2025-02-06 00:00:00 - Formal House Session 13
2025-02-06 00:00:00 - Formal House Session 13
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER1 - The hour to wish the house adjourn. Having arrived, the house will be in order. Members and guests are asked to remain standing and join with me in the pledge of allegiance.
SPEAKER2 - To the flag of The
SPEAKER3 - United States Of America and to the Republic for which it
SPEAKER2 - stands, 1 nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
SPEAKER1 - Report of committee.
SPEAKER3 - The committee on ways and means to whom was referred a message from her excellency, the governor, submitting requests for making appropriations for the fiscal year 20 25 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. See house number 51. Reports in part recommending the accompanying bill. An act making appropriations for the fiscal year 20 25 to provide for cert supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. House number 57.
Report ought to pass. Total appropriation, 425,000,000. Representatives Smoller of Warren, Berthoudin of Spencer, Sullivan O'Mader of Abington, Vaughn of Wrentham, and Zaros of Barnstable, descent.
SPEAKER1 - Mister Donato of Medford with suspension of the rules. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. Rules are suspended. Second reading of the bill.
SPEAKER3 - An act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. House number 57.
SPEAKER1 - Question comes in order in the bill to a third read in. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the bill is ordered to a third read in.
REP GARBALLEY - The chair will announce that the special committee of the house appointed at the sit-in on 01/06/2025, relative to the qualification of Representative-elect Carol a Doherty, member elect from the Third Bristol District, had completed its assignment, and that representative Doherty had, on Wednesday, 02/05/2025, taken and subscribed the necessary oath of office and was now duly qualified as a member of the House of Representatives. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mister Wong of Saugus moves at the house, stands in recess to the hour of 1PM. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the house stands in recess to the hour of 1PM.
Democratic members will be aware that there will be a member's caucus at 12PM noon in a 1.
House will be in order. Mister Jones of North Reading doubts the presence of a quorum. The chair can ascertain a quorum is not present.
A quorum roll call be ordered for it with. Court officers summons the members and let them know that a quorum roll call is in progress.
SPEAKER3 - Voting stations of representative Blay of Deerfield, Keefe of Worcester, LaNacha of Kingston, Haggerty of Woben, and Lawn of Watertown are locked.
SPEAKER4 - Mister Jones of North Reading asked unanimous consent to withdraw its request for a court roll call. Does the chair hear objection? The chair hears none.
House will come to order. Members will take their seats. Please clear the aisles. Court officers. Court
SPEAKER2 - officers will
SPEAKER5 - clear the aisles. Good luck.
SPEAKER4 - The chair has been informed that House 57 has been released by the committee on bills in the third reading.
Mister Michael Woods of Boston moves suspension of the rules. Third reading of the bill.
SPEAKER3 - An act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. House number 57.
SPEAKER4 - Question comes on passing the bill to be engrossed. The chair recognizes mister Michael Wits of Boston.
REP MICHLEWITZ - HB 57 - Thank you, Madam Speaker. And through you to the members, I rise in support of House Bill 57, an act making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year of 2025. Since the fall of 22, 02/2022, the Commonwealth has attempted to mitigate the unprecedented strain the972 emergency shelter system has faced due to974 the increase in legal asylum-seeking migrants. We have done so with compassion and care while watching our federal partners do the opposite, pointing fingers and using this issue as a political football. The current right-to-shelter law has shown some benefits for the Commonwealth. We have watched our population increase for the first time this decade, and we have watched a number of industries alleviate their post-COVID workforce shortages, particularly in the healthcare sector. But with these positive impacts have also come some serious challenges, ones that have touched upon nearly everyone's district. Because of the advocacy of the members in this chamber, it has been this house who has attempted to take initiative on com on combating these issues.
Whether it was originally ensuring that overflow shelters were put in place or originally proposing to limit the length of stay for families in the system. And every time we have done so, we have warned that the system is in danger of collapsing under its own weight due to that federal inaction and complacency on the immigration issue. Now with the chaos that continues to surround Washington and with the Commonwealth's fiscal constraints growing, we are quickly approaching the breaking point. There has been mismanagement, fiscal financial challenges, and dire public safety concerns. Last month, acting upon questions that many members of the house have asked, my office sent the administration a number of detailed questions regarding the emergency shelter system. The administration was able to provide clarity on some issues, and we will continue to work with them to get further answers to all your questions. But in the meantime, with concerns continuing to mount and the funding for this program running out, we must act. Contained in this bill are a number of reforms, many of which Her Excellency the Governor has asked for herself.
Some of you will think these reforms go too far. Others will say we do not go far enough. And that is fair because this is not a particularly easy issue. However, as someone who has been looking at this program for years now, I can say we must make these changes. Otherwise, the very existence of the Commonwealth's cherished right to shelter legacy will be put in serious jeopardy. This bill proposes spending 425,000,000 on the shelter program to fund it for the remainder of the fiscal year. Accompanying the funding contained in this bill is at the governor's request a verification process for those coming into the system. Families entering the program must verify eligibility before enrolling in the EA system to confirm qualifications, which will prioritize the safety and security of the shelters. The right to shelter law has been in existence since 1983, and we wanna be able to preserve the benefits and integrity of the program while being fiscally responsible. To be able to effectively do this, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable1149 Communities needs to be able to verify1151 residency immediately at intake for each applicant, rather than waiting 30 days after benefits have started.
Benefits will be provided only to families who are of any of the following, residents of Massachusetts and are United States citizens, persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or otherwise permanently right residing under the color of law in The United States. The bill authorizes HLC to allow an exemption in cases where a child in the family is a citizen of The United States, a person lawfully admitted, or a person permanently residing under the color of law. In order to ensure families have a place to go while they are in the verification process, the temporary respite sites, what were once known as overflow shelters, will now be open to all families for 30 days while they are attempting to get approval into the system or if they decide to make other plans. HLC may offer a case-specific waiver for acute circumstances, which would extend to qualified veterans or someone experiencing imminent threat of domestic violence. Once families are in the shelter system, the bill would also reduce the maximum length of stay in the EA shelter from nine months to six consecutive months.
The ability for HLC to provide hardship waivers after six months would also be maintained. On safety concerns, the bill will permanently require each individual applicant or beneficiary of the of the emergency housing program assistance program to disclose all prior criminal convictions in Massachusetts in any other jurisdiction, while exempting from disclosure prior convictions that have been sealed or expunged. It also requires CORI checks for each individual adult applicant or beneficiary prior to placement in the program. The bill maintain mandates, excuse me, HLC to permanently require each adult applicant or beneficiary that joins the family to provide notice, allowing HLC the ability to verify the individual's eligibility for the program. If there is a failure to report the necessary information for complete verification, the applicant or beneficiary will no longer be eligible for benefits, and existing benefits will be terminated. In order to make this program more manageable, we are proposing a temporary cap of the total capacity in the system to 4,000 families by the end of the calendar year 2025.
