Session DetailsFormal House Session 41

Can members please take their seats and subdue their conversations?

Ms. Haddad of Somerset doubts the presence of a quorum. The Chair can ascertain that a quorum is not present. Court offices will summons the members and tell them that a roll call-- quorum roll call is in progress and will remain open for two minutes. [? SEAM ?]

Have all members voted? We should do so. Have all members voted?

[CHATTER]

Miss Haddad of Somerset has unanimous consent to withdraw her request for roll call votes. Chair objection, chair has none.

Members are please asked to take their seats, subdue their conversation. The chair recognizes Mr. Goldstein-Rose of Amherst.

Clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 312. Mr. Goldstein-Rose of Amherst moves to amend the bill by inserting after Section 74 B the following section, Section 74 C.

There be no objection. The clerk will dispense with the reading or the remainder of the amendment. Chair objection, the chair has none. Chair recognizes Mr. Goldstein-Rose of Amherst.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak to my fellow representatives in support of this amendment. We have a unique opportunity in Massachusetts for economic development. No other state, nowhere else in the world, has exactly the advantages that we have when it comes to clean energy technology development. With our public and private research universities, advanced manufacturing, and highly educated workforce we could make ourselves the Silicon Valley of the new energy economy.

We all know that global warming threatens our state economy and our public health. But it is not enough to reduce our own emissions. Massachusetts is still going to be hit with the full impacts of climate change unless we solve the problem globally. To do that, we need cheap, clean energy technologies. Someone is going to have to develop those technologies, patent them, and manufacture them. If we can make Massachusetts the center of that new industry, it will be highly lucrative for our state and its workers.

I majored in engineering. So I approach these issues from the perspective of what infrastructure is needed to make the transition from dirty fossil energy to clean energy. I've introduced a broader bipartisan bill, energy jobs bill, that would get at that economic vision for Massachusetts. That's before Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee. But this amendment represents one piece of that bill on providing infrastructure for testing and proving new battery technologies.

This amendment would start the process to create a battery technology testing and demonstration facility, which would take sound lab stage ideas and see which work at full scale. I know there are similar efforts around the country. But there, as far as I know, is nothing like this exactly in the world. So this is an opportunity for our state.

It would fill a crucial gap between academic research and companies being able to commercialize new technologies. And it will enable the growth of a brand new industry that with this infrastructure we can keep in Massachusetts. This is gutsy. It's trying to create and enables an industry that doesn't exist yet. And that makes it one of the biggest economic development opportunities for Massachusetts in the next few decades.

We've done pretty well making ourselves a center for biotech. This is a small step towards doing the same for new clean energy technologies. I look forward to working with UMass Amherst, the Clean Energy Center, and the Department of Energy resources to bring this vision to the point where the facility can be created. And I ask for the fellow members' support of this amendment.

[APPLAUSE]

[INAUDIBLE] the amendment. All those of favor say, "aye", opposed, "no." The "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

[APPLAUSE]

[CHATTER]

House will now stay under recess 'til the hour is 7:45.

[CHATTER]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The chair would like to announce for the edification of the members that the consolidated amendment on public safety and judiciary, as well as labor and economic development, are available to the right of the rostrum. So public safety and judiciary and labor and economic development are available for the members to the right of the rostrum.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Mr. [INAUDIBLE] the clerk will read.

Another number. 308 changed. Mr. [INAUDIBLE] moves to amend the bill after Section 26, adding the new section, Section 26 A. The general laws are hereby amended by inserting after Chapter 40 W the following chapter.

If there's no objections, the clerk will dispense reading of the article-- of the amendment.

Question comes on adoption of the amendment. All in favor say, "aye." Vote no. The "ayes" have it. Amendment is adopted.

Miss Peake of Provincetown. [INAUDIBLE] hands of the clerk [INAUDIBLE] will read the amendment.

Amendment number 636 changed. Representative Peake of Provincetown moves to amend the bill by inserting after Section 9 the following section, Section 9 B, Chapter 10 in General Laws [INAUDIBLE] 2014 official [INAUDIBLE] are hereby amended.

