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Welcome!
I
have
always
valued
direct
constituent
contact,
quickly
responding
to a
variety
of
your
questions
and
ideas.
I
welcome
you
to
use
this
website
as a
resource
and
strongly
encourage
you
to
communicate
to
me
any
and
all
ideas
you
have,
which
will
allow
me
to
serve
you
better.
Thanks
for
stopping
by
and
please
be
sure
to
check
in
regularly
for
news
updates
and
upcoming
events.
Sincerely
your
State
Representative,
FEMA
1-800-621-3362 http://www.fema.gov/
MASSACHUSETTS
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
AGENCY
Tel:
508-820-2000
Fax:
508-820-2030
Website:
www.mass.gov/mema
Upcoming
Events
Smooth
Cruise
Route
6
Westport
- Saturday, August 28 & Sunday, August 29
Great
Feast
of
the
Holy
Ghost
Kennedy
Park
- Sunday, September 12 10:00am
Pre-Election
Brunch
White’s
of
Westport
REFORM AGENDA
Pension Reform –
Chapter 21 of the Acts of 2009
This reform legislation closed egregious loopholes and eliminated the worst offenses in the
pension system. These reforms resulted in significant taxpayer savings and helped to restore
public trust in state oversight of public pensions. This reform removed the “king for a day”
loophole and extended the “vesting” requirement of elected officials from six years to ten years
while eliminating termination benefits for all state employees and imposing criminal penalties for
pension fraud.
Transportation Reform –
Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2009
On transportation reform, the Legislature passed a landmark bill that eliminated the Turnpike
Authority, ensured toll equity, abolished the “23 and out” rule at the MBTA and brought all active
and retired MBTA workers under the state’s Group Insurance Commission. The transportation
reform bill not only eliminated the antiquated and inefficient transportation structure in
Massachusetts, but it also brought considerable cost savings to the state and helped alleviate
the need for a toll increase or a proposed gas tax increase last summer.
Ethics Reform –
Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2009
This ethics reform bill strengthened current ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws
and enhanced the integrity of the political process while helping to restore public trust. The
consensus bill not only barred gifts to public officials, but also increased the authority of the
Ethics Commission to investigate and prosecute alleged ethics violations.
Education Reform —
Chapter 12 of the Acts of 2010
The House and Senate began 2010 enacting landmark education reform legislation aimed at
eliminating the achievement gap in schools across the Commonwealth. The bill gives the state
stronger authority to intervene in underperforming districts, lifts the cap on charter schools in the
lowest performing school districts and helps to facilitate innovation and excellence in schools
throughout Massachusetts.
CORI Reform –
Reform legislation of criminal records (CORI) will provide job opportunities for “reformed”
offenders, who have paid their debts to society, while giving prospective employers the ability
to view those records to maintain a safe workplace. The law increases access to criminal
background checks while ensuring, where appropriate, records are not arbitrarily used to
deny employment opportunities. Information on all convictions for sex offenses, murder and
manslaughter remain available for life and law enforcement will continue to have full access to
CORI.
Improved accuracy and faster response times will be achieved through a new Internet-based
system required by the legislation. The new law adds gun crimes to the existing statute allowing
prosecutors to seek dangerousness hearings, allowing them to hold without bail suspects
deemed dangerous to the community.
The Legislature overrode a gubernatorial budget veto to reinstate the $12.5 million in funding
for the Workforce Training Fund, which provides employers with grants aimed at educating and
training existing members of the workforce and new hires.
Through the beginning of this year, more than $175 million in grants have been awarded to
train almost a quarter-million workers through the Workforce Training Fund. The legislature’s
conference committee budget which passed last month provided $24 million for the Workforce
Training Fund. The House’s veto override restored the funding for Workforce Training grants to
the level of $24 million.
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
Economic
Development
–
The
House
and
Senate
passed
a
comprehensive
economic
development
bill
providing
both
short-term
and
long-term
incentives,
including
a
sales
tax
holiday
for
August
14th
and
15th
and
promotion
of a
business-friendly
environment
that
will
help
small
businesses
open,
expand
and
create
jobs.
The
legislation
overhauls
the
state’s
network
of
business
development
agencies,
establishing
a
streamlined,
cohesive
model
with
built-in
oversight
and
transparency
to
reduce
redundancy
and
waste.
Gateway
Cities
–
As
part
of
the
broader,
more
comprehensive
economic
development
package,
the
House
and
Senate
passed
initiatives
important
to
Gateway
Cities
(including
Fall
River).
The
legislation
targets
job
creation
tax
credits
at
the
state’s
Gateway
Cities
and
establishes
eligibility
thresholds
for
the
state’s
Economic
Development
Incentive
Program
at
50
jobs
retained
or
25
jobs
created.
Retroactively,
certified
facilities
with
expansion
programs
could
qualify
with
100
or
more
jobs
retained
over
the
past
two
years
at
multiple
locations.
Improvements
to
the
Gateway
Cities
Manufacturing
Retention
Program
would
award
job
creation
tax
credits
to
qualifying
businesses
who
retain
at
least
50
jobs
(down
from
100)
or
create
at
least
25
jobs
(down
from
100)
in
Gateway
Cities.