As of1295 the end of this January, there were approximately 6,100 families in the system, down from a high of 7,700 families towards the end of last year. In conclusion, through careful consideration, I feel this is the most viable path moving forward. The program ballooned beyond anyone's imagination and the influx has overwhelmed our capacities. With no relief from Washington in sight and with every federal assistance dollar now in question, we are left with no choice but to put temporary restraints on the emergency shelter assistance program. Otherwise, we will be forced to consider the unthinkable, potentially ending the right to shelter completely. By making these temporary adjustments, we ensure the sustainability of the right-to-shelter law for years to come. We do not make this proposal lightly, but as one we feel is very necessary to uphold the fiscal health of the Commonwealth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And when this matter is taken, I ask for a call of the ayes and nays. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Mister Mikowitz of Boston asked when a vote be taken be taken by a call of the yays and nays. Those joining him will rise. Division 1. 20 5 sufficient number haven't risen. When a vote be taken Be taken by a call of the ayes and nays. House will be in a brief recess.
SPEAKER7 - House to come to water.
REP MARIANO - The chair would like to take this moment to introduce a very special guest to the left of the rostrum a guest of Mr. Moran of Lawrence. He would like to introduce the former mayor and that we screwed this up. You are not the former mayor of Lawrence. This is what happens when you don't rehearse for a year. We'd like to introduce the former mayor and the city councilor of Lawrence, Mr. Kendris Vasquez, and his family. Mister Vasquez and his son, EMEA, spend their time raising awareness of TSWS, or tropical steroid withdrawal syndrome, a severe skin condition that results from exposure to topical steroids. Despite living with the syndrome himself, the 6-year-old Amir is an outspoken advocate beyond his years. Due to the hard work of the Vasquez family from this day forward, February 3 is now recognized as TSWS Awareness Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Congratulations, Eimer, for your success. Now get to City Hall and take out papers against Moran. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Joe will be in a brief recess.
SPEAKER4 - House will be in order.
Representative Vaughn offers amendment in the hands of the clerk. Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 1. Mister Vaughn of Rentham moves to amend the bill by adding the following 3 sections. Section 1, there shall be established a working group to decide how to utilize the base state shelter following its use as a shelter. Section 2, the working group shall consist of a representative who represents a town that hosts a temporary respite center, appointed by the minority leader, a senator who represents that town that hosts a temporary respite center, appointed by the senate president, a town administrator, or a
SPEAKER4 - manager objection, court refrain from reading rest of the amendment.
Question comes on adopting the amendment. All those in favor, say aye. Opposed, nay. The nays have it.1654 The amendment is not adopted.
House will be1660 in a brief recess.
House will be in order.
If there be no objection, mister Jones1686 of North Reading requests that amendment1688 number 6 be taken out of order. Does the chair hear objection? The chair hears none.
Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 6. Mister Jones of North Redding and other members of the house moved to amend the bill by striking out section 3 and inserting in place thereof the following. Section 3, Section 30 of chapter 23 b of the general laws as appearing in the 02/2022 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph c the following paragraph. Paragraph
SPEAKER4 - c and
SPEAKER3 - a half. Section 1. The executive office shall require each individual adult applicant or beneficiary to disclose If
SPEAKER4 - there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the reading of the amendment. The chair recognizes mister Jones of North Reading.
REP JONES JR. - Thank you, Madam Speaker. Through the members, I would ask that when a vote is taken of this matter, it'd be taken by a call of the yays and nays. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Mister Jones of North Reading, request that when a vote be taken, it'd be taken by a call of the yays and nays. Those joining him will rise. Division 1. 0. 0. Division 2. 21. 21. Submission number. Haven't risen will be taken. Taken by a call of the ayes and nays. Mister Jones of North Reading.
JONES JR - AMENDMENT 6 - Thank you, Madam Speaker, and to the members. And I appreciate, the remarks of the chair of Ways and Means, relatives to some of the things that they've included, in this version of emergency assistance funding. And I would agree with him. I know there's a there's a discussion between his caucus this morning. You know, does this go too far? Does it not go far enough? And been a debate we've been going, obviously, from the side of the1794 aisle that thinks we need to go a little further, and that we're starting today where we probably should have started a couple years ago. And this amendment focuses on one area, which is the issue of background checks. It's gotten a lot of attention lately because, in early January, the governor came out and was forced to admit something that she had let us all to believe was happening. Something that she directed to happen, which is background checks, at least at the most basic level, were happening routinely. And it turns out, she was mistaken. They weren't happening.
And I appreciate that the chair has now added some language in here, essentially, in one instance, allowing for self attestation whether you have any kind of a criminal background, criminal convictions, and then a basic level sort of quarry check, the kind, you know, you might get if you're a mom and dad going on a field trip or coaching your son or daughter's team. We think that that needs to go further. Because oftentimes, you may be someone who's been found guilty of crimes beyond the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, either in the country, or internationally. You've seen some of the cases where some people have been apprehended that have Interpol read notices. Something I don't think you achieve easily, and something that I think if we can determine upfront would be helpful. And I'm sorry, I don't think a lot relying on self-attestation, even for I understand many well-intended people, we're also dealing with some people that have ill intention. I don't feel comfortable relying on that, nor the simple basic core check-in Massachusetts. So while I appreciate that the chair Ways and Means has included some items in this, I think we need to go a little further. That's what this amendment seeks to do by expanding the kind of background check that we would do. Thank you, Madam Speaker. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Chair recognizes mister Day of Stonem.
REP DAY- AMENDMENT 6 - Thank you, Madam Speaker. And through you to the members, madam speaker, I rise in opposition to this, amendment. As we all know, the emergency shelter system is set up for families with young children and pregnant women who, perhaps not surprisingly, face immediate and emergency shelter needs. Under this amendment I pardon me. Under our bill as proposed, we now move to require rudimentary criminal background checks on applicants given the abuses perpetrated by individuals recently who frankly should not have been in those shelters to begin with. So we're moving to ensure the safety of our shelter residents through the underlying bill today. This amendment, reportedly to further ensure the safety of these1965 residents, wants to know now about1967 the educational history of a pregnant woman trying to get into1971 a shelter before admitting them into emergency shelter.
