[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]
House will be in order.
Mr. Jones of North Reading doubts
the presence of a quorum.
Chair can ascertain that quorum is not present.
Court officers, summon the members.
Indicate a quorum roll call is now in progress.
[NO AUDIO]
Cleark will make an announcement.
The voting station for Representative Kocot is locked.
[NO AUDIO]
Under rule 49, court officers will vote for Representative
Miceli during roll call votes.
[NO AUDIO]
The Chair would like to take this opportunity
to introduce here in the rostrum Professor Patrice Otieno
Lumumba, who is a Kenyan who served as Director of Kenya's
Anti-Corruption Commission from September 2010 to August 2011,
and is currently the director of the Kenya School of Law
since 2014.
He is well known for his powerful anti-corruption
speeches and selfless work for African empowerment.
Let's welcome.
[APPLAUSE]
[NO AUDIO]
[APPLAUSE]
Members, please take your seats.
[BANGS GAVEL]
Members, please take your seats.
Mr. Jones of North Reading asks unanimous consent
to withdraw his request for a roll call quorum.
Does the chair hear objection?
Chair hears none.
Members, please subdue your conversation
and take your seats.
Colleagues.
Court officers, clear the aisle.
Please subdue your conversation.
Members of the House, Speaker of the House.
[CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE]
Speaker of the House, Mr. DeLeo.
Thank you very much, Mr. Leader.
And I promise this will be a little bit shorter
than the president's remarks last night, just-- just a tad.
[APPLAUSE]
To my friends and colleagues, thank you.
It's an honor to join you here today.
It's an honor to serve as the Speaker of this institution,
which we all love so much.
As representatives, we are close to the people,
tied to our districts.
We hear the concerns of our constituents directly
and we stand up for those in need.
That may not be flashy, and it's certainly not what we heard
about last night in Washington.
But is at the core of what we do.
We listen, we learn, and we help.
That role endures as we address the issues
of the day, all while being sound fiscal stewards.
As in prior years, we will be passing a balanced budget that
takes care of our most vulnerable residents
while maintaining fiscal discipline.
We will do so with the budget that
comes out of Ways and Means with no new broad-based taxes.
[APPLAUSE]
And today, we take up an interim spending bill
that addresses some of the Commonwealth's
most pressing needs.
In the wake of devastating storms in Puerto Rico,
we will provide aid to students who have relocated here.
These fellow Americans and those educating them
deserve our support.
We have all become acutely aware of the critical, pervasive,
and distressing issues at the heart of the #MeToo
conversation.
Earlier today I joined with members
to attend a House listening session, part of the council's
ongoing review of the House's policies
relating to sexual harassment.
As council prepares its independent review,
we must also be mindful of the existing supports
that the Commonwealth has for those reporting
sexual harassment.
We have heard directly from MCAD that requests
for sexual harassment training are up dramatically.
And they expect an increase in the filing of sexual harassment
complaints.
The funds that we will allocate today
will allow MCAD to hire two additional staffers
for training and one new investigator.
This year I am proud that, with all the challenges coming
from Washington, we--
we here in the House have kept our eye on the ball,
advancing Massachusetts' leadership while remaining
true to our values.
I can think of no policy topic that
exemplifies this balance more than health care.
We have a moral obligation to ensure
that people have access to high-quality, affordable health
care.
[APPLAUSE]
Through our work, Massachusetts has set the national example.
We have much to be proud of--
near-universal insurance coverage,
the best hospitals in the world, and a slower cost growth
than the rest of the country.
But we must always remain vigilant, especially
as the health care landscape continues
to change dramatically.
That is why we will be taking up health care
reform in the coming months.
This legislation will maximize the impact of our existing
infrastructure and will include new strategies
to bring down costs, improve quality, and enhance access.
These will include supporting our community hospitals
and community health centers.
These institutions are both economic engines and safety
nets within our districts, shielding patients
from bearing the burden of rising health care costs,
and ensuring that they have all the information
necessary to make informed decisions;
empowering businesses by giving them an expanded toolbox;
increasing pharmaceutical spending
transparency while cultivating our reputation
as an international leader in research and innovation.
In Massachusetts, we are heirs to a tradition of discovery.
