18:35.670 align:middle line:84% Same as we all do in our districts. 01:18:35.670 --> 01:18:37.200 align:middle line:84% It was in these gatherings that I 01:18:37.200 --> 01:18:40.560 align:middle line:84% saw a different part of Peter, that he was 01:18:40.560 --> 01:18:42.930 align:middle line:90% a great teacher and educator. 01:18:42.930 --> 01:18:45.210 align:middle line:90% He was born to do that. 01:18:45.210 --> 01:18:48.150 align:middle line:84% In countless meetings where the rest of us 01:18:48.150 --> 01:18:51.420 align:middle line:84% would just show up to listen or speak, 01:18:51.420 --> 01:18:56.820 align:middle line:84% Peter would arrive with handouts of information, resources 01:18:56.820 --> 01:18:59.310 align:middle line:90% about the subject at hand. 01:18:59.310 --> 01:19:03.270 align:middle line:84% He was an information junkie who did his homework in advance 01:19:03.270 --> 01:19:05.610 align:middle line:84% of meetings so that he would have 01:19:05.610 --> 01:19:08.370 align:middle line:84% detailed and relevant information that he could 01:19:08.370 --> 01:19:11.430 align:middle line:90% present and leave with people. 01:19:11.430 --> 01:19:12.900 align:middle line:84% This could be on subjects as wide 01:19:12.900 --> 01:19:17.520 align:middle line:84% ranging as tax policy or climate change, education funding, 01:19:17.520 --> 01:19:19.720 align:middle line:90% or health care. 01:19:19.720 --> 01:19:22.680 align:middle line:84% I feel like he never left a meeting 01:19:22.680 --> 01:19:25.440 align:middle line:84% unless he had contributed some new knowledge or insights 01:19:25.440 --> 01:19:27.720 align:middle line:90% into the conversation. 01:19:27.720 --> 01:19:32.520 align:middle line:84% He was a policy wonk who never wore that term on his sleeve. 01:19:32.520 --> 01:19:37.170 align:middle line:84% And he never tried to be the smartest guy in the room. 01:19:37.170 --> 01:19:41.430 align:middle line:84% But the truth is, he usually was the smartest guy in the room. 01:19:41.430 --> 01:19:45.420 align:middle line:84% He was certainly always the best prepared person 01:19:45.420 --> 01:19:50.010 align:middle line:84% and any meeting on any subject that I ever attended with him. 01:19:50.010 --> 01:19:54.660 align:middle line:84% But he was so humble and unassuming in his nature 01:19:54.660 --> 01:19:59.010 align:middle line:84% that this was seldom obvious and was never overbearing. 01:19:59.010 --> 01:20:02.100 align:middle line:84% This was a part of his leadership skill, 01:20:02.100 --> 01:20:04.920 align:middle line:84% a characteristic that could bring people 01:20:04.920 --> 01:20:09.060 align:middle line:84% of different viewpoints together and form and engage 01:20:09.060 --> 01:20:14.190 align:middle line:84% them and reach consensus on the matters at hand. 01:20:14.190 --> 01:20:16.590 align:middle line:84% I saw him do this so skillfully when 01:20:16.590 --> 01:20:19.620 align:middle line:84% I had the privilege of working with him on public records 01:20:19.620 --> 01:20:22.860 align:middle line:84% reform, one of his most singular achievements 01:20:22.860 --> 01:20:28.620 align:middle line:84% in this legislature, a subject so complicated and divisive 01:20:28.620 --> 01:20:32.890 align:middle line:84% that it had not been touched for over 30 years. 01:20:32.890 --> 01:20:35.670 align:middle line:84% But the Speaker assigned Peter to figure it 01:20:35.670 --> 01:20:38.130 align:middle line:90% out and get it done. 01:20:38.130 --> 01:20:42.660 align:middle line:84% And I watched him artfully, thoroughly, and responsibly 01:20:42.660 --> 01:20:45.960 align:middle line:84% weave his way through all of the minefields 01:20:45.960 --> 01:20:48.330 align:middle line:84% and engage disparate stakeholders 01:20:48.330 --> 01:20:51.690 align:middle line:84% to emerge with a bill that was a huge improvement 01:20:51.690 --> 01:20:54.310 align:middle line:90% over the status quo. 01:20:54.310 --> 01:20:59.190 align:middle line:84% It won widespread praise for increasing transparency 01:20:59.190 --> 01:21:01.230 align:middle line:84% and accountability in government, 01:21:01.230 --> 01:21:06.300 align:middle line:84% while also balancing the concerns of local government. 01:21:06.300 --> 01:21:08.670 align:middle line:84% He did the same thing years earlier 01:21:08.670 --> 01:21:11.440 align:middle line:90% with much needed ethics reform. 01:21:11.440 --> 01:21:14.350 align:middle line:84% And he was well on his way to doing the same thing 01:21:14.350 --> 01:21:17.910 align:middle line:84% with critically important health care reform legislation 01:21:17.910 --> 01:21:19.140 align:middle line:90% at the time of his passing. 01:21:19.140 --> 01:21:22.650 align:middle line:84% And Mr. Speaker, I am just so pleased at your announcement 01:21:22.650 --> 01:21:25.115 align:middle line:84% today that that bill will bear his name. 01:21:25.115 --> 01:21:27.073 align:middle line:84% What a fitting and long-lasting tribute to him. 01:21:27.073 --> 01:21:31.710 align:middle line:90% 01:21:31.710 --> 01:21:35.770 align:middle line:84% Peter Kocot was truly a great legislator 01:21:35.770 --> 01:21:39.820 align:middle line:84% who has left his mark on all of us and on the quality of life 01:21:39.820 --> 01:21:41.680 align:middle line:90% in the Commonwealth. 01:21:41.680 --> 01:21:44.140 align:middle line:90% He genuinely liked his work. 01:21:44.140 --> 01:21:47.500 align:middle line:84% And he believed he was lucky to be doing it. 01:21:47.500 --> 01:21:51.430 align:middle line:84% His love for the communities and the people he served 01:21:51.430 --> 01:21:56.560 align:middle line:84% and the issues that he got to work on was obvious. 01:21:56.560 --> 01:21:59.680 align:middle line:84% Even more obvious, and most importantly, 01:21:59.680 --> 01:22:04.010 align:middle line:84% was Peter's complete and total love for his family. 01:22:04.010 --> 01:22:08.050 align:middle line:84% He always seemed to be at his most enthusiastic when 01:22:08.050 --> 01:22:12.520 align:middle line:84% talking about time spent with Shauneen, Luke, and Jake. 01:22:12.520 --> 01:22:15.740 align:middle line:84% His siblings, his extended family, and close friends 01:22:15.740 --> 01:22:18.010 align:middle line:90% were right there too. 01:22:18.010 --> 01:22:20.800 align:middle line:90% He was proud of all of you. 01:22:20.800 --> 01:22:23.260 align:middle line:84% He was proud to be a public servant, 01:22:23.260 --> 01:22:26.070 align:middle line:90% a member of this House. 01:22:26.070 --> 01:22:29.650 align:middle line:84% And we are all better for having known him, worked with him, 01:22:29.650 --> 01:22:32.170 align:middle line:90% and loved him. 01:22:32.170 --> 01:22:37.000 align:middle line:84% Peter Kocot cannot be replaced, but his lasting impact will be 01:22:37.000 --> 01:22:38.890 align:middle line:90% huge. 01:22:38.890 --> 01:22:40.900 align:middle line:84% We can honor his memory by carrying 01:22:40.900 --> 01:22:46.160 align:middle line:84% on his priorities, his work ethic, his honesty, 01:22:46.160 --> 01:22:52.370 align:middle line:84% his compassion, and his love of life in that work we do here. 01:22:52.370 --> 01:22:57.060 align:middle line:84% His life was too short, but he lived it to the fullest. 01:22:57.060 --> 01:23:01.878 align:middle line:84% Thank you for everything, Mr. Chairman, and rest in peace. 01:23:01.878 --> 01:23:06.360 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:23:06.360 --> 01:23:41.718 align:middle line:90% 01:23:41.718 --> 01:23:43.850 align:middle line:84% I sincerely want to thank the gentlemen 01:23:43.850 --> 01:23:46.490 align:middle line:84% from Worthington and South Hadley for their very 01:23:46.490 --> 01:23:50.150 align:middle line:90% appropriate remarks. 01:23:50.150 --> 01:23:54.770 align:middle line:84% In closing, just once again let me thank all of you 01:23:54.770 --> 01:24:00.057 align:middle line:84% for being here today to pay tribute to a very special man. 01:24:00.057 --> 01:24:02.390 align:middle line:84% Although I do have to admit there are a couple of things 01:24:02.390 --> 01:24:05.360 align:middle line:84% I did not like about Peter Kocot. 01:24:05.360 --> 01:24:08.660 align:middle line:84% First of all, I always hated to take a picture with him. 01:24:08.660 --> 01:24:09.882 align:middle line:90% It was very embarrassing. 01:24:09.882 --> 01:24:12.340 align:middle line:84% And now I know how the gentleman from Medford always feels. 01:24:12.340 --> 01:24:16.400 align:middle line:90% 01:24:16.400 --> 01:24:19.470 align:middle line:84% And secondly, him trying to explain 01:24:19.470 --> 01:24:22.380 align:middle line:84% to me how to cook pierogis or whatever, 01:24:22.380 --> 01:24:24.330 align:middle line:84% knowing that it was complete impossibility 01:24:24.330 --> 01:24:27.270 align:middle line:90% that I would ever learn. 01:24:27.270 --> 01:24:30.810 align:middle line:84% But what I'd like to say to Shauneen, to Jake, to Luke, 01:24:30.810 --> 01:24:34.840 align:middle line:84% and to all the family and friends here today, 01:24:34.840 --> 01:24:37.890 align:middle line:84% and on behalf of all of the members-- 01:24:37.890 --> 01:24:40.050 align:middle line:84% you heard me use the phrase here when 01:24:40.050 --> 01:24:43.410 align:middle line:84% someone is asked to come up to speak, "to recognize." 01:24:43.410 --> 01:24:52.930 align:middle line:84% In this House, the name Peter V. Kocot will always be recognized 01:24:52.930 --> 01:24:57.100 align:middle line:84% and will always be remembered as a true gentleman. 01:24:57.100 --> 01:24:58.040 align:middle line:90% Thank you very much. 01:24:58.040 --> 01:24:59.928 align:middle line:84% And a true servant of the Commonwealth. 01:24:59.928 --> 01:25:03.920 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:25:03.920 --> 01:26:49.730 align:middle line:90% 01:26:49.730 --> 01:26:52.430 align:middle line:84% House will now be in order and will return to the conference 01:26:52.430 --> 01:26:53.265 align:middle line:90% committee report. 01:26:53.265 --> 01:26:58.600 align:middle line:90% 01:26:58.600 --> 01:27:00.590 align:middle line:84% The question is on the substance of the report. 01:27:00.590 --> 01:27:03.289 align:middle line:84% The chair recognizes Mr. Rushing of Boston. 01:27:03.289 --> 01:27:17.470 align:middle line:90% 01:27:17.470 --> 01:27:19.426 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 01:27:19.426 --> 01:27:25.820 align:middle line:90% 01:27:25.820 --> 01:27:32.640 align:middle line:84% It was so appropriate and so appreciated 01:27:32.640 --> 01:27:39.650 align:middle line:84% that in the chairman of judiciary's opening 01:27:39.650 --> 01:27:44.030 align:middle line:84% remarks at the beginning of this debate, 01:27:44.030 --> 01:27:48.620 align:middle line:84% she began with reminding us that this 01:27:48.620 --> 01:27:53.780 align:middle line:84% is the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King. 01:27:53.780 --> 01:27:59.612 align:middle line:90% 01:27:59.612 --> 01:28:06.930 align:middle line:84% Black and brown communities, certainly the center, 01:28:06.930 --> 01:28:16.190 align:middle line:84% but not the only concern of Dr. Martin Luther King, 01:28:16.190 --> 01:28:25.280 align:middle line:84% were incredibly disproportionately treated 01:28:25.280 --> 01:28:28.830 align:middle line:90% 50 years ago. 01:28:28.830 --> 01:28:36.750 align:middle line:84% And a population of black and brown people 01:28:36.750 --> 01:28:42.950 align:middle line:84% still are disproportionately treated. 01:28:42.950 --> 01:28:48.430 align:middle line:84% And that, of course, is in the area of incarceration, 01:28:48.430 --> 01:28:53.620 align:middle line:84% in the processes leading to it, in the conditions of it, 01:28:53.620 --> 01:28:55.776 align:middle line:84% and in the processes following it. 01:28:55.776 --> 01:28:58.990 align:middle line:90% 01:28:58.990 --> 01:29:00.790 align:middle line:90% That fight is far from over. 01:29:00.790 --> 01:29:03.410 align:middle line:90% 01:29:03.410 --> 01:29:06.220 align:middle line:84% But many of the reforms in this legislation 01:29:06.220 --> 01:29:10.900 align:middle line:84% will help reduce racial disparities in incarceration, 01:29:10.900 --> 01:29:15.705 align:middle line:84% bringing us one step closer to Dr. King's dream. 01:29:15.705 --> 01:29:18.580 align:middle line:90% 01:29:18.580 --> 01:29:20.770 align:middle line:84% We are doing this criminal justice bill 01:29:20.770 --> 01:29:26.550 align:middle line:84% because there are injustices in our system. 01:29:26.550 --> 01:29:31.650 align:middle line:84% Treating criminals justly makes appropriate punishment 01:29:31.650 --> 01:29:33.580 align:middle line:90% more effective. 01:29:33.580 --> 01:29:38.170 align:middle line:84% Preparing prisoners for the end of their incarceration 01:29:38.170 --> 01:29:41.170 align:middle line:84% makes their re-entry back into our communities 01:29:41.170 --> 01:29:45.870 align:middle line:84% more successful, with less recidivism. 01:29:45.870 --> 01:29:50.130 align:middle line:84% Throughout this bill, we make reforms 01:29:50.130 --> 01:29:53.500 align:middle line:90% to make those things happen. 01:29:53.500 --> 01:29:58.740 align:middle line:84% As you know, Mr. Speaker, a priority concern 01:29:58.740 --> 01:30:03.600 align:middle line:84% of mine in all of this legislation of criminal justice 01:30:03.600 --> 01:30:10.050 align:middle line:84% reform is that we keep track of what we do. 01:30:10.050 --> 01:30:15.510 align:middle line:84% We keep track of what are the effects of these policies 01:30:15.510 --> 01:30:19.980 align:middle line:84% on actual individuals and families 01:30:19.980 --> 01:30:25.320 align:middle line:84% and on the safety of all our constituents. 01:30:25.320 --> 01:30:29.430 align:middle line:84% And for me, that has meant concentrating 01:30:29.430 --> 01:30:33.910 align:middle line:84% on reforming the way we collect the data 01:30:33.910 --> 01:30:40.090 align:middle line:84% on all the people who are affected by this system. 01:30:40.090 --> 01:30:45.500 align:middle line:84% And so this bill contains strict data collection requirements 01:30:45.500 --> 01:30:52.280 align:middle line:84% throughout the system, which include data on recidivism, 01:30:52.280 --> 01:30:57.170 align:middle line:84% on programming, and that all of that data 01:30:57.170 --> 01:31:02.440 align:middle line:84% creates standardized race and ethnicity reporting. 01:31:02.440 --> 01:31:06.370 align:middle line:84% The bill creates specific requirements 01:31:06.370 --> 01:31:10.300 align:middle line:84% on that matter in ways that it is also 01:31:10.300 --> 01:31:13.870 align:middle line:84% relevant to the experiences of women, 01:31:13.870 --> 01:31:17.890 align:middle line:84% and that we form an interagency oversight board, which 01:31:17.890 --> 01:31:22.090 align:middle line:84% will ensure the compliance of that collection, 01:31:22.090 --> 01:31:25.690 align:middle line:84% and that the data will be made available to the public 01:31:25.690 --> 01:31:28.810 align:middle line:84% for research and accountability purposes 01:31:28.810 --> 01:31:31.660 align:middle line:90% after being deidentified. 