Senator Friedman’s 2017-2018 Legislative & Policy Achievements

Legislation

Omnibus Opioid Bill

$15 Minimum Wage

  • Citation: An Act relative to minimum wage, paid family medical leave and the sales tax holiday (H.4640)
  • Summary: Increases the minimum wage from $11 an hour to $15 and the tipped minimum wage from $3.75 an hour to $6.75 by 2023.
  • Note: Included as part of a “Grand Bargain” Bill that also established a statewide family medical leave program and codified an annual sales tax holiday.
  • View the text of the law: Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2018

Bail & Pretrial Reform

Middlesex Restoration Center Pilot Program

  • Citation: An Act relative to criminal justice reform (S.2371)
  • Summary: Directs a large, diverse group of stakeholders, including the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, local law enforcement, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Health, behavioral health providers, MassHealth, probation offices and the Trial Court to develop a county restoration center and program to divert persons suffering from mental illness or substance use disorder who interact with law enforcement or the court system during a pre-arrest investigation or the pre-adjudication process from lock-up facilities and hospital emergency departments to appropriate treatment.
  • Note: Included as part of an omnibus criminal justice reform bill.
  • View the text of the law: Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018

Center for Police Training in Crisis Intervention

  • Citation: An Act for prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction (H.4866), which was passed as an amendment to H.4742.
  • Summary: The Center will serve as a clearing house to develop best practices and cost-effective, evidence-based mental health and substance use crisis response training programs for municipal police and other public safety personnel.
  • Note: Included as part of an omnibus opioid bill.
  • View the text of the law: Chapter 208 of the Acts of 2018

Permanent Funding Stream for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF)

  • Citation: An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth (H.4868), which was passed as an amendment to H.4732.
  • Summary: Broadens the use of the Workforce Training Fund (WTF), allowing up to 5% of WTF assessment proceeds to be used for workforce pipeline training for unemployed and underemployed workers in high-demand industries through the WCTF program. Re-names the WCTF workforce training grants the “Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success” grants.
  • Note: Included as part of an omnibus economic development bill.
  • View the text of the law: Chapter 228 of the Acts of 2018 

Appropriations & Bond Authorizations:

FY19 Budget Investments

  • Citation: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2019 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund and serial bond requirements and for certain permanent improvements (H.4800)
  • Summary:
    • $2,000,000 increase in MassHealth Fee-For-Service payment rates for outpatient and diversionary behavioral health services in order to begin to align those rates with the payment rates of equivalent MassHealth accountable and managed care products.
    • $635,000 for adult college transition services that prepare students to enter occupational education programs at 2-year institutions, with many going on to attain a certificate or college degree.
    • $250,000 for statewide expansion of successful programs that integrate mental health, academic, family, and care coordination supports to address the needs of middle and high school students returning to school following extended health or mental health-related absences.
    • $160,000 for the Arlington Youth Counseling Center, which is a licensed mental health counseling facility that supports over 390 Arlington youth and their families.
    • $125,000 for the Transportation Management Association of the Middlesex 3 Coalition, Inc. to operate and maintain transportation service vehicles between Lowell and Burlington.
    • $100,000 for English language tutoring and small group instruction to adult learners at English At Large, Inc. in Woburn.
    • $75,000 for the design and construction of the Lexington and Glad Valley intersection project in Billerica.
    • $40,000 for late afternoon and evening transportation for METCO students attending public schools in Arlington and Lexington.

Capital Facility Bond Authorizations

  • Citation: An Act providing for capital facility repairs and improvements for the Commonwealth (H.4549)
  • Summary:
    • $1,400,000 in bond authorizations for the design and construction of solar facilities on the Minuteman High School campus in Lexington and Lincoln.
    • $650,000 in bond authorizations for the renovation and improvement of the Ned O’Brien ice rink in Woburn.
  • View the text of the law: Chapter 113 of the Acts of 2018

Environmental Bond Authorizations

  • Citation: An Act promoting climate change adaptation, environmental and natural resource protection, and investment in recreational assets and opportunity (H.4835)
  • Summary:
    • $3,000,000 in bond authorizations for the design, planning and preconstruction of a new water transmission main connecting the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) Arlington transmission main line with Burlington.
    • $1,000,000 in bond authorizations shall be expended for planning and design, engineering, and construction of the Community Center – LHS Greenways Connector in Lexington.
    • $1,000,000 in bond authorizations shall be expended for Mill Brook bank stabilization in Arlington.
    • $1,000,000 in bond authorizations for Mill Brook culvert and outfall repair and improvement in Arlington.
  • View the text of the law: Chapter 209 of the Acts of 2018