We take pride in that legacy.
But we also take concrete steps to advance it.
The legislature's $1 billion investment in life sciences
has paid off.
Today, 18 of the top 20 biopharma firms and all 10
of the world's leading medical device companies
have a presence right here in Massachusetts.
This session, we will renew our commitment
to innovators in industries at the forefront
of scientific and technological breakthroughs.
We will take up legislation providing financial support
to the life sciences sector.
These funds are critical to maintaining
our competitive edge, promoting advanced manufacturing,
and developing a productive workforce.
Our work to foster a responsive talent pipeline
and provide residents with educational opportunities
begins before they learn about science and tech.
In fact, it begins before they enter
the doors of elementary school.
We will build on the House's ongoing commitment
to providing high-quality early education and care,
in large part by supporting our early education and care
workforce.
This means advancing a plan to build a sustainable workforce
development system, one that is responsive to the distinct
needs of the EEC field.
We know that the EEC [INAUDIBLE] provide
a unique opportunity for us to impact learning outcomes
for our children.
We also know that it is equally vital time
for addressing mental health.
I'm currently working with the Chairs of Education and Mental
Health, as well as the Child Advocate,
to coordinate efforts as we again
prioritize children's long-term social, emotional,
and academic success by investing in early childhood
mental health services.
[APPLAUSE]
And once children reach school age,
we also similarly recognize the need
to provide effective student supports that
go beyond academia.
But we also realize that our schools cannot do it alone.
Therefore, we will build on our Safe and Supportive Schools
Initiative, created in the 2014 gun law,
to help schools integrate student supports, leverage
preexisting investments, and coordinate school-
and community-based resources.
As we foster the intellectual and emotional growth
of our students, we also want them
to gain the requisite skills to participate in our democracy.
Now more than ever, we need to ensure
that children understand the importance
of civic engagement--
[APPLAUSE]
--that they understand the role of state and federal
government, and understand the rewards
and duties of being an American in a well-functioning
democracy.
In our House and in Massachusetts,
we are fortunate to enjoy a spirit of civil debate.
For example, Leader Jones and I may have our disagreements,
but when we disagree we do so with a sense
of history and solemnity of the House of Representatives.
One cannot look at the roiling national political climate
of the last 24 months and not realize that too many people
are unaware of our basic political tenets
and traditions.
In the void, pernicious beliefs and basic untruths
can take hold.
Several members of the House have been hard at work
with the Chair of Education on a bill strengthening
the importance of civics education.
And I have to recognize our Senate President,
the gentle lady from Worcester, for her leadership
on this issue.
The House will move forward on a civics education bill
and increase our existing support for the JFK library
as it engages students, a cause that we championed
in the fiscal '18 budget as we mark the 100th anniversary
of President Kennedy's birth.
Massachusetts helped make America.
We can again help her live up to her ideals
by reminding our young people of them.
Today, we approach our work with renewed energy,
based on a shared responsibility, standing up
for those that all of us represent.
Thank you very much for your attention.
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you very much.
I appreciate that.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
[NO AUDIO]
Mr. [INAUDIBLE] moves that the Speaker's remarks
be spread on the record.
All those in favor say aye, all those opposed, nay.
The aye's have it.
Speaker's remarks will be spread on the record.
[NO AUDIO]
The Chair would also like to recognize the gentleman
from South Boston and congratulate him
on the birth for he and his wife of a new baby girl.
Congratulations.
[APPLAUSE]
[NO AUDIO]
[BANGS GAVEL]
House will be in order.
House has been informed that--
Chair has been informed that House 4160 has
been released by the Committee on bill's third reading.
Mr. Sanchez of Boston moves suspension of the rules.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, nay.
The ayes have it.
Third reading of the bill.
An act making appropriations for the fiscal year
2018 to provide for supplementing certain existing
appropriations, and for certain other activities and projects,
House number 4160.
Chair will respectfully ask the members to take their seats,
subdue their conversations.
Court officers, clear the aisles.
[NO AUDIO]
Members will please take their seats
and subdue their conversation.
Chair recognizes Mr. Sanchez of Boston.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you to the members.
Mr. Speaker, thank you so much for starting out our session
by outlining your vision.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, once again
for outlining your vision for the Commonwealth
and for this body.