01:31:31.660 --> 01:31:36.910 align:middle line:84% So it will be available to the professionals in the system, 01:31:36.910 --> 01:31:40.040 align:middle line:84% and to the public, and of course, 01:31:40.040 --> 01:31:47.420 align:middle line:84% for any scholars who want to study the results of this work. 01:31:47.420 --> 01:31:52.400 align:middle line:84% So here, too, I'm reminded of a few words 01:31:52.400 --> 01:31:54.278 align:middle line:90% written by Martin Luther King. 01:31:54.278 --> 01:31:57.140 align:middle line:90% 01:31:57.140 --> 01:32:03.840 align:middle line:84% "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. 01:32:03.840 --> 01:32:09.830 align:middle line:84% We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied 01:32:09.830 --> 01:32:12.420 align:middle line:90% in a single garment of destiny. 01:32:12.420 --> 01:32:18.700 align:middle line:84% Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." 01:32:18.700 --> 01:32:21.410 align:middle line:84% And I think that when we pass this bill, 01:32:21.410 --> 01:32:25.490 align:middle line:84% we will be able to go to all of our constituents 01:32:25.490 --> 01:32:35.380 align:middle line:84% and say that this bill, carried out expeditiously, 01:32:35.380 --> 01:32:40.150 align:middle line:84% will positively affect the lives of all of us 01:32:40.150 --> 01:32:42.730 align:middle line:90% in this Commonwealth. 01:32:42.730 --> 01:32:46.610 align:middle line:84% Those of you who were alive 50 years ago 01:32:46.610 --> 01:32:51.800 align:middle line:84% remember exactly where you were the evening of this day when 01:32:51.800 --> 01:32:55.670 align:middle line:84% we learned that Martin Luther King had been assassinated. 01:32:55.670 --> 01:33:01.500 align:middle line:84% I hope that going forward, over the next several years 01:33:01.500 --> 01:33:06.240 align:middle line:84% and decades, that the members of this legislature 01:33:06.240 --> 01:33:10.620 align:middle line:84% will remember that on the 50th anniversary 01:33:10.620 --> 01:33:14.760 align:middle line:84% of that horrible act, they voted to reform 01:33:14.760 --> 01:33:16.620 align:middle line:90% criminal justice in this state. 01:33:16.620 --> 01:33:19.020 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. 01:33:19.020 --> 01:33:22.860 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:33:22.860 --> 01:33:27.012 align:middle line:90% 01:33:27.012 --> 01:33:29.220 align:middle line:84% Question comes on acceptance of the committee report. 01:33:29.220 --> 01:33:31.905 align:middle line:84% The chair recognizes Mr. Carvahlo of Boston. 01:33:31.905 --> 01:33:44.040 align:middle line:90% 01:33:44.040 --> 01:33:47.111 align:middle line:84% Ms. Malia of Boston asks to be recorded on the previous roll 01:33:47.111 --> 01:33:47.610 align:middle line:90% call. 01:33:47.610 --> 01:33:48.550 align:middle line:90% Chair objection. 01:33:48.550 --> 01:33:50.130 align:middle line:90% The chair hears none. 01:33:50.130 --> 01:33:58.226 align:middle line:84% On a roll call number 319, Elizabeth Malia yes. 01:33:58.226 --> 01:34:01.800 align:middle line:84% Chair recognize Mr. Carvahlo of Boston. 01:34:01.800 --> 01:34:05.760 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, good afternoon, and through you to the members. 01:34:05.760 --> 01:34:09.450 align:middle line:84% For me, I want to say first and foremost, thank you. 01:34:09.450 --> 01:34:11.610 align:middle line:90% Thank you for your leadership. 01:34:11.610 --> 01:34:15.330 align:middle line:84% In fact, I remember in caucus late last year 01:34:15.330 --> 01:34:17.100 align:middle line:84% in the fall when we were discussing 01:34:17.100 --> 01:34:20.602 align:middle line:84% doing criminal justice bill and I stood up and said, when? 01:34:20.602 --> 01:34:21.810 align:middle line:90% I'm not sure if you remember. 01:34:21.810 --> 01:34:23.460 align:middle line:90% When are we going to do it? 01:34:23.460 --> 01:34:28.980 align:middle line:84% So it is an honor to stand today to carry out and ask 01:34:28.980 --> 01:34:33.720 align:middle line:84% all the members to join me in voting for this bill. 01:34:33.720 --> 01:34:36.810 align:middle line:90% As a young man, who grow up-- 01:34:36.810 --> 01:34:39.480 align:middle line:84% immigrant young man who grew up in Dorchester 01:34:39.480 --> 01:34:41.610 align:middle line:84% and still have friends and family 01:34:41.610 --> 01:34:44.580 align:middle line:84% that have cycled through the criminal justice system, 01:34:44.580 --> 01:34:49.140 align:middle line:84% in and out of prison, and as a former prosecutor who 01:34:49.140 --> 01:34:53.530 align:middle line:84% saw the cycle, again, of the same people cycling 01:34:53.530 --> 01:34:57.060 align:middle line:84% through the system, and to know that today I 01:34:57.060 --> 01:35:00.870 align:middle line:84% raise a young, three-year-old daughter in Dorchester 01:35:00.870 --> 01:35:05.160 align:middle line:84% in the midst of violence, in the midst of a community that 01:35:05.160 --> 01:35:06.930 align:middle line:84% has been reported that essentially 01:35:06.930 --> 01:35:12.210 align:middle line:84% every other household has been searched by Suffolk County 01:35:12.210 --> 01:35:15.040 align:middle line:90% jails, it is concerning. 01:35:15.040 --> 01:35:19.020 align:middle line:84% So for me, it's a proud day to be here 01:35:19.020 --> 01:35:23.040 align:middle line:84% as a state rep to, in fact, do what 01:35:23.040 --> 01:35:26.670 align:middle line:84% many have mentioned about Peter Kocot, which 01:35:26.670 --> 01:35:32.610 align:middle line:84% is to change lives, which is to care and make 01:35:32.610 --> 01:35:34.180 align:middle line:90% people's lives better. 01:35:34.180 --> 01:35:37.690 align:middle line:90% So again, for me, today is-- 01:35:37.690 --> 01:35:40.530 align:middle line:84% in the short stint that I've been a state rep, 01:35:40.530 --> 01:35:43.080 align:middle line:84% I've been a proud member of this body. 01:35:43.080 --> 01:35:46.470 align:middle line:84% But no day has been prouder than a day 01:35:46.470 --> 01:35:49.500 align:middle line:84% like today where we are getting things done 01:35:49.500 --> 01:35:53.550 align:middle line:84% that will change lives of people throughout our communities 01:35:53.550 --> 01:35:55.980 align:middle line:90% from today beyond. 01:35:55.980 --> 01:35:59.980 align:middle line:84% So again, I want to ask all the members to take a close look. 01:35:59.980 --> 01:36:02.940 align:middle line:84% Today's an historic moment, as we talked about earlier. 01:36:02.940 --> 01:36:06.210 align:middle line:84% Many have mentioned the fact that-- in fact, earlier 01:36:06.210 --> 01:36:10.560 align:middle line:84% the Black and Latino Caucus was involved in a ceremony 01:36:10.560 --> 01:36:13.920 align:middle line:84% to remember the life of Dr. King. 01:36:13.920 --> 01:36:17.020 align:middle line:84% And I, as a student of Dr. King-- in fact 01:36:17.020 --> 01:36:19.770 align:middle line:84% I had a class at UMass Amherst that 01:36:19.770 --> 01:36:21.900 align:middle line:90% was called Malcolm and Martin. 01:36:21.900 --> 01:36:24.840 align:middle line:84% So I know what Martin Luther King stood for. 01:36:24.840 --> 01:36:28.620 align:middle line:84% And I can tell you that he stood for, if nothing else, 01:36:28.620 --> 01:36:30.210 align:middle line:90% progress-- 01:36:30.210 --> 01:36:33.810 align:middle line:84% progress for people, advancement of people. 01:36:33.810 --> 01:36:36.300 align:middle line:84% And today, that's what this bill is about. 01:36:36.300 --> 01:36:39.810 align:middle line:84% So he makes it a unique day, again, to celebrate 01:36:39.810 --> 01:36:42.690 align:middle line:84% 50 years anniversary of the assassination 01:36:42.690 --> 01:36:46.410 align:middle line:84% of this great man, but for us as a body 01:36:46.410 --> 01:36:50.430 align:middle line:84% to move the ball forward, to make his dream come 01:36:50.430 --> 01:36:54.770 align:middle line:84% true, which is to advance people, to advance Americans, 01:36:54.770 --> 01:36:58.310 align:middle line:84% and to advance our neighborhoods. 01:36:58.310 --> 01:37:01.190 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, I can tell you I came 01:37:01.190 --> 01:37:05.610 align:middle line:84% to this body with this in mind because I have 01:37:05.610 --> 01:37:07.020 align:middle line:90% a passion for criminal justice. 01:37:07.020 --> 01:37:09.420 align:middle line:90% And I wanted to see this done. 01:37:09.420 --> 01:37:12.570 align:middle line:84% And I'm looking at Mr. Leader, I'm looking chairwoman from 01:37:12.570 --> 01:37:15.840 align:middle line:84% Broughton, the debates we had-- literally, 01:37:15.840 --> 01:37:18.570 align:middle line:84% almost fights that we've had on this issue-- 01:37:18.570 --> 01:37:21.660 align:middle line:84% I want to say thank you for your leadership on this. 01:37:21.660 --> 01:37:24.060 align:middle line:84% And I'm proud to have worked with you Mr. Chairman 01:37:24.060 --> 01:37:26.220 align:middle line:84% of Boston, as well, and all of you 01:37:26.220 --> 01:37:28.650 align:middle line:84% that pitched in because this is really 01:37:28.650 --> 01:37:31.890 align:middle line:84% an historic moment for all of us. 01:37:31.890 --> 01:37:37.830 align:middle line:84% Words right restorative justice, reducing recidivism, 01:37:37.830 --> 01:37:40.650 align:middle line:84% raising the age of criminal responsibility, 01:37:40.650 --> 01:37:44.110 align:middle line:84% ending the school-to-prison pipeline, 01:37:44.110 --> 01:37:47.922 align:middle line:84% ending mass incarceration, diversion as Mr. Leader 01:37:47.922 --> 01:37:48.630 align:middle line:90% just spoke about. 01:37:48.630 --> 01:37:51.060 align:middle line:84% In fact, yesterday, I had the pleasure 01:37:51.060 --> 01:37:54.210 align:middle line:84% to go to Suffolk County Jail for a hearing for the Boston City 01:37:54.210 --> 01:37:54.930 align:middle line:90% Council. 01:37:54.930 --> 01:37:56.640 align:middle line:84% And one young man in particular strike 01:37:56.640 --> 01:38:00.720 align:middle line:84% me as typical in a system, particularly people 01:38:00.720 --> 01:38:02.550 align:middle line:90% dealing with drug addictions. 01:38:02.550 --> 01:38:05.740 align:middle line:84% This one man said that, since 1997-- 01:38:05.740 --> 01:38:07.960 align:middle line:84% I believe he's about 30 years old now-- 01:38:07.960 --> 01:38:10.290 align:middle line:84% he's been in and out of jail, dealing. 01:38:10.290 --> 01:38:12.120 align:middle line:84% Every time he gets out, he comes right back 01:38:12.120 --> 01:38:15.330 align:middle line:84% in because we don't have programs that allow 01:38:15.330 --> 01:38:18.382 align:middle line:90% them to come out of addiction. 01:38:18.382 --> 01:38:19.840 align:middle line:84% We've been criminalizing addiction. 01:38:19.840 --> 01:38:22.290 align:middle line:84% So this is a step forward for all of us 01:38:22.290 --> 01:38:25.770 align:middle line:84% and for individuals like those that are in prison and in jails 01:38:25.770 --> 01:38:29.220 align:middle line:84% throughout our Commonwealth today that will reduce 01:38:29.220 --> 01:38:32.860 align:middle line:90% their rate of recidivism. 01:38:32.860 --> 01:38:38.930 align:middle line:84% And Mr. Speaker, with one quote, like Mr. Leader, 01:38:38.930 --> 01:38:40.697 align:middle line:84% the leader from Boston did earlier, 01:38:40.697 --> 01:38:43.280 align:middle line:84% for Martin Luther King, which I think is very fitting on a day 01:38:43.280 --> 01:38:46.190 align:middle line:90% like today. 01:38:46.190 --> 01:38:51.830 align:middle line:84% He said, "Human progress is neither automatic nor 01:38:51.830 --> 01:38:53.430 align:middle line:90% inevitable. 01:38:53.430 --> 01:38:56.150 align:middle line:84% Every step toward the goal of justice 01:38:56.150 --> 01:39:01.900 align:middle line:84% requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle. 01:39:01.900 --> 01:39:06.170 align:middle line:84% It also requires the tireless exertions and passionate 01:39:06.170 --> 01:39:09.650 align:middle line:84% concern of dedicated individuals." 01:39:09.650 --> 01:39:11.570 align:middle line:90% And that's what we all are. 01:39:11.570 --> 01:39:14.960 align:middle line:84% That's what the woman from Broughton has been. 01:39:14.960 --> 01:39:16.900 align:middle line:90% It's a dedicated individual. 01:39:16.900 --> 01:39:19.080 align:middle line:84% It's a dedicated body that we are part of. 01:39:19.080 --> 01:39:24.320 align:middle line:84% So I'm proud to stand again before you today to ask you, 01:39:24.320 --> 01:39:25.790 align:middle line:90% let's go forward. 01:39:25.790 --> 01:39:27.080 align:middle line:90% Progress, right? 01:39:27.080 --> 01:39:31.552 align:middle line:90% Progress, progress, progress. 01:39:31.552 --> 01:39:32.510 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 01:39:32.510 --> 01:39:38.100 align:middle line:90% 01:39:38.100 --> 01:39:40.135 align:middle line:84% Chair recognizes Mr. Whelan of Brewster. 01:39:40.135 --> 01:39:54.760 align:middle line:90% 01:39:54.760 --> 01:39:57.730 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, thank you very much and through you to the members. 01:39:57.730 --> 01:40:01.519 align:middle line:84% I promise to my colleagues that I'll be mercifully brief. 01:40:01.519 --> 01:40:04.060 align:middle line:84% Ladies and gentlemen, I rise in support of Senate bill number 01:40:04.060 --> 01:40:05.110 align:middle line:90% 2371. 01:40:05.110 --> 01:40:06.820 align:middle line:84% And I hope that this bill is adopted 01:40:06.820 --> 01:40:10.180 align:middle line:84% and that it is passed by this body today. 01:40:10.180 --> 01:40:13.570 align:middle line:84% I want to commend the hard work that was put into this bill 01:40:13.570 --> 01:40:16.240 align:middle line:84% not only by every member of this body, 01:40:16.240 --> 01:40:19.060 align:middle line:84% but particularly to the gentlelady from Easton who 01:40:19.060 --> 01:40:21.370 align:middle line:84% invested an awful lot of time working 01:40:21.370 --> 01:40:24.070 align:middle line:84% with myself and with Chief Tucker, the gentleman 01:40:24.070 --> 01:40:27.100 align:middle line:84% from Salem, as we were dealing with the issues 01:40:27.100 --> 01:40:30.310 align:middle line:84% here as it relates to synthetic opioids 01:40:30.310 --> 01:40:33.280 align:middle line:90% and fentanyl and carfentanil. 01:40:33.280 --> 01:40:36.250 align:middle line:84% Colleagues, I stood up here in 2015 01:40:36.250 --> 01:40:38.800 align:middle line:84% when we first addressed or tried to address 01:40:38.800 --> 01:40:40.990 align:middle line:90% the fentanyl trafficking issue. 01:40:40.990 --> 01:40:42.960 align:middle line:90% And it was my maiden speech. 01:40:42.960 --> 01:40:46.330 align:middle line:84% And in that maiden speech, I decried the fact 01:40:46.330 --> 01:40:51.460 align:middle line:84% that 25% of the opioid-related overdose deaths 01:40:51.460 --> 01:40:54.460 align:middle line:84% in Massachusetts-- at that time, 25% 01:40:54.460 --> 01:40:58.595 align:middle line:84% were revealing fentanyl in the blood toxicology reports. 