Permit
Extension
Act
–
Included
in
the
comprehensive
economic
development
package,
the
House
and
Senate
passed
the
Permit
Extension
Act
for
certain
local
and
state
projects,
which
will
allow
shovel
ready
projects
that
may
be
experiencing
temporary
financial
difficulties
to
move
forward.
This
extension
of
permits
in
effect
during
the
worst
recession
in
recent
history
will
prevent
locally
supported
projects
from
collapse—ensuring
future
tax
revenue
and
jobs
for
the
people
of
our
Commonwealth.
This
bill
allows
projects
that
have
received
state
and
local
approvals,
but
may
be
experiencing
temporary
financial
difficulties,
to
retain
their
approval
for
two
years.
Specifically,
the
bill
extends
permits
in
effect
or
existence
from
August
15,
2008
–
August
15,
2010
for
two
years.
Without
this
law,
there
was
a
high
likelihood
that
more
and
more
development
projects
would
have
been
abandoned
–
costing
the
Commonwealth
much
needed
jobs
and
tax
revenue.
The
Permit
Extension
Act
will
prevent
the
abandonment
of
many
residential
and
commercial
projects,
thereby
preventing
a
waste
of
massive
public
and
private
resources.
Workforce
Training
Fund
–
The
Legislature
overrode
a
gubernatorial
budget
veto
to
reinstate
the
$12.5
million
in
funding
for
the
Workforce
Training
Fund,
which
provides
employers
with
grants
aimed
at
educating
and
training
existing
members
of
the
workforce
and
new
hires.
Through
the
beginning
of
this
year,
more
than
$175
million
in
grants
have
been
awarded
to
train
almost
a
quarter-million
workers
through
the
Workforce
Training
Fund.
The
legislature’s
conference
committee
budget
which
passed
last
month
provided
$24
million
for
the
Workforce
Training
Fund.
The
House’s
veto
override
restored
the
funding
for
Workforce
Training
grants
to
the
level
of
$24
million.
HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
Small Business Health Care –
The Legislature passed a small business health care bill that will reduce small business health
insurance costs, promote job retention, and job creation. The bill reduces premium fluctuations
in the market and requires insurers to offer affordable health plans. The legislation also delivers
an estimated premium relief of at least 10 percent that small businesses can save and reinvest
in their operations and workforce. Finally, it establishes standardized transparency measures
for provider pricing and annual public reporting. This will decrease marketplace ambiguity and
collect important financial information for ongoing policy discussions about long-term system
reform.
Freezing UI Tax Rates –
Chapter 34 of the Acts of 2010
Legislation freezing the unemployment insurance (UI) tax rate for 2010 was passed by both the
House and Senate back in February of 2010. Without swift action by Representative Rodrigues
and his colleagues in the Legislature, UI tax rates would have escalated from Schedule E to
Schedule G, increasing taxes on employers from the current average of $583 per employee per
year to $835. Instead, the new law freezes the rate at the 2009 level of Schedule E retroactive
to January 1.
The UI rate freeze law provided needed relief to local small businesses at a time when many
continue to struggle during this economically challenging time. Without the rate freeze, UI taxes
would have saddled employers with an inopportune tax increase, possibly forcing some small
businesses to close.
Sales Tax Holiday –
As part of the broader economic development legislation aimed to helping
small businesses, the House and Senate passed a sales tax holiday for August 14th and 15th.
HELPING OUR CITIES & TOWNS
The
Legislature
enacted
a
municipal
relief
package
establishing
a
statewide
mutual
aid
agreement
to
allow
cities
and
towns
to
share
resources,
permit
municipalities
to
extend
funding
schedules
for
pension
systems
and
allow
for
regionalization
efforts
among
municipalities.
Foreclosure
Prevention
–
New
legislation
addresses
the
various
impacts
of
state’s
foreclosure
crisis.
The
legislation
will
protect
tenants
in
foreclosed
properties
and
help
lenders
and
homeowners
avoid
foreclosure.
The
bill
establishes
protections
for
tenants
living
in
properties
that
have
been
taken
over
by a
lender
after
foreclosure
while
extending
the
“right-to-cure”
period
in
some
circumstances.
The
“right-to-cure”
period
allows
lenders
and
homeowners
a
window
to
work
out
a
new
payment
plan
to
avoid
foreclosure.
Green
Ticketing/Unpaid
Municipal
Fines
–
Chapter
26
of
the
Acts
of
2010
This
recently
established
law
offers
cities
and
towns
new
enforcement
powers
to
collect
unpaid
fines.
It
provides
cities
and
towns
new
powers
to
collect
fines
and
said
cleaner
neighborhoods
represent
a
quality
of
life
improvement.
This
bill
is
targeted
chiefly
at
collection
of
fines
associated
with
improper
trash
disposal,
including
garbage
found
strewn
about
outside
buildings
owned
by
absentee
landlords,
who
happen
to
be
the
biggest
violators.
PUTTING THE PEOPLE’S SAFETY & HEALTH FIRST
Assault
and
Battery
on
Health
Care
Providers
–
Chapter
151
of
the
Acts
of
2010
This
law
increases
penalties
against
individuals
who
attempt
to
harm
doctors,
nurses,
social
workers,
or
EMT
and
ambulance
personnel.