And this supplemental bill that we have before us
today goes immediately to a number
of the issues that you spoke to just a moment ago.
So I won't drag on the points, because you effectively
made them.
The pieces before us today will go
to the apocalypse that hit Puerto Rico, where
we have right now over 2,400 students within our school
system.
And this supplementary allocation
provides money to the Department of Education
to go at and support chapter 70 based on full-time equivalent
student numbers that will be verified by the department.
We also get, again, relative to the #MeToo movement,
a definitive investment in the agency that handles directly
complaints of discrimination and harassment.
The monies that we'll vote on today
will allow the Massachusetts Commission on Discrimination
to conduct training in sexual assault and harassment,
and will help to advance the work of the commission
overall given the work that they have before them.
We also make a definitive investment
to address a critical condition that's
happening in the Western part of the state,
where we are currently experiencing a care and custody
attorney shortage.
The dollars that we are investing today
will allow for a temporary rate increase to $75 an hour
for private bar attorneys if CPCS
determines that the shortage in that county
warrants an emergency.
Currently, those private bar attorneys
are just paid $55 an hour, and there
aren't very many attorneys that are going out
to deal with the critical issues that
deal with such critical issues with vulnerable children
in a number of our communities.
So we hope to address that immediately.
We also know-- so the spending bill that we have
before us is very short.
I think it's probably the smallest supplemental budget
that's been filed in recent history, at least.
And we know that we may be coming forward
again given that there may be in the future deficiency accounts
that we need to handle in other areas, as well.
But for right now, we're looking at these areas
that we have before us today.
So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Chair recognizes Mr. Hill of Ipswich.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
And before the chairman from Ways and Means moves on,
I just want to make a statement to him and to his committee
members.
He just gave us a very good explanation
of what is in this particular proposal.
But what I would like to bring up
is something that is not in this supplemental budget
that I think we should be aware of
and possibly be able to have a dialogue moving forward.
And that is in regards to the special education circuit
breaker line item.
As we probably have heard from just about every school
district that we represent, the figure
that-- as I understand it.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
The figure that we were given during the budget
debate was not accurate, and that we somehow
did not fund it to the 75% that we had promised our school
districts.
My understanding is that that amount totals probably
around $39 million and some change,
give or take a few dollars.
Those were dollars that our school districts
were expecting for this current fiscal year,
and have been blindsided by the lack of funds.
And again, every one of us in this chamber
moved to our school districts and said
we will fully fund this at 75%.
And I feel as though, unintentionally, we
broke that promise to them.
I did not want to file that amendment today,
because I felt as though we needed to see what our revenue
figures would be after January.
But it is my further understanding
that we may see another supplemental budget coming down
the path in the very near future, and I would hope
and I would ask my fellow colleagues here
that we make this a priority in the next supplemental budget.
Our school districts, again, had budgeted this funding.
And now, halfway through the fiscal year,
they don't have this funding.
And it's causing a very big hole in many of the districts
that we represent.
So Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your comments.
And I hope that we can all have this dialogue moving forward,
because it's very important to our districts-- and again,
a promise that somehow was broken unintentionally
to our school districts.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
House will be in a brief recess.
[NO AUDIO]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Question now is on passing of the bill to be engrossed,
pending which Mr. Jones of North Reading
offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk.
Clerk will read the amendment.
Amendment number one as changed, Mr. Jones
of North Reading and other members of the House move
to amend the bill.
In section 2a by inserting after item 761-0011 the following
item, 0521 0007 for reimbursements
in municipalities for costs associated with
the implementation of the mandated provisions of early
voting for November 8, 2016 state election as required
by section 25b of chapter 54, the general laws,
as was determined through the collection and certification
of accurate accounting by the state auditor and the division
of local mandates.
Any unexpended funds in this item
shall be made available until June 30, 2018.
$1,063,000.
If there be no objection, the clerk
will dispense with the reading of the paper.
Chair hears none.
Chair recognizes a Mr. Jones of North Reading.
Chair will respectfully ask the members
to please take their seats and subdue their conversation.
Court officers, clear the aisles.
[INAUDIBLE]
Clear the aisles.
