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