The
bill
amends
existing
law
to
create
enhanced
penalties
for
the
existing
crimes
of
assault,
and
assault
and
battery
on
an
EMT
or
ambulance
personnel
acting
in
the
line
of
duty,
to
include
all
health
care
providers,
such
as
doctors,
nurses
and
social
workers.
The
bill
also
mandates
a
minimum
sentence
of
90
days
(up
to
2.5
years)
or a
minimum
fine
of
$500
(up
to
$5,000),
but
does
not
prohibit
a
suspended
sentence.
Protecting
Children/Bullying
Prevention
–
Chapter
92
of
the
Acts
of
2010
The
House
and
Senate
passed
comprehensive
anti-bullying
legislation.
The
bill
prohibits
bullying
and
cyber-bullying,
directs
schools
to
implement
bullying
prevention
and
intervention
plans
and
requires
school
staff
to
report
incidents
of
bullying.
In
addition,
schools
will
be
required
to
include
bullying
prevention
in
their
curriculum.
To
stop
bullying
when
it
happens,
the
legislation
requires
school
staff
to
report
incidents
of
bullying
to
the
principal,
who
must then investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action. The bill prohibits bullying on school
grounds, school busses, at school-sponsored activities and bullying through the use of
electronic communications.
Safe Driving/Banning
Texting
while
Driving
–
Chapter
155
of
the
Acts
of
2010
The
House
and
Senate
passed
into
law
legislation
banning
texting
while
driving
and
prohibiting
junior
operators
(18
and
under)
from
using
a
cell
phone
or
mobile
device
while
driving.
The
bill
also
mandates
drivers
75
and
older
renew
their
licenses
in-person
and
complete
a
vision
test
every
five
years.
It
further
authorizes
and
indemnifies
health
care
providers
and
law
enforcement
to
notify
the
Registry
of
Motor
Vehicles
(RMV)
of
any
driver
who
may
not
be
able
to
safely
operate
a
vehicle.
Safety
Regulations
for
School
Athletic
Programs
–
Chapter
166
of
the
Acts
of
2010
This
new
law
is
designed
to
protect
children
and
help
parents
and
coaches
make
informed
decisions
concerning
head
injuries.
Passed
by
the
House
and
Senate,
the
law
now
requires
every
high
school
coach,
trainer,
or
parent
volunteer
involved
to
be
trained
in
basic
safety
and
emergency
procedures.
The
training
specifically
focuses
on
the
nature
and
risk
of
concussion
and
second-impact
syndrome,
including
the
dangers
of
returning
to
practice
or
competition
after
a
concussion
or
head
injury.
The
bill
requires
high
school
athletes
who
are
suspected
of
sustaining
a
concussion
or
head
injury
be
removed
from
play,
thus
preventing
them
from
putting
injured
athletes
further
into
harm’s
way.
In
addition,
young
student-athletes
who
have
been
removed
from
play
MUST
receive
medical
clearance
prior
to
returning
from
a
physician.
School Nutrition – Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2010
Establishes school nutritional guidelines for foods and beverages sold to students outside of the
federal meal program and for products sold in vending machines, school stores, and cafeteria a
la carte lines.
Establishment of Silver Alert Program –
Legislation establishing a Silver Alert program to assist in locating seniors with Alzheimer’s and
other forms of dementia who have gone missing. The Silver Alert program would provide for a
coordinated approach to locating an individual with dementia.
The bill directs law enforcement and other key response resources to focus in a geographic
area consistent with the missing person’s last know location. The legislation requires training
for law enforcement and key responders. This training will be incorporated into emergency
personnel training that are currently in practice.
Lyme
Disease
–
Outside
Section
67
of
Chapter
131
of
the
Acts
of
2010
The
intent
of
the
law
is
to
protect
the
freedom
of
Massachusetts
doctors
to
treat
Lyme
disease
comprehensively
according
to
their
best
professional
judgment,
citing
specifically
the
option
for
extended
antibiotic
treatment
beyond
30
days.
The
legislation
provides
the
definition
for
Lyme
disease
which
includes,
“the
presence
in a
patient
of
signs
and
symptoms
compatible
with
acute
infection
with
Borrelia
burgdorferi;
or
with
late
stage
or
persistent
or
chronic
infection
with
Borrelia
burgdorferi,
or
with
complications
related
to
such
an
infection.”
In
addition,
the
legislation
provides
for
updating
the
Lyme
disease
definition
if
other
strains
are
found
to
cause
Lyme
disease.
The
legislation
also
legitimizes
and
defines
the
“clinical
diagnosis“
of
Lyme
disease.
This
may
be
based
on
knowledge
obtained
through
medical
history
and
physical
examination
only,
or
in
conjunction
with
testing
that
provides
supportive
data
for
such
clinical
diagnosis,
as
determined
by
the
treating
physician.
Autism
Insurance
–
The
House
and
Senate
passed
autism
insurance
legislation
requiring
health
insurance
companies
to
cover
the
diagnosis
of
and
treatment
for
Autism
Spectrum
Disorders.
LOCAL
Increased PILOT Funding –
The House and Senate passed a FY 2011 Appropriations bill, which included increased
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for both Westport and Fall River. Westport is slated to
receive $830,910 (+64 %) and Fall River is slated to receive $331,909 (+20 %) over FY 2010
once the FMAP money is approved by Congress.