--recognizes Mr. Jones of North Reading.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you, to the members.
Some of you may remember that last fall
when we did the final deficiency,
I had offered an amendment along with colleagues,
and we embraced it, to put in funding to reimburse cities
and towns for the costs associated with early voting
from the last election, the presidential election of 2016.
The auditor determines that the law that we passed, parts of it
constituted an unfunded mandate.
Should come up with a figure.
While we weren't successful in securing funding,
ultimately we compromised and asked the auditor to go back
and to recertify the numbers, and to report back in January.
The auditor reached out to cities and towns,
came back in early January with a figure
that was the amount of the costs that were
mandated to the early voting.
That figure is-- in the amendment
it is just under $1.1 million, to hopefully make our cities
and towns whole for the costs associated
with the early voting law that we passed in 2016.
So I hope the amendment is adopted, Mr. Speaker.
I would ask that when a vote is taken in this matter,
it be be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
Mr. Jones of North Reading asked when
the matter is taken, it be taken by a call of yeas and nays.
Those joining [INAUDIBLE] return the count.
First division?
Zero.
Second division?
28.
Sufficient number having risen, matter
will be taken by a call of the yeas and nays forthwith.
Court officers, summon the members.
Indicate a roll call is in progress.
[NO AUDIO]
Have all members voted wish to do so?
[NO AUDIO]
Have all members voted?
[NO AUDIO]
Have all members voted?
Time for voting has expired.
The clerk will display the tally.
On this matter, 151 members voted in the affirmative, none
in the negative.
The amendment is adopted.
The question now is on passing the bill
to be engrossed, pending which Mr. Sanchez of Boston
asks for a roll call vote.
Those joining with him, arise. and monitor return the count.
First division?
Six.
Second division?
15.
Sufficient number having arisen, roll call vote is now open.
Remain open for three minutes.
Court officers, summon the members.
Indicate a roll call is in progress.
Ms. Khan of Newtown asks unanimous consent
to be recorded on the last roll call.
Chair objection?
Chair hears none.
On roll call number 308, Kay Khan.
Yes?
[NO AUDIO]
Have all members voted wish to do so?
[NO AUDIO]
Hall all members voted?
[NO AUDIO]
Time for voting is expired.
The clerk will display the tally.
On this matter, 151 members voted in the affirmative, none
in the negative.
The bill is passed to be engrossed.
[NO AUDIO]
Mr. Puppolo of Springfield asks unanimous consent
to be recorded on roll call 308.
Chair objection?
Chair hears none.
On roll call number 308, Angelo Puppolo, yes.
[NO AUDIO]
House will be an order.
Voter committee.
Page 25, calendar item number--
page 26 a calendar item number 295,
House 4116, Ms. Gregoire of Marlborough
moves suspension of rule 47.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, nay.
The ayes have it.
Rule 47 suspended.
Third reading of the bill.
An act relative to Alzheimer's and related
dementias in the Commonwealth.
The question now comes on passing the bill
to be engrossed.
Chair will ask members to please take their seats
and subdue their conversation.
[NO AUDIO]
Members are asked to please take their seats
and subdue their conversation.
[NO AUDIO]
Members, please take your seats.
Court officers, clear the aisles.
Clear the well.
Chair recognizes Ms. Gregoire of Marlborough.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you, to the members.
I rise in support of House 4116, an act
to address Alzheimer's and related dementias
in the Commonwealth.
There are currently more than 120,000 people
in our commonwealth with Alzheimer's disease,
and that number is expected to grow to over 150,000
within the next 10 years.
One in three seniors will die of Alzheimer's
or a related dementia this year, making
it the sixth-leading cause of death in Massachusetts.
The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer's
and other dementias is estimated to total $259 billion
in America.
And at least 50 percent of Americans with Alzheimer's are
not diagnosed, making their health care costs even more.
This proves challenging to patients, caregivers,
and health care professionals in assuring appropriate treatment
and support, helping patients to live a safer lifestyle
and flowing associated conditions and disease
progression.
We have all seen in the recent weeks
the coverage of this epidemic in the news,
and we are all moved by the story told
by the wife of the late Gene Wilder.
In short, Alzheimer's disease is a public health crisis.
The time to act is now.