Now we wanna find out the creditworthiness of a young family applying for emergency shelter. That's gonna make the shelters and the residents safer. Finding out what Coles thinks about the ability to get a credit card. I can probably alleviate some of the uncertainty the support of this amendment may have. Since we've got a young family applying for emergency shelter and assistance, I can provide you with some assurances that that party is probably not what you'd call credit-worthy. That's why they're seeking emergency shelter. I'd say, let's call this for what it is. We're going beyond background checks here, and it's an attempt to background and backdoor strangle our emergency shelter law altogether, attempt to kill it from within, a way to put up hurdles that have nothing to do with helping out a pregnant woman or a young family facing the most significant challenges they are gonna face in their life to kill the EA program. I urge you to vote against this amendment. Thank you. Madam Speaker. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Chair recognizes mister Frost of Auburn.
REP FROST - AMENDMENT 6 - Thank you, Madam Speaker, and through you to the members. Look. This amendment, all it's intending to do is say, look. We're gonna have a background check that goes beyond just the state of Massachusetts. If we're going to have a program, okay, that's taking in thousands and thousands and thousands of folks from outside the state of Massachusetts, a simple CORI check isn't gonna be enough. We need a more universal background check to see what these individuals and their families that are coming with them, if they have any violent history or what have you, in another state or from another country. It makes perfect sense for us to have this kind of check because we've all read the headlines, we know what's happening, we need to do better. Thank you, Madam SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Speaker.
SPEAKER4 - Rolling Stone of Boston.
REP LIVINGSTONE - AMENDMENT 6 - To deal with the situation that we've all heard of. And I appreciate the gentleman from the North End remarks, the gentleman from Stoner's remarks, to that effect. I think the the check that we're requiring the administration to do is a standard check that we use across our government system in our courts, for various programs, and I think it's the appropriate check. I think the the amendment, from the gentleman from the, from Redding is, goes too far as was pointed out, requiring much more information regarding creditworthiness and others that are not gonna be helpful on whether or not somebody should enter a shelter. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Court offices will alert the members that roll call is in progress. The roll call machine is open and will be open for 3 minutes.
SPEAKER3 - This is roll call number 1. Roll call number 1.
SPEAKER4 - Under rule 49, court officer will vote for representative Robertson of Wilmington.
Have all members voted who wish to do so?
REP HOGAN - Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. 26 in the affirmative. 125 in the negative. The amendment is not adopted. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
House will be in brief recess.
House will be in order.
Mister Jones, are you not writing office and men in the hands of the clerk?
The chair is an error.
Clark will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 8. Mister Jones of North Redding and other members of the house moved to amend the bill in section 2 a in line 30 by striking out the figures 425,000,000 and inserting in place thereof the figures 200,000,000.
SPEAKER4 - The chair recognizes mister Meridian of Grafton.
REP MURADIAN JR. - AMENDMENT 8 - Thank you, Madam Speaker, and through you to the members. I am grateful to see some of the Republican-led reforms being championed by the governor and included in this bill. For a year plus, we in the minority party have been speaking about the unsustainable nature of the shelter system and how it needs meaningful change. Amendment 8 would continue this meaningful change, moving the allocation of funding from 425,000,000 to 200,000,000. It has been widely reported, including by the Center for Immigration Studies, that Massachusetts is anticipating spending over $1,800,000,000 on the shelter system in the next two years. These numbers come at a time when I know that my local school districts, and I would say all of our local school districts, are in desperate need of additional funds. Education, public safety, infrastructure, these are few of the needs that run the risk of being funded non adequately if we continue spending the shelter system as we have.
However, adjusting the number to 200,000,000 for the shelter program would provide a much sounder approach. Please allow me for a minute to outline the reasons as I believe we can all agree that they're quite practical. The auditor herself has mentioned of an audit of the executive office of housing and livable communities that is examining among other topics, issues pertaining to the Commonwealth's emergency shelter system. The federal government has taken drastic steps to reform the migrant situation. It would stand to reason that any movement to reduce the number of individuals entering our country and our Commonwealth would reduce the financial burden and need. And lastly, in the past, this very body has passed 112 budgets to maintain core services while we await agreements pending budgetary legislation.
This amendment will serve as just that, basically a 112 budget of sorts to continue providing the core services, at the same time giving an opportunity for the reforms contained in this bill and hopefully future reforms to be implemented. Depending on it, the federal actions, and our willingness to take a practical wait-and-see approach, these are but some of the reasons as to why the numbers should be more manageable. We all know that our legislative session's going to ramp up, and we will be in this very chamber on several occasions. If we must take up another vote to provide additional dollars to the shelter system when it inevitably runs out again, then so be it. But we have that luxury of being able to see how meaningful reform does play out, and we owe it to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth to do so. I urge you to support amendment 8 and ask that when a vote is taken, it's taken by the ayes and nays. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Mister Marini moves, I wanna vote be taken, be taken by a call of the yeas and nays. Those in support will rise division 1, 0, division 2. What do I want to sufficient number having risen when a vote be taken will be taken by a call of the yeas and nays.
The chair recognizes mister Michael Woods of Boston.
MICHLEWITZ - AMENDMENT 8 - Thank you, Madam Speaker, and through to the members. I rise in opposition of this amendment, and I thank the gentleman from Grafton for his remarks. I'm under no illusion that if we do take up this amendment that, him and his, friends, in the second division will be voting for this final bill at the end of the day no matter what the number cost, dollar amount is. And so I do wanna point that out. But I do thank him for the for the, for the for the discussion because it was something that we certainly considered in relation to how to move forward with this discussion. And, you know, I will point out I will use the opposite argument that the reforms that we are implementing here today are major. They are gonna take some time to implement. They are gonna take some time to really see, itself through. We have to give the administration some time. And what this bill does from a financial standpoint and lets us get through the remainder of the fiscal year, in this conversation. We are going to be back here, in April, during our annual FY 26 budget discussion, having this same kind of conversation about what to do going forward. And we will, at that point in time, have an opportunity to see if the reforms are making a difference and if we do have to make changes potentially. I look forward to keeping those conversations with all of you, and I ask that today we reject this amendment. Thank you, Madam Speaker. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Roll call having been ordered.
SPEAKER4 - Roll call having been ordered. Court offices will sum the members and indicate a roll call is in progress. Roll call machine is now open. It'll be open for 3 minutes.
SPEAKER3 - For the members, this is roll call number 2. Roll call number 2.
SPEAKER4 - Miss Tyler Boston has unanimous consent
to vote for roll call number 1. Does the chair hear objection? The chair hears none.
SPEAKER3 - Representative Tyler of Boston, roll call number 1 votes no.3207
SPEAKER4 - Have all members voted who wish to do so?
HOGAN - Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display display the tally. 26 to 124. In this matter, 26 in the affirmative, 126 in the negative. The amendment is not adopted. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mister Zaros Abbasinoff's amendment in the hands of the clerk.
Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Mister Zarzaur of Barnstable moves to amend the bill by adding the following section. Section 30 of chapter 23 b of the general laws as amended by section 1 20 of chapter 7 of the acts of 02/2023 is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence. Notwithstanding any general
SPEAKER4 - discussion Objection in corporate dispense reading the amendment.
Question comes on adoption of the amendment. All those in favor, say aye. Opposed, nay. The nays have it. The amendment is not adopted.
Mister Frost of Auburn offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk. Look, I'll read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Mister Frost of Auburn and other members of the house move to amend the bill in section 6 by inserting after the word commonwealth in line 1 0 6 the following, who have established Massachusetts residents in the room.
SPEAKER4 - Objection. Clerk will dispense with the reading of the amendment.
The chairman recognizes mister Frost of Auburn.
FROST - Thank you, Madam Speaker, and through you to the members of the house. Once again, I'm here to talk about an issue that we discussed, debated at length in the previous session. But with a lot of new members now joining us who are not here for that debate, I think it's important that we have it yet again as we're back yet again looking for more money for this program. Now it doesn't take an individual to have their bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, like myself, to see that the program isn't working. And we've been saying this for a number of years now, that there's been problems, that we need to address it, that we need to do more to limit folks who are coming from out of state, competing with folks in state for these necessary emergency services. So what this amendment does is it asks ask or request that we put in a one-year residency requirement for anyone applying for our emergency shelter services.
This will send a very clear message at the border or anywhere else to any nonprofit organizations that Massachusetts doesn't have the not only not doesn't have the capacity, but our laws do not allow individuals, unless they've been here for a year or more, to gain these benefits. Because these nonprofit organizations are encouraging or sending families here because of our right-to-shelter law. Now we're not looking to get rid of it because we know that that right to shelter law, which has been in place since the eighties and has always been intended, and I think even the governor has even mentioned this, has has was intended for our own residents here in Massachusetts to receive these emergency services if they find themselves homeless. One of the things we're dealing with today and have been dealt with, say, for the last year and a half or so.
And some of the tweaks the governor has made, within the administration through executive order in dealing with some of these issues are just not enough. We're just kinda nibbling, nibbling, nibbling. And until we put in the statute what qualifies and what doesn't qualify, who's eligible, who's not eligible, this will continue on and on and on. And we leave it up to the whims of a certain administration, whether that's the corner office here in Massachusetts or whether it's the White House in Washington DC. We can't go by the whims of whatever administration is in charge or whatever party is in charge in Washington on what's gonna happen and not's gonna happen. We have to take action on our own because it's our money that we're spending. And we may not have going forward. We're using a lot of one-time resources as it is just to get by on this. So it needs to stop, and we need to be stronger and put more into statute on what qualifies and what does not qualify.
Because it's not fair to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth, and it's not fair to the residents of Massachusetts who desperately need these services and are competing on waiting lists for them. It's wrong. We need to put a stop to it and we can by adopting this amendment, by putting a residency requirement. Now I understand we will hear that this is maybe this might be, could be unconstitutional. Well, as I've3743 said before here, the governor has done quite a few things on trying to put a cap on the shelter to a bunch of other things that were challenged in court, and the court upheld them. So lest the court's gonna come here and help find ways to fund it and leak it, you know, hey, anybody from anywhere outside of Massachusetts, anywhere in the country, anywhere across the world can come here and get these benefits from day one, unless they're gonna find a way to pay for it, then let's send it to the court if that's what it takes. But we gotta get serious, and this is a way of doing that. So, Madam Speaker, I ask when a vote be taken, it be taken by a call of the ayes and nays. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER4 - Mister Frostebaugh, I'd ask when a vote be taken it'd be taken by a call of the ayes and nays. Those joining him will rise division 1. Division 2. 20 1. 20 1 sufficient number having risen. It will be taken taken by a call of the ayes and nays. The chair recognizes miss Paish of Wellesley.
REP PEISCH - Thank you, Madam Speaker, and through you to the members. I rise in opposition to the amendment, and I would like to remind those of you who have been here, who are not, for whom this is not your first session, that we've been down this road before, not once but twice. And while I appreciate the gentleman from Auburn's comments, regarding, the, ability of some changes, to this program to, survive, legal challenges, this is different. This is something that would be, connected to, alienage and that for which we have precedent at both our own SJC and the, United States Supreme Court. So I think that this is actually a very, raises a very serious question of constitutionality. And, I also, remind the members that, that will take a significant period of time, to work its way through the courts. And this is a, we are taking up3871 here a supplemental budget, that3873 applies only to the remainder of, this fiscal year.3877 So the likelihood that we would have any resolution in that short period of time, I think, is, quite small.
I would would also remind the members that we are talking about, families with children. And at this time of the year, to be placed further restrictions, on this program, I think is something that most of us would find to be, not desirable. Looking outside the window today, we have, snow on the ground and, we do not wanna be in the position of saying no to families, with young children who would otherwise be qualified. I do note that in this bill, we are, placing more, significant, verification, requirements with respect to residency. We do require that you be a Massachusetts resident. We just don't have this duration requirement that the gentleman referred to. And, with the new program, the new requirement that verification will be required prior to placement, I think that really addresses concerns that many have had, about, who this, program is actually serving. So I ask for these reasons, I ask that you reject the amendment. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Roll call having been ordered, court officers will alert the members that a roll call is in progress. The roll call machine is open and will stay open for 3 minutes.
SPEAKER5 - Have all members voted wish to do so? Have all members voted?
HOGAN - Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. 26 members have a voting in the affirmative, 124 in the negative. The amendment is not adopted. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Also being in brief recess.
House of being on. Mister McGonagall of Everett asked your name for consent to be recorded on the last roll call. Chair objection. Chair is none.
SPEAKER3 - Mister McGonagall of Everett votes no on roll call number 5.
SPEAKER5 - House of your daughter, there being no objection. Mister Frost of Auburn offers an amendment number 18 in the hands of the clerk. Clerk, could we read the amendment?
SPEAKER3 - Mister Frost of Auburn moves to amend the bill in section 6 by inserting after the word commonwealth in line 1 0 6 the following, whose cause of homelessness resulted within the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts and further amends the bill in section 6 by inserting after the word show in line 1 25 the following, that their cause of homelessness resulted within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and.
SPEAKER5 - Chair recognizes mister Frost Abobin.
FROST - AMENDMENT 18 - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And through you to the members of the house, I rise in support of amendment 18, which seeks to put in an eligibility requirement for the emergency shelter program provided that the cause or the need for the emergency shelter was a result of something that happened within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I believe that this is also a way that we can make sure that we're helping and benefiting the initial intent of the program to benefit those who are Massachusetts residents. And again, putting priority, if you will, over those who may have come here because of result of homelessness or some other problem that resulted somewhere else. Again, we cannot afford, we know that, we see that, afford to house or provide emergency shelter for everyone who comes here from outside of Massachusetts. We just can't do it. So I think this really gets to the crux of it, where we just say, hey look, you can be eligible for these programs, but the result of why you need them had to be the cause, had to be something that happened within4662 Massachusetts itself.
