Session DetailsFormal House Session 105

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Ms. Barber of Somerville, thus the presence of a quorum. Chair can ascertain that a quorum is now present. Court office will summons the members and tell them that a quorum roll call is in progress and will remain open for three minutes.

Ms. Barber of Somerville withdraws her request for a roll call vote-- quorum roll call. Chair objection? Chair hears none.

Members will please take their seats. Court officers will clear the aisles. Members will please take their seats. At the request of representatives Barber of Somerville, Connolly of Cambridge, Provost of Somerville, and Miceli of Wilmington, will the members and guests and employees please rise for a moment of silence in respect to the memory of Somerville police officer Louis Remigio, a 30-year veteran of the Somerville Police Department.

Officer Remigio passed away Monday at Portsmouth Regional Hospital after being involved in a motor vehicle accident in New Hampshire Sunday morning. Officer Remigio, a Tewksbury resident, was a dedicated officer known for his empathy both on and off duty. He'll be remembered for his tremendous contributions to public safety in the community of Somerville. Officer Remigio is survived by his two daughters, Alexandra and Danielle. Thank you. The House will be in a brief recess.

All engrossed bills have been rightly and truly prepared and are now before the House for final passage. Senate 2161, an act establishing a town manager in the town of West Newbury. House 3788, an act authorizing the city of Peabody to grant 20 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages. House 3791, an act authorizing the town of Whately to continue the employment of John Lasalle as a call firefighter. House 3843, an act authorizing the town of Milford to grant one additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premise.

If the question is passed, then the bill will be enacted. All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The bills are passed to be enacted.

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House will be in order. House will be in order. Chair has been informed that House 3951-- Mr. Sanchez of Boston moves suspension of the rules. All those in favor, say aye, all those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. Rules are suspended. Third reading of the bill.

An act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2017 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. House number 3951.

If the question now is then passed, then the bill will be engrossed. Chair recognizes Mr. Sanchez of Boston. Chair will ask the members to please take your seats.

Thank you.

Members will please take your seats and subdue your conversation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and, through you, to the members.

Members, please take your seats. Chair recognizes Mr. Sanchez of Boston.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and, through you, to the members. Today we are taking up the fiscal year '17 close out supplemental budget. And this budget will ensure balance for FY '17 and stems from working with so many of you and with the administration to make sure that we understood all of our fiscal and available resources. To achieve that balance, we're authorizing $123.2 million in spending, which includes the $76.3 million to close the books on FY '17 spending and $46.6 million previously appropriated in FY '17 that will be carried over into FY '18.

So many of those accounts, we're aware of-- the sheriff's snow and ice from the beginning of the year and other priorities of the membership, as well as $4.75 million to ensure full funding of the safe and successful youth grant program, which is a community-based initiative that combines public health and public safety approaches to eliminate serious violence among high-risk youth throughout the Commonwealth. The supplemental budget also contains a number of outside policy sections as well, many of which are needed to close the FY '17 books. Some of these sections are time sensitive, like the EMAC compliance form and the gaming service employee change form.

As so many of you know, in the FY '18 budget, we included a two-tier employer contribution to health care. This assessment must be implemented by January of 2018 in order to collect the $200 million necessary to balance the FY '18 budget. This contribution applies to every employer in the Commonwealth with six or more employees.

Tier one is an increase of the existing EMAC, while the second tier is targeted at employers with employees on public programs. In order to implement tier two, certain information must be collected from employers. The administration made it clear to us that they needed to understand where folks were.

This EMAC compliance form will be used to determine an employer's liability, as indicated by the number of employees receiving MassHealth benefits or subsidized insurance through the Connector. This information will not be used to deny or terminate MassHealth benefits. And it can only be used to implement tier two of the employer contribution, of which will be setting a sunset on the EMAC compliance form due December 31 of 2019 to live up to our commitments in the budget.

Another time sensitive section is the gaming service employee change. This language provides the Mass Gaming Commission with the discretion to determine which gaming service employees may be disqualified for employment due to certain CORI offenses. Currently, all gaming service employees are automatically disqualified from service if they have a CORI.

This change was necessary because both MGM Casino in Springfield and Wynn Boston Harbor in Everett are currently beginning their hiring processes, and current restrictions could impact their ability to be adequately staffed and to fulfill our statutory goal to encourage casino employment of the unemployed, underemployed, and also the hard to employ. As we begin to address criminal justice reform, employment opportunities are an important tool in the fight to reduce recidivism. And this language will help us accomplish that.

All FY '17 books must be closed by October 31. And therefore, Mr. Speaker, I asked through you for the membership of everyone to support this supplemental budget.

Question is done. Pass, and the bill will be engrossed. House will be in a brief recess.

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