2024-01-30 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
2024-01-30 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Good morning. Good morning, and welcome to, this hearing for the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. My name is Walter Timothy. I have the privilege of serving as the senate cochair115 and Representing the Norfolk, Clinton, and Bristol District. Thank you for each and every 1 of you taking your time both here in person and virtually. We I must note we have police officers and firefighters in the room today. Thank you for your service. It's always nice to have you here in the building. And with that, I'm gonna turn it over to my house cochair, Gonzales for a moment.
SPEAKER2 - Well, good morning. And let's, first rise and, read, pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to144 the flag of the United States
SPEAKER3 - of America
SPEAKER2 - and to the Republic for which it stands, 1 nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Today's hearing, And testimony is the last of all our hearings for public safety and homeland security. And So we have, some late files that came in. We also have some, folks that haven't been able to Testify on specific bills. And we did have a long, hearing last week, so some folks will come up that, had to leave. But we will, at the end of the meeting, at the end of the, Of all people that have, testify, any other individual, whether it's online or, in person will be allowed to testify on any specific bill. But before we do that, I wanna have our senator, please.
SEN TIMILTY - Thank you very much. I would ask everybody kindly to rise again. We will be observing a moment of silence for our servicemen and servicewomen, our soldiers and sailors that we have lost, in the heroic actions, serving our country and defending our country and our values around the globe in the last two weeks, or two to three weeks, I should say. Both our Navy Seals, in the Gulf of Aden, and, soldiers, who lost their lives protecting our country heroically in the desert of Jordan. With that, Representative Xiarhos,249 will you please read off the names of our fallen hearings, please? SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Yes, sir.
SPEAKER1 - Thank you.
REP XIARHOS - Sergeant William Rivers, specialist Breon Mazzo,260 specialist, Kennedy Sanders, Navy Seal special operator, Nathan Ng. Navy Deal special operator, Christopher Chambers, a son of Massachusetts.
TIMILTY - Thank you, representative. And now, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will observe a moment of silence in memory of our fallen sailors and soldiers. Thank you. God bless every one of you. Thank you, representative. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, mister Chabak.
And with that,316 we will commence our hearing. To start318 us off today, representative Sally Kairns. Representative Karens, are you with us virtually?
Okay. Representative Thomas328 Walsh. Good morning,
SPEAKER6 - mister chairman.
SPEAKER1 - Good morning, representative.
REP WALSH - HB 2416 - Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for taking me out of turn. I'm here to testify on House Bill, 2416, which actually is not a late file. We did this virtually a couple of years ago. This committee reported the Bill favorably. And what the Bill is asking is to set up a program that would require hotel and motel workers to be trained in, citing human trafficking. The signs of human trafficking. And the Bill kind of lays out some of the important things. You know, I had the opportunity to work with, the Peabody Police Department along with a task force, consisting of state FBI and local police forces from around the area a couple, of years ago, on a sting operation.
What impressed me most at the time was this group was set up to try to, really rescue people who are being trafficked. They are social workers and the idea was not to arrest the individual but to get them the help they need and get them out of, a situation that they found themselves in. It can happen, in an instant. Unfortunately, it can happen when you have a young person who thinks they're coming from a modeling career and finds out that they are pressed into service, against their will.
So anyway, what we're asking is that hotel and motel, workers in the lodging industry, be trained in the signs so that we can hopefully, alleviate the situation. It is something that is going on. It came to my attention through, the police office in the city of Peabody. It really is an issue that runs from, right up the 95 corridor from Florida to the Canadian border. So I ask again that you report this out favorably. We made great progress with this Bill in the last couple of years. I'm very confident that, we can get it over the goal line452 this year with your assistance. So thank you.
TIMILTY - Representative Walsh, thank you very much. I know you've done a lot of hard work on459 this issue, so thank you very much.
WALSH - Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate it. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Questions or comments?
REP GONZALEZ - I just want to commend you for this work and the recent news of, what's going468 on in Boston and other states also, bringing this up, even heightening, the importance of this type of Bill.477 So thank you for your continued work.
WALSH - Thanks, Mr. Chairman. To work479 with you as well. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Any questions or comments from members of the committee? Seeing none, Representative Walsh, we look forward to working Thanks486 again.
SPEAKER2 - Thank you very much. I just wanna recognize, representatives Shirley Arriaga and Brian Ash who at our online part of committee members. And, representative, Paulino here in in our, presence as well as Representative Zarz, who has been here too. We're expecting a couple of more representatives
SPEAKER8 - to walk
SPEAKER1 - With that, I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize our vice chair who's attending virtually this morning, From the senate side, senator Mike Brady. Senator, thank you.
SPEAKER5 - Oh my god. Beautiful.
SPEAKER9 - Thank you, mister chairman.
SPEAKER1 - Thank you. And of course, representative China Tyler.
SPEAKER10 - That's how
SPEAKER1 - it's happening. Congratulations.
SPEAKER11 - Congratulations.
SPEAKER2 - Just take a moment, for this historic moment. We have a new member to our family, our Gianni, and Recognize that the first time that we've had in the history555 of public safety and homeland security, mom and baby, attend this hearing. So this is
SPEAKER1 - a very historic moment for us. I'm thrilled to have thrilled to have you both. Yeah.
SPEAKER2 - Thank you.
SPEAKER1 - Representative Bud Williams.
K. Representative Mindy Dom?
SPEAKER2 - I know they're both still at the previous meeting that's going on.
SPEAKER1 - Certainly. Representative Mary Manny Cruz.
Representative Paulino Francisco.
597 Representative?597
REP PAULINO - HB 3636 - Good morning, Chairman. Good morning. Timilty, Chairman Gonzales, thank you for, taking me an order, and congratulations, Rep China. Beautiful baby. God bless you, father. Well, I'm here today to testify in favor of House Bill 3636, an Act, relative to a minor recruitment and selection program. This Bill addresses a profound need for equitable representation within our police force, and it looks to correct a systematic flaw where the disparity in670 promotion exams has not only affected individuals but also the entire community. When a minority candidate like me oh, like you, is unfairly denied advancement. It isn't just693 a personal loss, like I said. The whole community suffers because it697 misses out on leadership that699 reflects the community identity and understanding of the dynamic of that community.
We miss when we have culturally competent people in positions of power within the police department. The data speak by position of influence within the police force, such as sergeant, first-line supervisors of police, and detectives are underrepresented by minorities. These are roles that command732 respect and come with the authority to affect change, yet they remain less accessible to those who offer valuable cultural insight into the commune community's understanding. This imbalance is a tangible consequence of policing that lacked diversity at the supervisor level failed to inspire trust and failed to embrace the community and the neighborhood that they serve. A police force that does not reflect765 community diversity is less equipped to bridge the gap769 between law enforcement and community relations.
House Bill 3666 is a push towards a police force that is not just diverse in numbers but in782 leadership and decision-making roles. It's about creating a786 pathway for minority officers to become mentors and leaders that are capable of embracing an image, of the community they serve. Just months ago, we settled $40,000,000 for over 600 officers who have been discriminated against. What I mean by discrimination is that the exam that tests the ability of those officers to be promoted to sergeant has been found time after time to have a disparate discriminatory impact on minorities, blacks, Latinos, and Asians. The sad part of that is that the Department of Human Resources knew about it and ignored recommendations from their own consultant perpetrating this. It's human authority and disparate impact of bright men and women who served in the police force.
Friends like mine, like Lopez. He served two duties in Iraq and came back to serve as a police officer and failed868 to be promoted after passing the exam. GFT, every time he took it. So, and I think, when a recommendation from their own consultant, and I mean the people developing this exam, people providing this example, police officer. When the recommendations from the own consult are ignored, the only path that we have for equity is legislation. House Bill 3636 accomplished that. We're not telling them what type of epidemic to provide. We're just telling them it should find a way to this particular impact905 that historically affects communities of color. I believe it's our duty to fight for equity, and I believe we all deserve to have a police force that looks like us. If the919 simplest exam for promotion was done to us to924 become state rep, probably, I wouldn't be here.