01:40:58.595 --> 01:41:01.220 align:middle line:84% I predicted at that time that we were going to see a spike just 01:41:01.220 --> 01:41:04.190 align:middle line:84% based upon the direction that the market was going 01:41:04.190 --> 01:41:07.520 align:middle line:84% and the proliferation of fentanyl on our streets. 01:41:07.520 --> 01:41:12.140 align:middle line:84% We have now seen that number double and in some counties 01:41:12.140 --> 01:41:16.670 align:middle line:84% it has tripled in percentages to 75% and northward. 01:41:16.670 --> 01:41:21.050 align:middle line:84% We are seeing a reduction in the number of overdose deaths 01:41:21.050 --> 01:41:24.200 align:middle line:84% not because addiction is going away, but because 01:41:24.200 --> 01:41:29.090 align:middle line:84% of the availability of naloxone and the better training 01:41:29.090 --> 01:41:31.460 align:middle line:84% and response of our first responders. 01:41:31.460 --> 01:41:33.440 align:middle line:84% But this bill-- the elements in this bill, 01:41:33.440 --> 01:41:35.210 align:middle line:84% as it deals with fentanyl, carfentanil, 01:41:35.210 --> 01:41:40.040 align:middle line:84% and synthetic opioids, will make a dent in the drug trade 01:41:40.040 --> 01:41:41.490 align:middle line:90% across the Commonwealth. 01:41:41.490 --> 01:41:44.130 align:middle line:90% 01:41:44.130 --> 01:41:50.340 align:middle line:84% Carfentanil, which is newest bad player 01:41:50.340 --> 01:41:53.640 align:middle line:84% is 100 times more potent than fentanyl. 01:41:53.640 --> 01:41:58.350 align:middle line:84% Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin. 01:41:58.350 --> 01:42:02.370 align:middle line:84% 20 micrograms is a lethal dose on carfentanil. 01:42:02.370 --> 01:42:04.680 align:middle line:84% It is not-- until we pass this bill, 01:42:04.680 --> 01:42:06.750 align:middle line:84% it is not prohibited in Massachusetts. 01:42:06.750 --> 01:42:11.400 align:middle line:84% It can be sold on the street in front of a police station. 01:42:11.400 --> 01:42:15.090 align:middle line:84% What has affected my part of the Commonwealth down in Cape Cod 01:42:15.090 --> 01:42:17.220 align:middle line:84% and is starting to spread into other places 01:42:17.220 --> 01:42:23.372 align:middle line:84% is a new bad drug known as U-47700, or pink death. 01:42:23.372 --> 01:42:24.830 align:middle line:84% We're going to be dealing with this 01:42:24.830 --> 01:42:28.190 align:middle line:84% and other synthetic opioids by a part of this bill, a section 01:42:28.190 --> 01:42:32.030 align:middle line:84% in this bill, that is going to adopt the federal scheduling 01:42:32.030 --> 01:42:35.510 align:middle line:84% for any synthetic opioid that is in Schedule I or Schedule 01:42:35.510 --> 01:42:38.050 align:middle line:90% II of the US DEA schedule. 01:42:38.050 --> 01:42:39.300 align:middle line:90% This is going to be important. 01:42:39.300 --> 01:42:41.930 align:middle line:84% This is a critical piece of this legislation that's 01:42:41.930 --> 01:42:44.930 align:middle line:84% going to help our law enforcers to stay ahead 01:42:44.930 --> 01:42:46.490 align:middle line:90% of the drug trade. 01:42:46.490 --> 01:42:49.520 align:middle line:84% You've heard us refer to it many, many times that this has 01:42:49.520 --> 01:42:50.900 align:middle line:90% been a game of whack-a-mole. 01:42:50.900 --> 01:42:53.690 align:middle line:84% As we deal with fentanyl, carfentanil pops up. 01:42:53.690 --> 01:42:57.838 align:middle line:84% As we deal with carfentanil, U-47700 pops up. 01:42:57.838 --> 01:43:00.280 align:middle line:90% Mr. Speaker. 01:43:00.280 --> 01:43:01.670 align:middle line:90% [INAUDIBLE] gentlemen rise. 01:43:01.670 --> 01:43:02.730 align:middle line:90% Having trouble hearing. 01:43:02.730 --> 01:43:05.700 align:middle line:84% Gentlemen is having trouble hearing the speaker 01:43:05.700 --> 01:43:08.475 align:middle line:90% at the rostrum. 01:43:08.475 --> 01:43:11.640 align:middle line:84% Would the members please subdue their conversations, 01:43:11.640 --> 01:43:13.110 align:middle line:84% take their seats, and pay attention 01:43:13.110 --> 01:43:15.110 align:middle line:90% to the gentlemen at the podium? 01:43:15.110 --> 01:43:17.970 align:middle line:84% Chair recognizes Mr. Whelan of Brewster. 01:43:17.970 --> 01:43:20.100 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 01:43:20.100 --> 01:43:22.980 align:middle line:84% And this bill will address the rise of synthetic opioids 01:43:22.980 --> 01:43:25.380 align:middle line:84% and give our police officers across the Commonwealth 01:43:25.380 --> 01:43:28.820 align:middle line:84% the tools that they need to keep our communities safe. 01:43:28.820 --> 01:43:32.310 align:middle line:84% And it will also hold accountable those people who 01:43:32.310 --> 01:43:34.590 align:middle line:84% are profiting off the death and the misery 01:43:34.590 --> 01:43:37.830 align:middle line:84% that they are showing upon a very vulnerable population 01:43:37.830 --> 01:43:41.220 align:middle line:84% that we as legislators are responsible to protect. 01:43:41.220 --> 01:43:43.980 align:middle line:84% As an example, and in closing, Mr. Speaker, 01:43:43.980 --> 01:43:46.770 align:middle line:84% I'm going to give you an example that happened in Marstons Mills 01:43:46.770 --> 01:43:50.680 align:middle line:90% in December of 2017. 01:43:50.680 --> 01:43:52.630 align:middle line:84% COMM fire department was dispatched 01:43:52.630 --> 01:43:54.730 align:middle line:84% to a report of an overdose in Marstons Mills 01:43:54.730 --> 01:43:57.130 align:middle line:90% where they found an adult male. 01:43:57.130 --> 01:43:58.700 align:middle line:90% He was in overdose. 01:43:58.700 --> 01:44:02.230 align:middle line:84% They dispensed Narcan to bring him back to life. 01:44:02.230 --> 01:44:08.640 align:middle line:84% They located in his possession 220 grams of fentanyl. 01:44:08.640 --> 01:44:15.680 align:middle line:84% They located in his possession 92 grams of U-47700, 01:44:15.680 --> 01:44:20.220 align:middle line:84% the synthetic opioid from China I referenced earlier. 01:44:20.220 --> 01:44:24.540 align:middle line:84% He was charged with possession of Class B controlled substance 01:44:24.540 --> 01:44:28.400 align:middle line:84% with intent to distribute because of the gap 01:44:28.400 --> 01:44:31.440 align:middle line:84% that we are fixing now in our fentanyl trafficking 01:44:31.440 --> 01:44:35.880 align:middle line:84% laws and the gap as it relates to synthetic opioids 01:44:35.880 --> 01:44:39.100 align:middle line:84% as they pop up and arise on our streets. 01:44:39.100 --> 01:44:42.090 align:middle line:84% So ladies and gentlemen, I ask that you please join me 01:44:42.090 --> 01:44:43.780 align:middle line:90% in supporting this bill. 01:44:43.780 --> 01:44:45.840 align:middle line:84% There are many, many important things in here. 01:44:45.840 --> 01:44:48.690 align:middle line:84% And I've gone through this bill several times, cover to cover. 01:44:48.690 --> 01:44:50.700 align:middle line:84% This bill is going to save lives. 01:44:50.700 --> 01:44:52.087 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 01:44:52.087 --> 01:44:54.075 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 01:44:54.075 --> 01:44:57.554 align:middle line:84% Chair recognizes Miss Keefe of Worcester. 01:44:57.554 --> 01:45:14.480 align:middle line:90% 01:45:14.480 --> 01:45:16.820 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity 01:45:16.820 --> 01:45:19.940 align:middle line:84% to speak through you to the members today. 01:45:19.940 --> 01:45:21.560 align:middle line:84% I rise in support of the conference 01:45:21.560 --> 01:45:23.930 align:middle line:90% report that is before us. 01:45:23.930 --> 01:45:25.850 align:middle line:84% I think we've all heard about how 01:45:25.850 --> 01:45:28.900 align:middle line:84% this is so important to the Commonwealth, 01:45:28.900 --> 01:45:31.250 align:middle line:84% but I rise today because this is particularly 01:45:31.250 --> 01:45:35.240 align:middle line:84% important to the people of Worcester that I represent. 01:45:35.240 --> 01:45:37.490 align:middle line:84% I'd like to start by thanking you, Mr. Speaker, 01:45:37.490 --> 01:45:39.710 align:middle line:84% for your leadership, your patience 01:45:39.710 --> 01:45:43.190 align:middle line:84% in listening and learning during the CSG process 01:45:43.190 --> 01:45:45.020 align:middle line:90% and throughout this session. 01:45:45.020 --> 01:45:47.240 align:middle line:84% Your steadfast commitment to passing 01:45:47.240 --> 01:45:50.060 align:middle line:84% comprehensive criminal justice reform 01:45:50.060 --> 01:45:52.850 align:middle line:90% is why we are here today. 01:45:52.850 --> 01:45:55.130 align:middle line:84% The Council of State Government's process 01:45:55.130 --> 01:45:58.340 align:middle line:84% helped identify areas where we could improve 01:45:58.340 --> 01:46:01.220 align:middle line:84% and highlighted several potential reforms 01:46:01.220 --> 01:46:04.400 align:middle line:84% which laid the groundwork for many issues contained 01:46:04.400 --> 01:46:05.900 align:middle line:90% in this bill. 01:46:05.900 --> 01:46:08.390 align:middle line:84% A special thanks and appreciation 01:46:08.390 --> 01:46:14.030 align:middle line:84% to the gentleman from Milford, Representative John Fernandes, 01:46:14.030 --> 01:46:15.890 align:middle line:84% and the gentleman from Dartmouth, 01:46:15.890 --> 01:46:17.660 align:middle line:84% Representative Christopher Markey, 01:46:17.660 --> 01:46:23.240 align:middle line:84% for the work and time that they dedicated to the CSG process. 01:46:23.240 --> 01:46:27.050 align:middle line:84% To the gentlelady from Easton and House 01:46:27.050 --> 01:46:30.770 align:middle line:84% chair of the Judiciary Committee, a sincere and big 01:46:30.770 --> 01:46:33.680 align:middle line:84% thanks for the job you did ushering this bill 01:46:33.680 --> 01:46:35.900 align:middle line:90% to the chamber today. 01:46:35.900 --> 01:46:39.830 align:middle line:84% If I can speak for the membership here and now, 01:46:39.830 --> 01:46:43.170 align:middle line:84% thank you for your style and your grace, 01:46:43.170 --> 01:46:46.040 align:middle line:84% your willingness to be accessible and listen 01:46:46.040 --> 01:46:50.000 align:middle line:84% to any and all of the members, to discuss our priorities 01:46:50.000 --> 01:46:51.740 align:middle line:90% and our concerns. 01:46:51.740 --> 01:46:54.320 align:middle line:84% This really exemplifies your commitment 01:46:54.320 --> 01:46:59.240 align:middle line:84% to inclusion and participation of all our members. 01:46:59.240 --> 01:47:02.480 align:middle line:84% To the conference committee and the House conferees, 01:47:02.480 --> 01:47:06.590 align:middle line:84% the gentleman from Quincy, Leader Ron Mariano, Chairwoman 01:47:06.590 --> 01:47:10.430 align:middle line:84% Cronin, and gentlelady from Groton, Sheila Harrington, 01:47:10.430 --> 01:47:13.400 align:middle line:84% thank you for the long nights and weekends you 01:47:13.400 --> 01:47:17.540 align:middle line:90% devoted to crafting this bill. 01:47:17.540 --> 01:47:20.840 align:middle line:84% I also want to thank all of our members 01:47:20.840 --> 01:47:23.780 align:middle line:84% who have taken the time to learn about and fight 01:47:23.780 --> 01:47:28.040 align:middle line:84% for these important issues by holding and attending 01:47:28.040 --> 01:47:31.250 align:middle line:84% harm reduction drug reform briefings, 01:47:31.250 --> 01:47:36.260 align:middle line:84% visiting jails and prisons, and talking to your constituents 01:47:36.260 --> 01:47:40.430 align:middle line:84% about how these reforms would improve their lives. 01:47:40.430 --> 01:47:42.080 align:middle line:84% I think you've heard from many here 01:47:42.080 --> 01:47:45.150 align:middle line:84% today about the merits of this bill 01:47:45.150 --> 01:47:47.704 align:middle line:84% and so I'm going to hold those remarks. 01:47:47.704 --> 01:47:51.960 align:middle line:90% 01:47:51.960 --> 01:47:57.120 align:middle line:84% I'd like to especially recognize some people from my own city 01:47:57.120 --> 01:48:01.480 align:middle line:84% that came down here to have an impact. 01:48:01.480 --> 01:48:04.170 align:middle line:84% And as a representative home in Worcester, 01:48:04.170 --> 01:48:07.890 align:middle line:84% a lot of times people will say, what's the most important part 01:48:07.890 --> 01:48:09.540 align:middle line:90% of your job? 01:48:09.540 --> 01:48:11.940 align:middle line:84% And I believe it is that we have a duty 01:48:11.940 --> 01:48:16.680 align:middle line:84% to tell and share with people just how government can impact 01:48:16.680 --> 01:48:21.750 align:middle line:84% their lives, but also to encourage how their lives can-- 01:48:21.750 --> 01:48:24.340 align:middle line:90% our lives can impact government. 01:48:24.340 --> 01:48:25.770 align:middle line:90% So it's a two-way street. 01:48:25.770 --> 01:48:29.210 align:middle line:84% Chair apologizes to the lady at the podium. 01:48:29.210 --> 01:48:32.730 align:middle line:84% [INAUDIBLE] Once again, the chair 01:48:32.730 --> 01:48:34.290 align:middle line:84% will respectfully ask the members 01:48:34.290 --> 01:48:37.410 align:middle line:84% to subdue their conversation and pay attention 01:48:37.410 --> 01:48:40.170 align:middle line:84% to the gentlelady at the rostrum. 01:48:40.170 --> 01:48:41.070 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:48:41.070 --> 01:48:44.310 align:middle line:84% Chair recognizes Miss Keefe of Worcester. 01:48:44.310 --> 01:48:47.910 align:middle line:84% So for those people that came down to participate here 01:48:47.910 --> 01:48:51.840 align:middle line:84% in hearings and gave testimony, for those people 01:48:51.840 --> 01:48:56.640 align:middle line:84% that actually stepped out of the shadow of shame, 01:48:56.640 --> 01:49:00.000 align:middle line:84% I would like to thank them for having an impact on what 01:49:00.000 --> 01:49:02.460 align:middle line:90% we're about to accomplish. 01:49:02.460 --> 01:49:05.340 align:middle line:84% I want to thank Cassandra Bensahih, who 01:49:05.340 --> 01:49:09.240 align:middle line:84% has fought tirelessly for years to see these reforms 01:49:09.240 --> 01:49:14.130 align:middle line:84% on CORI laws and solitary confinement come to light. 01:49:14.130 --> 01:49:17.910 align:middle line:84% Cassandra filed to seal her CORI the day 01:49:17.910 --> 01:49:20.940 align:middle line:90% after this bill was released. 01:49:20.940 --> 01:49:23.850 align:middle line:90% I'd like to thank Ozzie Ruiz. 01:49:23.850 --> 01:49:25.710 align:middle line:84% And I want him to know that he has 01:49:25.710 --> 01:49:33.230 align:middle line:84% been an important part of the reform called medical parole. 01:49:33.230 --> 01:49:36.500 align:middle line:84% After he came to the State House to tell his story 01:49:36.500 --> 01:49:41.390 align:middle line:84% about his brother who was never a violent offender 01:49:41.390 --> 01:49:46.350 align:middle line:84% and suffered a major stroke while in prison. 