To that end, earlier this year this body
provided for a public awareness campaign
and funded it to the tune of $100,000
to alert people to the warning signs of Alzheimer's
and related dementias.
This bill requires the implementation
of an integrated state plan and an advisory council
within the Executive Office of Elder Affairs
to ensure that resources for the diagnosis
and treatment of Alzheimer's are maximized and leveraged.
With the passage of this act, we will require that curriculum
content on Alzheimer's be incorporated
into the physician, registered nurse,
physician's assistant, and licensed practical nurse
continuing education curriculum currently required
under Massachusetts law for continued licensure.
This curriculum is available and accessible and will increase
diagnostic rates, improve treatment options,
and improve quality of life for people living with Alzheimer's.
This bill also memorializes the work
done by the Alzheimer's and Related Dementia Acute Care
Advisory Committee by requiring that three
years from the effective date, all hospitals providing
services to adult populations shall complete and provide
to the DPH upon their request a copy of an operational plan
to identify dementia and or delirium in the emergency
department inpatient settings, and to have a specialized care
plan in the event that dementia is detected.
This will also ensure that designated caregivers are
included in hospital processes.
H4116 also ensures optimal care and treatment
of persons living with Alzheimer's by expressly
allowing for diagnosis and care treatment plans
to be provided to a family member or legal representative
of the patient.
Treatment of this disease is difficult, if not impossible,
where the patient experiences memory setbacks
and other difficulties that come with an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
This also aids in the treatment of other health issues,
such as heart disease and diabetes, where patients
can be incapable of being medically
compliant with the prescription drug protocols or diet changes,
and may be failing in their own care without even knowing it.
Informing the family as well as the patient
will allow the patient to participate in clinical drug
trials and in health, financial, and life planning activities
while he or she is still able to do so.
There are currently 330,000 caregivers
in Massachusetts providing hundreds of thousands
of hours of unpaid care and incurring higher health
costs, higher rates of depression,
and more financial difficulties than caregivers serving those
without dementia.
The negative impact on caregivers
extends to the economy, where caregivers
report missing work, switching from full- to part-time,
or losing their jobs altogether.
Very few people in this room today do not have a personal
connection to Alzheimer's.
And while we work diligently to improve the lives
and care of patients, we must also recommit our support
to those providing their care.
All of the people in this room know or have known
or have been the caregiver.
This disease takes a devastating toll on the patients--
and we also have to remember, those who love them.
I remember as a young adult watching my father's struggle
as his mother declined.
Looking back on it, I remember the Christmas
she brought presents for all the other grandchildren except one.
It happened to be me.
I remember the Thanksgiving she was late for dinner,
because she got lost on our way to the house
that she'd been visiting for over 15 years.
And I remember the panicked phone call
from the assisted living in Worcester
that she had wandered off and was missing somewhere downtown.
It was not until the end she really
started to fail that she required constant
and then eventual residential care.
And every week without fail, my father would visit her.
And every week without fail, my mother and I
would discuss whether he felt better or worse having done so.
The last time I went to visit my grandmother,
she talked with me believing I was her mother.
I was 22, and it was years before she eventually
passed away.
So today, we require a better plan
on the state level, a study on how
to help folks with early onset Alzheimer's, better
training for the health care providers,
and better tools and supports for the caregivers.
It's a giant leap forward for our commonwealth
and for residents dealing with this insipid disease.
We recommit ourselves to increasing diagnostic rates,
researching treatments, and finding a cure.
I would be remiss if I did not thank our friends
at the Alzheimer's Association and their dedicated advocates
for providing a roadmap for this legislation.
I have to thank Senator Jehlen for creating the Acute Care
Commission.
Thank you to the gentlemen from South Hadley, Dedham, Melrose,
and Quincy for filing bills that form the cornerstone
of this legislation.
Thank you to my staff, the staff of the majority leader,
the staff the Speaker, and House counsel for their continued
support as we move this bill forward.
Thank you to the Speaker and the Majority Leader for making
this bill a priority.
And lastly, thank you to my family,
without whom I would likely have not
had the passion and dedication that I
have for people with Alzheimer's and those who love them.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
And I ask when a vote on this matter
be taken, it be taken by a call of the yeas and Nays
Ms. Gregoire asks when the matter
is taken, it be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
Those joining with her will rise.