There be no objections, the clerk will dispense the reading of the article. Question comes on adoption of the amendment. All those in favor say, "aye." All those opposed say, "no." The "ayes" have it. Amendment's adopted. We'll be in a brief recess.

House will be in order Mr. Jones of North Reading offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 293. Mr. Jones of North Reading and members of the House move to amend the bill by adding the following section, notwithstanding general special laws to the contrary. There shall be a special commission established to study and develop a statewide--

If there be no objections, the clerk will dispense with reading of the amendment. The question comes on adoption of the amendment. All in favor say, "aye." All opposed say, "no." They "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

Mr. Kuros of Uxbridge offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk shall read the amendment.

Amendment number 856. Representative Kuros of Uxbridge and other members of the House move to amend the bill by adding the following section, notwithstanding special or general law. There shall be a special commission to study the alternatives and develop recommendations to broaden the [INAUDIBLE].

If there be no objections, the clerk will dispense the reading of the amendment. Question comes on the adoption of amendment. All in favor say, "aye." All opposed say, "no." The "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

Mr. Jones of North Reading offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk shall read the amendment.

Amendment number 264. Mr. Jones of North Reading and other members of the House move to amend the bill by adding the following section, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary. There should be a special task force to review and report on the economic impact of loan forgiveness programs to ensure--

If there's no objections, clerk will dispense the reading of the amendment.

Question's in adoption.

Question comes on the adoption of the amendment. All in favor say, "aye." Opposed, "nay." The "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

Mr. Jones of North Reading offers his amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk shall read the amendment.

Amendment number 274. Mr. Jones of North Reading and other members of the House move to amend the bill by adding the following section. There shall be established an--

If there's no objection, the clerk shall dispense from reading of the article.

Question comes on adoption of the amendment. All in favor say, "aye." Opposed, "nay." The "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

Mrs. Ferguson of Holden offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk shall read the amendment.

Amendment number 844. Changed. Representative Ferguson of Holden and Zlotnik of Gardner move to amend the bill by inserting after Section 52 the following two new sections, Section 52 A--

If there's no objections, the clerk will dispense of reading the article. The question comes on adoption of the amendment. All in favor say, "aye." Opposed, "nay." The "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

Mr. Jones of North Reading offers his amendment into the hands of the clerk. The clerk shall read the amendment.

Amendment number 339. Mr. Jones of North Reading and Mr. Dwyer of Woburn move to amend the bill by adding the following section. Section 67 A of Chapter 33, the general laws appearing in the 2014 official--

If there's no objection, the clerk will dispense on reading the article. Question comes on adoption of the article. All in favor say, "aye." Opposed, "nay." The "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

Mr. Cantwell of Marshfield offers an amendment in the hands of clerk. The clerk shall read the amendment.

Amendment number 948. Representative Cantwell of Marshfield and other members of the House move to amend the bill by adding the following section-- Chapter 176 D of the general law--

If there's no objection, the clerk shall dispense of reading the article. Question comes on adoption of the article. All in favor say, "aye." All opposed say, "nay." the "ayes" have it. The amendment is adopted.

House will come to order. Mr. Lyons of Andover offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 890. Representatives Lyons of Andover and Lombardo of Billerica move to amend the bill by adding the following section, notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, no state tax dollars shall be expended on any organization or of its affiliates that is found to be in violation of Chapter 112, Section 12 J of the Massachusetts General laws.

Question comes on adoption of the amendment. Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover. Gentleman doubts-- The gentleman doubts the presence of a quorum. The House can ascertain that a quorum is not present. Court officers would please summons the members and indicate to them that a quorum is in progress and will remain open for three minutes.

Under Rule 49, a court officer will vote for Representative Scibak.

Mr. Lyons asks unanimous consent to withdraw his quorum roll call. Does the chair have objection? Chair has none. Question comes on adoption of the amendment. Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover. As the gentleman approaches the microphone, the chair would ask the members to please take their seats, subdue their conversations.

[CHATTER]

Chair would ask the members to please subdue their conversations. Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would ask that when the vote be taken, it be taken with a call of the "yeas" and "nays" please.