01:49:46.350 --> 01:49:49.530 align:middle line:84% He ended up in Shaddock hospital being watched 01:49:49.530 --> 01:49:54.950 align:middle line:84% by two guards 24/7 instead of being 01:49:54.950 --> 01:49:58.485 align:middle line:84% able to be with his family and die at home. 01:49:58.485 --> 01:50:02.910 align:middle line:90% 01:50:02.910 --> 01:50:06.810 align:middle line:84% Now, within this bill, we have medical parole, compassionate 01:50:06.810 --> 01:50:08.450 align:middle line:90% release. 01:50:08.450 --> 01:50:11.450 align:middle line:84% I hope that we can see more people like Ozzie's brother 01:50:11.450 --> 01:50:14.060 align:middle line:84% being able to take advantage of this. 01:50:14.060 --> 01:50:18.020 align:middle line:84% I'd like to thank my neighbor James who came to the judiciary 01:50:18.020 --> 01:50:22.370 align:middle line:84% hearing to testify against fine time, the practice 01:50:22.370 --> 01:50:25.670 align:middle line:84% of incarcerating people solely for their inability 01:50:25.670 --> 01:50:27.710 align:middle line:90% to pay fines and fees. 01:50:27.710 --> 01:50:32.390 align:middle line:84% James should be proud that his story helped bring reforms 01:50:32.390 --> 01:50:35.660 align:middle line:84% aimed at ending criminalization of poverty 01:50:35.660 --> 01:50:39.680 align:middle line:84% so others won't go through an experience like his, of being 01:50:39.680 --> 01:50:45.250 align:middle line:84% unjustly thrown in jail solely for the inability to pay. 01:50:45.250 --> 01:50:48.460 align:middle line:84% I'd also like to recognize MassINC 01:50:48.460 --> 01:50:52.210 align:middle line:84% for the tremendous research they have done over the years which 01:50:52.210 --> 01:50:56.320 align:middle line:84% has informed policy debate here in the legislature 01:50:56.320 --> 01:50:59.170 align:middle line:84% as well as to help educate the public 01:50:59.170 --> 01:51:01.990 align:middle line:84% on the realities of our correctional system 01:51:01.990 --> 01:51:04.630 align:middle line:90% and how we can improve it. 01:51:04.630 --> 01:51:07.150 align:middle line:84% Finally, I would like to thank staff 01:51:07.150 --> 01:51:10.570 align:middle line:84% for all the hard work of breaking this bill down 01:51:10.570 --> 01:51:13.090 align:middle line:90% every step along the way. 01:51:13.090 --> 01:51:16.540 align:middle line:84% If adopted, I am confident that this bill will 01:51:16.540 --> 01:51:21.130 align:middle line:84% increase public safety, strengthen our communities, 01:51:21.130 --> 01:51:25.570 align:middle line:84% and create a more just criminal justice system for everybody. 01:51:25.570 --> 01:51:27.970 align:middle line:84% We should all be really proud of the work 01:51:27.970 --> 01:51:29.960 align:middle line:90% we are doing here today. 01:51:29.960 --> 01:51:32.740 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much for this opportunity. 01:51:32.740 --> 01:51:37.804 align:middle line:84% Chair recognizes Mr. Frost of Auburn. 01:51:37.804 --> 01:51:55.120 align:middle line:90% 01:51:55.120 --> 01:51:58.250 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Mr. Speaker and through you 01:51:58.250 --> 01:52:01.220 align:middle line:90% to the members of this House. 01:52:01.220 --> 01:52:05.900 align:middle line:84% I rise in support of this conference committee report. 01:52:05.900 --> 01:52:10.920 align:middle line:84% And I also wish to thank the members of the conference 01:52:10.920 --> 01:52:13.570 align:middle line:84% committee for all their hard work 01:52:13.570 --> 01:52:18.160 align:middle line:84% and their perseverance to put this legislation before us 01:52:18.160 --> 01:52:18.660 align:middle line:90% today. 01:52:18.660 --> 01:52:21.570 align:middle line:90% 01:52:21.570 --> 01:52:24.770 align:middle line:84% I'd like to address something that 01:52:24.770 --> 01:52:27.930 align:middle line:90% hasn't been touched on yet. 01:52:27.930 --> 01:52:34.140 align:middle line:84% And that's a piece of wording in this legislation 01:52:34.140 --> 01:52:38.292 align:middle line:84% that I think is very important for our men and women in blue. 01:52:38.292 --> 01:52:41.710 align:middle line:90% 01:52:41.710 --> 01:52:45.540 align:middle line:84% As you all know, I'm from Auburn. 01:52:45.540 --> 01:52:58.640 align:middle line:84% And on May 22, 2016, one of our Auburn police officers 01:52:58.640 --> 01:53:08.620 align:middle line:84% was shot and killed on a routine traffic stop on a side road 01:53:08.620 --> 01:53:11.890 align:middle line:84% in the town of Auburn on Rochdale Street, 01:53:11.890 --> 01:53:13.810 align:middle line:90% the very street I live on. 01:53:13.810 --> 01:53:16.690 align:middle line:90% 01:53:16.690 --> 01:53:20.106 align:middle line:84% And it, as it would any community, 01:53:20.106 --> 01:53:21.330 align:middle line:90% it shook that community. 01:53:21.330 --> 01:53:24.230 align:middle line:90% It shook Auburn. 01:53:24.230 --> 01:53:30.300 align:middle line:84% Officer Ron Tarentino, Jr., was assassinated that night 01:53:30.300 --> 01:53:36.568 align:middle line:84% by an individual who had previous run-ins with the law 01:53:36.568 --> 01:53:43.140 align:middle line:84% but they were all treated as misdemeanors, 01:53:43.140 --> 01:53:47.560 align:middle line:84% even after some of these incidences 01:53:47.560 --> 01:53:52.710 align:middle line:84% resulted in assault and battery on police officers 01:53:52.710 --> 01:53:54.910 align:middle line:84% and he had shown that he was a danger 01:53:54.910 --> 01:53:58.710 align:middle line:84% not only to the general public but to police 01:53:58.710 --> 01:54:00.186 align:middle line:90% officers themselves. 01:54:00.186 --> 01:54:05.120 align:middle line:90% 01:54:05.120 --> 01:54:10.900 align:middle line:84% Soon afterwards, I would hear from Auburn police officers 01:54:10.900 --> 01:54:16.160 align:middle line:84% and those who used to serve with in Leicester, where he lived. 01:54:16.160 --> 01:54:18.920 align:middle line:90% It was a cry. 01:54:18.920 --> 01:54:24.850 align:middle line:84% How come it's OK for people to attack us, 01:54:24.850 --> 01:54:29.390 align:middle line:84% but yet it's a felony if someone attacks 01:54:29.390 --> 01:54:34.390 align:middle line:84% a firefighter in their line of duty, 01:54:34.390 --> 01:54:40.310 align:middle line:84% or a police dog in the line of duty? 01:54:40.310 --> 01:54:44.540 align:middle line:84% That those can be considered felony charges but to do so 01:54:44.540 --> 01:54:49.140 align:middle line:84% on a police officer is no more than a misdemeanor-- 01:54:49.140 --> 01:54:52.935 align:middle line:84% what message does that send when we're out in the streets? 01:54:52.935 --> 01:54:57.220 align:middle line:90% 01:54:57.220 --> 01:54:59.470 align:middle line:84% And so we filed legislation-- myself, 01:54:59.470 --> 01:55:02.110 align:middle line:84% the lady from Leicester, the gentleman from Brewster. 01:55:02.110 --> 01:55:03.610 align:middle line:84% The governor and lieutenant governor 01:55:03.610 --> 01:55:06.730 align:middle line:84% also filed similar legislation soon afterwards 01:55:06.730 --> 01:55:09.487 align:middle line:84% to try not only to raise awareness of this issue 01:55:09.487 --> 01:55:10.570 align:middle line:90% but to see something done. 01:55:10.570 --> 01:55:13.150 align:middle line:90% 01:55:13.150 --> 01:55:18.366 align:middle line:84% And I'm happy that through the process of this bill, 01:55:18.366 --> 01:55:22.614 align:middle line:84% here in the House and in the Senate, 01:55:22.614 --> 01:55:29.050 align:middle line:84% we were able to put language in to make assault and battery 01:55:29.050 --> 01:55:35.506 align:middle line:84% with serious bodily injury on a police officer a felony charge. 01:55:35.506 --> 01:55:39.380 align:middle line:90% 01:55:39.380 --> 01:55:43.030 align:middle line:84% It's a long time coming, but I believe 01:55:43.030 --> 01:55:45.645 align:middle line:84% it's important that we send a message to our men 01:55:45.645 --> 01:55:53.930 align:middle line:84% and women in blue that we're with them, that we appreciate 01:55:53.930 --> 01:55:58.720 align:middle line:84% their service to our Commonwealth, 01:55:58.720 --> 01:56:00.970 align:middle line:84% to our communities, to our neighborhoods, 01:56:00.970 --> 01:56:04.800 align:middle line:84% that they're there to keep us safe, 01:56:04.800 --> 01:56:07.280 align:middle line:84% and they don't have a right to be punching bags. 01:56:07.280 --> 01:56:09.890 align:middle line:84% They don't have a right to be beaten up. 01:56:09.890 --> 01:56:11.840 align:middle line:84% They don't have a right to be attacked. 01:56:11.840 --> 01:56:14.376 align:middle line:84% And they certainly do not have a right to be killed. 01:56:14.376 --> 01:56:17.190 align:middle line:90% 01:56:17.190 --> 01:56:19.380 align:middle line:84% And to be clear, this legislation, 01:56:19.380 --> 01:56:23.190 align:middle line:84% the way it's worded, does not talk about somebody 01:56:23.190 --> 01:56:26.100 align:middle line:84% shoving a police officer because they're drunk 01:56:26.100 --> 01:56:30.020 align:middle line:84% and they're being removed from a bar or something, 01:56:30.020 --> 01:56:32.000 align:middle line:84% or interfering with someone in a protest 01:56:32.000 --> 01:56:36.350 align:middle line:84% and the person is trying to slip away. 01:56:36.350 --> 01:56:40.280 align:middle line:84% It won't be affecting those at all. 01:56:40.280 --> 01:56:46.050 align:middle line:84% But this will be making it a felony charge, and potentially 01:56:46.050 --> 01:56:48.280 align:middle line:84% felony conviction if found guilty, 01:56:48.280 --> 01:56:54.702 align:middle line:84% if someone viciously and openly attacks a police officer 01:56:54.702 --> 01:56:56.670 align:middle line:84% while they're in the line of duty. 01:56:56.670 --> 01:56:59.536 align:middle line:90% 01:56:59.536 --> 01:57:00.910 align:middle line:84% I want to thank you, Mr. Speaker. 01:57:00.910 --> 01:57:03.460 align:middle line:90% I want to thank the governor. 01:57:03.460 --> 01:57:06.040 align:middle line:84% And I want to thank all the members of this House 01:57:06.040 --> 01:57:08.620 align:middle line:84% for making this a reality, for moving this 01:57:08.620 --> 01:57:11.590 align:middle line:84% forward, and putting this into the general laws. 01:57:11.590 --> 01:57:14.410 align:middle line:84% On behalf of myself, on behalf of the Tarentino family, 01:57:14.410 --> 01:57:16.840 align:middle line:84% behalf of the Auburn Police Department and the Leicester 01:57:16.840 --> 01:57:19.510 align:middle line:84% Police Department, and all police officers 01:57:19.510 --> 01:57:22.690 align:middle line:84% across this country and across the state, 01:57:22.690 --> 01:57:26.666 align:middle line:84% thank you, God bless, and may the conference committee pass. 01:57:26.666 --> 01:57:29.390 align:middle line:90% 01:57:29.390 --> 01:57:31.630 align:middle line:90% Recognizes Miss Khan of Newton. 01:57:31.630 --> 01:57:59.800 align:middle line:90% 01:57:59.800 --> 01:58:01.270 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 01:58:01.270 --> 01:58:06.850 align:middle line:84% I rise in support of Senate 2371 on acceptance of the conference 01:58:06.850 --> 01:58:08.410 align:middle line:90% committee report. 01:58:08.410 --> 01:58:11.170 align:middle line:84% And I especially want to thank you, Mr. Speaker, 01:58:11.170 --> 01:58:15.840 align:middle line:84% for your leadership, your commitment to this legislation, 01:58:15.840 --> 01:58:21.730 align:middle line:84% to this criminal justice reform movement in the House 01:58:21.730 --> 01:58:22.900 align:middle line:90% and Senate. 01:58:22.900 --> 01:58:25.210 align:middle line:90% I want to thank Leader Mariano. 01:58:25.210 --> 01:58:28.030 align:middle line:84% I want to thank Chair Cronin for her interest 01:58:28.030 --> 01:58:31.500 align:middle line:84% in hearing from so many of the members. 01:58:31.500 --> 01:58:34.900 align:middle line:84% I want to thank the entire conference committee, including 01:58:34.900 --> 01:58:38.950 align:middle line:84% the gentlelady from Groton, Sheila Harrington, the chair 01:58:38.950 --> 01:58:43.600 align:middle line:84% of ways and means, Chair Sanchez, 01:58:43.600 --> 01:58:45.310 align:middle line:90% and many of my colleagues. 01:58:45.310 --> 01:58:48.700 align:middle line:84% I want to thank Representative Decker, Representative Dykema, 01:58:48.700 --> 01:58:52.810 align:middle line:84% Representative Barber, several of the members 01:58:52.810 --> 01:58:57.850 align:middle line:84% that I worked with on some of my interest in the legislation. 01:58:57.850 --> 01:59:00.670 align:middle line:84% So an act relative to criminal justice reform, 01:59:00.670 --> 01:59:06.430 align:middle line:84% this bill is the culmination of years of research, discussions, 01:59:06.430 --> 01:59:10.570 align:middle line:84% presentations, a multitude of conferences, 01:59:10.570 --> 01:59:13.420 align:middle line:84% work by the Criminal Justice Commissions, 01:59:13.420 --> 01:59:15.730 align:middle line:84% the Harm Reduction Caucus, the Joint 01:59:15.730 --> 01:59:18.790 align:middle line:84% Committee on the Judiciary, Chairs Cronin and Brownsberger; 01:59:18.790 --> 01:59:23.410 align:middle line:84% for the hard work of so many staff, including my own staff, 01:59:23.410 --> 01:59:27.280 align:middle line:84% and many, many advocates who also worked diligently 01:59:27.280 --> 01:59:31.330 align:middle line:84% to get to the place that we are in today. 01:59:31.330 --> 01:59:33.490 align:middle line:84% Criminal justice reform has been a priority 01:59:33.490 --> 01:59:37.120 align:middle line:84% of mine since my earliest days as a legislator. 01:59:37.120 --> 01:59:40.660 align:middle line:84% And this bill is a giant leap forward 01:59:40.660 --> 01:59:45.460 align:middle line:84% in better understanding the ways we provide effective services-- 01:59:45.460 --> 01:59:48.820 align:middle line:84% or we can provide effective services and programs 01:59:48.820 --> 01:59:52.690 align:middle line:84% and assist individuals who come into contact with our justice 01:59:52.690 --> 01:59:53.890 align:middle line:90% system. 01:59:53.890 --> 01:59:55.870 align:middle line:84% With this bill, the Commonwealth is 01:59:55.870 --> 01:59:59.500 align:middle line:84% committed to giving justice-involved individuals 01:59:59.500 --> 02:00:03.760 align:middle line:84% the opportunity for a fresh start and to reintegrate 02:00:03.760 --> 02:00:05.920 align:middle line:84% successfully into our communities 02:00:05.920 --> 02:00:10.000 align:middle line:84% and become productive citizens and ultimately 02:00:10.000 --> 02:00:13.030 align:middle line:84% to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth. 02:00:13.030 --> 02:00:17.020 align:middle line:84% I am proud that Senate 2371 includes 02:00:17.020 --> 02:00:22.060 align:middle line:84% so many important measures that will affect juveniles-- 02:00:22.060 --> 02:00:25.690 align:middle line:84% the expungement of criminal records for non-serious crimes 02:00:25.690 --> 02:00:31.600 align:middle line:84% committed by juveniles and young adults before the age of 21. 02:00:31.600 --> 02:00:36.100 align:middle line:84% When state criminal records are sealed or expunged, 02:00:36.100 --> 02:00:42.130 align:middle line:84% national fingerprint records are also sealed and expunged. 