I also have amendment 20, which I'll just gonna briefly mention that's similar to this, does4672 the same criteria, but does so for programs that go to folks that are looking for more long-term housing, more stable housing. Because now what we do have, and being on that commission, how the commission on the emergency shelters, one of the things that was brought up was the money that we're now spending on moving folks outside of the hotels and putting them into other subsidized, state-subsidized programs for more permanent housing. Subsidized housing. Now, I mean most people, even after they get jobs, cannot afford market-rate housing in Massachusetts. So now they're competing with again, the very residents of Massachusetts who are looking to get into those programs, may have been looking to get into these programs for a long period of time, and are now competing with folks who originally came out from outside of Massachusetts, the new arrivals if you will. So, I think this criteria should also be included in Amendment 20 when that comes up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I hope when a vote is taken, it'll be taken by a call of the ayes and nays. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Mister Frost asked, when the matter is taken, it'll be taken by a call of the ayes and nays. Those joining with them will rise first division. 0. 0. Second division? 20. 20. Sufficient number have in the resume, and the matter say it can be taken by Carlo, the ayes and nays. Chair recognizes mister Lewis of Framingham.
REP LEWIS - AMENDMENT 18 - Mr. Speaker, through you to the members, I rise in opposition to amendment 18.4785 The underlying bill before us is a reasonable yet direct response to changing realities on the ground in all of our communities and across our commonwealth. The underlying bill maintains who we are as a commonwealth, operating from a place of compassion without being ignorant to the challenges before us today. The underlying bill makes permanent changes to keep4808 families and communities safe through4810 requiring CORI checks and disclosures of criminal records. But the underlying bill also allows us to stay nimble. The amendment before us would put greater restrictions on allowing us to make the important decisions that need to be made over the next several months. We're beginning to take up the budget. These conversations about how we fund emergency shelters and the restrictions that are in place or may need to be in place are going to continue. The previous speaker talked about his concerns that, these bills before us are only nibbling away at the edges of the underlying issue.
But our great colleague, the gentle lady from Wellesley, reminded us that we're not talking about issues, we're talking about families. We're talking about families with children. And what we need today is to not have conversations about what it means to treat them as issues that we may or may not be nibbling away at the edges of, but instead, how we can maintain who we are as a commonwealth, and how we can make sure that we are nimble as we face the realities before us. I urge you to reject this amendment so that we can continue having those conversations. So we can accept the temporary changes before us today. So we can be nimble as we wait and see what happens in DC and how it affects families in all of our districts. I ask you to reject this amendment so we can be nimble as we continue to discuss eligibility, which we are doing here today, and funding, which we will continue doing with our budget coming up in just a couple months. The underlying bill, again, makes permanent changes that most of us, many of us have been seeking.
And it makes temporary changes that many have been proposing. It maintains who we are as a Commonwealth. It allows compassion to be integral to who we are and how we operate in our communities. And it respects not only who we've been as a Commonwealth for the last several decades with a right to shelter law on the books, but who we have been as a compassionate Commonwealth for centuries. The amendment before us today prevents us from being nimble. And it does so by asking families, families who are struggling, families with kids, to somehow prove where and how the situation of their misfortune occurred. The amendment does not spell out how one can prove the financial realities of wow where and how a misfortune has occurred in one's life, and instead leaves it pretty vague about who can and cannot access these emergency shelters that are have been integral to who we are as a commonwealth for decades, if not centuries. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no on this amendment. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Roll call have been ordered. The roll call machine is now open. Court officers know the notify the members of roll call roll call is in progress.
SPEAKER3 - For the member's information, this is roll call number 4. Roll call number 4.
SPEAKER5 - Have all members voted wish to do so? Have all members voted?
REP DONATO - Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. 25 members voting in the affirmative of 127 in the negative. The amendment is not adopted. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
If there be no objection, mister Frost of Auburn offers an amendment in the hands of the clerk, amendment number 20. The clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Mister Frost of Auburn moves amendment number 20, mister Frost of Auburn moves to amend the bill in section 6 by inserting after paragraph 5 the following. Require that for any state funded housing program that provides long term permanent and stable housing within the Commonwealth, the executive office prioritizes benefits to applicants who have established legal residency in Massachusetts and whose initial cause of homelessness and the application for such benefit occurred while residing legally in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SPEAKER5 - Question is on the amendment. All those in favor, say aye. All those opposed, nay. The nays have it. The amendment is not adopted. House of being a brief recess.
House of5329 being order. If there be no objection, mister Soder offers an amendment number 4. Call to read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 4. Mister Soder of Bellingham moves to amend the bill by adding the following 3 sections. Chapter 2 76 of the general laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 20 r the following section. Section 205351 s, any employee of the commonwealth5353 considered a court officer pursuant to section 69 a, 70 a, 71 a of chapter 2 21.
SPEAKER5 - If there be no if there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the reading of the paper. The chair has none. Chair recognizes miss Paisha Wellesley.
She she Michael's on.
Chair recognizes miss Price and Wellesley.
SPEAKER15 - Point of order?
SPEAKER5 - What is the chair's what is the point of order?
PEISCH - The amendment is beyond the scope of the subject matter of the bill. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - The chair will rule on this.
DONATO - The chair will rule in favor of the general lady from Wellesley that the matter is beyond5404 the scope. The amendment will be laid aside. Chair recognizes mister Jones if not ready. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
You doubt5414 the ruling of the chair. Mister we have a go second. Okay.
Question before the members is shall the ruling of the chair stand? Those voting in favor will say aye. Those voting opposed say nay. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, nay. Nay. The ayes have it. The ruling Excuse
me. Mister Jones doubts the ruling of the chair's vote.
You you wanna
SPEAKER2 - So if you would be louder?
SPEAKER5 - Mister Jones asked for a roll call. First division a roll call being opened, The roll call machine is now open.
K. Members in favor of a roll call will stand. First division. 0. 0. Second division. 21. Sufficient number have been risen. Roll call being ordered. Roll call machine is now open. It will stay open for 3 minutes. Court office and members indicated roll call is in progress.
SPEAKER3 - For the members, this is roll call number 5. Roll call number 5.
SPEAKER5 - Some of these members are getting confused.
As we know, have all members voted wish to do so? Have all members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. A 27 in the affirmative, 24 in the negative, the ruling of the chair stands.