In the fall of 2009, the Legislature rejected Governor Patrick’s proposal to cut PILOT in his
efforts to balance the state budget for FY 2010. Westport was scheduled to receive $297,000
for Horseneck Beach Reservation, while Fall River would receive $276,000 for Heritage State
Park and Freetown-Fall River State Forest.
PILOT funds are reimbursed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to cities and towns for
state-owned land exempted from property taxes. The Governor’s proposed cuts to PILOT
would have amounted to a local aid cut of $117,000 for Westport and $109,000 for Fall River.
Preventing Oil Spills in Buzzards Bay – Chapter 101 of the Acts of 2009
As
part
of
the
Conference
Committee,
Rep.
Rodrigues
played
a
lead
role
in
guiding
this
legislation
to
passage.
This
law
is
an
extension
of
Chapter
268
of
the
Acts
of
2008.
It
establishes
a
higher
penalty
for
vessels
in
violation
of
Chapter
21L,
the
Environmental
Endangerment
Act,
by
specifying
triple
fines
to
those
who
violate
the
statute
and
spill
oil
into
the
environment.
Leasing
of
Westport
Town
Farm
–
Chapter
121
of
the
Acts
of
2010
Under
the
law,
The
Town
of
Westport
has
granted
a 99
year
lease
to
The
Trustees
of
Reservations,
to
manage
and
steward
a
40+
acre
portion
of
the
property
for
the
benefit
of
the
public,
which
will
include
agriculture,
passive
recreation
and
historic
preservation
of
the
structures.
The
historic
farm
house,
barn,
and
outbuildings
will
be
restored
by
The
Trustees
of
Reservations.
The
physical
changes
to
the
land
will
only
include
property
maintenance
associated
with
agriculture,
passive
recreation
and
natural
habitat
management.
Westport
Life
Saving
Station
–
Chapter
164
of
the
Acts
of
2009
Governor
Patrick
signed
this
bill
into
law
on
November
24,
2009.
This
legislation
authorizes
and
directs
the
Division
of
Capital
and
Asset
Management
to
lease
a
certain
piece
of
land
and
building
in
the
Town
of
Westport
known
as
the
lifesaving
station
to
the
Westport
Fisherman’s
Association
for
a
period
of
25
years.
The
intent
of
the
lease
is
to
allow
the
Westport
Fisherman’s
Association
to
restore
a
lifesaving
station
on
Horseneck
Beach
for
the
purpose
of
operating
a
lifesaving
museum.
Louis
Phillip
Gagne,
Jr.
Memorial
Bridge
–
Chapter
67
of
the
Acts
of
2010
The
legislation
filed
by
Representative
Rodrigues
and
Senator
Menard
was
signed
by
Governor
Patrick
into
law
as
Chapter
67
of
the
Acts
of
2010.
The
law
names
the
Jefferson
Street
overpass
spanning
Route
24
in
Fall
River
as
the
Louis
Phillip
Gagne,
Jr.
Bridge.
The
law
designates
the
Massachusetts
Department
of
Transportation
to
erect
and
maintain
a
sign
naming
the
bridge
after
deceased
Vietnam
veteran
Louis
Phillip
Gagne,
Jr.
of
Fall
River.
A
Fall
River
native,
Louis
Phillip
Gagne,
Jr.
was
killed
in
action
on
September
30,
1966
while
serving
in
Vietnam
with
the
US
Army
D
Troop,
1st
Squadron
of
the
9th
Cavalry
Division.
Louis
was
a
recipient
of
various
Medals,
including
the
Purple
Heart.
Saltwater
Fishing
Licenses
–
Chapter
161
of
the
Acts
of
2009
This
legislation,
which
Rep.
Rodrigues
was
innately
involved
in,
establishes
a
state
saltwater
fishing
registry
that
requires
recreational
saltwater
anglers
to
purchase
a
license
to
fish
beginning
in
2011.
Under
Chapter
161
of
the
Acts
of
2009,
saltwater
fishing
licenses
will
cost
less
than
a
federal
program
would
have
required
and
keeps
the
benefits
local.
The
new
law
permits
the
Department
of
Fish
and
Game
(DFG)
to
offer
an
individual
license
fee
of
$10,
with
revenue
from
the
state
licensing
program
deposited
into
a
state
Marine
Recreational
Fisheries
Development
Fund
administered
by
the
Division
of
Marine
Fisheries.
The
license
revenues
will
be
dedicated
to
improving
recreational
saltwater
fishing
opportunities,
including
programs
to
improve
public
access
for
recreational
fishing
across
the
Commonwealth.
Fall
River/BOLD
Prescription
Drug
Take
Back
Initiative
The
City
of
Fall
River,
along
with
BOLD
(Building
Our
Lives
Drug-Free),
proposed
to
place
an
information
card
with
each
person’s
prescription
at
the
20
or
so
pharmacies
throughout
Fall
River. The
card
would
educate
on
the
importance
of
properly
securing
medicines
in
the
home.
The
overall
initiative
is
to
prevent
the
misuse,
illegal
and
accidental
use
of
prescription
drugs
and
to
encourage
and
increase
the
responsible
storage
and
disposal
of
medicines
from
the
home.
The
end
goal
is
to
ultimately
reduce
access
to
prescription
drugs
in
homes
by
youth
and
others
who
might
abuse
them.