02:00:42.130 --> 02:00:46.940 align:middle line:84% This bill will accelerate the sealing of records. 02:00:46.940 --> 02:00:51.040 align:middle line:84% It raises the lower age of juvenile jurisdiction 02:00:51.040 --> 02:00:54.220 align:middle line:90% from age 7 to 12. 02:00:54.220 --> 02:00:58.120 align:middle line:84% It bans solitary confinement for juveniles. 02:00:58.120 --> 02:01:00.430 align:middle line:84% It provides an almost complete ban 02:01:00.430 --> 02:01:05.050 align:middle line:84% on shackling for juveniles in the justice system. 02:01:05.050 --> 02:01:07.960 align:middle line:84% It protects parent-child confidentiality 02:01:07.960 --> 02:01:10.600 align:middle line:84% by ensuring that parents and children are not 02:01:10.600 --> 02:01:15.250 align:middle line:84% forced to testify against one another in court. 02:01:15.250 --> 02:01:18.490 align:middle line:84% And it decriminalizes minor offenses of juveniles, 02:01:18.490 --> 02:01:20.920 align:middle line:84% including disrupting school assemblies 02:01:20.920 --> 02:01:23.050 align:middle line:90% and disorderly conduct. 02:01:23.050 --> 02:01:27.550 align:middle line:84% It creates a task force on trauma-informed juvenile care 02:01:27.550 --> 02:01:31.510 align:middle line:84% and creates a juvenile justice policy and data board 02:01:31.510 --> 02:01:34.660 align:middle line:84% to gather and consolidate information 02:01:34.660 --> 02:01:37.780 align:middle line:90% about justice-involved youth. 02:01:37.780 --> 02:01:41.170 align:middle line:84% These and many other pieces of the legislation 02:01:41.170 --> 02:01:45.410 align:middle line:84% will give young people a second chance. 02:01:45.410 --> 02:01:48.880 align:middle line:84% The bill also includes a priority 02:01:48.880 --> 02:01:52.190 align:middle line:84% of the Caucus of Women Legislators' Task Force 02:01:52.190 --> 02:01:54.640 align:middle line:90% on Justice-Involved Women. 02:01:54.640 --> 02:01:59.050 align:middle line:84% It creates a panel to study the impact of the reform bill 02:01:59.050 --> 02:02:02.860 align:middle line:84% and other laws on the lives of justice-involved women 02:02:02.860 --> 02:02:06.040 align:middle line:84% and their children to better protect women 02:02:06.040 --> 02:02:09.700 align:middle line:84% in the criminal justice system by making recommendations 02:02:09.700 --> 02:02:13.930 align:middle line:84% on gender-responsive and trauma-informed approaches 02:02:13.930 --> 02:02:17.380 align:middle line:84% to address the pretrial, incarceration, 02:02:17.380 --> 02:02:21.970 align:middle line:84% and rehabilitation needs of justice-involved women. 02:02:21.970 --> 02:02:28.435 align:middle line:84% Again, I want to thank Mr. Speaker, the Senate President, 02:02:28.435 --> 02:02:30.820 align:middle line:84% all of the leadership, the chairs of the Joint 02:02:30.820 --> 02:02:34.450 align:middle line:84% Committee on Judiciary, and all of my colleagues, 02:02:34.450 --> 02:02:36.190 align:middle line:84% as well as the advocates who have 02:02:36.190 --> 02:02:40.540 align:middle line:84% worked so diligently on these issues and more. 02:02:40.540 --> 02:02:43.840 align:middle line:84% So hope when a vote is taken, it will be taken 02:02:43.840 --> 02:02:45.730 align:middle line:90% by a call of the yeas and nays. 02:02:45.730 --> 02:02:48.370 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 02:02:48.370 --> 02:02:51.343 align:middle line:84% Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover. 02:02:51.343 --> 02:03:17.380 align:middle line:90% 02:03:17.380 --> 02:03:20.290 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 02:03:20.290 --> 02:03:23.650 align:middle line:84% And I also want to thank all of the members 02:03:23.650 --> 02:03:26.920 align:middle line:84% of the House for all of their efforts 02:03:26.920 --> 02:03:29.155 align:middle line:90% in putting this bill forward. 02:03:29.155 --> 02:03:31.820 align:middle line:90% 02:03:31.820 --> 02:03:34.610 align:middle line:84% What they had to start with on the Senate side, 02:03:34.610 --> 02:03:40.500 align:middle line:84% as everyone knows, was certainly different than what we came up 02:03:40.500 --> 02:03:42.660 align:middle line:90% with on the House side. 02:03:42.660 --> 02:03:46.590 align:middle line:84% And I appreciate all the comments and the passion today. 02:03:46.590 --> 02:03:51.700 align:middle line:84% But as you sometimes realize, I have a different perspective 02:03:51.700 --> 02:03:53.470 align:middle line:90% on things. 02:03:53.470 --> 02:03:57.370 align:middle line:84% And I think it's real important to look at data. 02:03:57.370 --> 02:04:02.440 align:middle line:84% That's what everyone seems to be talking about-- data. 02:04:02.440 --> 02:04:04.620 align:middle line:84% So there is some data about what we're 02:04:04.620 --> 02:04:09.320 align:middle line:90% doing today from Colorado. 02:04:09.320 --> 02:04:16.170 align:middle line:84% And it says, from a report in November of 2017, 02:04:16.170 --> 02:04:22.170 align:middle line:84% prosecutors are pointing to the rise in felony filings 02:04:22.170 --> 02:04:25.320 align:middle line:90% as a cause for caution. 02:04:25.320 --> 02:04:30.240 align:middle line:84% Several said they fear that the legislature sent 02:04:30.240 --> 02:04:38.280 align:middle line:84% the wrong signal in 2013 when it created more leniency in drug 02:04:38.280 --> 02:04:40.830 align:middle line:90% sentencing. 02:04:40.830 --> 02:04:48.750 align:middle line:84% Felony criminal filings since 2013 across Colorado 02:04:48.750 --> 02:04:51.570 align:middle line:90% have increased by nearly 50%. 02:04:51.570 --> 02:04:54.535 align:middle line:90% 02:04:54.535 --> 02:04:55.035 align:middle line:90% Data. 02:04:55.035 --> 02:05:00.459 align:middle line:90% 02:05:00.459 --> 02:05:02.250 align:middle line:84% There are several parts of this bill that I 02:05:02.250 --> 02:05:04.740 align:middle line:90% find particularly troubling. 02:05:04.740 --> 02:05:07.630 align:middle line:90% 02:05:07.630 --> 02:05:11.440 align:middle line:84% The threshold for larceny is being 02:05:11.440 --> 02:05:18.140 align:middle line:90% increased from $250 to $1,250. 02:05:18.140 --> 02:05:21.770 align:middle line:84% And one of the arguments that I've heard and read 02:05:21.770 --> 02:05:27.770 align:middle line:84% is that we haven't changed it since 1980. 02:05:27.770 --> 02:05:32.350 align:middle line:84% We haven't changed it since 1980. 02:05:32.350 --> 02:05:38.980 align:middle line:84% So what kind of metric did we come up with? 02:05:38.980 --> 02:05:43.030 align:middle line:90% $1,250 sounds good? 02:05:43.030 --> 02:05:45.310 align:middle line:90% Well, I came up with a metric. 02:05:45.310 --> 02:05:48.460 align:middle line:84% How about the household medium income in Massachusetts 02:05:48.460 --> 02:05:50.345 align:middle line:90% since the 1980s? 02:05:50.345 --> 02:05:51.805 align:middle line:90% It increased by 47%. 02:05:51.805 --> 02:05:54.480 align:middle line:90% 02:05:54.480 --> 02:05:57.380 align:middle line:84% So if we use that metric, it would increase it from $250 02:05:57.380 --> 02:06:00.710 align:middle line:90% to roughly $375. 02:06:00.710 --> 02:06:07.610 align:middle line:84% The problem when you increase the threshold 02:06:07.610 --> 02:06:12.130 align:middle line:84% is that sometimes that hurts retailers. 02:06:12.130 --> 02:06:15.562 align:middle line:84% A report by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts 02:06:15.562 --> 02:06:23.690 align:middle line:84% says, professional criminals operating in regions states 02:06:23.690 --> 02:06:30.420 align:middle line:84% with higher threshold amounts become more attractive targets. 02:06:30.420 --> 02:06:33.550 align:middle line:84% So what we're doing is we're saying 02:06:33.550 --> 02:06:39.600 align:middle line:84% to retailers in Massachusetts, $250 isn't enough, 02:06:39.600 --> 02:06:41.680 align:middle line:90% but $1,250 is OK. 02:06:41.680 --> 02:06:44.260 align:middle line:84% I don't know why we came up to that number, 02:06:44.260 --> 02:06:48.660 align:middle line:84% but that's the number that we're relying on. 02:06:48.660 --> 02:06:56.610 align:middle line:84% That is a 380% increase over the current threshold. 02:06:56.610 --> 02:06:57.486 align:middle line:90% 380%. 02:06:57.486 --> 02:07:01.470 align:middle line:90% 02:07:01.470 --> 02:07:06.120 align:middle line:84% I don't know what metric they use, but that's what it is. 02:07:06.120 --> 02:07:10.200 align:middle line:90% Reducing mandatory minimums-- 02:07:10.200 --> 02:07:13.860 align:middle line:84% I've heard this bill by the chairman of the Senate 02:07:13.860 --> 02:07:20.370 align:middle line:84% committee say that this is about lifting up, not locking up. 02:07:20.370 --> 02:07:24.960 align:middle line:90% Lifting up, not locking up. 02:07:24.960 --> 02:07:29.820 align:middle line:84% And I say that's the wrong message at the wrong time. 02:07:29.820 --> 02:07:32.880 align:middle line:84% Every single person in this chamber 02:07:32.880 --> 02:07:36.770 align:middle line:90% is aware of the opiate epidemic. 02:07:36.770 --> 02:07:39.160 align:middle line:90% Everyone has been touched by it. 02:07:39.160 --> 02:07:46.330 align:middle line:84% And we heard earlier today that from 2015 to now, 02:07:46.330 --> 02:07:51.550 align:middle line:84% fentanyl has increased from 23% of the deaths 02:07:51.550 --> 02:07:56.830 align:middle line:84% to 83% of the deaths here in Massachusetts. 02:07:56.830 --> 02:08:02.470 align:middle line:84% A little known fact is that cocaine has now 02:08:02.470 --> 02:08:09.690 align:middle line:84% become a serious problem about deaths in Massachusetts. 02:08:09.690 --> 02:08:15.580 align:middle line:84% Fentanyl-laced cocaine is becoming a deadly problem 02:08:15.580 --> 02:08:19.280 align:middle line:90% among drug users. 02:08:19.280 --> 02:08:25.040 align:middle line:84% It is not clear of the nearly 2,000 estimated deaths listed 02:08:25.040 --> 02:08:29.030 align:middle line:84% as opiate overdoses last year in Massachusetts 02:08:29.030 --> 02:08:32.990 align:middle line:84% represent people who thought they were doing cocaine. 02:08:32.990 --> 02:08:37.100 align:middle line:84% The state does not register drug combinations found in most 02:08:37.100 --> 02:08:39.890 align:middle line:90% bodies after an overdose. 02:08:39.890 --> 02:08:42.290 align:middle line:90% However, Connecticut does. 02:08:42.290 --> 02:08:45.460 align:middle line:84% The number of deaths involving cocaine and fentanyl 02:08:45.460 --> 02:08:53.130 align:middle line:84% together has increased by 420% in the past three years. 02:08:53.130 --> 02:08:57.500 align:middle line:84% The message is the wrong message at the wrong time. 02:08:57.500 --> 02:09:02.360 align:middle line:84% We should not be taking one step backwards 02:09:02.360 --> 02:09:06.144 align:middle line:84% in our enforcement against drug traffickers. 02:09:06.144 --> 02:09:10.530 align:middle line:90% 02:09:10.530 --> 02:09:18.245 align:middle line:84% Section 91 of this particular bill is confusing to me. 02:09:18.245 --> 02:09:22.120 align:middle line:90% 02:09:22.120 --> 02:09:29.440 align:middle line:84% Section 91 says a prisoner of a correctional institution, 02:09:29.440 --> 02:09:33.670 align:middle line:84% jail, or house of correction that has gender identity as 02:09:33.670 --> 02:09:38.860 align:middle line:84% defined in chapter 4 that differs from a person's 02:09:38.860 --> 02:09:44.170 align:middle line:84% assigned at birth, with or without a diagnosis of gender 02:09:44.170 --> 02:09:50.490 align:middle line:84% dysphoria or any other physical or mental diagnosis, 02:09:50.490 --> 02:09:54.540 align:middle line:84% shall be addressed in a manner consistent with the gender 02:09:54.540 --> 02:10:00.340 align:middle line:84% identity, provided with access to commissary, 02:10:00.340 --> 02:10:02.510 align:middle line:90% clothing program-- 02:10:02.510 --> 02:10:07.450 align:middle line:84% so basically what we're saying in that particular section 02:10:07.450 --> 02:10:10.690 align:middle line:84% is that whatever gender someone identifies 02:10:10.690 --> 02:10:17.510 align:middle line:84% as, they can have that person of the same gender 02:10:17.510 --> 02:10:20.790 align:middle line:84% be responsible in this particular chapter. 02:10:20.790 --> 02:10:26.400 align:middle line:84% Now, I want you to know that there are 71 genders out there. 02:10:26.400 --> 02:10:28.290 align:middle line:90% 71 genders. 02:10:28.290 --> 02:10:35.260 align:middle line:84% Does this bill account for the 71 genders that are out there? 02:10:35.260 --> 02:10:37.670 align:middle line:90% I don't know. 02:10:37.670 --> 02:10:40.840 align:middle line:84% Let's get to the fentanyl aspect of this bill. 02:10:40.840 --> 02:10:44.410 align:middle line:84% We heard the gentleman from Barnstable 02:10:44.410 --> 02:10:50.650 align:middle line:84% get up and say that this bill is going to dramatically decrease 02:10:50.650 --> 02:10:56.920 align:middle line:84% the number of fentanyl-related deaths in Massachusetts. 02:10:56.920 --> 02:11:02.400 align:middle line:84% And that could have simply been done with one standalone piece 02:11:02.400 --> 02:11:04.450 align:middle line:90% of legislation. 02:11:04.450 --> 02:11:06.600 align:middle line:90% But for some reason-- 02:11:06.600 --> 02:11:16.250 align:middle line:84% for some reason, we have decided to leverage that legislation 02:11:16.250 --> 02:11:21.390 align:middle line:84% to put together a comprehensive piece of legislation 02:11:21.390 --> 02:11:25.410 align:middle line:84% here that everyone now feels really comfortable about. 02:11:25.410 --> 02:11:30.180 align:middle line:84% Well, let's take a look at the cost of that legislation. 02:11:30.180 --> 02:11:36.880 align:middle line:84% The date that we were talking about was 2015. 02:11:36.880 --> 02:11:45.190 align:middle line:84% 2,000 people a year have died from fentanyl-related overdoses 02:11:45.190 --> 02:11:48.100 align:middle line:90% since 2015. 02:11:48.100 --> 02:11:49.420 align:middle line:90% Why? 02:11:49.420 --> 02:11:54.070 align:middle line:84% Because this legislature decided not to act-- 02:11:54.070 --> 02:12:00.790 align:middle line:84% not to act with data that showed us that that was happening. 02:12:00.790 --> 02:12:08.540 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, the optics of what is going on on Beacon Hill 02:12:08.540 --> 02:12:12.940 align:middle line:84% are not very good, particularly in this current environment. 02:12:12.940 --> 02:12:15.960 align:middle line:84% Just take a look at what's going on in the Senate. 02:12:15.960 --> 02:12:20.180 align:middle line:84% Just take a look at what's going on in the Senate. 02:12:20.180 --> 02:12:22.310 align:middle line:84% These are the people that drafted 02:12:22.310 --> 02:12:24.770 align:middle line:90% the original legislation. 02:12:24.770 --> 02:12:29.520 align:middle line:84% And for some reason, we decided-- 02:12:29.520 --> 02:12:32.310 align:middle line:84% or the Senate decided, or the House decided-- 02:12:32.310 --> 02:12:36.840 align:middle line:84% not to bring forward a piece of legislation 02:12:36.840 --> 02:12:41.550 align:middle line:84% that, standing alone, could have simply solved 02:12:41.550 --> 02:12:45.240 align:middle line:84% and given our law enforcement officers 02:12:45.240 --> 02:12:48.190 align:middle line:90% the tools that they need. 02:12:48.190 --> 02:12:52.360 align:middle line:84% That optic, to me, is an outrage. 