Mr. Lyons moves that when this vote be taken, it be taken by a call of the "yeas" and "nays." Those joining with him will stand, and the floor division leaders will return the count. First division, 0. Second division 13. Third Division, 0. Fourth division, sufficient number-- less than sufficient number having arisen, the "yeas" and "nays" will not be called. Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. This is a very simple amendment. It is a prohibition of funding that any organization that is found to be in violation of Chapter 112, Section 12 J of the Massachusetts General Law will not be eligible for state funding. And Chapter 112, Section 12 J is any experimentation on human fetuses that are prohibited, medical procedures authorized approval, civil and criminal liability and proceedings. That's basically what the law is. Any organization that is found to be in violation of that will not be eligible for state funding. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Question comes on adoption of the amendment. All those in favor, say, "aye." Opposed, "no." The "nos" have it. The amendment is not adopted.

Mr. Lyons of Andover offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 871. Mr. Lyons of Andover moves to amend the bill by inserting at the end of the following outside section, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, Chapter 3--

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the further reading of the amendment. For what purpose does the gentleman rise?

The amendment is out of order. The amendment is out of order for the order adopted.

The chair would inform the members that the amendment was indeed in violation of the order, and therefore will be laid aside. For what purpose does the gentleman rise?

I'd like to challenge the ruling of the chair. And I would also like an opportunity to discuss the amendment.

Lyons doubts the presence of a [INAUDIBLE].

Mr. Lyons doubts the decision of the chair.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

Chair hears a second.

I want to talk about it.

Question is shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the House? Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'd like to remind you and the members of the-- colleagues, that we've already taken a vote on the marijuana bill. We took a vote to transfer $4 million into the ANF account. So we've already gone into the realm of the marijuana law by transferring money into an account. So I think it's just unfair for you not to allow this amendment to go forward. I think at the very least, there should be some consistency. I had come up-- it was part of a consolidated amendment to discuss this last night. And unfortunately, I didn't get here in time. And that was completely my fault. But I wanted to address the issue of the $4 million last night.

And the fact is that that $4 million is directly related to the marijuana bill. So I would suggest that your ruling is incorrect.

The question is shall the decision stand as the judgment of the House.

Madam Speaker, I would ask for a call of the "yeas" and "nays."

Mr. Lyons asked that the vote be taken. It'll be taken by a call of the "yeas" and "nays." Those joining with him will stand. And the division chairs will return the count. First division, second division. Who's my division chair? Oh.

Sufficient number having risen, the "yeas" and "nays" will be called forthwith. Court officers will please summons the members and indicate to them that a roll call is in progress and will remain open for three minutes. And the question is, shall the decision of the chair stand as the ruling of the House?

Have all members who wish to do so? All members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally. In this matter, 124 have voted in the affirmative, 34 in the negative. The item-- the ruling of the chair stands.

Mr. Vega of Holyoke offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 24. Representatives Vega of Holyoke, [INAUDIBLE] move to amend the bill by adding the following section-- Section 2 G of Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by--

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the further reading of the amendment. Does the chair have objection? Chair has none. Question comes on adoption of the amendment. Chair recognizes Mr. Vega of Holyoke.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and through you, to the members. I just want to take a moment to give thanks to the three co-sponsors and all the community partners for the Prevention Wellness Trust Fund. The nine communities that this program runs in is having great effect to save lives and to save money.

We've heard a lot today about the cost of health care. And we are right. We need to address this issue. And this program not only has saved lives, but again, saved money in the community that it's in. From the cape and islands to Springfield to Holyoke to Merrimack Valley, all across this community, in this commonwealth. In this first year alone, over one million people have had access to health care that did not have that before.

I want to thank the co-sponsors. I want to give an extra thanks to my co-sponsor of this amendment, the gentleman from Quincy. I understand that this budget was not the right vehicle for this amendment to go forward. All of you that co-sponsored this amendment, I look forward to working with you in the committee to make sure that we move this process forward. Massachusetts continues to be a leader on health care. And this program is about prevention as a precursor to the ACO model and a precursor to what we're going to be doing to continue to bring this health care cost down. So again, I thank the co-sponsors, I thank the speaker, and I hope to move this process forward through the committee process. And at this point, we'll give this amendment leave to withdraw. Thank you very much.