How's it being a brief
Mister Cruz,5871 the Salem, I ask your name's consent to be5873 recorded on the last roll call. Chair5875 objection, chair is none.
SPEAKER3 - On roll call number 5, representative Cruz votes yes.
SPEAKER5 - House of being order. Mister Jones of North Reading moves suspension of the rules to take up under an amendment number 7. Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 7. Mister Jones of North Reading and other members of the house moved to amend the bill by adding the following section. Chapter 2 76 of the general laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 20 r the following section. Section 20 s, any employee of the commonwealth or public instrument or political subdivision thereof who holds police powers or the powers of a sheriff or deputy sheriff, including but not limited to municipal police officers, court officers, and state troopers, and who has lawful custody of a person may upon receipt of a written request.
SPEAKER5 - Objection, the clerk will dispense with the reading paper. What purpose does the, general lady rise?
SPEAKER15 - Point of order, mister speaker.
SPEAKER5 - General, do you state her point of order?
SPEAKER13 - The amendment is beyond the scope of the subject matter of the bill.
SPEAKER5 - House of being brief, please.
DONATO - As we noted, the chair the amendment would impose requirements by law enforcement and judicial officers beyond what is contained in the original bill, clearly expanding the provisions of this bill. Therefore, the chair will rule that the amendment is beyond the scope of the original bill and will be laid aside accordingly. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
House will be in order. Mister Zarosa Barnstable moves suspension of the rules to take up amendment number 10 in the hands of the clerk. Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Mister Zarosa Barnstable moves to to amend the bill by adding the following section. Chapter 1 47 of the general laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section, section 64. As used in this section, the following word shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth If
SPEAKER5 - there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with reading the paper. What purpose is the general Whaley rise?
SPEAKER15 - Point of order, mister speaker?
SPEAKER5 - General lady will state her point of order.
PEISCH - The amendment is beyond the scope of the subject matter of the bill.
DONATO - Chair will rule on the, request. Chair will rule in favor of the gentlelady from Wellesley that is beyond the scope, and the amendment will be set aside. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
House of being audited, mister Bill mister Lombardo or Bill Ricker offer. Move suspension of the rules to take up under amendment number 14. Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 14. Mister Lombardo Bill Ricca moves to amend the bill by adding the following section. Require that executive office of housing and livable communities to engage with the United States immigration and customs enforcement in regard to population6129 at safe shelters and to act in a compliance with the United States immigration and enforcement detainees.
SPEAKER5 - She recognizes mister Lombardo Hausabini.
What part is the lady of rise?
SPEAKER15 - Point of order, mister speaker.
SPEAKER5 - The general lady of state and point of order.
PEISCH - The amendment is beyond the scope of the subject matter of the bill. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Chair will respectfully ask the members to subdue their conversation. The general lady from Wellesley has asked the point of order that it's beyond the scope. The chair will rule on that.
DONATO - Chair is gonna rule that the gentlelady is correct. It is beyond the scope. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
All purpose, the gentleman rise. I'll move
SPEAKER11 - on the chair. Thank you.
SPEAKER5 - Sambaataro, the chair. All those in favor of the chair, say aye. All those opposed, nay. Nay. The ayes have it. The chair's decision will be upheld. For purpose, the gentleman rise.
Mister Lombardo answered out the rule of the chair. First division, those in for and I ask for a roll call. First division. Second division. 21. 21. Submissions number have been risen. House of being a re House of being a brief
Oh, yes. 3 minutes.
Chair recognizes mister Lombardo of Bellwaco.
REP LOMBARDO - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Wow. I've seen a lot in 14 years in this building. This is new. This is new. We're ruling out of the scope an amendment which speaks to how the shelters would operate. I don't know how any of our colleagues in this building can possibly feel that this is out of scope. I mean, great political games. I wouldn't wanna vote on this amendment if I were you either because it is a horrible vote for you. Because you would have to actually vote against the taxpayers and the residents and say, no. No. We're gonna protect criminal illegal aliens in the Commonwealth. We are gonna protect rapists, murderers. Did I hear a wow? I mean, I can I'd be happy to read from you ICE's arrests in the press releases of of these people who they're arresting. MS 13 gang members, Honduras gang members. I mean, I agree with you. Wow. Wow. That is who we're protecting in the Commonwealth. This amendment would say, if we come across dangerous criminals in our shelter system, we will collaborate with ICE to remove these monsters from the streets of the Commonwealth. That is perfectly in scope with the shelter bill that we're taking. So I agree.
Wow. What are we doing? We don't have the courage to vote? That's what this comes down to. Where is where is the courage? Where is the stance you so strongly wanna support protecting illegal immigrants who are dangerous criminals that we're not gonna we're gonna call it out of scope to avoid, to dodge the issues. We're not talking about ICE going after women and children because I'm sure that will be the next arguments. I mean, the Democratic Party of Massachusetts does not corner the market on compassion like I've heard earlier. It is not compassionate to allow residents of the Commonwealth to become rape victims, to become murder victims, become victims of assault, drug trafficking, dying of fentanyl overdoses. That is not compassion, my colleagues. Whereas compassion is doing everything we can in the commonwealth to protect our residents, to protect our6413 children. And that's what this amendment would do. It is perfectly in scope. So I would encourage you all to join me and overrule the chair, and let's vote on the amendment so that we can protect the residents of the Commonwealth against heinous monsters who are hurting our families. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Chair recognizes miss Gregoire.
REP GREGOIRE - Good. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And through you to the members, I rise in support of the ruling of the chair. And I would like to remind my colleagues that we are not having a political discussion. The clerk of the House of Representatives has made a ruling that this amendment is beyond the scope of this narrowly tailored funding bill. And I will remind my colleagues as well that there is several pieces of legislation that were filed this session that will deal with the issue which has been raised by my colleagues in the minority party and the gentleman who proceeded me at the microphone. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the rule of our clerk and the rule of this chair. Thank you, Mr Speaker. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Question now, roll call haven't been ordered. The question is sustaining the ruling of the chair. Roll call haven't been ordered. The roll call machine is now open. Court officers notify the members of a roll call in progress.
SPEAKER3 - For the members, this is roll call number 6. Roll call number 6.
SPEAKER5 - How's it made, Donna? Have all members voted or wished to do so? Have all members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. A 28 members vote in the affirmative, 24 in the negative, the ruling of the chair stands.
House of being Autumn, miss Sullivan Almeda from Abington, where we suspension the rules to take up amendment number 19. Clerk will read the amendment.6788
SPEAKER3 - Missus Sullivan6792 Almeida of Abington. Amendment number 19. Miss missus Sullivan Almeida of Abington moves to6798 amend the bill by adding the following section. Chapter 2 76 of general laws as appearing in the 02/2022 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after 6 weeks of law.