02:12:52.360 --> 02:12:57.910 align:middle line:84% It's an absolute outrage that we have not taken action 02:12:57.910 --> 02:13:01.720 align:middle line:84% on a standalone piece of legislation that would 02:13:01.720 --> 02:13:04.270 align:middle line:90% address the opiate epidemic. 02:13:04.270 --> 02:13:07.340 align:middle line:90% I have sat with heroin addicts. 02:13:07.340 --> 02:13:09.850 align:middle line:90% 02:13:09.850 --> 02:13:12.120 align:middle line:90% I've sat and talked to them. 02:13:12.120 --> 02:13:13.830 align:middle line:90% And I've asked them-- 02:13:13.830 --> 02:13:17.130 align:middle line:84% this goes back a couple of years-- what is the number one 02:13:17.130 --> 02:13:19.770 align:middle line:90% thing that we can do? 02:13:19.770 --> 02:13:22.680 align:middle line:84% And the number one thing that we can do 02:13:22.680 --> 02:13:27.700 align:middle line:84% is to arrest and punish the drug traffickers. 02:13:27.700 --> 02:13:31.810 align:middle line:84% I think to use legislation like this 02:13:31.810 --> 02:13:36.310 align:middle line:90% as leverage is simply wrong. 02:13:36.310 --> 02:13:41.800 align:middle line:84% We could solve and give our law enforcement officers 02:13:41.800 --> 02:13:47.020 align:middle line:84% Section 45 in this bill, which says, 02:13:47.020 --> 02:13:49.480 align:middle line:84% as the gentleman from Barnstable talked 02:13:49.480 --> 02:13:54.550 align:middle line:84% about, Class A of Section 31, chapter 02:13:54.550 --> 02:13:58.150 align:middle line:84% 94(c) of the general laws as appearing 02:13:58.150 --> 02:13:59.590 align:middle line:90% and is hereby amended. 02:13:59.590 --> 02:14:04.630 align:middle line:90% And it lists those drugs. 02:14:04.630 --> 02:14:08.350 align:middle line:84% Simple legislation-- standalone-- 02:14:08.350 --> 02:14:10.660 align:middle line:84% but that didn't happen in this House. 02:14:10.660 --> 02:14:12.300 align:middle line:90% It's the optics. 02:14:12.300 --> 02:14:13.480 align:middle line:90% It's the optics. 02:14:13.480 --> 02:14:15.940 align:middle line:84% And I think the optics of what was 02:14:15.940 --> 02:14:21.670 align:middle line:84% done, with all due respect to my colleagues, is terrible. 02:14:21.670 --> 02:14:23.534 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. 02:14:23.534 --> 02:14:25.522 align:middle line:90% House will be in a brief recess. 02:14:25.522 --> 02:15:19.250 align:middle line:90% 02:15:19.250 --> 02:15:22.020 align:middle line:90% House will be in order. 02:15:22.020 --> 02:15:24.970 align:middle line:84% Mr. Mariano of Quincy doubts the present for quorum. 02:15:24.970 --> 02:15:27.315 align:middle line:84% Chair can ascertain that quorum is not present. 02:15:27.315 --> 02:15:28.800 align:middle line:84% Court officers, summon the members. 02:15:28.800 --> 02:15:31.194 align:middle line:84% Indicate a quorum roll call is now in progress. 02:15:31.194 --> 02:19:06.230 align:middle line:90% 02:19:06.230 --> 02:19:08.379 align:middle line:84% Have all members voted wish to do so? 02:19:08.379 --> 02:19:44.070 align:middle line:90% 02:19:44.070 --> 02:19:45.030 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 02:19:45.030 --> 02:19:56.611 align:middle line:90% 02:19:56.611 --> 02:19:57.360 align:middle line:90% Have all members-- 02:19:57.360 --> 02:20:04.620 align:middle line:90% 02:20:04.620 --> 02:20:07.240 align:middle line:84% Mr. Mariano of Quincy asks unanimous consent 02:20:07.240 --> 02:20:09.960 align:middle line:84% to withdraw his request for a quorum roll call. 02:20:09.960 --> 02:20:11.085 align:middle line:90% The chair hears objections. 02:20:11.085 --> 02:20:12.177 align:middle line:90% The chair hears none. 02:20:12.177 --> 02:20:13.510 align:middle line:90% House will be in a brief recess. 02:20:13.510 --> 02:20:20.620 align:middle line:90% 02:20:20.620 --> 02:20:22.560 align:middle line:84% Members are asked to please take their seats 02:20:22.560 --> 02:20:24.295 align:middle line:90% and subdue you conversations. 02:20:24.295 --> 02:20:49.050 align:middle line:90% 02:20:49.050 --> 02:20:51.260 align:middle line:84% Court officers are asked to please clear the aisles. 02:20:51.260 --> 02:21:09.970 align:middle line:90% 02:21:09.970 --> 02:21:12.460 align:middle line:84% The chair recognizes Mr. Ultrino of Malden. 02:21:12.460 --> 02:21:15.130 align:middle line:90% 02:21:15.130 --> 02:21:17.670 align:middle line:84% Again, members are please asked to take their seats 02:21:17.670 --> 02:21:19.650 align:middle line:84% and to subdue your conversations. 02:21:19.650 --> 02:21:24.010 align:middle line:90% 02:21:24.010 --> 02:21:27.520 align:middle line:84% The chair recognizes Mr. Ultrino of Malden. 02:21:27.520 --> 02:21:28.240 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 02:21:28.240 --> 02:21:30.250 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 02:21:30.250 --> 02:21:32.680 align:middle line:84% Through you, Mr. Speaker, to the membership, 02:21:32.680 --> 02:21:34.510 align:middle line:84% I'd like to thank you for the opportunity 02:21:34.510 --> 02:21:38.590 align:middle line:84% to speak today in support of Senate 2371, 02:21:38.590 --> 02:21:42.210 align:middle line:84% an act relative to criminal justice reform. 02:21:42.210 --> 02:21:44.710 align:middle line:84% For over three years, I've had the pleasure 02:21:44.710 --> 02:21:48.580 align:middle line:84% of representing the good people of the 33rd Middlesex District, 02:21:48.580 --> 02:21:52.690 align:middle line:84% consisting of about 70% of the city of Malden. 02:21:52.690 --> 02:21:54.580 align:middle line:84% I'd like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, 02:21:54.580 --> 02:21:58.600 align:middle line:84% for your leadership, your advice, your support, and more 02:21:58.600 --> 02:22:01.570 align:middle line:84% importantly, your friendship during these last three years 02:22:01.570 --> 02:22:03.580 align:middle line:90% as a member of this House. 02:22:03.580 --> 02:22:06.400 align:middle line:84% It's truly an honor to be a member of this House, 02:22:06.400 --> 02:22:09.490 align:middle line:84% knowing that my most important focus has always 02:22:09.490 --> 02:22:12.730 align:middle line:84% been doing what's best for my constituents. 02:22:12.730 --> 02:22:17.620 align:middle line:84% When I began my career in college at Suffolk University, 02:22:17.620 --> 02:22:20.170 align:middle line:84% my public speaking professor gave me 02:22:20.170 --> 02:22:22.180 align:middle line:90% the best piece of advice. 02:22:22.180 --> 02:22:24.430 align:middle line:84% She said, if you want to be successful and have people 02:22:24.430 --> 02:22:27.520 align:middle line:84% listen to you, I want you to look in the mirror 02:22:27.520 --> 02:22:29.245 align:middle line:90% while writing your speech. 02:22:29.245 --> 02:22:32.035 align:middle line:84% That will remind you to keep it short and sweet. 02:22:32.035 --> 02:22:35.290 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 02:22:35.290 --> 02:22:38.350 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the people 02:22:38.350 --> 02:22:41.770 align:middle line:84% of the 33rd Middlesex for sending me here. 02:22:41.770 --> 02:22:45.820 align:middle line:84% I'd like to especially thank the leader from Medford who 02:22:45.820 --> 02:22:49.380 align:middle line:84% I've had the pleasure of knowing for well over 20 years. 02:22:49.380 --> 02:22:52.270 align:middle line:84% And he shares part of the city of Malden. 02:22:52.270 --> 02:22:54.280 align:middle line:84% He's a true friend-- where is he-- 02:22:54.280 --> 02:22:55.930 align:middle line:90% and a mentor. 02:22:55.930 --> 02:22:58.180 align:middle line:84% When I was elected to the house, I 02:22:58.180 --> 02:23:02.630 align:middle line:84% became the President of the 189th House. 02:23:02.630 --> 02:23:04.970 align:middle line:84% The members always asked me how come I got along 02:23:04.970 --> 02:23:06.620 align:middle line:90% so well with the leader. 02:23:06.620 --> 02:23:09.320 align:middle line:84% I didn't tell them I've known him for many years. 02:23:09.320 --> 02:23:11.360 align:middle line:84% But I said to them, as long as you believe him 02:23:11.360 --> 02:23:15.950 align:middle line:84% when he tells you he's six feet tall and he's 45 years old, 02:23:15.950 --> 02:23:20.510 align:middle line:84% he'll get along with anyone, including Republicans. 02:23:20.510 --> 02:23:23.540 align:middle line:84% I'd also like to thank the chairman from Melrose 02:23:23.540 --> 02:23:25.760 align:middle line:90% who I also share the city with. 02:23:25.760 --> 02:23:28.670 align:middle line:90% He's intelligent and thoughtful. 02:23:28.670 --> 02:23:30.350 align:middle line:84% Just please don't give him a microphone 02:23:30.350 --> 02:23:32.147 align:middle line:90% and ask him to say any jokes. 02:23:32.147 --> 02:23:34.095 align:middle line:84% You'll be there for over an hour. 02:23:34.095 --> 02:23:37.020 align:middle line:90% 02:23:37.020 --> 02:23:40.050 align:middle line:84% I'd like to think the leader from Quincy who I really 02:23:40.050 --> 02:23:42.660 align:middle line:90% respect in getting to know him. 02:23:42.660 --> 02:23:46.870 align:middle line:84% I enjoy his direct and [? no-bull ?] advice. 02:23:46.870 --> 02:23:48.350 align:middle line:84% And the chairman of ways and means, 02:23:48.350 --> 02:23:51.830 align:middle line:84% who was the chairman I met when I was assigned to health care 02:23:51.830 --> 02:23:54.620 align:middle line:84% finance, thank you for always lending 02:23:54.620 --> 02:23:57.262 align:middle line:90% an ear and an open door. 02:23:57.262 --> 02:23:58.970 align:middle line:84% I'd like to thank my legislative aide who 02:23:58.970 --> 02:24:00.470 align:middle line:90% has been with me from day one. 02:24:00.470 --> 02:24:02.490 align:middle line:90% I'm not sure why. 02:24:02.490 --> 02:24:05.850 align:middle line:84% He works hard and I'm fortunate to have him. 02:24:05.850 --> 02:24:07.680 align:middle line:84% Now, I have to be nicer to him since he's 02:24:07.680 --> 02:24:11.700 align:middle line:84% moved into the district and registered to vote. 02:24:11.700 --> 02:24:13.710 align:middle line:84% And finally, I'd like to thank my family who 02:24:13.710 --> 02:24:15.660 align:middle line:90% couldn't be here today. 02:24:15.660 --> 02:24:20.110 align:middle line:84% I would not be the person I am today without them. 02:24:20.110 --> 02:24:24.030 align:middle line:84% My parents worked very hard to have opportunities 02:24:24.030 --> 02:24:27.360 align:middle line:84% for my brother and I that they couldn't. 02:24:27.360 --> 02:24:30.090 align:middle line:84% My ancestors, like many of yours, came to this country 02:24:30.090 --> 02:24:34.850 align:middle line:84% to work in factories, on fishing boats, digging holes 02:24:34.850 --> 02:24:36.800 align:middle line:90% and filling potholes. 02:24:36.800 --> 02:24:39.410 align:middle line:84% Many of them, including my father, fought for this country 02:24:39.410 --> 02:24:42.910 align:middle line:84% and could never be so proud of their service. 02:24:42.910 --> 02:24:46.700 align:middle line:84% Unfortunately, he passed away 30 days 02:24:46.700 --> 02:24:49.340 align:middle line:84% before he got his honorable discharge 02:24:49.340 --> 02:24:52.110 align:middle line:84% after being a Vietnam veteran and being 02:24:52.110 --> 02:24:55.914 align:middle line:90% 27 years in the Army Reserve. 02:24:55.914 --> 02:24:57.830 align:middle line:84% He didn't get a chance to see me on the school 02:24:57.830 --> 02:25:01.300 align:middle line:84% committee or the city council or state rep, 02:25:01.300 --> 02:25:04.190 align:middle line:90% but I know he's pretty proud. 02:25:04.190 --> 02:25:06.670 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, I, like many of you, 02:25:06.670 --> 02:25:09.830 align:middle line:84% was the first person in my immediate family 02:25:09.830 --> 02:25:12.650 align:middle line:84% who graduated from college, not once 02:25:12.650 --> 02:25:18.819 align:middle line:84% but four times until I earned my doctorate degree in 2011. 02:25:18.819 --> 02:25:20.360 align:middle line:84% My mother will still call me and say, 02:25:20.360 --> 02:25:23.030 align:middle line:84% you went back to school because you continued to get gifts 02:25:23.030 --> 02:25:25.890 align:middle line:90% at graduation time. 02:25:25.890 --> 02:25:28.650 align:middle line:84% Even though my doctorate degree is in education, 02:25:28.650 --> 02:25:32.490 align:middle line:84% my 91-year-old grandmother who passed away a few years ago 02:25:32.490 --> 02:25:38.050 align:middle line:84% would still call me and tell me about all her aches and pains. 02:25:38.050 --> 02:25:41.170 align:middle line:84% I tried to tell her I wasn't a medical doctor, 02:25:41.170 --> 02:25:44.170 align:middle line:84% but her pride wouldn't let that sink in. 02:25:44.170 --> 02:25:46.050 align:middle line:84% So finally, I gave up and I said just 02:25:46.050 --> 02:25:49.414 align:middle line:84% take some aspirin, say the rosary twice, 02:25:49.414 --> 02:25:50.580 align:middle line:90% and you should be just fine. 02:25:50.580 --> 02:25:54.130 align:middle line:90% 02:25:54.130 --> 02:25:57.460 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, I chose to speak on this piece of legislation 02:25:57.460 --> 02:26:02.200 align:middle line:84% today because I come to this house with a background 02:26:02.200 --> 02:26:05.350 align:middle line:84% from being a high school teacher, an elementary school 02:26:05.350 --> 02:26:09.160 align:middle line:84% principal, and a director of education 02:26:09.160 --> 02:26:12.769 align:middle line:84% at the Middlesex Sheriff's Office Correctional Facility. 02:26:12.769 --> 02:26:14.560 align:middle line:84% I worked with students who were three years 02:26:14.560 --> 02:26:18.190 align:middle line:84% old all the way up to 80 years old, students 02:26:18.190 --> 02:26:22.060 align:middle line:84% who came from a wealthy family and a poor family, 02:26:22.060 --> 02:26:25.120 align:middle line:84% students I now have met that are surgeons, 02:26:25.120 --> 02:26:28.090 align:middle line:84% and students who have been victims of addiction 02:26:28.090 --> 02:26:31.330 align:middle line:84% and continue to be housed in Billerica. 02:26:31.330 --> 02:26:34.750 align:middle line:84% I understand the need to reform our criminal justice system 02:26:34.750 --> 02:26:38.620 align:middle line:84% and how members of society can, through rehabilitation, 02:26:38.620 --> 02:26:42.160 align:middle line:84% stay out of our system and be contributing individuals 02:26:42.160 --> 02:26:44.360 align:middle line:90% in our society. 02:26:44.360 --> 02:26:48.520 align:middle line:84% This bill makes many changes that you've heard about today, 02:26:48.520 --> 02:26:51.130 align:middle line:84% whether it's mandatory minimums, protections 02:26:51.130 --> 02:26:54.400 align:middle line:84% for incarcerated people with bail reform, 02:26:54.400 --> 02:26:58.960 align:middle line:84% those that are pregnant, LGBT, or disabled. 