Gentleman asks unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment. Chair have objection? Chair has none.

Mr. Dempsey of Haverhill offers a consolidated amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Consolidated Amendment G in the category of public health. Fiscal note of $6,895,374. Amendment 856 has been recategorized. Legislation on budget 565 recategorized. All the other amendments in the consolidated amendment have been accounted for. Mr. Dempsey of Haverhill and others move to amend the bill.

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the further reading of the amendment. Does the chair hear objection? Chair has none. Question comes on adoption of the consolidated amendment. Chair recognizes Ms. Hogan of Stow. As the lady approaches the microphone, the members are asked to take their seats and subdue their conversations.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and through you, to the members. I am pleased to address the topic of public health's consolidated amendments and the investments made by the house to protect the public's health. I would like to take this opportunity to also thank the Speaker and Chairman Dempsey for their leadership in crafting the commonwealth's public health budget this year.

I would also like to thank my outstanding staff for all their hard work during this budget and throughout the year. The budget provides critical funding for many pressing public health issues facing the state, such as public health hospital funding, substance abuse services, child health care, HIV/AIDS services, and domestic violence prevention.

The Commonwealth cannot prosper unless its citizens are healthy, which makes funding the Department of Public Health programs vital to the well-being of each and every Massachusetts resident and to the success of the state as a whole. The Department of Public Health has been given a total amount of close to $615 million in this proposed budget. The budget includes direction of $133 million to the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services. This is $6.5 million more than allocated in the governor's budget. This is $8.5 million more than was appropriated last year.

The budget provides critical funding for opioid and other substance abuse prevention and treatment. As we know, opioid abuse cases have reached critical and epidemic proportions at this state and elsewhere in the country. The health budget includes direction of $156 million to support public health hospitals. These hospitals care for over 7,800 patients every year. Accessible hospitals are critical to the health and well-being of every citizen from rural areas to urban hubs across the commonwealth.

The budget includes direction of $31 million to early intervention services. This funding goes to support around 52,000 children across the state. Investing in children's health improves their future and is key to a strong commonwealth.

The budget includes direction of $31 million to domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and treatment services. National reports in 2010 estimate that close to one third of Massachusetts women have experienced rape physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner. No citizen in the Commonwealth should experience domestic violence--

Chair apologizes to the gentle lady.

--or sexual assault by investing in these services.

The chair apologizes to the gentle lady at the microphone. For what purpose does the gentleman rise? Gentleman is indicating that the background noise is distracting, and therefore the chair asks the members to please subdue their conversations and pay due attention to the gentle lady at the microphone. I'm sorry. The chair recognizes Ms. Hogan of Stow.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The consolidated amendment costs $6.9 million. The consolidated amendment includes a number of important items for the budget like restores important funding for the youth at risk program which funds services for youth at Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, YWCA, and other organizations serving youth. The amendment increases the line item to a total of $3.2 million.

Restoration of important funding for HIV and AIDS prevention treatment and education-- funding for this program has been cut dramatically. And restoring these funds will allow the Department to continue providing adequate HIV and AIDS services.

Finally, critical funding to continue providing needed comprehensive family planning services across the state is included in this amendment. This funding will help provide needed family planning, education and counseling, as well as community outreach services across the state. This amendment increases the line item to a total of $5.7 million. I support these public health consolidated amendments. I am proud of the work done by the House. I ask that when a vote be taken, it be taken by a call of the "yeas" and "nays."

Question comes on adoption of the consolidated amendment. House will be in a brief recess.

For the edification of the members, we're awaiting the speaker for a maiden speech. But in the meantime, I would like to announce that later in a little while, the freshman class as a thank you to all of the members of the body for the welcoming that they've been given through this beginning of the session have decided to grace us all with ice cream sundaes.