SPEAKER5 - Objection, the clerk will dispense with reading the paper. What purpose does general lady rise?
SPEAKER15 - Point of order, mister speaker?
SPEAKER2 - She had
SPEAKER5 - a lady to state her point of order.
GREGOIRE - The amendment is beyond the scope of the subject matter of the bill. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - General lady says the amendment is beyond the scope. How'd be how's6822 it been a brief reset?
DONATO - Once again, the chair will rule that it is beyond the scope and the6830 amendment will be set aside. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Must be in a brief recess.
House of being ordered, mister Marquis of Dartmouth, move suspension of the rules to take up amendment 21. Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 21. Mister Marquis of Dartmouth moves to amend the bill in section 3, line 43, by inserting after the word programs the following. Such checks shall include data provided by the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, the Massachusetts sex offender registry board, the state national fingerprints database, as well as all relevant state and national
SPEAKER5 - If there be no objection, the clerk will dispense with the reading. The paper, the chair has none. Question is on the amendment. All those in favor, say aye. All those opposed nay. The nays have it. The amendment is not adopted.
Mister Markey of Dartmouth move move suspension of the rules to take up amendment number 22. The clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 22. Mister Marquis of Dartmouth moved to amend the bill in section 4 in line 62 by inserting after the word woman the following, Failure by the executive office to provide such notice shall not be a basis for extending benefits beyond the time provided therein.
SPEAKER5 - Question is on the amendment. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed nay. The nays have it. The amendment is not adopted. House will be in a brief recess.
House will be in order. If there'd be no objection, miss Decker Cambridge asked unanimous consent to
amendment in the hands of the clerk, amendment number 27. Clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 27 is changed. Miss Decker of Cambridge moved to amend the bill in section 4 by striking out the words, at imminent risk of harm due to domestic violence in line 57 by inserting in place thereof the following words, under the age of 6 or at imminent risk of harm due to domestic violence, and further amend the bill in section 6 by inserting after the word violence in line 1 21 the following, families with children with a child under the age of 6.
SPEAKER5 - Question on the amendment chair recognizes miss Decker of Cambridge.
SPEAKER18 - You. Through to the chair, I just want to, speak on the redrafted amendment of number 27. And when a a vote is taken, I ask there to be a rec to record a call of the yays and the nays.
SPEAKER5 - Miss Decker, Cambridge, yes. When the matter is taken, be taken by a call of the yays and nays. First division 21, submission number haven't arisen. Matter will be taken by a call of the yays and nays. Chair recognizes miss Decker Cambridge.
REP DECKER - AMENDMENT 27 - Thank you. I wanna say, thank you to the gentleman from the North End and thank you to the speaker, not only for your support of this amendment, but just to give some context of what's happening in this chamber today. This is, I have to say, one of the most challenging days that I have experienced in 12 years, and I know that's true for so many of my colleagues for different reasons. We are all responding to the stress of our communities that the unprecedented number of people coming into our state who, need shelter. And to remember, these are people who've been legally entering this country, who've required shelter with their children. Massachusetts has been a beacon of hope. We've been only state in the country that has said that we will make sure that children actually are housed safely at night. With the unprecedented number of of people who've come into our state because of our values, it has also put an incredible strain on many of our communities. Many communities that were not prepared with the resources, with the with the communication, and have really struggled over the last 10 years.
I would say we stand here today because it has not been managed in a way that has allowed communities to figure out how to respond to those needs while also responding to the needs of those who have been living in their communities much longer. So this is a difficult day for all of us. And I'll just remind us that the difficult days are still ahead of us. We've got several more years, I think, for many of us of more challenging days. And today is an example of what it means for those of us who are in earnest trying to represent the needs of our communities that are at odds at times. I wanna really commend, the speaker and the gentleman from the North End for their integrity, for their compassion, and for their leadership on trying to figure out how to get to the right place. The administration didn't get us there. This is where this is supposed to come from. So we have been responding and trying not to micromanage how this actually gets implemented. But each time along the way, we've been left to do that community by community.
So today, here we are two years later saying we need to figure out a better path moving forward because there's a lot of resources that our communities need. And so this is a shift in resources, so we can continue meeting some of the basic needs that our communities are already counting on us to deliver. I wanna remind us also that the gentleman from the North End and the speaker have really maintained a strong commitment to what it means to recognize that people who need shelter, particularly those with children, have a place to stay. A year ago, it was this chamber that actually stood up. We were the only chamber that stood up and talked about the importance of figuring out how to make sure that children have a place, a safe place to sleep at night. I wanna say that I wanna thank you for what I think is it is a hard day, but it is a really thoughtful bill, and I hope people are reading it carefully, and that we have tried to weave a safety net that allows us to still move forward. This amendment today, also adds to the hardship waivers that were provided for veterans and victims of domestic violence.
We're also continuing to say that we have a responsibility and obligation to ensure that the youngest members of our society also have a place to stay. So it provides presumptive eligibility for children, and it also ensures that there's an extension if, in fact, those families with the youngest amongst us still have a shelter over their heads while they're trying to use the resources to get to get back on their feet and transition out of shelter. So I again, this is a complicated day, but this is what we're supposed to do. When we get elected, our jobs are to try to figure out how to meet the complicated challenges of our communities. And it's not easy. And today, leadership is about saying that we're going to talk to each other and we're going to find a way to move forward that allows us to speak to the needs of the things that we care most about that we7255 were elected to do. And so I am so grateful to be able to stand here and ask you to join me in support in the adoption of, the redrafted amendment of '27 and to know that7265 to the youngest members of society, we continue to actually understand how important it is that collectively we take care of you and center your needs, in these really unprecedented complicated times. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Mister, I ask when the matter is taken be taken by a call of the ayes and nays. Those joining with it will rise. First division. 21. Sufficient number haven't arisen. When the matter is taken, be taken by a call of the ayes and7289 nays. I'll be in a brief for you.
Roll call machine haven't roll call haven't been out of the roll call machine. It's now open. Remain open for 3 minutes. Court officers notify the members of a roll call.
SPEAKER3 - The members, this is roll call number 7. Roll call7321 number 7.
SPEAKER5 - Have all members voted who wish to do so? Have all members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter.
DONATO - And 25 members voting affirmative and 25 in the negative. The amendment is adopted. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mister Gonzalo Boston, suspension of the rules to take up on, amendment number 24. All those in favor, say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. Amendment number 24, the clerk will read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 24 is changed. Mister Gonzalo of Boston moves to amend the bill in section 4 by striking out the war words or at imminent risk of harm due to domestic violence inserted by further amendment number 27 and inserting in place thereof the following words, at imminent risk of harm due to domestic violence or documented as having a disability and further amend the bill in section 6 by inserting after the figure 6 inserted by further amendment number 27 the following.
