This is the Beacon Hill Roll Call, Volume 36 - Report No. 45, for the week of Nov. 9-13.

REGULATE UTILITY COMPANIES DURING EMERGENCIES (H 4329)

House 155-0, 35-0, approved and Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a bill imposing new regulations on public utility companies. The measure requires the companies to adequately prepare for and respond to power emergencies and imposes hefty fines on companies that do not cooperate. Other provisions include requiring utility companies to annually submit their emergency response plans to the state's Department of Public Utilities (DPU) for approval and allowing the DPU to intervene and ensure that power is restored during an emergency if the power company fails to respond.

Supporters said that the measure was filed following the problems that resulted from Unitil Company's inadequate response to last year's December ice storm in central Massachusetts. They noted that many homes and businesses were left without power for days. (A "Yes" vote is for the bill).

Rep. Daniel Webster: Yes
Sen. Therese Murray: President rarely votes                  

HELP VETERANS (H 4330)

House 152-1, Senate 34-0, approved and Gov. Patrick signed into law a bill expanding veterans benefits. A key provision expands a current law that provides a one-time $1,000 "Welcome Home" bonus for veterans who return home from their first overseas deployment. The expansion would give each veteran an additional $500 for each subsequent return home following deployment.

Other provisions make it easier for Massachusetts residents on duty overseas to cast an absentee ballot including allowing electronic absentee voting; create a Medal of Liberty for the governor to award to family members of service members killed in action or who died of wounds received in action; give service-disabled veterans who live in the local city or town preference when that community hires workers for public works projects; provide for a study of the possibility of creating a Massachusetts veterans' hall of fame and allow private nonprofits to apply for funds to provide housing to veterans.

Supporters said that the state should provide these additional benefits and opportunities to the estimated 44,000 Bay State veterans who have served our nation. They argued that it would help thousands of veterans and their families across the state.

The lone opponent said that he supports most of the bill but is concerned that the housing provision might result in nonprofit groups competing with the underfunded Chelsea Soldiers' Home for already scarce funds to house veterans.

Several "voting rights" groups said that e-mail is one of the least secure methods of voting and argued that this type of voting will interfere with the right to a private ballot.  

(A "Yes" vote is for the bill. A "No" vote is against it).

Rep. Daniel Webster: Yes
Sen. Therese Murray: Yes                                     

CHANGE CHARITY LAWS AND INCREASE FEES ON CHARITIES (S 2117)

Senate 35-0, approved and sent to the House a bill making changes to the state's charity laws. A key provision gives the attorney general the authority to issue civil penalties to charities that do not register with the state.

Other provisions increase registration and filing fees for charities including imposing a new one-time initial registration fee of $100; increasing the annual filing fees for charities making over $1 million per year and increasing the registration fee for professional solicitors from $300 to $1,000.

Supporters said that many charities fail to register with the state. They argued that the bill would put teeth into the law by giving the attorney general enforcement power. They also noted that the new and increased fees will generate an estimated $2.3 million for the state.

Although no one voted against the bill, critics say that the fee and registration hikes are outrageous in light of the state's faltering economy. They noted that many charities are already suffering financial problems during the recession as donations decline.

(A "Yes" vote is for the bill and the fee and registration hikes).

Sen. Therese Murray: President rarely votes                  

CONDEMN INVITATION TO RAY LUC LEVASSEUR

Senate 33-1, approved resolutions condemning the invitation for Ray Luc Levasseur to speak last week on the UMass-Amherst campus. The former leader of the United Freedom Front served 18 years in jail following his conviction on several bombing charges in 1986.

The United Freedom Front was also responsible for the murder of a New Jersey state trooper and the shooting of two Massachusetts state troopers.

Supporters of the resolutions said that this radical group has blood on its hands from advocating, plotting and executing violent actions against government employees and facilities. They argued that Levasseur is a terrorist who has never expressed any regret. Some noted that they might support allowing him to speak elsewhere rather than on taxpayer-owned and operated property.

The lone opponent of the resolutions did not offer any arguments.

Supporters of allowing Levasseur to speak on campus say that freedom of speech means that even people with whom we vehemently disagree should be given the right to speak. They argue that censorship is never the answer.