[APPLAUSE]

So it's being set up now. And we'll let you know. And please stay close to the chamber, even when you are enjoying your Sunday. Thank you.

[GAVEL POUNDING]

Members are asked to please take their seats and subdue their conversations. The chair recognizes Mr. Lewis of Framingham.

[APPLAUSE]

Mr. Speaker, through you to the members I rise in support of the consolidated amendment before us. But first I want to thank the residents of my district, the great folks from Ashland and Framingham who have given me this great honor of representing them. Advocating for you and your families is nothing short of a dream come true.

Speaker DeLeo, I wanted to thank you for your leadership and for your support over these last five months. As a new representative, I could not ask for a more supportive speaker of the house. And on behalf of the entire freshman class, thank you. Your staff has also been remarkable, and we would not be here where we are today without you and all of them.

I also want to thank Chairman Dempsey and all of his staff for their leadership and commitment to the Commonwealth. Even in the midst of this very fun and difficult budget week you have all been as accessible as possible, and the Commonwealth is fortunate for you that you are serving us on the House Ways and Means.

I also want to thank my freshman reps. Our four months spent crammed in the bullpen were informative. They were interesting. And maybe most importantly, they are behind us. I look forward to many years of serving with all of you. And lastly, hopefully watching from home, I want to thank my parents and my husband who I know is watching the kids, or chasing them around the living room.

All of us know that we wouldn't be here if it weren't for those people in our lives who have supported us, who have loved us, who have nurtured us along the way, and who were there every single night to watch Netflix with us after we returned home from a long day of legislating. And as much as I try as hard as possible to look and act as old as I can to better fit in this building, the reality is-- oh.

[CHEERING]

The reality is that I am a child of the '80s. As a kid growing up, each year I look forward to that special day where I bought my newest Trapper Keeper. The highlight of every school day was watching reruns of Schoolhouse Rock and playing Oregon Trail on that new created computer lab. And TV for my generation was all about Alf,I Golden Girls, and Full House.

But being a child of the '80s means that I also have always lived in a world where HIV/AIDS has existed and had a name. One of my earliest memories actually was watching TV with my parents and learning about a disease that was killing young gay men. As a very, very young kid, I had no idea what it meant to be gay. I had no idea that one day I would be a married gay man myself, and I really had no idea what this disease was about. But as a young child, it was probably one of my first memories.

As a kid at that time, I wanted to be a doctor. But societal misinformation about HIV/AIDS, and risk factors for medical professionals led that little four or five-year-old Jack to quickly change his mind and go down a very different career path. A path that led me to serving a congregation as an ordained minister, recently leading a nonprofit for at-risk teens, and ultimately here with all of you. So I really can't complain that much.

Three decades ago, being diagnosed HIV positive was a death sentence for so many people in our society. An entire generation of people killed on it because of an illness we knew very little about. Two decades ago, being diagnosed HIV positive meant that you had a very shortened life and a complex regimen of medicine. But today I'm happy to stand before you and say that we are within striking distance of preventing all new cases of HIV in our Commonwealth within the next three years.

[APPLAUSE]

Medical breakthroughs and hard fought-for educational campaigns have meant that we are now at the verge of eradicating an epidemic that has affected each and every one of our communities. An epidemic whose time has long come. We here in the Commonwealth know that Massachusetts has long led the way, from that shot heard around the world, to the abolition of slavery, to the adoption of universal health care and marriage equality. And I know some of you in this room were a part of at least one or two of those fights, and history thanks you.

But here in the Commonwealth, we must also remember that our efforts to fight this epidemic have led to a decline in new infections by 47% since the year 2000, leading to thousands of changed and saved lives. And while the lives saved are reason enough for us to continue this fight, we know that every dollar spent on HIV prevention rewards us $4 in return, leading to $1.7 billion in savings to our Commonwealth since the year 2000.

The opioid crisis is still affecting each and every one of our families and communities. And there is great uncertainty about what cuts might be coming down from Washington DC. But today I stand here grateful to speaker DeLeo and Chairman Dempsey for their leadership and foresight in providing $1 million of additional funding for HIV prevention in this consolidated amendment. I also thank all of my colleagues who signed on as co-sponsors and spoke in favor of this important line item. Together we are well on our way of ending this epidemic with our lifetime. And today, I ask you to join me in supporting this consolidated amendment. Thank you.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

The chair congratulates the gentleman on his maiden speech.