Because statistics say, if I'm Latino,930 if I'm a black American, If an agent is more likely for me to fail than anybody else. The exam doesn't test the ability to be a good supercharged, to a good surrogate. It just tests the ability of tough tech, and I think we should change that. Thank you for listening to me, I'm passionate about this, and I respectfully ask for a fable report of this Bill. We must act, and we saw that the governor already guided within the proposed budget to change the way state trooper's exams for966 promotion are reduced or produced. I think we should do the same for the entire police force of the state. I believe we have the most professional police force in the country, but will to nurture equity and diversity within the force? And I am open to any questions that you may have. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
983 SPEAKER1983 -983 Thank983 you very much, representative. Thank you for your Incredibly hard work on this issue. Thank you, mister chair.
GONZALEZ - Thank you, Representative Paulino. Obviously, I think we all recognize the need for diversification, particularly our law enforcement agencies. I think there's a lot of work998 going on in that effort, but I thank you for your leadership and continuation, not only on recruitment but also on the progress of an officer who gets in at a certain level and then tries to, go up the thanks. And the testing that they utilize sometimes, could be skewed. But, I want to commend, many of our union officials and our law enforcement agency state police because of the work they're doing now to try to address those issues, but I think, we still have a long way to go, and I thank you for your, leadership in this Bill. Hopefully, we could continue this conversation to make sure that we have more diversification that1040 reflects the community, particularly in cities and towns that have a larger, density of people of color in those communities. So thank you very much. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER11 - Thank you.
SPEAKER12 - Yes.
REP TYLER - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to add to that. I really appreciate you fighting for this. This is something that has been an issue for a very long time here in the Commonwealth. While we're on this topic, I think the chairman's, commentary was spot on. While we're on this topic, just in, as we come up on Black History Month, I did want to shine a light on, there's a local, gentleman in the Boston Police Department who is going to be the first detective detective sergeant, Captain Light Lighten Facey, who was a local captain in my district for a long time. So it's 2024, and we're talking about that. So that's a real thing. So I just want to say thank1092 you so much for that, and I look forward to figuring out how we1094 can support this. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
PAULINO - Thank thank you, Chyna. I know we have time constraints, but I just want to add this. The exam is bad. Bad in the way that consultants have expressed. The only test you have, like, 100 questions, but only 40% of the exam really tests the duty of a sergeant or a superior officer. And when it does that, use outdated language terms that are not commonly commonly used. But when you have a bad example, everybody takes it. It's fine. It's1128 not discriminatory to a specific class.
What brought attention to this is that for the last 30 years, minorities like me, black, have been desperately impacted by this. Not only us, the Latinos, suffer, but also good candidates for any community, have been solved because this test only tests your ability to be good remember remembering in terms. Know how good you can be and ignore your career, and your record. Only 14 you get 20 percent of the score based on your background. And just by sitting in the exam, you get 14 points. So ignore your record, your story, your dedication to be a good police officer, a good servant for the community, and that is a shame. Thank you so much. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Senator Brady.
SEN BRADY - Thank you, Chairman. I want to convey, representative, filing this legislation with our colleagues as well. I represent a very diverse district and one of my communities had this issue. They have hired people in the police department to represent the population and the diverse population and also to support veterans as well as minorities. But some of the other committees we're dealing with this in the public service committee that I chair to work on some legislation to address this issue as well. So I just wanted to thank the representative for filing this, and thank you, Mr. Chairman and your co-chairman and the other colleagues, bring this to my attention as well. So thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you, senator Brady. Any questions or comments further? Representative Zaros, please.
XIARHOS - Thank you, yes. Having lived it, there's nothing like your sergeant, for example. Leadership Physicians are so critical. They set the tone for that shift in that department. So, I appreciate the idea and the concept of this because we've lived it, and just want to emphasize how important it is not only during hiring but retention and promotions because they're the ones that you look for when you need help. When the officers need help, they're looking at their sergeant or their lieutenant. To have someone who deserves to be in that position is very special. So thank you for your passion.
PAULINO - Thank you. I envision one day what the children of Massachusetts dream about being police officers again. They don't do that. Generation See are those who don't dream of being a police officer. You don't join the police force to be free to get rich. You1301 joined because that was your childhood Yes1303 Dream. You want to be a superhero. When they see a person in the community that worked their entire life and has never been able to move up in the ranks. That effect. Those are the same people that read that dictates that in discriminatory, all the ones advising about how to recruit. That's why we have part of we have a big problem. But truly, like I say, I envision one day our kid learning about being a police officer. So if you would like to work. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER13 - Yes, sir.
GONZALEZ- Thank you. Want to, add and probably end with this, but, why culture and is important? When we are raised, in a Latino community race, our parents teach us very clearly that You don't raise your eyes to authority. And when you are stopped by a police officer, it is expected that you look at them in the eyes. And not doing so, gives them probably a perception different than what we are trained or taught and raised to do. So, very important as, we look at1368 diversity again as our strength. I thank you again for your Bill, and1372 we look forward to having, more conversations with Paul Leonard and Ball. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Representative, thank you. We look forward to working with you. Thank you. Senator Pavel Paolo Payano.
K.
Oh, you have representative Elliot. Please please come forward.
Thank you, representative. Good morning, Good morning to you.
SPEAKER14 - Senator Gonzalez, chair.
REP ELLIOT - HB 3634 - Honorable members of the committee, thank you for allowing me time to speak briefly. I'm here in support of my Bill H 3634. An Act further regulating the discharge of fireworks in densely populated neighborhoods. My home city of Lowell, Massachusetts, has 115,000 plus Residents. We live in 13.6 square miles. It's about 808,500 residents per square mile. I present one of1452 the most densely populated sections of our city, Centerville. I know Lowell is not alone in the dangers, this is a firework. Lowell, I think, considering its proximity to New Hampshire, and the ability to purchase fireworks legally. Our problems have grown ex exponentially, resulting actually in1476 some last couple of years, house fires as a result of fireworks.
Our police department has become inundated with calls, and it's not just around the time of our nation's Independence Day. Served as a city councilor for 24 years, in my city, prior to serving house. I know there are laws on the books, relative to fireworks, possession, and sale. The Bill before you will increase fines for fireworks. I know increasing fines is not the complete answer. I know it's enforcement. I realize it's also education. However, the current law is if you're caught with possession, or usage is a fine of $10 to 100. We levy parking tickets and more, twice that amount for parking meter violations. The Bill before you, again, would increase the penalty for the use of fireworks. Eventually populated areas1545 of 1,000 persons, more per square mile.
Punishable by a fine of not less than $200, not more than $500, or by imprisonment, not more than six months. As I mentioned, this has been an issue in my district, since well before I was elected to the state house. My constituents asked me to see what we can do about it. I think this is one measure, that we could adopt in order to address the illegal fireworks and, address public safety issues and sometimes the populated neighborhoods in my city and I know across the state. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your time. I respectfully request a federal report out of the committee. I'm happy to take any questions.
TIMILTY - Representative Elliot, thank you very much. I know you've worked very hard on this for a number of years. So thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Chair Gonzales. Boom. Boom. Boom.
SPEAKER2 - All all summertime in the in in in the neighborhoods. I I hear you loud and clear. Thank you.
SPEAKER14 - You're welcome. Thank you, mister Chairman,
SPEAKER1 - thank you, chairman. Any questions or comments from members of the committee? Seeing none, thank you very much, representative.
Senator Pavel Pallano.
Thank you, senator.
SEN PAYANO - HB 3636 - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Chairman,1626 Timilty, Chairman Gonzales, members of the committee, and a future president that I see as with Rep Tyler.
TIMILTY - It's the POTUS.
PAYANO - I'm here to testify today on House Bill 3636, an Act relative to the establishment of the minority recruitment election program, that was filed1644 by my colleague, Representative Paulino. Representative Paulino talked a little bit, about the bill. So, I think what1650 I'd like to talk about is, the importance of ensuring that we have a diverse, police force. I represent Lawrence. I used to be, in the Lawrence City Council, where I was the1662 chairman of the public safety committee. One of the things that we saw within our community, one of the things that inspired me to be1668 in public service was that our community1670 at the time, felt like there was a disconnect between, what was between the community, the residents, and the police department. Thanks to, one of our mayors, Mayor Rivera. He did a lot of work. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER9 - I I raised my hand and spoke with, the police department. I'm Walter Misquiat.