02:26:58.960 --> 02:27:04.430 align:middle line:84% It also-- we've become leaders in our community, 02:27:04.430 --> 02:27:06.620 align:middle line:84% referring those to community corrections, which 02:27:06.620 --> 02:27:09.740 align:middle line:84% I have seen firsthand, Mr. Speaker, 02:27:09.740 --> 02:27:12.560 align:middle line:90% work at the Lowell Center. 02:27:12.560 --> 02:27:17.620 align:middle line:84% Diversion programs for veterans and people with mental illness 02:27:17.620 --> 02:27:21.740 align:middle line:84% will help our offenders get out of prison 02:27:21.740 --> 02:27:24.650 align:middle line:90% and stay out of prison. 02:27:24.650 --> 02:27:26.390 align:middle line:84% Similarly, Mr. Speaker, this bill 02:27:26.390 --> 02:27:30.600 align:middle line:84% makes major advances in restorative justice. 02:27:30.600 --> 02:27:32.940 align:middle line:84% And finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill, I believe, 02:27:32.940 --> 02:27:36.720 align:middle line:84% gives us the tools we need as policymakers to continue 02:27:36.720 --> 02:27:42.000 align:middle line:84% to adapt and adjust our system by establishing a uniform data 02:27:42.000 --> 02:27:46.650 align:middle line:84% collection program across the entire state. 02:27:46.650 --> 02:27:49.350 align:middle line:84% As told, this bill is an incredible step 02:27:49.350 --> 02:27:52.410 align:middle line:84% for justice for everyone in this great Commonwealth. 02:27:52.410 --> 02:27:56.310 align:middle line:84% And I'd be remiss, finally, to forget on this 50th anniversary 02:27:56.310 --> 02:28:00.780 align:middle line:84% of the assassination of Dr. King that outdated criminal justice 02:28:00.780 --> 02:28:04.750 align:middle line:84% policies across the country disproportionately 02:28:04.750 --> 02:28:09.940 align:middle line:84% harm people of color and of economic backgrounds. 02:28:09.940 --> 02:28:14.050 align:middle line:84% We can be proud today that this legislation will help 02:28:14.050 --> 02:28:18.040 align:middle line:90% to slowly undo those wrongs. 02:28:18.040 --> 02:28:21.070 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, thank you again, and thank you to my members 02:28:21.070 --> 02:28:24.040 align:middle line:84% here in the House for all of your support 02:28:24.040 --> 02:28:25.910 align:middle line:90% throughout these last few years. 02:28:25.910 --> 02:28:28.320 align:middle line:84% It is truly an honor to serve with you. 02:28:28.320 --> 02:28:30.820 align:middle line:84% And may God bless you and your families in the Commonwealth. 02:28:30.820 --> 02:28:31.829 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 02:28:31.829 --> 02:28:35.322 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 02:28:35.322 --> 02:35:00.580 align:middle line:90% 02:35:00.580 --> 02:35:03.380 align:middle line:84% Members are please asked to take their seats, 02:35:03.380 --> 02:35:04.660 align:middle line:90% subdue their conversations. 02:35:04.660 --> 02:36:00.052 align:middle line:90% 02:36:00.052 --> 02:36:01.760 align:middle line:84% Could all members please take their seats 02:36:01.760 --> 02:36:04.730 align:middle line:90% and subdue their conversations? 02:36:04.730 --> 02:36:07.466 align:middle line:84% The chair recognizes Miss Tyler of Boston. 02:36:07.466 --> 02:36:18.100 align:middle line:90% 02:36:18.100 --> 02:36:20.385 align:middle line:84% Court officers are asked to please clear the aisles. 02:36:20.385 --> 02:36:27.340 align:middle line:90% 02:36:27.340 --> 02:36:29.816 align:middle line:84% Again, members are please asked to take their seats 02:36:29.816 --> 02:36:31.800 align:middle line:90% and subdue their conversations. 02:36:31.800 --> 02:36:47.680 align:middle line:90% 02:36:47.680 --> 02:36:49.500 align:middle line:90% Miss Tyler of Boston. 02:36:49.500 --> 02:36:52.350 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you to the members. 02:36:52.350 --> 02:36:55.020 align:middle line:84% I rise in support of the criminal justice conference 02:36:55.020 --> 02:36:56.799 align:middle line:90% report before us. 02:36:56.799 --> 02:36:58.590 align:middle line:84% I liked to think some very important people 02:36:58.590 --> 02:37:01.170 align:middle line:84% before I begin my maiden speech to address 02:37:01.170 --> 02:37:03.450 align:middle line:90% this great and general court. 02:37:03.450 --> 02:37:06.540 align:middle line:84% Mr. Speaker, I remember our first conversation 02:37:06.540 --> 02:37:09.450 align:middle line:84% was about how important it was for me to contribute 02:37:09.450 --> 02:37:12.330 align:middle line:84% through my role as a newly elected state representative 02:37:12.330 --> 02:37:15.210 align:middle line:84% to provide feedback and help shape the direction 02:37:15.210 --> 02:37:18.120 align:middle line:84% of the House as we work to change the lives of families 02:37:18.120 --> 02:37:21.910 align:middle line:84% who continue to be affected by the criminal justice system. 02:37:21.910 --> 02:37:24.450 align:middle line:84% I appreciate your open doors and your invitations 02:37:24.450 --> 02:37:27.890 align:middle line:84% and to allow for me to continue that discussion. 02:37:27.890 --> 02:37:30.900 align:middle line:84% So thank you and your entire leadership team and staff 02:37:30.900 --> 02:37:34.800 align:middle line:84% for not only recognizing this alarming disparity, yet 02:37:34.800 --> 02:37:38.870 align:middle line:84% more importantly taking action upon this critical matter. 02:37:38.870 --> 02:37:41.580 align:middle line:84% Next, I'd like to thank my family 02:37:41.580 --> 02:37:43.150 align:middle line:84% for their love and continued support 02:37:43.150 --> 02:37:45.540 align:middle line:84% and for being there for me no matter what. 02:37:45.540 --> 02:37:48.422 align:middle line:84% That includes the entire Tyler family-- 02:37:48.422 --> 02:37:50.902 align:middle line:90% my mother, Jennifer-- 02:37:50.902 --> 02:37:54.870 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 02:37:54.870 --> 02:38:07.810 align:middle line:90% 02:38:07.810 --> 02:38:11.110 align:middle line:84% My five brothers, one who is here with me today; 02:38:11.110 --> 02:38:13.750 align:middle line:84% my grandmothers; my three aunts, one of which who 02:38:13.750 --> 02:38:16.450 align:middle line:84% is here with me today, Lynette, a retired Boston police 02:38:16.450 --> 02:38:20.480 align:middle line:84% officer; my beautiful daughter [? Kaylin; ?] all my cousins, 02:38:20.480 --> 02:38:23.440 align:middle line:84% nieces, and nephews, all who I love dearly. 02:38:23.440 --> 02:38:25.870 align:middle line:84% I'd like to thank my extended family, my staff, 02:38:25.870 --> 02:38:29.920 align:middle line:84% my legislative aide James, and two very thoughtful leaders 02:38:29.920 --> 02:38:33.130 align:middle line:90% on criminal justice reform-- 02:38:33.130 --> 02:38:34.840 align:middle line:84% sorry-- and two very thoughtful leaders 02:38:34.840 --> 02:38:36.790 align:middle line:84% on the criminal justice reform front 02:38:36.790 --> 02:38:38.290 align:middle line:84% in my local neighborhood of Roxbury, 02:38:38.290 --> 02:38:41.192 align:middle line:84% Frank [? Fero ?] and Rufus [INAUDIBLE].. 02:38:41.192 --> 02:38:43.830 align:middle line:84% I have the great honor to represent the Seventh Suffolk 02:38:43.830 --> 02:38:46.860 align:middle line:84% District, so I will continue to thank my constituents 02:38:46.860 --> 02:38:49.170 align:middle line:84% and supporters whose struggles and advocacy inspires 02:38:49.170 --> 02:38:51.450 align:middle line:90% me to continue to lead. 02:38:51.450 --> 02:38:54.060 align:middle line:84% Because of your advocacy in groups like Jobs Not 02:38:54.060 --> 02:38:57.090 align:middle line:84% Jails and the powerful youth advocates, 02:38:57.090 --> 02:39:00.300 align:middle line:84% we are able to make some changes to the reduction 02:39:00.300 --> 02:39:03.080 align:middle line:84% of the criminalization of poverty. 02:39:03.080 --> 02:39:05.490 align:middle line:84% I'd next like to thank the entire Boston delegation 02:39:05.490 --> 02:39:09.141 align:middle line:84% for exemplifying everyday what it means to be Boston Strong. 02:39:09.141 --> 02:39:10.890 align:middle line:84% I would like to thank the Black and Latino 02:39:10.890 --> 02:39:15.000 align:middle line:84% Caucus for working to ensure that our collective voices are 02:39:15.000 --> 02:39:17.492 align:middle line:84% heard throughout the State House. 02:39:17.492 --> 02:39:19.200 align:middle line:84% I'd like to give a very special thank you 02:39:19.200 --> 02:39:21.150 align:middle line:84% to the conference committee, including 02:39:21.150 --> 02:39:25.050 align:middle line:84% the gentlelady from Easton, the gentleman from Quincy, 02:39:25.050 --> 02:39:27.960 align:middle line:84% the gentleman from Belmont, the gentlelady from Newton, 02:39:27.960 --> 02:39:30.960 align:middle line:84% the gentlelady from Groton, and the gentleman from Gloucester, 02:39:30.960 --> 02:39:32.850 align:middle line:90% for their tireless leadership. 02:39:32.850 --> 02:39:36.390 align:middle line:84% Your efforts are truly appreciated. 02:39:36.390 --> 02:39:39.300 align:middle line:84% I stand before you today on the 50th anniversary of Reverend 02:39:39.300 --> 02:39:42.450 align:middle line:84% Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's assassination, yet 02:39:42.450 --> 02:39:44.730 align:middle line:84% let us not forget his accomplishments and commitment 02:39:44.730 --> 02:39:48.030 align:middle line:84% to service through giving power to the powerless and the voice 02:39:48.030 --> 02:39:49.770 align:middle line:90% to the voiceless. 02:39:49.770 --> 02:39:53.430 align:middle line:84% I am grateful for the sacrifice of Dr. King and the opportunity 02:39:53.430 --> 02:39:56.070 align:middle line:84% to carry on his dream by fighting for justice 02:39:56.070 --> 02:39:58.860 align:middle line:84% and equality to ensure that our youth have the opportunity 02:39:58.860 --> 02:40:01.380 align:middle line:84% to reach their fullest potential. 02:40:01.380 --> 02:40:03.300 align:middle line:84% I also stand before you today humbled 02:40:03.300 --> 02:40:06.540 align:middle line:84% and honored to serve the Seventh Suffolk District, the community 02:40:06.540 --> 02:40:07.770 align:middle line:90% I was born and raised in. 02:40:07.770 --> 02:40:11.820 align:middle line:84% In fact, my family has been in Roxbury for five generations. 02:40:11.820 --> 02:40:14.730 align:middle line:84% My mother and her 10 siblings grew up in Orchard Park housing 02:40:14.730 --> 02:40:17.430 align:middle line:84% projects and struggled through the drug epidemic 02:40:17.430 --> 02:40:19.710 align:middle line:84% as it hit my community in the '80s. 02:40:19.710 --> 02:40:21.930 align:middle line:84% I grew up in the thick of the mass incarceration area 02:40:21.930 --> 02:40:24.870 align:middle line:84% in the '90s while my mother single-handedly raised five 02:40:24.870 --> 02:40:26.130 align:middle line:90% boys and myself-- 02:40:26.130 --> 02:40:29.370 align:middle line:84% the last of the Mohicans, the most special. 02:40:29.370 --> 02:40:32.220 align:middle line:84% As a child, I remember vividly the terrible feeling 02:40:32.220 --> 02:40:35.490 align:middle line:84% I would get after visiting my loved ones at MCI Concord 02:40:35.490 --> 02:40:38.580 align:middle line:84% because my stomach would always get queasy on the ride home 02:40:38.580 --> 02:40:41.085 align:middle line:84% after spending hours in an awkward color room 02:40:41.085 --> 02:40:43.417 align:middle line:90% and sitting in hard chairs. 02:40:43.417 --> 02:40:45.000 align:middle line:84% That same sickness followed me through 02:40:45.000 --> 02:40:48.000 align:middle line:84% adulthood because I remember visiting more loved ones who 02:40:48.000 --> 02:40:50.370 align:middle line:84% were consumed by our criminal justice system 02:40:50.370 --> 02:40:53.370 align:middle line:84% and getting sick in a car ride through the back country roads 02:40:53.370 --> 02:40:57.390 align:middle line:84% through Massachusetts on the way back home in the Roxbury. 02:40:57.390 --> 02:41:01.470 align:middle line:84% That sickness is my testament to how I felt witnessing firsthand 02:41:01.470 --> 02:41:03.390 align:middle line:84% how the criminal justice system, not only 02:41:03.390 --> 02:41:08.670 align:middle line:84% disproportionately impacts my community, yet my own family. 02:41:08.670 --> 02:41:10.680 align:middle line:84% As a mass incarceration epidemic hinder 02:41:10.680 --> 02:41:14.160 align:middle line:84% the lives of people I love most, my family, among others, 02:41:14.160 --> 02:41:16.890 align:middle line:90% were left broken. 02:41:16.890 --> 02:41:20.940 align:middle line:84% We're conditioned to think that time is a natural healer, 02:41:20.940 --> 02:41:25.290 align:middle line:84% yet as I became a teenager, the youth violence epidemic 02:41:25.290 --> 02:41:28.200 align:middle line:84% began to claim lives through homicides and incarcerations 02:41:28.200 --> 02:41:32.610 align:middle line:84% of some of my classmates and peers that I loved as well. 02:41:32.610 --> 02:41:35.340 align:middle line:84% It wasn't embedded in me through my family and community 02:41:35.340 --> 02:41:37.050 align:middle line:84% that if you focus on education and work 02:41:37.050 --> 02:41:40.600 align:middle line:84% hard to make an impact on the lives of people who are at risk 02:41:40.600 --> 02:41:43.530 align:middle line:84% and who need you most, you'll be successful. 02:41:43.530 --> 02:41:46.530 align:middle line:84% Before you know it, there I was on Northeastern's campus-- 02:41:46.530 --> 02:41:50.370 align:middle line:84% go Huskies-- with a full academic scholarship studying 02:41:50.370 --> 02:41:53.630 align:middle line:84% criminal justice and law policy in society. 02:41:53.630 --> 02:41:56.640 align:middle line:84% I then entered the professional world as a case manager 02:41:56.640 --> 02:41:59.400 align:middle line:84% under the Bureau of Prisons, working 02:41:59.400 --> 02:42:02.040 align:middle line:84% to help inmates who were nearing release get employment, 02:42:02.040 --> 02:42:03.960 align:middle line:90% housing, and community support. 02:42:03.960 --> 02:42:06.300 align:middle line:84% And every time I would get someone on my caseload 02:42:06.300 --> 02:42:10.400 align:middle line:84% from Boston, I would always hit a brick wall. 02:42:10.400 --> 02:42:13.100 align:middle line:84% I was also a committed volunteer to the probation department 02:42:13.100 --> 02:42:16.220 align:middle line:84% in the Roxbury District Court, yet with the criminal justice 02:42:16.220 --> 02:42:19.160 align:middle line:84% system continuing to disproportionately impact 02:42:19.160 --> 02:42:23.440 align:middle line:84% some talented and simply great people of my community. 