Roll call being required, the roll call machine will be open forthwith. The court officer Shipley summons any members not here and tell them that a roll call is in progress and will remain open for three minutes.

Chair would announce that amendment number 701 has been recategorized from the judiciary and public safety category to legislative non-budget.

Have all members voted who wish to do so? Have all members voted?

Have all members voted who wish to do so, have all members voted?

The time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally. On this matter, 159 members having voted in the affirmative, none in the negative. The consolidated amendment is adopted.

Mrs Haddad of Somerset offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment Number 59 has changed. Mrs. Haddad of Somerset moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 69 the following section. Section 69 C, notwithstanding a general and special order to the contrary, the Department of Energy resources shall expand not more than $3 billion from the RGGI--

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the reading of the remainder of the amendment. Does the chair hear objection? The chair hears none. On the amendment, all those in favor say aye. Those nay, the ayes have it. The amendment's adopted.

Miss Ferrante of Gloucester asks unanimous consent to be recorded on the previous roll call. Does the chair hear objection? The chair hears none.

On roll call number 50 Ann-Margaret Ferrante, yes.

Ms. O'Connell of Taunton offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 701, Ms. O'Connell [? and joint ?] members of the house move to amend the bill by adding the following section. Chapter 6 of the general laws is hereby amended by inserting--

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the further reading of the amendment. Does chair hear objection? Chair hears none. Question comes on adoption of the amendment. All those in favor say aye, opposed, no. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted.

Since the rules do not permit the house to meet beyond the hour of 9:00 PM, the chair will now place before the House the question of suspension of rule 1A, which if suspended will allow the house to continue to meet until the hour of midnight. A roll call is required, and a roll call will be called forthwith. Court officers will please summons the members and indicate to them that a roll call is in progress, and will remain open for three minutes.

So I think everybody should vote now.

Have all members voted who wish to do so?

Have all members voted who wish to do so? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally. In this matter 126 have voted in the affirmative, 31 in the negative. The consolidated amendment is passed. I'm sorry, rule 1A is suspended.

Miss Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield asks unanimous consent to be recorded on the previous roll call. Does the chair hear objection? Chair hears none.

On roll call 51, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, yes.

Miss DiZoglio of Methuen offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 423, Miss DiZoglio of Methuen moves to amend the bill by adding the following section. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in coordination with the Department of Public Health--

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the further reading of the amendment. Does the chair hear objection? Chair hears none. Question comes on the adoption of the amendment. Chair recognizes Miss DiZoglio of Methuen.

Thank you Madam Speaker, and through you, to the members. I rise in support of House Amendment 423, an act relative to substance abuse education in our public schools. Madam Speaker, you know as the leader of the honorable member of this house how much this body has strived to combat the ongoing, and heartbreaking, and life shattering opiate epidemic and overall substance misuse issues that the residents of this state, our loved ones, are facing.

It has been under your leadership and the leadership of the gentleman from Haverhill and the gentlelady from Jamaica Plain, that we have been able to make so much progress in the area of treatment, and recovery, and reducing the rate of recidivism. Under your leadership, from what I have been able to experience in this body since 2013, which was my first year in the Massachusetts state legislature, this body has increased funding for overall substance abuse services, particularly in the area of treatment and recovery by over 60%.

We have been able to add more beds. We've been able open and hire more treatment specialists in our communities, like mine. We've been able to fund important live-in recovery programs. We've been able to, Madam Speaker, enhance emergency services, providing lifesaving tools for those who may have overdosed.

We partnered wholeheartedly with our colleagues across the aisle under the leadership of the gentleman from North Reading, and with the governor and his administration to target prescription related issues such as doctor shopping, overprescribing, prescription monitoring, additional training for doctors regarding pain management, updating warning labels on opioid medications, and limiting the prescription opioids especially as it pertains to our most vulnerable citizens, our children.