PAYANO - It was more reflective of the community, and that we had, programs in place to ensure that not only were we getting new talent in, but there was a pathway for individuals that were part of the police department to go up the ranks. I think that that's extremely important, and that has, deeply changed, the outlook, the community has on the police department. It's been able to build, bridges and it's created a department that's more culturally competent, more reflective of the community. I think it's, a testament to what can be done elsewhere. This is one of the reasons why I'm, supportive of this Bill, and I hope that all of you are as well and that this comes out, positive. Thank you so much, for your time.
TIMILTY - Senator, thank you very much. I know you've worked awfully hard on this as well. So thank you. I personally look forward to working with you on it. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Chair Gonzales.
SPEAKER2 - Thank you, senator.
SPEAKER8 - Thank you.
SPEAKER1 - Any questions or comments? Seeing none, senator Pilato, thank you very much. Have a great day. Yes, sir.
GONZALEZ - Next, we will have, Senator Walter Timilty on S 2535, an Act to technical rescue services. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Are you coming with a panel? Yes. Yep. And a and a panel of distinguished fire Safety.
Good morning. How are you?
TIMILTY - SB 2535 - Thank you, Chair Gonzalez and members of the committee and, of course, our newest member of the committee, thank you very much. A great addition to the committee, Representative Tyler. Thank you. It's my privilege to stand before you today, or in this case, sit before you with, my friends and colleagues from the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, Chief Scobold, Chief Kelleher, and Chief1810 Doherty. In conjunction with the professional firefighters of Massachusetts to advocate for and testify on behalf of my Bill. Senate Bill 2535 an Act relative to technical rescue services. So for this opportunity, Chair Gonzalez and members of the committee, I thank you. Specifically, this legislation will amend Chapter 22D of the Massachusetts general laws to bring the regional technical rescue team infrastructure into the Department of Fire Services.
It will make the infrastructure operate as efficiently as the current infrastructure therefore we have already established our HAZMAT teams around the Commonwealth, I might add, that our HAZMAT teams are second to none, not just in this great country of ours, HAZMAT but around the globe. I know with Chief Kelleher, we have a veteran of HAZMAT teams, so thank you, Chief, you know, years ago, I worked with them on the legislation and actually filed the legislation to form the model for technical rescue teams around the Commonwealth Massachusetts, and I worked with you, chief Scoble, and with the professional firefighters of Mass and the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts to form this model, and we modeled it on the HAZMAT teams.
This simply will fine-tune what we've already done in terms of moving the technical rescue infrastructure into the Department of Fire Services and will make the infrastructure, I believe, operate as efficiently as the current infrastructure that we have established for our HAZMAT teams. Furthermore, this Bill will clarify and consolidate the management of the technical rescue response system under DFS and be overseen by the state fire marshal. Through these changes, the technical rescue response system will be able to more effectively and equitably fund these services throughout every town and city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
[Inaudible] In conclusion, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, I would like to thank the professional fighter firefighters of Massachusetts and the Fire Chiefs Association of Mass for collaborating with me on this and with my staff, to my legislative director, Ryan Mitchell, thank you. And many other great measures that will benefit all of our fire departments and, in turn, further ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens of the Commonwealth, which I know we all strive for. With that, Jake Gonzalez, I'm more than happy to answer any questions for my colleagues, and I look forward to working with every one of you. With the permission of the committee would love to have the chiefs weigh in place. Chief Scoble. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Good morning.
WILLIAM SCOBLE - FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION MASSACHUSETTS - SB 2535 - Good morning. Gonzalez, Chairman Timilty, and other members of the committee. I am Bill Scoble. I'm the government affairs director for the Fire Chiefs Association Massachusetts. Just quickly, not to repeat, what the senator said, but we worked with the senator back in 2018 to get this initial groundbreaking Bill passed. We modeled it, basically, along the lines of1980 the HAZMAT team, but not completely. The steering committee has done a great job over the last five or six years, setting up guidelines, and standard operating procedures, gathering their doing their training.
One of the things that we found was that receiving funds and expending funds was a problem that was not a true arm of the Department of Fire Services. So this bill would correct those issues. It doesn't substantially change the setup of the teams. The steering committee remains in place, but it just will make for a smoother process, of receiving funding, expanding funding, and, making the team, operate like the Great Light to2030 HAZMAT teams. Thank Senator Timilty for his guidance back then, along with Representative Galvin2036 and Senator Tyler, who worked so hard, with us to get this done. It truly was groundbreaking at the time, and we just, want to try and make it, just a little bit better.
MICHAEL KELLEHER - FOXBOROUGH FIRE & RESCUE - SB 2535 - I won't repeat everything that was mentioned, but, one thing that's, really remarkable is what the private fire services and the HAZMAT system are. It's a great representation of what regionalism can do in rescue teams something that could be another example of, you know, communities coming together, sharing resources, being more efficient, ultimately providing better service. I think, you know, just some of these little structural tweaks to, the language would give us that opportunity to build another,2083 you know, resilient and, sustainable Thank you.
EUGENE DOHERTY - FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION MASSACHUSETTS - SB 2535 - I would only reiterate the concept of the tech rescue as being modeled under the HAZMAT. I was originally a charter member in 1990 when the first HAZMAT team was out of Metro Fighter. The Cooperation between the union and the chiefs was critical to the concept behind this whole system. Since 1990, as the Senate has stated, it has been the premier system throughout the country and I see the state of the world. It's a system that works. And this tech rescue if we can get this into the system. It will be, tantamount to the to a ditto, and we truly need this. Thank you.
GONZALEZ - Well, I want to thank you all for your commitment and dedication to public safety across the board and I still have to, get out to see you, Chief. I will get there. It's going to be more of a treat, actually. Chief, Kelleher is, overseas. A lot of them for our large, patriot stadiums and whatnot. So I have to get out there, but I think it's more of a treat for me than getting out there. But, thank you all for that. Again, I think you guys, together, have been able to address the issues of HAZMAT, and I think you recognize what that has, been to us all in Massachusetts and in partnership with the, I believe is the most seasoned legislator, we have here, well, Senator Timilty. I think that we need to, listen to the experts, and, You have my commitment that, I've heard you, and I fully understand, and I think it's, important and it's long overdue. So I just want, to say that.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Any comments or questions from our committee members, please?
PAULINO - A quick question. I have seen before when I went to college, I remember that Drake Could Metuh and North and Dover and Dover have, like, a SWAT team. I like that not each department doesn't have one, but together, they have. It was a piece because some departments are not enough to have that division, to have the old swap team. Would this work the same way, let's say, instead of sending a whole engine, truck, or letter, you send the member of your fire department to correct? Respond? SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER17 - For senator. Oh, okay.
TIMILTY - Thank you, Chief. Thank you very much for your question, Representative. Thank you very much. You know, there are a couple of departments within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that are that big and have that much in the way resources that they can maintain their technical rescue team. So, obviously, Boston is one of them, I think, with Bedford and Worcester as well and Cambridge have I think New Bedford and Worcester as well and Cambridge have technical rescue teams. But as we're all aware, we have 351 cities in towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The vast majority, cannot maintain a technical rescue team, so we're our strength in numbers. You know, Norfolk County, where I happen to live, representative, has for years, had an outstanding technical rescue team. But the inspiration for this legislation is, Chief Scoble alluded to that we've actually come, we brought over the goal line. They came to a portion in 2018 and wanted to create a model.
That was my goal, and that was the FKM and the PFM's goal to create a model for the whole Commonwealth of Massachusetts so that every county, wherever you reside in the Commonwealth has outstanding technical rescue teams to deal with, you know, high altitude, whether it be a tower or a high building trench collapses, water rescues, to make sure every single cone will because, to your point, Representative, most cities and towns can't afford to maintain their own technical rescue team.
We have a fire service, which is a plus around the country. We have the best fire service. I'm, of course, I'm biased in the whole country. That doesn't happen by accident because we've invested the resources in our fire services. And we've had proactive legislation such as working on technical rescue. Years before, we ever came to this building in service we had a ready-made old saying, don't reinvent the wheel. We had a model with HAZMAT right out there. That's a wild success.
PAULINO - I think, Senator, will you this Bill, it makes sense. Since the disappearance of the county government, a small municipality has2352 been suffering from the lack of a2356 tax base even for them to rebuild firehouses, police, departments, and even schools. So I think Unity makes stronger, and this just makes sense. Thanks so much for this proposal. I love it. I think we need it, and I think we'll make it better in the Commonwealth. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you, representative. Thank you. Mister chair, thank you.