02:42:23.440 --> 02:42:25.790 align:middle line:84% Oftentimes it seems as if resiliency 02:42:25.790 --> 02:42:29.540 align:middle line:84% is the expectation in communities like mine, yet 02:42:29.540 --> 02:42:32.390 align:middle line:84% that's why I'm even more proud to stand here before you today 02:42:32.390 --> 02:42:35.600 align:middle line:84% in solidarity with my colleagues to tell you 02:42:35.600 --> 02:42:38.330 align:middle line:84% and the people who vote for us to be in the seats, 02:42:38.330 --> 02:42:40.640 align:middle line:84% and especially the ones whose lives have been affected 02:42:40.640 --> 02:42:43.610 align:middle line:84% by the criminal justice system, that this bill will provide 02:42:43.610 --> 02:42:46.172 align:middle line:84% more opportunities for you to move on with your life 02:42:46.172 --> 02:42:47.630 align:middle line:84% and strengthen support for victims. 02:42:47.630 --> 02:42:50.650 align:middle line:90% 02:42:50.650 --> 02:42:53.510 align:middle line:84% With this bill, there will be no mandatory minimum sentences 02:42:53.510 --> 02:42:55.850 align:middle line:90% for low level drug offenses. 02:42:55.850 --> 02:42:58.670 align:middle line:84% With this bill, we will have a solid assessment 02:42:58.670 --> 02:43:01.190 align:middle line:84% of exactly what it is that our youth need 02:43:01.190 --> 02:43:04.880 align:middle line:84% through the Childhood Trauma Task Force, which recommend 02:43:04.880 --> 02:43:07.691 align:middle line:84% gender-responsive and trauma-informed approaches 02:43:07.691 --> 02:43:10.190 align:middle line:84% to the treatment of juveniles in the juvenile justice system 02:43:10.190 --> 02:43:12.890 align:middle line:84% because we want them to be successful. 02:43:12.890 --> 02:43:15.740 align:middle line:84% With this bill, there is a greater opportunity for youth 02:43:15.740 --> 02:43:17.840 align:middle line:90% to access diversion programs. 02:43:17.840 --> 02:43:20.819 align:middle line:84% We want them to know that mistakes can be corrected 02:43:20.819 --> 02:43:22.610 align:middle line:84% and that we support them throughout the ups 02:43:22.610 --> 02:43:24.800 align:middle line:90% and downs of their adolescence. 02:43:24.800 --> 02:43:27.110 align:middle line:84% With this bill, the felony threshold 02:43:27.110 --> 02:43:34.640 align:middle line:84% will be increased from $250 dollars to $1,200-- sorry-- 02:43:34.640 --> 02:43:36.110 align:middle line:90% for theft. 02:43:36.110 --> 02:43:38.540 align:middle line:84% With this bill, judges will now have 02:43:38.540 --> 02:43:42.140 align:middle line:84% to consider the role of primary caretakers of dependents 02:43:42.140 --> 02:43:44.390 align:middle line:90% before imposing a sentence. 02:43:44.390 --> 02:43:47.960 align:middle line:84% All these pieces to the puzzle, amongst many others, 02:43:47.960 --> 02:43:50.630 align:middle line:84% show that we do practice good government here 02:43:50.630 --> 02:43:52.530 align:middle line:84% in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 02:43:52.530 --> 02:43:54.590 align:middle line:84% And we will deliver more opportunities 02:43:54.590 --> 02:43:58.250 align:middle line:84% for members of our community to feel safe and be healthy. 02:43:58.250 --> 02:44:00.930 align:middle line:84% So to all those organizing for reform, 02:44:00.930 --> 02:44:03.230 align:middle line:84% we hope you are pleased this huge step 02:44:03.230 --> 02:44:05.010 align:middle line:90% in the right direction. 02:44:05.010 --> 02:44:07.430 align:middle line:84% I look forward to continuing to see this bill through 02:44:07.430 --> 02:44:10.250 align:middle line:84% and encourage my colleagues to support this bill. 02:44:10.250 --> 02:44:11.960 align:middle line:84% I look forward to working with you all as 02:44:11.960 --> 02:44:14.797 align:middle line:84% we continue to add to the great work that will continue 02:44:14.797 --> 02:44:16.612 align:middle line:90% to be done here in the chamber. 02:44:16.612 --> 02:44:17.112 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 02:44:17.112 --> 02:44:21.080 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 02:44:21.080 --> 02:44:47.930 align:middle line:90% 02:44:47.930 --> 02:44:50.770 align:middle line:84% Roll call having been called, a roll call is called forthwith 02:44:50.770 --> 02:44:53.120 align:middle line:84% and will remain open for three minutes. 02:44:53.120 --> 02:44:57.000 align:middle line:90% 02:44:57.000 --> 02:45:01.753 align:middle line:84% Question comes on accepting the conference committee report. 02:45:01.753 --> 02:49:49.850 align:middle line:90% 02:49:49.850 --> 02:49:51.742 align:middle line:84% Have all members voted who wish to do so? 02:49:51.742 --> 02:49:52.700 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 02:49:52.700 --> 02:50:56.572 align:middle line:90% 02:50:56.572 --> 02:50:58.568 align:middle line:84% Have all members voted who wish to do so? 02:50:58.568 --> 02:50:59.566 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 02:50:59.566 --> 02:51:11.680 align:middle line:90% 02:51:11.680 --> 02:51:13.270 align:middle line:90% Time for voting has expired. 02:51:13.270 --> 02:51:15.240 align:middle line:90% Clerk will display the tally. 02:51:15.240 --> 02:51:18.040 align:middle line:84% There being 148 members in the affirmative, five 02:51:18.040 --> 02:51:24.316 align:middle line:84% in the negative, the conference committee report is accepted. 02:51:24.316 --> 02:51:28.308 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 02:51:28.308 --> 02:53:38.652 align:middle line:90% 02:53:38.652 --> 02:53:39.610 align:middle line:90% House will be in order. 02:53:39.610 --> 02:53:41.397 align:middle line:90% Paper from the Senate. 02:53:41.397 --> 02:53:46.149 align:middle line:90% 02:53:46.149 --> 02:53:48.190 align:middle line:84% The committee conference, under disagreeing votes 02:53:48.190 --> 02:53:52.280 align:middle line:84% of the branches, comes from the Senate with the endorsement 02:53:52.280 --> 02:53:54.830 align:middle line:90% that it is accepted. 02:53:54.830 --> 02:53:57.110 align:middle line:84% The House report of the committee of conference 02:53:57.110 --> 02:53:59.420 align:middle line:84% on the House amendment, strike [? on ?] its enacting 02:53:59.420 --> 02:54:04.190 align:middle line:84% clause [INAUDIBLE] House document 4043 to the Senate 02:54:04.190 --> 02:54:07.190 align:middle line:84% bill relative to criminal justice reform, Senate number 02:54:07.190 --> 02:54:10.910 align:middle line:84% 2,200, reporting in part on the residue, 02:54:10.910 --> 02:54:20.352 align:middle line:84% a bill relative to the garden of peace Senate number 2372. 02:54:20.352 --> 02:54:23.300 align:middle line:84% Miss Cronin of Easton now moves suspension of the rules. 02:54:23.300 --> 02:54:25.902 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed nay. 02:54:25.902 --> 02:54:26.610 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 02:54:26.610 --> 02:54:27.610 align:middle line:90% The rules are suspended. 02:54:27.610 --> 02:54:31.110 align:middle line:90% 02:54:31.110 --> 02:54:33.330 align:middle line:84% Question now comes acceptance of the report. 02:54:33.330 --> 02:54:35.472 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, those opposed nay. 02:54:35.472 --> 02:54:36.180 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 02:54:36.180 --> 02:54:37.671 align:middle line:90% The report is accepted. 02:54:37.671 --> 02:54:45.623 align:middle line:90% 02:54:45.623 --> 02:54:47.114 align:middle line:90% Paper from the Senate. 02:54:47.114 --> 02:54:56.560 align:middle line:90% 02:54:56.560 --> 02:54:59.950 align:middle line:84% The Committee on Bills in the Third Reading reports 02:54:59.950 --> 02:55:03.940 align:middle line:84% that the Senate amendment of the House 02:55:03.940 --> 02:55:08.260 align:middle line:84% bill implementing the joint recommendations 02:55:08.260 --> 02:55:11.089 align:middle line:84% of the Massachusetts criminal justice reform, which 02:55:11.089 --> 02:55:13.380 align:middle line:84% was referred to the Committee on Bills in Third Reading 02:55:13.380 --> 02:55:14.745 align:middle line:90% to this day-- 02:55:14.745 --> 02:55:16.870 align:middle line:84% Committee on Bills in the Third Reading [INAUDIBLE] 02:55:16.870 --> 02:55:19.330 align:middle line:84% recommending that the amendment is correctly drawn. 02:55:19.330 --> 02:55:26.290 align:middle line:90% 02:55:26.290 --> 02:55:27.825 align:middle line:84% Question now comes on concurrence. 02:55:27.825 --> 02:55:29.950 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed nay. 02:55:29.950 --> 02:55:30.880 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 02:55:30.880 --> 02:55:34.070 align:middle line:90% The House concurs. 02:55:34.070 --> 02:55:35.441 align:middle line:90% House will be in a recess. 02:55:35.441 --> 02:56:01.010 align:middle line:90% 02:56:01.010 --> 02:56:02.065 align:middle line:90% House will be in order. 02:56:02.065 --> 02:56:05.954 align:middle line:90% 02:56:05.954 --> 02:56:07.370 align:middle line:84% Following [INAUDIBLE] bill, having 02:56:07.370 --> 02:56:08.690 align:middle line:84% been rightly and truly prepared, is now 02:56:08.690 --> 02:56:10.370 align:middle line:84% before the House for final passage. 02:56:10.370 --> 02:56:16.610 align:middle line:84% Senate 2372, an act establishing a Garden of Peace Trust Fund. 02:56:16.610 --> 02:56:18.890 align:middle line:84% Under the Constitution, a vote is required. 02:56:18.890 --> 02:56:22.610 align:middle line:84% Roll call machine will now stay open for three minutes. 02:56:22.610 --> 02:56:24.350 align:middle line:84% Court officers, summon the members. 02:56:24.350 --> 02:56:25.975 align:middle line:84% Indicate a roll call is in progress. 02:56:25.975 --> 02:57:21.390 align:middle line:90% 02:57:21.390 --> 02:57:23.310 align:middle line:84% Chair will inform the members that it 02:57:23.310 --> 02:57:27.117 align:middle line:84% anticipates no further roll calls this afternoon. 02:57:27.117 --> 02:58:24.820 align:middle line:90% 02:58:24.820 --> 02:58:25.978 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 02:58:25.978 --> 02:59:08.806 align:middle line:90% 02:59:08.806 --> 02:59:11.294 align:middle line:84% Have all members voted who wish to do so? 02:59:11.294 --> 02:59:11.794 align:middle line:90% No. 02:59:11.794 --> 03:00:15.538 align:middle line:90% 03:00:15.538 --> 03:00:17.032 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 03:00:17.032 --> 03:00:29.210 align:middle line:90% 03:00:29.210 --> 03:00:31.640 align:middle line:90% Have all members voted? 03:00:31.640 --> 03:00:32.810 align:middle line:90% Time for voting is expired. 03:00:32.810 --> 03:00:34.280 align:middle line:84% The clerk will display the tally. 03:00:34.280 --> 03:00:37.525 align:middle line:84% On this matter, 152 members voted in the affirmative, none 03:00:37.525 --> 03:00:38.555 align:middle line:90% in the negative. 03:00:38.555 --> 03:00:42.735 align:middle line:84% The bill is passed to be enacted. 03:00:42.735 --> 03:00:44.110 align:middle line:84% Following [? gross ?] bill, being 03:00:44.110 --> 03:00:45.526 align:middle line:84% rightly and truly prepared, is now 03:00:45.526 --> 03:00:47.040 align:middle line:84% before the House for final passage. 03:00:47.040 --> 03:00:51.600 align:middle line:84% Senate 2371, an act relative to criminal justice reform. 03:00:51.600 --> 03:00:54.210 align:middle line:84% Under the Constitution, a separate vote is required. 03:00:54.210 --> 03:00:55.602 align:middle line:90% Those voting in favor will rise. 03:00:55.602 --> 03:00:57.060 align:middle line:84% The monitors will return the count. 03:00:57.060 --> 03:01:01.770 align:middle line:84% First division three, second division five, 03:01:01.770 --> 03:01:06.450 align:middle line:84% third division three, fourth division six. 03:01:06.450 --> 03:01:09.480 align:middle line:84% Those in opposition, first division zero, second division 03:01:09.480 --> 03:01:11.640 align:middle line:84% zero, third division zero, fourth division 03:01:11.640 --> 03:01:14.741 align:middle line:90% zero in this matter. 03:01:14.741 --> 03:01:16.740 align:middle line:84% 17 members having voted in the affirmative, none 03:01:16.740 --> 03:01:20.220 align:middle line:84% in the negative, the bill was passed to be enacted. 03:01:20.220 --> 03:01:23.309 align:middle line:90% The [INAUDIBLE] is adopted. 03:01:23.309 --> 03:01:24.892 align:middle line:84% The following [? gross ?] bill, having 03:01:24.892 --> 03:01:26.180 align:middle line:84% been rightly and truly prepared, is now 03:01:26.180 --> 03:01:27.638 align:middle line:84% before the House for final passage. 03:01:27.638 --> 03:01:31.610 align:middle line:84% House 4012, an act implementing the joint recommendations 03:01:31.610 --> 03:01:34.939 align:middle line:84% of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Review. 03:01:34.939 --> 03:01:36.230 align:middle line:90% Question now is it [INAUDIBLE]. 03:01:36.230 --> 03:01:37.271 align:middle line:90% The bill will be enacted. 03:01:37.271 --> 03:01:39.852 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed nay. 03:01:39.852 --> 03:01:40.560 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 03:01:40.560 --> 03:01:41.935 align:middle line:84% The bill is passed to be enacted. 03:01:41.935 --> 03:02:03.680 align:middle line:90% 03:02:03.680 --> 03:02:06.164 align:middle line:90% House will be in order. 03:02:06.164 --> 03:02:07.580 align:middle line:84% Following [? gross ?] bill, having 03:02:07.580 --> 03:02:08.930 align:middle line:84% been rightly and truly prepared, is now 03:02:08.930 --> 03:02:10.530 align:middle line:84% before the House for final passage. 03:02:10.530 --> 03:02:14.490 align:middle line:84% Senate 2071, an act relative to criminal justice reform. 03:02:14.490 --> 03:02:16.560 align:middle line:84% Question now is on passage-- will it be enacted? 03:02:16.560 --> 03:02:18.760 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed nay. 03:02:18.760 --> 03:02:19.730 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 03:02:19.730 --> 03:02:21.105 align:middle line:84% The bill is passed to be enacted. 03:02:21.105 --> 03:02:32.350 align:middle line:90% 03:02:32.350 --> 03:02:34.780 align:middle line:84% Mr. [INAUDIBLE] in the hands of the clerk. 03:02:34.780 --> 03:02:35.920 align:middle line:90% Clerk will read the order. 03:02:35.920 --> 03:02:38.253 align:middle line:84% Order that when the House adjourns today, it [INAUDIBLE] 03:02:38.253 --> 03:02:39.372 align:middle line:90% tomorrow at 11:00 AM. 03:02:39.372 --> 03:02:41.080 align:middle line:84% Question now is on adoption of the order. 03:02:41.080 --> 03:02:43.537 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed nay. 03:02:43.537 --> 03:02:44.245 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 03:02:44.245 --> 03:02:45.230 align:middle line:90% The order was adopted. 03:02:45.230 --> 03:02:48.460 align:middle line:84% Mr. Wong of Saugus now moves that the House stand adjourned. 03:02:48.460 --> 03:02:51.260 align:middle line:84% All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed nay. 03:02:51.260 --> 03:02:52.170 align:middle line:90% The ayes have it. 03:02:52.170 --> 03:02:55.150 align:middle line:84% House stands adjourned to meet tomorrow, Thursday, 11:00 03:02:55.150 --> 03:02:57.010 align:middle line:90% AM in a full, formal session. 03:02:57.010 --> 03:03:03.010 align:middle line:90% 03:03:03.010 --> 03:03:06.660 align:middle line:90% [MUSIC PLAYING] 03:03:06.660 --> 03:05:43.403 align:middle line:90%