We've made tremendous strides in this battle against addiction. And that is why, Madam Speaker, it's so concerning to me that after all of these efforts, and after all of these achievements contributing upwards of 60% in additional funds to substance abuse services in just the last few years, we still continue to see increased use of opioids in particular, and increased overdoses resulting in death across the board.

Now Madam Speaker, you know what we want to see. You know that we need to create legislation addressing issues--

Chair apologizes to the gentlelady of the microphone. For what purpose does the gentlelady rise? Thank you. The lady indicates that she is unable to hear the gentlelady at the microphone. Chair would please ask the members to subdue their conversations, take their seats, or take their conversation out to the hallway. Thank you. Chair recognizes Miss DiZoglio of Methuen.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. You know that what we want to see when we increased funding and create legislation to address an issue, any issue, that we want to see a certain trend happening. If we increase funding and resources and create good policies for our public schools, for example, we want to see positive results in overall student achievement and success. What we would want to see, if we had a graph here, is we would want to see two parallel lines both slanting upward, signaling positive gains in the areas in which we have invested.

In this case, Madam Speaker, in investing all the resources and policy changes we have invested, we also want to see a trend that reflects our efforts are working. Unfortunately-- and I hate to see the data, but it can't be denied-- since we've been trying to combat this epidemic, we've still seen a continuous across the board increase in overdose related deaths.

Those lines that are supposed to be intersecting in this particular case were substance abuse funding resources and oversight is going up, we want to see substance misuse and overdoses going down. But what is happening now is the exact opposite, Madam Speaker. Those lines are, in fact parallel. And we keep investing, but we keep seeing an increase and not a decrease in these overdose related deaths.

Now, that is not to suggest, Madam Speaker, in any way that this funding has not been put to good use. I firmly believe that our efforts in the area of substance abuse treatment and recovery are making a tremendous positive difference in the lives of our citizens, and that we need to keep investing and keep providing more resources to those who want to recover. Even though we've seen these increases in overdoses over the past few years, I believe we would have seen many, many more resulting in death or lifelong mental illness if we had not gotten on the ball and begun investing when we did.

What I am asking for in the implementation of this bill, Madam Speaker, is that we really look back over what we have been doing and ask ourselves the question, not have we done enough, but of how can we continue to build upon our efforts up until this point, to really make the impact that we want to have in the area of substance abuse?

I believe that the additional area we could focus on more in is education and prevention. Now Madam Speaker, you know that addressing this epidemic requires using a multi-pronged approach. We need to focus on treatment and recovery, reducing the rate of recidivism, and prevention and education.

And while we've thankfully really seemed to hyperfocus on the first two categories of substance abuse prevention, and substance abuse treatment or recovery, and reducing the rate of recidivism, I truly believe that if we want to see progress in the area of saving lives, we're going to need to turn our hyper focus to the area of prevention and education.

When someone tries that first dose or takes that first pill and begins messing around or experimenting with dangerous substances like opioids and gets hooked, that person is going to have to deal with the repercussions of the issues associated with addiction and recovery for the rest of their lives. It may be a great struggle, not only for them, but for their loved ones who have to watch them go through this all.

The goal here, Madam Speaker, is to prevent the misconception that this will never happen to me. It's to prevent that first experimental moment. It's to educate and empower our children and our youth on the power they have to overcome peer pressure, self-doubt, the urge to self medicate, and to help build them up in the overall life skills that they need to be able to make informed and healthy decisions.

My bill, Madam Speaker, suggests that an evidence based substance abuse education and prevention curriculum be promulgated through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to be implemented in our public school classrooms. It really is, in my mind, no excuse with the rapid rate of overdoses that we can continue to see especially, amongst our youth, a reason not to pursue the issue of mandating evidence based substance abuse prevention curriculum in our public schools.

We have been trying everything else. And from someone who has been surrounded by loved ones battling addiction-- as I know many of you in this room have-- for years now, I implore this body to continue to look for ways to increase prevention and education initiatives in this and in all other areas.