SPEAKER2 - Hearing no other comments. Thank you all very much.
I'm gonna go back, but, representative Bud Williams.
Representative Bud Williams online?
Okay. We'll come back to representative Williams. Next, we will have
Lisa, Goldblatt, Grace, Delia Vega, And Nora Gaggio.
Hearing none. Masters of Coalition of Police panel, Michael Pereira and Tim King.
Critical incidents leave. Testimony in 82534.
TIMOTHY KING - MASSACHUSETTS COALITION OF POLICE - HB 2534 - Thank you. Good morning, Chairman Timilty, Chairman Gonzalez, and members of the board here in the building at home, please pass along our congratulations to Rep Tyler. My name is Timothy King. I'm the in-house counsel for the Massachusetts Coalition of Police. I am also a retired police officer of 31 years in the city of Waltham. With me today is Mike Pereira. He's also a retired Fall River police officer and the labor relations manager for the House Coalition of Police. We're here testifying today2498 on House Bill 2534, an Act relative to critical incident leave. We have submitted some written testimony, outlining the reasons this Bill needs to become law, and we're here testifying just to highlight some of those reasons.
Our police officers are trained to use lethal force when it is proper and necessary to protect themselves and others from death or imminent threat of serious bodily injury. Not only are they trained, but they are legally protected and justified in their use. Traditionally, when a police officer is involved in a critical incident involving a lethal force encounter, they are placed on leave. This leave is necessary to ensure the proper use of force and to make sure the officer is healthy and okay to return to work. This leave has traditionally been called administrative leave. The issue with the term administrative leave is that it immediately connotes wrongdoing. That is because when other police officers or other public employees are investigated for wrongdoing and or discipline purposes, they are placed on administrative leave.
The last thing a police officer who was just involved in a life-altering event needs to hear is that they've been placed on administrative leave automatically implying they did something wrong. It creates an unhealthy situation for the officer. In many cases, confusion among members of the public. In response, we drafted House Bill 2534 to remove the stigma and to call the leave time what it actually is, critical incident leave. The Bill directs all police departments to record all references to this type of leave as critical incident leave in both internal records and any public release of information regarding the use of such time.
This simple change eliminates the immediate implied bias against the officer and quells rumors2594 and innuendo that they have they have engaged in wrongdoing. Critical incident leave is specific to the type of leave and not the catchall that admin leave tends to be. MassCOP has been at the forefront of public safety, mental health, and well-being. We were the first in the nation to develop a confidential online mental health survey for police officers. Through these surveys, we have been able to connect mental health service providers with a number of officers who have been encountering difficulties.
This Bill will make the change necessary to help police officers recover from tragic circumstances where lethal force was necessary. No police officer wants to be involved in this type of incident. This Bill is a step it's a small step forward, bringing about positive2634 change in helping officers maintain their health. It may seem small and inconsequential to many, but the removal of that stigma of automatic wrongdoing can mean a huge difference in the officer's career in life. So we respectfully request this honorable committee, vote on House Bill 2534, an Act relative to critical incident leave favorably so that we continue its journey through the legislative process. Thank you for your time.
MIKE PEREIRA - MASSACHUSETTS COALITION OF POLICE - HB 2534 - Good morning, Senator Timilty and Representative Gonzalez. Nice to see you fellas again and, distinguished council,2664 committee members. As a2666 representative, of the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, I have responded to several, critical incidences involving the line of duty shootings. I've seen the officers minutes after at scenes, minutes after the incident, and also worked with them throughout the, you know, the outcome of the incident.
This Bill before you today is a very simple, common-sense approach to something that we've been grappling with for years. You know you know, the, we I think it's just easy for an administration and a police2698 department to say, just put them on admin leave. But then it's in the media. It's2702 in the press. This is a critical incident. Our offices, is, throughout the Commonwealth are affected by these instances. Tim was quite eloquent in his presentation. There's no reason for me to repeat any of his stuff, but this is just something simple, and we, urge you to, bring this out favorably. Thank you, Senator.
TIMILTY - Thank you very much. Mr. Pereira and Mr. King, thank you very much. Obviously, this is very serious. This issue, you folks in your line of work deal with serious issues every single day. It takes a toll2735 on you all. We see it firsthand. We hear the stories. I have the privilege of interacting with an awful lot of police officers in my district. I'm very proud of the work that they put forth, and, it takes a toll on every one of you. I think Representative Xiarhos will attest to that firsthand. I would also, submit to every one of you, and this is not a news flash to yourselves that, many of you are not the same after enduring a career in law enforcement on the front lines. So thank you. This is something we take very seriously, and we thank you for, your advocacy and, for bringing it forth. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER19 - Thank you.
SPEAKER1 - Thank you. Sheikh Gonzales.
SPEAKER2 - Senator, would you represent?
SPEAKER5 - Yes. Go ahead.
XIARHOS - I would love to please. Thank you, chair Timothy and Chair Gonzalez. Yes. This is personal to me. I see Chief Frederiksen sitting in the back2786 with his wife as a member of the Yarmouth police. We've lived this firsthand in a small town where one of our officers had to use his firearm to save himself and the community when someone tried to run him over. What that did to that officer, is life-changing. So just the verbiage is important, and that's what you're trying to do. It doesn't cost any money. Yes. It just makes sense. I can tell you from being there, what2820 it would, how it would affect the department. Then I would also add, you know when officers I ran just present at a shooting when officer Sean Gannon was shot to death and K9 Nero was shot in the head.
Those officers that2837 were in that room never came back to work. You know? The damage, not only did it did to Sean Gannon, his life, Nero, the dog nearly killed, but the officers were covered in his blood. That's not normal. They were not2858 able to come back to work. One of those officers is the same officer as the first incident where he used his weapon to defend his life, took a life, and then happened to be in that attic when his brother was shot to death. So the toll it takes on our officers and their families, and Senator Timilty and Chair Gonzalez and everyone on the panel, that's why we're here. That's why we're on this committee. So I appreciate you bringing this forward and, understand the concept, and we'd be proud to support it.
TIMILTY - Thank you.
XIARHOS - Thank you, chair.
GONZALEZ - Well, I'm a firm believer that lived experience is the best way that, we can get solutions and a better road map to where we want to go and what we need. So, again, your lived experiences speak volumes here, and your testimony, echoes, the passion that you have. Obviously, my colleague who has served so many years, is somebody that I go to listen and to learn from. So, I thank you for your, continued commitment to making sure that we address all aspects of, dealing with critical incidents. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you.
TIMILTY - Gentlemen, one last thing. You have my support on this Bill. I thank you. Any questions or comments from members of the I see none. Thank you very much. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER19 - Thank you, sir.
SPEAKER1 - I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize, senator Mike Moore, former chair of the is online right now.
Thank you, mister chairman.
Thank you, senator. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize
Professional firefighters of Massachusetts, Paul Jaques, Craig Hardy, and Ian McGregor.
PAUL JACQUES - PFFM - SB 2535 - Good afternoon, Chair Gonzalez, Chair Timilty, members of the committee, and staff. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. For the record, my name is Paul Jacques, legislative agent for the professional firefighters of Massachusetts. To my right is Craig Hardy, legislative agent for the professional firefighters, and to my left is Ian McGregor. He is on the Mass Technical Rescue Coordination Council and also a proud member of Melrose Local 1617. Thank you for having us today.
We'd just like to, we have submitted a written testimony. We'd like to go on the record in support of Senate Bill 2535 an Act relative to technical rescue services. Thank you, Senator Timilty, for filing this important piece of legislation. Thank you to our brothers and sisters at FCAM for working, together with the professional firefighters and Sen Timilty on grafting, this important language. At this time, I'd just like to turn it over to Ian, being, an expert in this field on the council where he stands, he brought in our, resident expert. Thank you.
TIMILTY - Thank you, firefighter Jacques.