The event was eventually cancelled when parole officials in Maine denied Levasseur's request to travel to Massachusetts.

(A "Yes" vote is for condemning the invitation. A "No" vote is against the condemnation).

Sen. Therese Murray: Yes                                     

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

FINE OR IMPRISON PARENTS OF ABSENT STUDENTS (H 380) — The Education Committee held a hearing on a bill allowing the imposition of up to a $1,000 fine and/or 30-day jail sentence on parents whose children have more than seven unexcused absences from school in a six-month period. Current law only allows for up to a $20 fine and does not provide for a jail sentence.

MORE EDUCATION LEGISLATION — Other measures on the committee's agenda would prohibit students from bringing a cellular video and/or camera phone into a classroom and to videotape and photograph anyone without their prior consent (H 383); raising from 16 to 18 the age at which a student may choose to drop out of school (S 245); allowing local school committees the option of establishing dress codes for their public schools (H 347); establishing a grant program for the purpose of encouraging school districts to devise and implement programs to increase parental involvement in their children’s education (S 221); establishing a special commission to study the feasibility of permitting private sector advertising on city and town school buses and on state websites to generate revenue (H 522) and requiring that students respect senior citizens who are teachers or substitute teachers (S 261). The school superintendent would establish rules and regulations on how pupils are to behave and the disciplinary action for violations of the rules.

POLL SAYS 76 PERCENT FAVOR LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TRANSGENDER PEOPLE (S 1687) - Supporters of legislation that would prohibit discrimination against transgender people by adding gender identity protection to the state's non-discrimination and hate crimes laws released the results of a poll. The survey indicates that 76 percent of respondents favor the proposal that would prohibit discrimination in many areas including employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and public education. Last year the bill died in a study committee.

Supporters say that Massachusetts should join 12 other states that have these pro-transgender laws which would protect thousands of people.

Opponents argue this "bathroom bill" would put women and children at risk by allowing dangerous male predators, claiming to be transgender persons, to use women’s bathrooms.

BAN DRUG ADVERTISING (H 372) — The Committee on Public Health Committee's hearing agenda includes a proposal prohibiting drug companies from advertising in Massachusetts.

BAN SALE OF LOTTERY TICKETS ON CREDIT (S 157) — The Senate gave initial approval to a proposal that would prohibit the use of credit cards to buy lottery tickets.

"PAY AS YOU DRIVE" AUTO INSURANCE (H 1037) — The Financial Services Committee held a hearing on a measure requiring the state to study and assess the benefits of allowing drivers to purchase automobile insurance on a "pay as you drive" basis. This system would allow insurance companies to consider how much a person drives when calculating his or her insurance premium. The companies would charge lower premiums for customers who drive less.

Supporters said that the measure would offer an incentive for driving less and would lead to lower-cost insurance, reduced traffic congestion and air pollution and a dramatic reduction in dependence on foreign oil.

Opponents said that the bill would require that the state and/or insurance companies track drivers' mileage. They argued that this would lead to more Big Brother intrusion into an individual's car and 24-hour surveillance of not only mileage but of driving habits, speeding and acceleration rate.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"Censorship is never the answer. Those who object to Levasseur's appearance should use this opportunity to educate the public about their views on what happened rather than trying to prevent others from hearing him." — Sally Rose, executive director of the Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts supporting the right of Ray Levasseur to speak at UMass-Amherst.

"Unified voices in the Senate have succeeded in stopping the flow of venomous speech from a single voice intent on reaching a new generation of young minds." — Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) following approval of resolutions condemning the invitation to Levasseur.

"I have virtually total hearing loss in my left ear." — Rep. John Scibak (D-South Hadley) at a hearing on a bill that would require insurance companies to cover hearing aids. Scibak had passed out earplugs to other legislators at the hearing in hopes that they would put the plugs in their ears and realize how difficult it is for hearing impaired people to hear.

"At 12:06 p.m., the House adopted Rep. (Kevin) Honan's motion to suspend rules - Rep. Honan was not present." — From the State House News Service coverage of last Thursday's House session. The speaker or acting speaker sometimes randomly chooses and then announces the name of a representative who made a motion that the leadership favors. The problem is that sometimes that legislator who "makes" the motion is not even in the chamber and technically could not make the motion.

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