The
City
of
Fall
River
and
BOLD
enlisted
the
help
of
Rep.
Rodrigues
to
obtain
permission
and
cooperation
from
the
big
chain
pharmacies
(i.e.
Walgreens,
Wal-Mart,
Stop
and
Shop,
Rite
Aid,
CVS,
etc.,)
to
distribute
the
information
cards
and
display
posters.
Rep.
Rodrigues
was
successful
in
obtaining
permission
from
all
but
one
pharmacy.
On
Saturday,
June
19
at
Blessed
Trinity
Parish
Hall
on
Plymouth
Avenue
in
Fall
River,
the
BOLD
Coalition
Drug
Take
Back
event
resulted
in
three
hundred
people
turning
in
over
a
hundred
thousand
dollars
worth
of
unused
medication;
of
these,
many
were
unused
mail
order
prescriptions.
Providing
Benefits
to
Veterans
and
Service
Members
–
Chapter
132
of
the
Acts
of
2009
Legislation
expanding
the
“Welcome
Home
Bonus”
program
gives
Massachusetts
veterans
expanded
access
to
monetary
bonuses
upon
returning
from
duty.
The
bill
also
established
the
Massachusetts
Medal
of
Liberty
to
honor
fallen
service
members
and
offers
increased
housing
opportunities
for
veterans.
House
Offers
Major
Economic
Development
Package
Legislation
Aims
to
Create
Jobs,
Improve
Business
Climate
and
Create
Economic
Opportunities
for
Gateway
Cities
The
House
Committee
on
Ways
and
Means
has
recently
put
forward
a
major
economic
development
package
that
includes
provisions
relative
to
business
and
job
growth
here
in
the
Commonwealth.
Last
week,
Rep.
Rodrigues
voted
in
favor
of
the
economic
package
during
a
Committee
poll
to
consider
future
action.
The
economic
development
legislation
is
scheduled
for
debate
and
a
vote
during
the
week
of
July
5th-9th.
Provisions
include:
-
Aiming job creation tax credits at the state’s Gateway Cities (including Fall River), the proposal would set eligibility thresholds for the state’s Economic Development Incentive Program at 50 jobs retained or 25 jobs created. Retroactively, certified facilities with expansion programs could qualify with 100 or more jobs retained over the past two years at multiple locations.
-
Improvements to the Gateway Cities Manufacturing Retention Program that would now award job creation tax credits to qualifying businesses who retain at least 50 jobs (down from 100) or create at least 25 jobs (down from 100) in Gateway Cities.
-
Creation of a Gateway Cities Housing Development Incentive Program, designed to promote new market rate housing.
-
Recapitalization of the Growth Districts Initiative, which provides significant commercial and residential transportation and infrastructure development in Gateway Cities.
-
Extension of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program.
-
Permit Extension for certain local and state projects, which will allow shovel ready projects that may be experiencing temporary financial difficulties to move forward. This extension of permits in effect during the worst recession in recent history will prevent locally supported projects from collapse—ensuring future tax revenue and much needed job growth.
-
Net-Operating Loss Carry Forward, which will extend NOL provision from 5 to 20 years. This will boost competitiveness and long-term viability of the start-up and innovation sectors.
-
3-in-3 Investment Incentive, which applies a 3% capital gains tax rate to investments made by individual investors in MA-based start-ups that are held for more than 3 years. This will fuel investment in MA-based start-ups, including small businesses, and generate increased state and local tax revenues.
Recent
News
- House Passes Sales Tax Holiday
Representative Rodrigues on Wednesday, July 7th joined with his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in approving an amendment that would allow a state sales tax holiday on August 14th and 15th of this year to encourage consumers to shop at local businesses across the state.
The amendment is part of an economic development bill passed by the House. The amendment passed by a vote of 134-13.
The sales tax holiday applies to retail sales excluding any single item priced higher than $2,500.
The sales tax holiday does not apply to gas, steam, electricity, motor vehicles, motorboats or meals.
House Passes Economic Development Bill
Representative Rodrigues on Wednesday, July 7th joined with his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing economic development legislation that would streamline economic development agencies, make Massachusetts more attractive to businesses, provide job creation/retention tax credits to Gateway Cities (including Fall River) and establish a sales tax holiday this summer.
- Governor Patrick Signs Rodrigues Legislation to Protect Health Workers from Assault and Battery
Demonstrating the Patrick-Murray Administration's continued support for health care professionals, Governor Deval Patrick last Friday, July 2nd signed into law an Act Relative to Assault and Battery on Health Care Providers, which will increase penalties against individuals who attempt to harm doctors, nurses, social workers, or EMT and ambulance personnel.
The legislation filed Representative Rodrigues amends existing law to create enhanced penalties for the existing crimes of assault, and assault and battery on an EMT or ambulance personnel acting in the line of duty, to include all health care providers, such as doctors, nurses and social workers. The bill also mandates a minimum sentence of 90 days (up to 2.5 years) or a minimum fine of $500 (up to $5,000), but does not prohibit a suspended sentence.
"The signing of this legislation today is a culmination of hard work by many people over the years to protect front-line health care workers," said Representative Michael J. Rodrigues. "I applaud Governor Patrick for joining us in sending a message that violence against nurses and other health care professionals cannot and will not be tolerated."