LAIN MCGREGOR - MA TECHNICAL RESCUE COORDINATING COUNCIL - SB 2535 - Yes. Chairs, members of the committee, I thank you, Senator Timilty, Representative Xiarhos you know, for signing on and putting this forward. You started this in 2018. I was there at the beginning. We spoke in favor of this at the beginning. We created the statewide council, of which we were able to start working in 2019, that council and building the system, that we can actually have a statewide response to rescues. It will be much more coordinated than it is today. Some regions and counties have teams that are working, that are trying to make it work. To the representative's point, it's very difficult in smaller communities to fund these. Technical rescues are a very low frequency, but extremely high-risk event for both the rescuers and the safe survival of the3110 victims that are involved in these.
3112 These3112 are the specialized rescues. These teams, Just like the hazmat teams, are who the local fire departments call when they need help. So when the local fire department says, wow, this is really a specialized service, If they don't have the capabilities to do it, they call for the technical rescue teams. So putting this under the Department of Fire Services umbrella is right where we're at now. We've spent the last number of years as the coordinating council, bringing together all of the existing teams, and working out the rules, the policies, the procedures, and the operation. At this point, we need to move it officially into the Department of Fire Services and get it funded through that as a state asset.
As a clear state asset that will respond to any incident across the state of the Commonwealth, and anywhere where they're requested to help manage these specialized rescues that require a higher level of training and a higher level of equipment than a standard fire department tends to operate with. I think this is one of those great pieces of legislation where you have the support from the PFFM, FCAM, from the fire Marshall from the legislature to put it forward. It's one of these rare opportunities where this is something we can just pass through. Say, everyone's in support of this. It makes sense. Regionalize things. Put it things, put it standardized, and so that it will mirror the state HAZMAT system in a technical rescue aspect. So I thank you all for your support.
TIMILTY - Thank you very much, firefighter McGregor. Thank you. Firefighter. Firefighter, howdy? Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you very much, gentlemen. Look forward to new collaboration with the professional firefighters of Mass and with FKM on this which is a very important issue for all of us. It's a wonderful success already, and we just need a little bit of tweaking. We don't have to do a lot here. I think you, firefighter McGregor, pointed out very ably. You have the Fire Chiefs Association of Mass, the professional firefighters of Massachusetts, the fire marshal, and myself who actually filed the bill originally in conjunction with FKM and PFFM. We just need a little bit of tweaking for what was already a great model for the whole nation. So thank you. We look forward to continuing working with you and to, put some finishing touches on this. Thank you. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, thank you, gentlemen, very much. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
You already called these Right. Okay. House bill 3637, an act relative to fusion centers. Alex Matthews and Mickey Metz.
He drops.
SPEAKER12 - I believe that Micki Metz will be testifying remotely.
SPEAKER1 - Okay. If you could just state your name for the record, sir, please.
ALEX MARTHEWS - RESTORE THE FOURTH - HB 3637 - My name is Alex Matthews of Belmont, Massachusetts. Chairs, vice chairs, and committee members thank you for hearing my testimony today. I am the volunteer chair of Digital 4th, a Massachusetts civil liberties group that works on issues related to privacy and surveillance. I'm the primary author of H 3637, an Act relative to fusion centers, filed by Rep Rogers. We have worked on issues relating to3318 Massachusetts fusion centers for over 10 years now. Senators3322 like Harriet Chandler and now Jamie Eldridge, who co-sponsored this Bill have taken a deep interest in this issue. Let's begin unexpectedly with Maine. Maine last year passed a Bill like H 3637 requiring external audit and oversight of Maine's fusion center.
That fusion center had been found, thanks to whistleblower evidence, to be collecting vast arrays of private information on Mainers who were not suspected of committing any crime in violation of federal regulations and the constitution. I'm afraid to say that our fusion centers in Massachusetts, based on information already in the public record, are doing the same kinds of things. They have a long track3370 record of harassing people of color, activists, journalists, and protesters because they view them as unlawful potential security threats. I know people who have been harassed at their place of work, have lost jobs, and have had a grand jury convene to investigate their peaceful filmmaking activity.
I know a journalist who in the course of her lawful news gathering was identified by the BRIC, the Boston Fusion Center, as a security threat, and had that information about her made public. She was subjected to physical and personal threats that led to her having to leave the profession. I have personally attended a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest and personally saw it being surveilled by brick agents Creed and Kimball, who were also responsible for the persecution of the filmmakers. Brick systems allow and encourage these kinds of surveillance. This Bill would do nothing more than ensure that fusion centers are complying with federal regulations and the Constitution.
That requires that they only retain information on people who are reasonably suspected of involvement with actual crimes. I can attest from our years of trying to obtain redress in cases where BRIC had clearly and publicly violated its own policies. That their internal policies to protect our privacy and civil liberties are deeply broken. So the bill requires a spot audit, an annual internal audit, and3468 an external report from OIG every year. It establishes a private right action and strengthens public records law. We urge a favorable report on this Bill. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you very much, sir. Chair Gonzales?
SPEAKER12 - I hear no
SPEAKER1 - no comments. Any questions or comments from members of the committee?
SPEAKER5 - I do.
SPEAKER1 - Representative Taras.
XIARHOS - Thank you, chair. Very interesting especially to me as a police for 40 years to see firsthand how this is a good thing, when it's used right. An example would be cameras on the bridges on Cape Cod that take license plate scans and do nothing with it unless a crime is committed and help solve a crime of the person coming over that bridge that, let's say, raped somebody. I've lived that. So, it's interesting. I'll look at this more, but I'd like an example of what you mentioned in Maine, where Maine has the law because you said they proved examples of violations. What? Can you tell me, like, one of them? Or submit something so we can look at it?
MARTHEWS - I will certainly submit more relating to the situation in Maine. The Bill in question is new. It was passed in 2023 when a stronger Bill that would have closed down their fusion center entirely in response to what had been found, passed the House but did not pass the senate in May. The first report relating to that Bill, the mandated report from their independent auditor, is due as of February 15th of this year. I think that that would be the best material to provide to the committee so that they can see how this kind of oversight and auditing can operate in another fairly similar state.
XIARHOS - Perfect. Thank you, chair. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you. Any Further questions or comments from members of the committee? Seeing none, thank you very much. Let me see. Yes. So we have, Mister Metz, but I would like to take this opportunity at this moment to recognize representative Joe McGonigal. Representative McGonigal, thank you for joining us. I know you've been here for quite a while.
SPEAKER15 - Sorry for my tidiness. No.
SPEAKER1 - I know you were you were saying you were attending to other duties. Thank you very much. You were saying chair Gonzales? Mister Metz. Yes. Mister Metz. Mister Metz, as they say, the floor is yours, mister Metz. Okay. We'll have to, try back for mister Metz.
Thank you very much.
Okay. Try, representative Sally Karens online with us right now.
Representative Bud Williams? No? Representative Mindy Daum?
Representative Manny Cruz. Okay. And, let me see. We have Testimony on house bill 2416, which we've this is a second call. The panel, Lisa Goldblatt, Grace Delia Vega, and Nora Gallo.
Thank you very much.
SPEAKER20 - Thank you very much. We really appreciate your
SPEAKER1 - time. Certainly.
LISA GOLDBLATT GRACE- MY LIFE MY CHOICE - HB 2416 - HB 3913 - Good afternoon. As co-founder and co-executive director of My Life, My Choice, I offer this testimony in support3700 of H 2416, an Act requiring human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers. On3708 behalf of the survivors of the commercial sex industry in Massachusetts, I have the privilege of working alongside them every day. I want to thank the members of this committee for hearing my testimony, including Chairman Rep Carlos Gonzalez and Senator Walter Timilty. My Life, My Choice is based right here in Boston. We began the program 22 years ago as a survivor-led initiative designed to end commercial sex exploitation, and we provide a continuum of services, including training, prevention, and direct services to young people here in Eastern Massachusetts, from Worcester East up to the North Shore, out to the Cape and Islands.
Last year, we served over 220 young people, ages 12 till their early twenties, who reported that the average age that they're being exploited, that they're being trafficked for the first time is 13 years old. Last year, 88% of the young people we served were involved with the Department of Children and Families. They were disproportionately BIPOC youth. They were disproportionately LGBTQ youth. They were the most marginalized youth in our communities and in the Commonwealth. So if they're not given the support and services they become the adults in the commercial sex industry whom we either ignore or malign in our communities. So the question then becomes, where is this exploitation happening? As you may know, there's far less street-based activity than ever before.