The monitors will return the count.
First division?
20.
Second division?
Three.
Sufficient number having arisen, the matter taken
be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
Chair recognizes Mr. Muradian of Grafton.
[NO AUDIO]
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you to the members.
I rise today in support of House Bill 4116,
an act relative to Alzheimer's and related dementias
in the Commonwealth.
I would be remiss not to thank the chair of Elder Affairs,
the gentle lady from Marlborough,
and her staff for their diligence
in working to craft this legislation.
Many of us in this very room have
had the unfortunate circumstance of watching someone
that we have known or a loved one suffer
from Alzheimer's or dementia.
We've had to sit, sometimes idle,
knowing that they are suffering and there is not
a whole heck of a lot that we can do.
Well, today, this bill in this legislative body
is sending the message that we are taking steps
to help those same people that we have known,
and to help our loved ones.
I want to highlight what I consider
to be a key component to this legislation.
Section 7 of this bill deals with the flexibility of sharing
medical information, including information about care planning
services, with a patient's family member
or legal personal representative given express or implied
consent from said patient.
These services include assistance understanding
the diagnosis, as well as the medical and non-medical options
for outgoing treatment.
Whereas this could be a time of confusion, nervousness--
and quite frankly, being scared--
today we will add another layer to a much-needed support
structure for these patients.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation
so that we can continue to enhance support
to our seniors, especially individuals suffering
from Alzheimer's and dementia, and ask
that when a call is taken, it's taken
by a call of the yeas and nays.
Thank you.
It's already been required.
Chair recognizes a Mr. Brodeur of Melrose.
--Speaker, and through you to the members.
I want to extend my thanks to the gentle lady
from Marlborough, who's been a terrific leader on this issue.
I come to this issue from my days in the Executive
Office for Elder Affairs and through the experience
my grandmother had when she was dealing
with dementia over the past 10 years or so of her life.
But one particular thing I want to point out
to folks that is a really important part of this bill
is the training piece for folks who work
in elder protective services.
And I want to be clear, it is not a criticism of the work
that they do every day.
It's incredibly hard work.
It is incredibly challenging work,
and they have a lot of things that they
have to juggle when they are presented
with cases involving seniors that
may be cognitively compromised.
What this bill will do is provide the training
to those folks on the front lines
so that they can in fact be sensitive, be
aware of those issues as they arise,
because it is a sad thing to have to tell you that this is
a group of folks who are very much
subject to financial exploitation and abuse.
And unfortunately, very often the person
who is exploiting them or abusing them
is a family member.
So very often, it is the Elder Protective Services worker
who has to confront that issue, sometimes with the family not
cooperating, or being actively hostile to the investigation.
So as this population grows and that exposure to exploitation
and abuse grows, I believe this bill
and the particular training piece
around the Protective Services worker
is a dramatic step forward for our seniors
in the commonwealth.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Chair recognizes a Mr. McMurtry of Devon.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you to the members.
It brings me great pride to stand here before you today
in support of this legislation.
And I also want to thank the lady, the Chair of Elder
Affairs, the gentle lady from Marlborough,
for her tireless effort on this growing health care concern.
And there are few here among us that have not
been affected either directly or indirectly
by this debilitating and all-too-often undetected
disease.
Today, 50% of Americans living with Alzheimer's go
undiagnosed.
And of the other 50%, less than half
are even aware of their condition.
These are alarming numbers considering
the potential life-threatening issues that
can arise from a patient not receiving proper care
in a timely manner.
In addition, without the proper protocols
for Alzheimer's patients, care providers
can be overburdened, including a loss of job opportunities,
a strain on personal and family relationships,
and a loss of income.
In fact, some caregivers have reported an annual average lost
wages of over $15,000, a hardship that
would threaten the financial security of most families
here in our commonwealth.
And for these reasons, I stand before you
in support of House 4116.
And I'm pleased that a bill I filed along with 73 of you
as colleagues is included in this legislation.
It would create a one-time requirement
that the curriculum content about Alzheimer's and dementia
be incorporated into the continuing medical education
programs for license renewal.