According to 2004 guidelines for "Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care & Social Service Workers," published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, nurses and other personal care workers suffer violent assaults at a rate 12 times higher than other industries.
"We are pleased that Governor Patrick is signing HB 1696 today," said Donna Kelly-Williams, RN, President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. "We applaud the Governor and the legislature's support for the this bill as it recognizes the increasing levels of violence that nurses are facing on the job, and it represents an essential first step toward treating this kind of crime more seriously."
"All health care workers in many settings are at high risk for workplace violence. This legislation begins to address this concern by extending additional penalties for assault and battery against healthcare workers in hospitals, nursing homes and community health centers," said Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President of 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU). "In signing H.1696, Governor Patrick is providing important new protections for the many thousands of 1199 SEIU members providing hands-on care in these settings."
- Rodrigues Assault and Battery on the Verge of Becoming Law
Representative Rodrigues legislation, House Bill 1696 – An Act Relative to Assault and Battery on Health Care Providers – is on the brink of becoming state law. This bill was enacted by both the House and Senate during yesterday’s formal sessions. As we’ve come to learn, violence in hospitals and other health care settings is increasingly becoming more and more common today. This legislation, which now sits on Governor Patrick’s desk, would benefit the safety of all health care providers by establishing heightened standard of punishments for individuals that commit assault and battery on all health care providers during the delivery of health care services.
- Westport Town Farm Legislation Becomes Law
Representative Rodrigues legislation to authorize a lease over a portion of the Westport Town Farm to The Trustees of Reservations to preserve, manage and steward a 40-plus acre portion of the Town Farm for the benefit of the public, which will include agriculture, passive recreation and historic preservation of the structures. This bill was signed into law as Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2010 by Governor Patrick on June 17, 2010.
- Home builders press for Rodrigues Permit Extension Bill
Citing fresh data about the industry’s impact on job creation, home builders in Massachusetts are calling on the Legislature to advance Representative Rodrigues legislation allowing extended permits for shovel-ready private construction projects that have experienced setbacks related to the tough economy. House Bill 3647, the Permit Extension Act of 2010, has been included in a Senate bill reorganizing the state’s economic development bureaucracy. However, the House has not acted yet on the bill.
Extensions of state and local permit approvals, authorized for up to three years for projects facing obstacles tied to the recession and credit crisis, are viewed by the industry as a way to keep job-creating development proposals alive and boost the construction industry. A study released Tuesday morning by the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts concluded more than 22,000 jobs last year were created in connection with the construction of nearly 5,500 residential homes in Massachusetts. The job total is comparable to the in-state employment numbers of the state’s largest employer, Stop & Shop Companies, the association reported. Home builders accounted last year for $1.82 billion in personal and business income and generated nearly $315 million in revenue for state and local governments, the study found.
- House Passes Prescription Discount Bill
The House voted unanimously Wednesday to allow Massachusetts residents to use manufacturer’s co-pay assistance and pharmacy discount programs to lower their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. Representative Rodrigues, who has been heavily involved in this issue for a number of years, said it would provide constituents with desperately needed cost relief at a time when the increasingly growing cost of co-pays could deter patients from taking their medications.
As it stands right now, Massachusetts is the only state in the US that prohibits access to co-pay assistance and prescription discount programs, which means constituents will pay more out-of-pocket costs than those people in the other 49 states for their brand-name medicines in higher co-pays.
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
For more information on this bill, please contact Jeremy Spittle at Jeremy.spittle@state.ma.us or by calling (617) 722-2230.
- House Passes Balanced FY 11 Budget
Last week, Representative Rodrigues joined his fellow colleagues in the House of Representatives in passing a balanced FY 2011 budget with no new taxes or use of state stabilization fund reserves. The budget closes a projected $3.2 billion budget gap through cuts to state spending totaling over $1.4 billion and relies on approximately $1.55 billion in federal funds, directed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Also, the budget saves the Commonwealth approximately $300 million through debt restructuring.
Furthermore, the budget fully funds the Workforce Training Fund at $21 million to provide employers with grants aimed at education and training existing members of the workforce and new hires. Through the beginning of this year, more than $175 million in grants have been awarded to train almost a quarter-million workers through the Workforce Training Fund.
Finally, the House budget proposes to create a searchable website to enhance fiscal transparency and increase visibility of how the state spends tax revenue. The database will serve as a one-stop portal to track all areas of state spending. The House’s FY 2011 budget now heads to the Senate for further action.
- House Passes Municipal Relief Bill
The House of Representatives passed legislation on Monday, April 26th, which facilitates mutual aid agreements, allowing pension systems to extend their funding schedules and permitting municipalities to enter into leases of up to 30 years without a home rule petition in an effort to provide cities and towns with new means for managing municipalities through these challenging economic times.
The legislation establishes a statewide mutual aid agreement allowing mutual aid assistance – such as fire services, law enforcement and emergency medical services – during a public safety incident. The bill also creates a statewide public works mutual aid agreement for the sharing of public works resources across jurisdictional lines during public works incidents.