SPEAKER5 - Families Would there be no objection to the clerk or the dispenser to read their paper? Chair hears none.
Chair recognizes mister Conselvo of Boston.
REP CONSALVO - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And for you to the members, and when we take up this amendment, I ask that we take up by a call of the yays and nays. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Conselvo, when the matters taken, be taken by a call of the yays and nays. Those joining with them will rise. First division.
0.
SPEAKER17 - Thanks a lot. Chair.
SPEAKER5 - 21. Sufficient number haven't risen. When the matter is taken for you to take a fight, I call the ace and nace. Chair recognizes mister Gonzalo of Boston.
CONSALVO - AMENDMENT 27 - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And let me take the opportunity to thank, the speaker, the chair of ways and means, for allowing me to come up on this amendment. This is a very important amendment. I wanna recognize my colleague, Rep LeBoeuf, who worked on this at length as well, and it's an important amendment for him. This is an amendment that will help protect, people with disabilities who are in, shelters, whether it be a family member or a head of household who's diagnosed with a disability. It will allow, individuals with disabilities to be, extended beyond the six months, particularly individuals who are already in a program to find supportive transitional housing. So in some cases, they'll need extra time as they're transitioning through their programming, and it may take them beyond the six months.
And we wanna make sure that those individuals with disabilities have the time that they need to be able to7876 move forward. It helps extremely low-income individuals, those who are working but are making less than 30% of area median income. And it, also, make sure that, these individuals, once they do transition and find that supportive housing, whatever the time frame, can then get into that more supportive long-term housing, which is what we want the shelter shelter system to help. Right? We wanted to help find people long-term supportive necessary housing. And in this amendment, we make sure we're7904 doing that by looking out for those who need our help the most, those individuals with disabilities. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER5 - Roll call have been ordered. Roll call machine is now open. Remain open for 3 minutes. Court officers, some of the members indicated roll call is in progress.
Mister Moran of, Lawrence, ask unanimous consent to be recorded on the last roll call. Chair objection, chair hears none.
SPEAKER3 - On roll call number 8, representative Moran of Lawrence votes yes.
On roll call number 7, mister Moran of Lawrence votes yes.
SPEAKER5 - Have all members voted wish to do so? Have all members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter.
DONATO - 152 members vote in the affirmative, none the negative. The amendment is adopted. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Also been a brief reason.
Mister mister Rogers of Cambridge asked unanimous consent to be recorded on roll calls 3 and 7. Does the chair objection? Chair has none.
SPEAKER3 - Representative Rogers of Cambridge, roll call number 3 votes no. Representative Rogers of Cambridge, roll call number 7, Yes.
SPEAKER5 - If there'd be no objection, mister Finn of West8198 Springfield, Office Admin, hands of the clerk, so he could read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 15 has changed. Mister Finn of West Springfield moved to amend the bill by inserting after section 5 the following section, section 5 a, Section 19 of chapter 88 of the tact of8216 the acts of 02/2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words,8220 any effort undertaken by the8222 executive office for administration finance8224 to secure the maximum federal support and reimbursement for funds spent
SPEAKER5 - on the emergency. Objection. The clerk was dispensed with reading the paper. Chair hears none. Mister Finn of West Penfield asked for the matter be taken by a call of the a's and nays. Those joining with them will rise. First division.
Second division.
Second division, 22. Sufficient number haven't arisen. The matter will be taken by a call of the yays and nays. Roll call order. The roll call machine is now open and remain open for 3 minutes.
For the
SPEAKER3 - members, this is roll call number 9. Roll call number 9.
SPEAKER5 - House of being in order. Have all members voted and wished to do so? Have all members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. A 52 in the affirmative, none in the negative. The amendment is adopted.
Mister Jones of North Redding, office amendment, hands of the clerk. Clerk, I read the amendment.
SPEAKER3 - Amendment number 9 has changed. Mister Jones of North Reading moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 7 the following section. Section 8, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any funds expended for the purpose of providing services through or related to families and pregnant women served by the emergency housing assistant program pursuant to8575 section 30 of chapter 23 b of the general laws shall be subject to competitive bidding process.
SPEAKER5 - Mister Joseph North Redding asked when the matters taken be taken by a call of the ayes and nays. Those joining with them will rise. First division.
Second division. 24. 24. Sufficient number have been present. Mad is taken be taken by a call of the a's and nays. Roll call haven't been ordered. The roll call machine is now open. Remain open for 3 minutes. Court office of some of the members indicated roll call is in progress.
SPEAKER3 - This is roll call number 10. Roll call number 10.
SPEAKER5 - Members are asked to stay in the chamber for a final roll call on engrossment. Members, please8648 stay in the chamber for final roll call engrossment.
Have all members voted or wished to do so? Have all members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. A 52 members vote in the affirmative, none the negative. The amendment is adopted.
The question now comes on passing the bill being grossed. Roll call order. The roll call machine is now open. Court officers, some of the members indicate a roll call is in progress for our engrossment.
Chair, I would like to inform the members to8929 ignore what is, up to 8. This is for engrossment.
This vote is, for engrossment of the bill.
SPEAKER3 - For the members.
SPEAKER5 - Not an amendment.
SPEAKER3 - For the members, roll call number 11, Anning Grossman. This is roll call number 11, Anning Grossman.
SPEAKER5 - Have all members have all members voted to wish to do so? Have all members voted? Time for voting has expired. The clerk will display the tally on this matter. 26 to 26. 100 and 20 6 members vote in the affirmative, 26 in the negative. The bill is passed to be engrossed. House of being house of being order.
DONATO - At the request of representative Saunders of Belchertown, Duffy of Holyoke, will members and guests, and employees please stand at a moment to sign a tribute to the memory of Doug Selphick, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 54 on 01/28/2025. Doug was9126 a lifelong resident of Holyoke and dedicated his professional life to public service, serving nearly 20 years as a town planner of the town of Ludlow. Among his accomplishments, Doug Zephas helped to develop9140 renewable energy projects and the revitalization of the Ludlow Mills. He is certified by his mother, Florence, sister Karen, and her husband, former representative Michael Caine of Holyoke, and his brother, Clint Sefic of Holyoke, as well as many other members and extended families, and he will be greatly missed. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mister Mariano Quincy, office in order in the hands of the clerk. Clerk will read the order.
SPEAKER3 - Order that when the house adjourned today, it adjourned to meet Monday next at
SPEAKER5 - 11AM. Question hours in the adoption of the order. All those in favor, say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The order is adopted. Mister Jones of North Redding now moves that the house stand adjourned. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed nay. The ayes have it. House stands adjourned to meet Monday next 11AM in an informal session.
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