I thank you Madam Speaker for your continued efforts to help families like mine, and I look forward to working together with you through the committee process to address funding for this issue in the coming months. And I respectfully withdraw my amendment. Thank you.

The lady asks unanimous permission to withdraw the amendment. Does the char hear objection? The chair hears none.

Mr. Lyons of Andover offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 868, Representative Lyons of Andover, Lombardo of Billerica, and O'Connell of Taunton move to amend the bill in section 2 by inserting after item 8600 the following item. For the executive office of public safety to establish a drug strike force--

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the further reading of the amendment. Does the chair hear objection? Chairs hears none. Question comes on adoption amendment. Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The hell did I do with my [INAUDIBLE]?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is an amendment to increase money for the Executive Office of Public Safety to establish a drug strike force meant to augment local enforcement entities so they may receive proper training equipment and personnel required to effectively combat drug trafficking.

One of the things that we have learned in the last couple of years as we take a look at this opiate epidemic is we now have available to us a known area throughout the state of where drugs are being sold, and drug trafficking is taking place. And one of the things that I believe that we need to do is we need to help our local police enforcement officers at the local level.

Currently there are simply not enough local police officers in the towns and cities where this epidemic is growing out of control. And what this amendment does was to spend money in the public safety office where we would establish a statewide task force which will augment local police departments.

Just picture the fact that in some of these cities which we now know have become Meccas of drug trafficking, the local police departments are simply unable-- not because they don't want to-- but they are simply unable to add to their day in and day out efforts to control this epidemic.

So I filed this last year, I filed it again this year. And I would hope that we could pass it. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Question comes in adoption of the amendment. All those in favor say aye, oppose, no. The nos have it. The amendment's not adopted. Mr. Lyons of Andover offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

Amendment number 865, Representative Lyons of Andover and Mr. Lombardo of Billerica move to amend the bill in section two and items 0321, 15, 10 by strike out the figures 98--

If there be no objection the clerk will dispense with the further reading of amendments. Does the chair hear objection? Chair hears none. Question comes of adoption of the amendment. Chair recognizes Mr. Lyons of Andover.

You listening? Get the [INAUDIBLE] ready.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is actually an increase in a line item. And what it is is CPC private counsel according to the fiscal year current budget has spent $125,000,844, and the governor's budget was for $144,177,000. And the budget that we're proposing is actually $26,000 less than what we've actually spent so far.

And I appreciate the fact that people like to compare this to the snow and ice budget. I don't look at that the same way. And I think one of the things that we need to do in our budgeting process which I know a lot of people put a lot of effort into this budget. But I think one of the things we need to do is really be more transparent.

And when you've got a line item that you're spending $125 million on, and you've done that year, after year, after year, to come in and fund it at $30, $40, $50 million less, I just think is really unfair to the whole process. And I think it goes to the heart of what I believe we have to do as a legislature, which is we really need to understand what we're voting on. And we don't. I mean, Mass Health is a perfect example. But anyhow, Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss this.

Question comes of the adoption of the amendment. All those in favor say aye, oppose, no. The nos have it. The amendment's not adopted.

Mr. Dempsey offers a consolidated amendment in the hands of a clerk. The clerk will read the amendment.

This is a consolidated amendment in the category of public safety and the judiciary. All the numbers are accounted for except for amendment number 868, which was omitted from the list inadvertently, but has been added. This amendment number 686, Mr. Dempsey of Haverhill and others move to amend the bill in section two in item 03211600 by striking out the figures--

If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the further reading of the amendment. Does the chair hear objection? Chair hears none. Question comes on adoption of the amendment. No one? [INAUDIBLE]. Chair will be in a brief recess.

Question comes on adoption of the amendment. Chair recognizes Miss Cronin of Easton.

Thank you Madam Speaker, and through you, to the members. I rise in support of the consolidated amendment for the judiciary. Thank you to our speaker for your leadership and continued commitment and support for our judiciary. I would like to thank the gentleman from Haverhill and the dedicated and hard working ways and means staff for thoughtfully crafting a budget which strongly reflects both the values and the priorities of our members.