There's no longer a combat zone per se here in Boston. The young people we serve are rarely sold on the street. Rather, their exploitation is brokered online, and they're exploited in hotels and motels throughout the Commonwealth. Our young people report3802 being exploited in the highest-rent hotels and the lowest-rent motels, where they are kept isolated, where a steady stream of men come through. It doesn't have to be this way though. The signs are there. Hotel workers can be trained to recognize red flags from the moment they sign someone into the front desk, to when they go in to clean the rooms, to the varied signs a security guard can hook Hotels where we have offered training right here in Massachusetts, staff immediately raise their hands and say, I've seen this.
They want the information. They want to help. Until now, this kind of training has only happened in hotels where the leadership has chosen to commit to it. That is few and far between and the children and vulnerable adults trapped in this highly abusive industry, and our Commonwealth deserve better. I ask that you report H2416, an Act requiring human trafficking recognition training out of this committee favorably. While I'm here, I also want to voice my wholehearted support for H 3913, an Act relative to missing black women and girls in Massachusetts. I've voiced my support for this in line with what I've stated above black and brown girls from low-income backgrounds are disproportionately marginalized in this way. Thank you for your time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank Thank you very much.3880 Just for the record, could you state your3882 name, please?
GRACE - Oh, really? I should start there.3884 Yes of course. I'm so sorry. My name is Lisa Goldblatt Grace. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you, miss Goldblatt. Thank you very much. No. No need to apologize. Thank you.
DELIA VEGA - MY LIFE MY CHOICE - HB 2416 - Hello. My name is Delia Vega. I am a senior survivor mentor and policy specialist with My Life, My Choice. I want to thank you thank the chairs of the committee for allowing us to sit here and testify against the Bill that Lisa just mentioned. Part of my role is that I work directly with young people. One of the things that stood out when I was when this Bill was brought to my attention was one of the young persons that I served, had been trafficked in a hotel room. She was held captive there for quite some time. Then when she was finally able to free. She ran downstairs to the lobby and was treated3933 with the most disrespect, ever as if she were a criminal.
My thoughts were that if this Bill if something like this were in place, number one, she would have probably she would have not been subjected to such torture, and sexual exploitation for so long. Then secondly, the approach and the support that she needed as soon as she ran downstairs. But instead, she was, made to feel as if she were a criminal, and it took forever. In fact, she was almost arrested because she was more, as she was looked at as a nuisance, as someone who was disrupting the culture of the hotel. So this is one of many stories, as I'm sure. This should not be happening because as Lisa said there are signs. People can prevent a lot of this from happening only3986 with the proper Thank you.
TIMILTY - Thank you very much, if I may. Thank you very much for being here. You thanked us. It's we should be thanking you for your courage and, obviously, may helping us make better decisions with the information you bring forth. So thank you for your courage. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER11 - Thank you.
SPEAKER1 - Thank you.
Representative?
PAULINO - I got like, 2018, we have I don't know. I've4018 met everybody, in this community, remember? There was a 13-year-old girl that died because a 47-year-old man gave her drugs. He was taking girls to hotels, to his house. As a result, they were abused, but also she died. So my question would be, what kind of training can we give to motel hotel workers? Because I don't want to take for them, but they aren't they no. They go to college and school. They don't have the background of a police officer who is trained in law enforcement and can identify. You know, what kind of training can we provide that, can limit the prejudice? You know, like, we don't have some a legit customer to go to a hotel to be wake up by police officers believe in some time. So what resources are available for the training so we can accomplish this goal?
GRACE - Sure. So thank you for asking that question. When We have done this kind of training here in Massachusetts. It is very concrete. It begins with, here's why you should worry about this. Right? So getting people to care that this is happening in their establishments, and then very specific, very concrete being worker the minute you see this call 911. That's not going to be in anybody's best interest. But it's to you have an internal person at each hotel, a manager who is more trained to be able to take what those workers at in the rooms and at the front desk see, make a determination, and then have a law who they are partnering with closely come in as needed. But it's a very clear process so that it isn't about kind of an individual feeling like they need to take this all on themselves. But getting to recognize these concrete signs and knowing what to do. They're, you know, without going deeply into them here, they're very specific. They're easy to recognize and should result and have resulted in people being able to identify them quicker and better. Did you want to add something about what we've seen around the country beyond the common,
NORA GALLO - MY LIFE MY CHOICE - HB 2416 - Yes. What I can say specifically is for H 2416 within the Bill, creates an opportunity for the attorney general to promulgate regulations and rules around this, but then also to partner with, local and state nonprofits to create, sort of this baseline training that hotels could then Implement. So really critically being able to work with local partners who see this, who, you know, My Life, My Choice is an example of having previously provided training to for workers to be able to identify and respond and know who to go to to be able to take that next step to intervene, prevent or respond. So what really I mean, can go on to my testimony if there's I don't want to take time to speak and answer your question if I can take all the time you need.
So I'm going into a little bit about what I was going to say in my testimony was that similar legislation has passed as of 2023 in eight other states. Various states do have, not a mandate, but more of a may when it comes to hotel training, but really being able to create a uniform approach statewide to ensure that every hotel worker at every hotel, motel, and lodging in the state can respond actively in that way. I think Delia made a really clear statement on this was that oftentimes, hotel workers without this training are responding from a place of fear, from prejudice, from this understanding that a person experiencing exploitation or involved in prostitution is a criminal. What we want to look at is flip that on its head by being able to have these conversations and offer these training to be able to, intervene in a way that we don't have situations like Delia mentioned where a child is being exploited, and locked in a hotel room.
PAULINO - If I may ask you, with technology, things get easier, but that opens up for crime more sophisticated to happen. So how nationally or the state have deal with R and B? Like, you don't have to see anybody to get to rent an apartment. And the same crime that can happen in a hotel room happens in those places in which you can just open the door. They give will call and nobody sees you, so nobody will be able to identify them. So do you see any train that anything similar that can prevent traffic human traffic
GRACE - Yes. No. I mean, you bring up a very real challenge those those newer hotels where there's no interface with a human being makes us very challenging. Right? Those hotels usually still4318 have some form of housekeeping and some form of security, and that's where we would go. But there are many of them who no longer have a front desk person. But it's ensuring that any touch points that there can be have this basic training that enables them to know what the right thing to do is. But you bring up very good points. Very challenging. Thank you.
GALLO - Yes. Happy to go. I can't remember if I said this, but for the record, my name is Nora Gallo. I am the public policy and advocacy manager for My Life My Choice. Just to State it again. We're here to offer testimony in support of H 2416, an Act requiring human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers. Just want to thank you, Chair Gonzalez, Chair Timilty, and members of the committee, and also, offer gratitude to Representative Walsh's office,4375 for bringing this Bill forward and, for the work that we've been able to do together. Wanting to just say, that across Massachusetts, this has been done before by my colleagues, but, children are bought and sold for sex at alarming rates. Disproportionately, Black and Brown youth are impacted by commercial sexual exploitation, and strategically targeted because of their vulnerabilities.
It's been said, but motels, hotels, and lodgings are ground zero. Oftentimes this exploitation takes place, in H 2416. Being able to acquire training for those hotel workers really is able to put a, stop to that. I do want to highlight recent news coverage, from the Gloucester Daily Times highlighted H 2416, with a clear acknowledgment of the exploitation that happens within the hotel industry here in Massachusetts. Specifically, the Peabody police chief is quoted, as saying, it's a pretty significant issue to us, particularly here in We have a lot of motels and hotels right up and4438 down route one, which allow for the opportunity for situations to occur here. Law enforcement is equipped to respond to this if they are notified.
This would be able to, remove that gap that we have when it comes to hotels and motels and be able to ensure that, people have that right to care. So I mentioned this too, but I will just say, as of 2023, the eight states that have mandated hotel training for workers, include Connecticut, right next door, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Minnesota, California, Illinois, and Texas. This accounts for additional states, that have passed hotel training mandates since 2019. So we're seeing a trend, in looking at this.
I'm over here, I'm not surprised that there are not more states. However, this must be something that we look at seriously in Massachusetts. I know that This Bill has been, if I remember correctly, reported favorably out of committee before. Our ask here is that you do so again this year, and we will we will there to continue to advocate for this bill to, a full favorable passage. So if there are any other questions we can answer, just really grateful for your time, and thank you for taking us up again this session. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you very much for your work. This is very important for all of us. Thank you. Chair Gonzales?
