Throughout this legislative session, Senate President Therese Murray made a strong commitment to combating substance abuse in the Commonwealth. In addition to the $18 million allocated in the FY15 budget, the Legislature passed comprehensive legislation that aims to better connect people in need of treatment to long-term recovery options. This bill makes progress in establishing an effective continuum of care for those struggling with addiction. As Senate Chair of the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse and as an appointed member of the Special Committee on Drug Abuse and Treatment Options, I was very pleased to see meaningful action taken on this critical and pervasive issue.

Gun Safety

 

After the House and Senate passed different versions of a gun violence prevention bill, a conference committee agreed to a compromise bill. The conference committee report brings Massachusetts into compliance with the National Instant Check System (NICS), improves school safety planning, strengthens penalties for illegal firearm trafficking, and advances suicide prevention programs. The compromise reached in the conference committee had the support of Stop Handgun Violence, the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, as well as the Gun Owners' Action League (GOAL).

 

To continue the state's economic progress, the Legislature approved strategic investments in workforce development, tourism, and marketing. More specifically, the bill provides a step-by-step guide to starting a business and the resources to complete the process. Additionally, the bill appropriates $10 million to Gateway Cities, which include Peabody and Salem, to invest in these promising communities. The bill also contains an angel investor tax credit to incentivize investment in Massachusetts start-ups and an update to the research and development tax credit for businesses. For the North Shore, the bill includes an amendment that Rep. John Keenan (Salem) and I filed that will task the Seaport Advisory Council with recommending water transportation alternatives in and out of the Boston Convention Center to various seaport districts. Additionally, the bill provides funding to North Shore Innoventures, a non-profit technology business incubator in Beverly. Lastly, the bill establishes a Massachusetts sales tax holiday for August 16-17 of this year.
This legislation strengthens reporting requirements for independent expenditure committees and adds greater transparency to campaign financing. Under this new law, corporations, labor unions and political committees will be required to report independent expenditures more frequently leading up to a primary or general election. The bill also requires any television, internet, or print election advertisement to include a written statement of the top five contributors if contributions exceed $5,000. Additionally, the ad must include directions to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) website. To help ensure timely and complete campaign donor information, I supported these new provisions.

Environment

Committed to preserving and improving public spaces in our local communities, the Legislature passed an environmental bond bill. Projects within the Second Essex District that were authorized for funding include:

 

-$400,000 for dredging, sediment removal, and cleanup of Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond in Peabody;

-$750,000 for the improvement and redesign of municipal land on Hobart street with the relocated historic train depot in Danvers;

-$128,000 for trail restoration, aesthetic improvements, and additional signage at Green’s Hill Reservation in Beverly;

-$4.7 million for the restoration and redevelopment of a former U.S. Coast Guard airplane hangar on Winter Island park in Salem; and

-$1.7 million for the cleanup of the transfer station in Salem.

The Governor still must approve and release the funding in order for these projects to be financed.