The bill allows pension systems, with the exception of the State Employees Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement System, to extend their funding schedule to 2040. Additionally, the bill allows municipalities to enter into leases of up to 30 years without a home rule petition. Currently, municipalities may only enter into leases of up to 10 years without a home rule petition. The package also allows any accepting municipality to establish an early retirement program for its employees. Municipalities would be restricted when filling vacancies created by early retirements and could pay only a fraction of the participants’ total annual salary in upcoming fiscal years.
The bill includes an amendment stripping the legislation of a provision that would have allowed municipalities to raise property taxes to furnish overlay accounts used to fund abatements through the appeal of tax bills and other tax abatement programs. The House voted to remove the provision out of concern that it would have circumvented Proposition 2 ½ which limits annual increases in property taxes.
The bill gives municipalities the choice of accepting a section that requires school and city officials to meet each year to review the fiscal status of the school district and identify potential cost savings through regionalization initiatives. Furthermore, the bill empowers school committees to join with one or more other school committee to elect a superintendent to represent the partnering districts. The legislation now moves on to the Senate.
- House Unanimously Backs Rep. Rodrigues Bill Expanding Protections for Health Care Workers
Under
a
Rep.
Rodrigues
bill
backed
unanimously
by
the
House
on
Thursday,
individuals
who
assault
health
care
workers
would
face
up
to
2.5
years
in
jail
and
a
$5,000
fine.
With
violence
in
hospitals
and
other
health
care
settings
becoming
increasingly
more
and
more
common,
the
Legislature
recognized
the
need
for
this
long
overdue
protection.
The
legislation
expands
protections
similar
to
state
laws
affording
protections
to
emergency
medical
technicians,
firefighters
and
public
employees.
It
also
enhance
penalties
for
those
committing
assault
and
battery
against
health
care
workers.
The
bill
now
heads
to
the
Senate.
- House Fully Restores FY 10 Appropriation to the Workforce Training Fund
The
House
of
Representatives
yesterday
approved
a
$9.5
million
appropriation
to the
Workforce
Training
Fund
(WTF)
for
fiscal
year
2010
as a
part
of a
supplemental
budget.
Massachusetts
employers
provide
money
for
the
WTF
through
a
surcharge on
unemployment
insurance
taxes.
The
program
is
designed
to
raise
approximately
$21
million
per
year,
but
has
fallen
victim
to
the
commonwealth's
fiscal
crisis
during
the
past
two
years.
- House Approves $7.2 Million Special Election Reimbursement to Cities and Towns
House
of
Representatives
yesterday
approved
an
amendment
reimbursing
$7.2
million
to
our
cities
and
towns.
The
amendment
to
the
Fiscal
Year
2010
Supplemental
Appropriations
bill
will
help
cities
and
towns
cover
the
costs
of
the
special
election
held
on
January
19th. Representative
Rodrigues,
along
with
a
bi-partisan
group
of
16
legislators,
sponsored
this
amendment
to
reimburse
our
cities
and
towns
for
costs
of
holding
the
special
election.
Westport
would
receive
$11,554,
while
Fall
River
would
receive
$72,556.31
in
reimbursement
money.
- House Passes Anti-Bullying Bill
On
Thursday,
March
18th,
the
MA
House
of
Representatives
passed
148-0
a
bill
aimed
at
preventing
bullying
in
schools
and
providing
outlets
for
students
to
report
bullying
to
school
officials. The
bill
directs
the
Department
of
Elementary
and
Secondary
Education
to
set
regulations
requiring
school
teachers
and
staffers
to
report
incidents
of
bullying.
The
legislation
also
dictates
that
a
school
must
promptly
investigate
reports
of
bullying
and
notify
local
law
enforcement
if
the
bullying
would
result
in
criminal
charges.
In
an
effort
to
protect
against
incidents
of
bullying
across
the
Commonwealth,
the
bill
requires
schools
to
add
bullying
prevention
instruction
to
their
curriculum
and
offer
information
about
bullying
prevention
to
parents.
It
also
well
provides
for
the
training
of
teachers
and
staff
in
the
identification,
prevention,
and
response
to
bullying
among
students.
- Housing Committee Advances Foreclosure Relief Legislation
The
Joint
Committee
on
Housing
favorably
advanced
An
Act
Relative
to
Stabilizing
Neighborhoods,
H.
3571.
The
foreclosure
relief
bill:
1)
creates
a
new
mediation
process
for
lenders
and
homeowners
to
find
an
acceptable
loan
modification.
The
mediation
program
would
be
voluntary,
but
lenders
that
do
not
participate
will
have
to
wait
150
days
to
foreclose
on
the
property.
2)
Provides
eviction
protections
to
tenants
in
foreclosed
properties
who
are
in
good
standing
and
continue
to
pay
rent.
3)
Requires
counseling
in
order
to
receive
a
reverse
mortgage.
4)
Creates
an
abandoned
and
foreclosed
property
registry
to
track
distressed
properties.
The
House
bill
creates
a
local
option
for
a
registry
with
the
local
building
inspector
while
the
Senate
bill
would
create
a
second
state
registry
to
be
housed
at
the
Attorney
General’s
Office.
The
Division
of
Banks
already
maintains
a
foreclosure
database.
5)
Creates
a
local
option
for
municipalities
to
exclude
nonprofits
from
property
taxes
during
the
term
that
the
nonprofit
rehabilitates
a
foreclosed
home.
6)
Criminalizes
mortgage
fraud.
H.