I thank the health professionals and the advocates
across the commonwealth that work
to battle this disease every day and who
have supported this vital legislation from the beginning.
With a better informed medical community,
we will be able to detect early signs of the disease
and provide a high standard of care that
will allow patients and their families access
to medical and support services and give patients
the dignity they deserve.
It will also reduce costs and provide an opportunity
for the patient to make legal, financial, and care plan
decisions while still capable.
With the issue of Alzheimer's and dementia
threatening to become an ever-growing epidemic,
it is of paramount importance that we
take precautions and prepare to the best of our abilities now.
I believe that this legislation will once again
prove why Massachusetts is a national leader on health care,
and bring us one step forward in protecting
individuals and families afflicted
by this terrible disease.
So once again, thank you for supporting
these bills, including this comprehensive legislation.
And Mr. Speaker, I want to personally thank you
for your commitment and priority to this
and the many other health care concerns
we face in the Commonwealth.
Thank you.
Chair recognizes Mr. Cantwell of Marshfield.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you to the members.
I briefly rise to also speak in favor of House 4116,
An Act Relative to Alzheimer's and Related
Dementia in the Commonwealth.
I want to thank the gentle lady from Marlborough
for her tremendous efforts here today,
and all those who spoke before me.
I'm standing to speak on behalf of a Joe Lambert, who
is a gentleman here from Marshfield, from my district
who sadly was one of those five million Americans who
lives with Alzheimer's, and just passed away one year ago.
His wife Yanna came and testified before our committee
on public health last year, speaking specifically
of an issue that's addressed in section 8 of this bill, where
she spoke of the need for hospitals in acute care
settings to have an operational plan recognizing and managing
individuals with dementia.
As she went on to speak, the location
where her husband was having treatment
did not have such a plan.
In her view, was treated rather poorly.
In her view, she was looking for some form of Alzheimer's
patient bill of rights.
I think the tremendous work that's
been done through this legislation
and through the gentle lady from Marlborough
addresses this very significant issue.
I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your time.
On behalf of Joe Lambert from Marshfield,
I ask for support for this legislation as well.
Thank you very much.
Mr. [INAUDIBLE] asks unanimous consent
to be recorded on roll call number 309.
Chair hears objection/ Chair hears none.
Roll call number 309.
David Paul Linsky, yes.
House will be in a brief recess.
[NO AUDIO]
The question now is on passing [INAUDIBLE] engrossed,
pending which Mr. Jones of North Reading
offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk.
The clerk will read the amendment.
[NO AUDIO]
Amendment number one, Mr. Jones of North Reading
and other members of the House move
to amend the bill in section 1 in line 26
by inserting after the words, "The Senate Chair of the Joint
Committee on Elder Affairs or designee
the words of the ranking Senate--
If there be no objection, the clerk
will dispense with the reading of the paper.
The chair hears none.
The question now is on the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, no.
The ayes have it.
The amendment is adopted.
The question now is on passing the bill
to be engrossed as amended.
Roll call having been ordered, the roll call machine
is now open.
Remain open for three minutes.
Court officers, summon the members.
Indicate a roll call is in progress.
That's it.
[BACKGROUND CHATTER]
[NO AUDIO]
Chair would like to announce to the members that
is does not anticipate any further roll
calls this afternoon.
[NO AUDIO]
Mr. Pignatelli of Lenox asks be recorded on roll call number
309.
Chair objection?
Chair hears none.
On roll call number 309, Smitty Pignatelli yes.
[NO AUDIO]
Have all members voted wish to do so?
All members voted.
Time for voting is expired.
The clerk will display the tally.
On this matter, 153 members voted in the affirmative, none
in the negative.
The bill is passed to be engrossed.
[NO AUDIO]
[INAUDIBLE] order in the hands of the clerk.
Clerk will read the order.
Order that when the House adjourns today,
it adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.
The question now is on adoption of the order.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, nay.
The ayes have it.
The order is adopted.
Mr. Jones of North Reading now moves that the House
stands adjourned.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those opposed, nay.
The ayes have it.
House stands adjourned to meet tomorrow, Thursday, 11:00 a.m.
in an informal session.
[NO AUDIO]
[MUSIC PLAYING]