GONZALEZ - Have there been a conversation with the hotel on lodging associations on this path? Because I know they the tells individually have led in this effort. But any conversations with them and where they end this mission?
GALLO - In terms of this Bill specifically, I will4535 actually defer to the representative, if that's okay. I know that there4539 have been conversations, happening. So I just want to make sure that we can speak to what we've been able to do training-wise, SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
would you like me to sit?
SPEAKER7 - Sure. Thank you.
SPEAKER20 - Yeah. I know
SPEAKER7 - I know I've already been here, but, no.
SPEAKER1 - You're always welcome, Ravi.
WALSH - The answer, Mr. Chairman, is yes. We have spoken with the lodging association. We're working with them and have committed to working with them continually until we come up with a satisfactory Bill to everybody and, resolves this issue.
GONZALEZ - Right. That's what speaks volumes to what, Representative Paulino was talking about. What are the best, practices being used in those eight states
GALLO - Mhmm.
GONZALEZ - As far as what is the training that's going to take place and setting the parameters for that, without invading issues, etcetera. In addition to that, I think it's critical, that this could probably expand to outside of the hotel, and lodging associations, particularly with the recent news here. Not recent. It's been ongoing, but spots,
WALSH - I understand that, Mr. Chairman. I thought it was important as it was stated earlier but the motels and hotels are ground zero. I thought this was where we should start. Right. Once we have initiated these programs. I think then we'll take a look and see what other constituents, if you will, should be included. But I think it's important that we get this movement and then expand from that.
GONZALEZ - I totally agree. On that, we start somewhere, but I think it's going to expand as it has expanded to other states just on this issue. But, thank you for your leadership, and thank you all for your advocacy. Continue and your testimony is valuable. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you.
SPEAKER20 - Thank you very much.
SPEAKER1 - Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
SPEAKER5 - you. Don't leave. Don't leave.
SPEAKER1 - Yeah. Should we make For a moment. That was Representative Zarrows.
SPEAKER5 - Yes. Thank you, chair, for your patience.
SPEAKER1 - And then, representative McGonigal.
XIARHOS - Okay. Thank you. What humans do to other humans can be horrible. In Yarmouth, we have 4,000 motel rooms in a small town. So I get it. I just have some quick questions. How long does it take? Is it like a three-hour class? How would that work? Yes.
GRACE - So there's range. And we would work in collaboration with the attorney general to decide what Massachusetts wants to do. But it ranges from the work we've done in the past, is we've done a longer so we worked with local 26, around Union Hotels. We did a longer full class for all of their staff on an ongoing basis. This was several years ago. But there's a lot of different ways to do it, and so we would figure that out. I would, SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER2 - Really?
SPEAKER5 - Mike Zontini. Yes. Yeah. So thank you for that.
SPEAKER20 - Market.
XIARHOS - And just a couple of more things. It's very important, the things that go on, you know, in these rooms. But to chair Gonzalez's point, it goes on elsewhere too.
GRACE - Yes.
XIARHOS - So great. Mike Zontini, serves with his heart. Make sure if anything goes on in that town, he knows about it. I would also say anything that's going on in any of these cities and towns, work with the police.
GRACE - We do. Yes.
XIARHOS - Yes. You mentioned in the Bill, I read it briefly, you know, working with nonprofits. You know, maybe language to say work with the police, you know, tie them in, because it goes on not only in the motels and even on beautiful Cape Cod, but it goes on in Cape Cod, but it goes on in other places and even in neighborhoods where people rent out houses and do it online. So the more people that know, the better.
GRACE - Absolutely.
XIARHOS - I appreciate it.
GRACE - Add that, we do extensive training with law enforcement through the good. We have contracts with partnerships with families, the Department of Health Services, health, and other nonprofits. This is a real missing piece in shoring up a safety net in the state.
XIARHOS - And then it would have to be ongoing because you train a certain amount. Now next year, there are different workers. Yes.
GRACE - Right. That institutional knowledge. Mhmm.
XIARHOS - Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER2 - Thank you, chair.
SPEAKER12 - Thank you,
SPEAKER1 - representative Exavos. Representative McDonough.
REP GONAGLE - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, young ladies. I want to commend, Chairman Walsh for bringing this, for your advocacy in bringing this Bill, for this affected me in my district in Everett eight years ago, when a friend of mine, a grandmother had called me up about her 13-year-old granddaughter. I didn't understand. I knew nothing that this was going on. Again, she was in grammar school, this child, and, it was a horrible ordeal. Then finally, where did we find her? In a hotel in Saugus eight years ago. I don't know where she is today. The grandmother has passed on. But, I commend you. I just had a mirror in my office, another, organization that's fighting, this trafficking. I just want to say that and commend you and thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank
SPEAKER1 - you. Thank you. Any questions or comments from members of the committee? Seeing none, thank you very much. Representative Walsh, As always, thank you. We look forward to working with you on this issue. And, thank you to each and every member of our panel for your courage. Thank you. K.
Okay. Mister Mickey Metz.
Mister Metz.
MICKY METTS - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Hi. Mr. Metts is my dad. I am Micky. Thank you. I'll be brief. I just want to add, to the Bill, which I fully agree with, that the only way to ensure that protected data or private data is not compromised is to not collect it in the first place. I'm also, really in favor of having the individual that the data is about being able to fully access their own data in the system, this has been a sore point since the beginning of these collections systems that have personal data that is tied to you as an entity. It seems like only the criminals know how to use this data and, know how to find this data. We have been, long time seeing all these break ins to databases and the public, being, getting access to people's personal data for many, many years.
There is no way to protect It is a cat-and-mouse game, and I would, totally back this Bill. All of the points in it are really relevant. I hope you read them carefully. While reading them, think of them being applied to a family member or friend. Because now the incarceration system is so widespread, there are probably none of us who are connected to someone who will be in a database like this somewhere. So thank you so much for putting your brains into this, for applying it as if as part of the legislature, but as a human being individually, how would this impact your grandchildren? Thank you so much. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you, miss Metz. Thank you very much. Any questions or comments from members of the committee? Seeing none,
TIMILTY - We're going back at the request of my co-chair to Senate Bill 1545, an Act creating an independent correctional oversight office to facilitate the recommendations of the Special Legislative Commission on Structural Racism and Correctional Facilities of the Commonwealth. Mac Hudson. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER18 - Yes.
SPEAKER1 - Mister Hudson. Good. Thanks. How are you, sir?
SPEAKER2 - We apologize. We couldn't get you in last week.
MAC HUDSON - PRISONERS' LEGAL SERVICES OF MA - SB 1545 - Mr. Gonzalez, for this opportunity to come and speak before you in the body, welcome. I want to first acknowledge that I think what has been beautiful about this whole ordeal for me is that having the ability to listen to the incarcerated community Gives a whole perspective on when we try to think in terms of, you know, these types of measures. Whether or not types of measures should be passed and how they impact the incarcerated community. But what's often left out is how it impacts those who are correction officers also. Right? I wanted to first kind of start off with a conversation just to kind of to bring us all up to speak that discrimination does not just happen to the black and brown community, and incarcerated community, but it also happens to the officers that are there too, who are black and brown.
If you go and look closer examination, what you'll find is that most of those officers who are black and brown work from the 11 to 7th shift, to avoid the racist discrimination that happens on the first and second shifts. Right? And the reason why I want to emphasize this is because I think it gives context, right, to why this Bill, you know, is required. Right? Because if that's happening to them, and this is what they had to do to res to maintain and feed their families. Right? Then what is happening to those of us who are incarcerated? Right? And trying to get access to program entitlements that we are in that by law is supposed to we're supposed to have ramps and who's not. So the collection of data becomes necessary in these instances so that5203 our legislators and partners, community stakeholders can know where the money is going. Right?
How it's being allocated. Then also, you know, who's getting services? And how do we set our communities up so that we can best ensure that everyone is getting assets and then able to transition out safely into society? I want to, you know, voice my support for the, you know, the independent oversight committee, and it's an enforcement mechanism. I know that, and I want to thank Senator, Miranda for filing it. I also want to also say, that I understand there's another Bill that Senator, Brownsberger has put in. I think that if we report both of these bills out, we can actually merge them and strengthen them, right, in a way that makes sense around the board and benefit every community and, you know, that, that is impacted. So I think that we can all agree that, oversight is necessary, and I'm hoping that you please vote this out favorably. - Sir, thank you very much. Greatly appreciate you taking the time to come in and off5282 your perspective. Thank you. It's valuable.