3571
now
moves
to
the
House
Committee
on
Ways
and
Means
for
further
consideration.
- School Nutrition Legislation Clears Senate
The
MA
State
Senate
on
Thursday
unanimously
approved
the
school
nutrition
bill
Thursday.
The
bill,
passed
by
the
House
in
January,
would
restrict
schools'
ability
to
sell
high-calorie,
high-fat
and
high-sodium
snacks
to
students,
a
move
aimed
at
curbing
childhood
obesity.
Under
the
bill,
schools
would
be
encouraged
to
sell
non-fried
fruit
and
vegetables,
whole
grain
products,
nonfat
or
low-fat
dairy
products,
non-carbonated
water
and
juice
with
no
additives.
The
bill
would
require
plain
water
to
be
available
to
students
all
day
at
no
cost
to
the
students.
The
bill
will
now
need
to
be
reconciled
with
the
version
of
the
bill
previously
passed
by
the
House.
- Fall River Bridge Naming Bill Advances
Rep.
Rodrigues
legislation
naming
the
Jefferson
Street
bridge
over
Route
24
in
Fall
River
advanced
in
the
House
on
Thursday.
The
legislation
is
named
after
Louis
Phillip
Gagne
Jr.,
a
Fall
River
native
who
was
killed
during
the
Vietnam
War.
The
bill
now
heads
to
the
Senate
for
concurrence.
- Rep Rodrigues Co-Signs Local Aid Resolution
Rep.
Rodrigues
signed
on
to a
local
aid
resolution
offered
by
House
Republicans
on
Thursday,
saying
Westport
and
Fall
River
need
the
flexibility
to
tackle
the
fiscal
challenges
during
this
difficult
economic
time.
The
resolution
specified
minimum
amounts
of
aid
across
several
local
aid
accounts,
including
$4.05
billion
in
the
largest
one,
Chapter
70
education
aid,
$936.4
million
in
unrestricted
local
aid,
$27.3
million
in
reimbursements
to
cities
and
towns
in
lieu
of
taxes,
$40.5
million
in
regional
school
transportation
funds,
and
$135
million
in
reimbursements
for
special
education
- Massachusetts Health Connector Announces New Health Plan for Small Businesses
A
new
plan
launched
by
the
Massachusetts
Health
Connector
looks
to
help
small
businesses
better
cope
with
the
escalating
cost
of
health
insurance.
The
new
Business
Express
program
is
for
small
businesses
with
50
or
fewer
employees.
For
some
businesses
with
five
or
fewer
employees,
the
savings
may
be
more
than
$300
per
employee
per
year.
Select
network
plans
may
offer
savings
that
range
from
10
to
15
percent.
Small
business
owners
can
find
out
more
about
the
plan
by
calling
a
broker
or
going
to
the
Health
Connector’s
website,
www.mahealthconnector.org.
They
may
also
call
the
Health
Connector’s
customer
service
line
at
1-877-MA-ENROLL
(1-877-623-6765).
The
TTY
line
for
people
with
partial
or
total
hearing
loss
is
1-877-623-7773.
- UI Rate Relief Becomes Law
Legislation freezing the unemployment tax rate for 2010 at the 2009 level of Schedule E retroactive to January 1 was signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick this afternoon. Without action by State Representative Michael Rodrigues and his colleagues in the Legislature, UI rates would have increased from the current average of $583 per employee per year to $835. This legislation provides much needed relief to local small businesses at a time when many continue to struggle during this economically challenging time.
The
House
and
Senate
gave
final
approval
today,
sending
Governor
Deval
Patrick
legislation freezing the
unemployment
tax
rate
for
2010 at
the
2009
level.
The
UI
rate
relief
legislation
provides
needed
relief
to
local
small
businesses
who
have
experienced
hardship
during
this
economically
challenging
time. Rep.
Rodrigues
voted
to
freeze
the
UI
rate,
which
was
scheduled
to
increase
by
nearly
$300
per
employee.
Without
the
freeze,
the
average
employer
would
experience
a
per-employee
payment
jump
from
$584
to
$852. The
bill
now
awaits
the
Governor’s
signature.
-
Health Care Provider Protection Bill Advances through House
A
health
care
provider
protection
bill,
chiefly
sponsored
by
Rep.
Rodrigues,
advanced
to
the
Committee
on 3rd Reading
on
Thursday,
February
11th.
House
Bill
1696
would
provide
enhanced
protections
to
health
care
providers
by
establishing
a
stronger
standard
of
punishment
for
individuals
committing
assault
on
providers
during
the
delivery
of
health
care
services.
-
Unemployment Insurance Rate Freeze Legislation Advances
The Senate passed legislation on Thursday, February 11th, freezing the unemployment rate insurance rate, which will provide immediate savings upwards to $300 million for businesses across the Commonwealth. Two weeks, Rep. Rodrigues voted for the initial bill to freeze the Unemployment Insurance rate, which was scheduled to increase by nearly $300 per employee. Without the freeze, the average employer would experience a per-employee payment jump from $584 to $852. The bill now goes back to the House for a vote on final enactment.
© 2010,
State Representative Michael J. Rodrigues
Watuppa Plaza, 151 State
Road, 2nd Floor
Westport, MA (508) 646-0650
Michael.Rodrigues@state.ma.us
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