GONZALEZ- Thank you, Matt, and thank you again. Again, yes, last week was a long session, I know for your advocacy, and thank you for, your advocacy. Tell me from your personal experience, and what you think is the main issue that a study, would come up with. What is it?
HUDSON - I think that what we find is that the challenges that happen out in the world are also prevalent behind the wall. Meaning that, you know, people walk in with their biases and they go unchecked because it's a community that's largely, closed off. Right? And so what we find is that even on the basic hygiene level, The department then went from giving us 10 to seven to now five underwear, and now they reduced that to three underwear for every individual. Right? And how do you survive off of three underwear for six months? So it's forcing folks to try to have to go to the canteen and purchase this, which the state already gives money to for their care and custody. So it raises the question, like, where does this money where is this money going to? How is it?
And then we see that this increasing budget of the department is ever so exploding, right, to 800,000,000 now. But only 1% remains being, You know, that's actually spent on rehabilitation. So now how do we strengthen that? How do we well, I think what it'll what it'll report to answer your question is that it'll show that certain folks are not getting access. Right? And not getting access to minimums, prereleases, those very programs that will allow folks to transition safely into the community, have some money to come home and buy a house or, apartment so that they can transition and that that'll alleviate the state from having to spend money on them in other ways. You know? So I think5421 that it'll show these discrepancies, but it also has the ability for us to fix something long overdue.
GONZALEZ - Well, thank you. Because I think, again, once we start turning the terminology around from correctional institutions to rehabilitation centers, which is, I think, what you're advocating for in many, of the folks that are within the system, but also the family relatives, including, those that are at the top, from correction officers. Thank you for acknowledging them because they, also, suffer from some of the issues that we are all seeing in the world today. - Mhmm.
GONZALEZ - But thank you for your advocacy, and, I look forward to continuing working with you.
HUDSON - Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER2 - Any other questions?
SPEAKER1 - Or comments from members of the committee? Quick comment, please. Representative Zeller.
XIARHOS - Thank you. This is a world that we don't often hear about. I see, and for you to give us a real-life presence and examples and you include the corrections officers. I think that's very helpful. I thank you for being here and almost teaching us some of the things that go on and see how we can help. Thank you.
GONZALEZ - And to that point, I didn't know about, you know, the underwear.
XIARHOS - Right.
GONZALEZ - I think that's a valuable experience. That's you know, why did it go from six to three? I don't know. There may be a real reason for that, but I just, think those are real lived experiences to my point before that, help us to be able to look at a different picture sometimes than what we expect, but thank you so much. Thank you.
PAULINO - I think, late last week, I was at an event where you spoke, and I think your advocacy is commendable. I believe what you're doing is amazing. Have you been incarcerated before?
HUDSON - Yes. 33 years, mostly on the crime I didn't commit.
5553 PAULINO5553 -5553 You're5553 a prime example that if we invest in helping those who are in jail serving right now if we invest in the trading condition so they can before they get out of work, they can get an idea that they can learn a trade. They likely become advocates like you are, so valuable for the community, so valuable for their family. I think you are a prime example of what we can accomplish if we work together on this. Thank you for what you're doing, and you can count on this community support because what you do is improving the public safety and home security of our state. Your advocacy is valuable, and I thank you for that.
HUDSON - Thank you. Can I just say that many men5607 and women behind the wall are serious about rehabilitation, whether they did the crime or not? They're they're trying to spearhead programs that really speak to their cultural development. A lot of those, face a lot of back challenging challenges and trying to get the basics for those programs such as books, you know, just basic material to educate themselves. What the department has really been good at is just reducing a program to being just a group of people talking about culture rather than experiencing culture, which creates this, you know, the stifling ability when it comes to rehabilitation.
This is why I think it's so important that when you talk to a lot of the incarcerated movie people who are there right now having this experience, who may not can not it as clear sometimes, but you can hear the hurt and pain that they're experiencing because there's an understanding that at least someone is supposed to be playing fair. Right?5673 And when they don't see that fairness, what do what do we say as a society? How do we expect them to come to society and then say every rule and every law should be applied fairly when they're being taught a counterproductive message? SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you very much.
SPEAKER24 - Thank you.
SPEAKER2 - Thank you, Mac. Any
SPEAKER1 - questions Thank you.
SPEAKER19 - Thank you very much.
SPEAKER11 - I thank you.
SPEAKER24 - Thank you.
GREG CHIECKO - OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION - HB 3896 - My name is Greg Chiecko. I'm the president of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association and, also a former member of the Massachusetts or Commonwealth State, advisory board on ride safety. Here in opposition today, to H 3896, is a very interesting Bill about restraints on portable-only amusement devices. It's a very thing, Bill because it's very, very broad but specific at the same time. It says that all amusement devices in the state must have a restraint that has to include a seat belt. Now I think the intention of this Bill is probably well intended. However, amusement devices in the Commonwealth, already have outstanding laws. We have outstanding regulators, we have outstanding operators in the state, and mandating a seat belt on certain rides would actually be harmful in some cases.
rides already have multiple restraints and redundancy systems and are just not designed to accommodate a seat belt. So while the attention is very good, passing a Bill in this format would leave far too much on the regulation side to interpret what that particular belt means. I'll give you an example. Mandating a seat belt.5792 Well, does that mean it has to be a visual inspection? Or does every ride in the Commonwealth have to be so that the ride can't even operate unless each seat belt is engaged? Obviously, that would be a very costly adventure, and really wouldn't advance public safety that much.
This Bill was introduced in the last session, which included fixed parks and5811 portable amusements. I really don't understand why they've taken the, fixed parks out of the situation. An amusement device is an amusement device. If it's deemed necessary to have a restraint on it, why would we not have it in our fixed parks only in our portables? That's really the basis5828 of what I have to say. We, as an industry, would be more than happy, to work with the public safety committee or5834 the Department of Public Safety for a ride regulation to develop something if there's a need. But at this point, I don't believe that this is a good solution to an unknown problem. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you very much, sir. Jay Gonzales? Great.
GONZALEZ - Thank you for your, expertise. Again, looking at it from a different perspective when you highlighted, why, you know, one area or5860 not the amusement, etcetera, or portable, I think, which you mentioned. But, again, I think we5866 need more conversation about this.
CHIECKO - Sure. Thank you. Will Provide some written testimony and
GONZALEZ - Yes. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Feel free to contact. Yeah. Thank you. Any questions or comments from members of the committee? Seeing none, sir. Thank you very much. Online, we have, mister Ed Hodge Hodgkin? I'm pronouncing Yes.
SPEAKER25 - Ed Hodgkin. Thank you.
SPEAKER1 - Thank you, sir.5885 Please, the floor is yours.
ED HODGDON - NEAAPA - Thank you. Yes. My name is Ed Hodgdon. I am the secretary of NEAAPA at the Northeast Entertainment Association, and we represent, amusement park, and attraction operators throughout the Northeast. Just to echo, some of Mr. Chiecko's comments, yes. This state does have a very robust regulatory, system that relies on and looks at, the safety standards developed and issued by ASTM International. Using those, regulations would then open the state up to superseding what it already has on the books with that and would put it out of step with, many, if not all other states in the country as well as many of the countries around the world. I think that this just needs a little bit more, conversation with both the committee, with the amusement advisory committee, and the Department of Public Safety about what this, would look like as it, you know, just seems to be a solution in search of a problem. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - Thank you very much, sir. Questions or comments from members of the committee? Seeing none, mister Hodgkin. Thank you very much. - Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - you. Thank you. Are there any Further witnesses, either online or in person, who would like to come forward and testify on any particular bill?
Seeing none and hearing none, do I have a motion to adjourn?
SPEAKER15 - Motion to adjourn.
SPEAKER1 - Do we have a second?
SPEAKER11 - I second.
SPEAKER2 - All in
SPEAKER1 - favor, say aye. Opposed no. The session is adjourned. Thank you very much.
© InstaTrac 2025