Dear Neighbor,
The past week has been so busy I never finished this newsletter about the week before. I'll send it now just to give a sense of our State House work.
Like many people, I'm feeling overwhelmingly sad and angry about what's happened and is happening in the Middle East. Hamas’ attack on civilians in Israel was horrific and indiscriminate. The siege, bombing, and evacuation in Gaza is horrific and indiscriminate. All civilians should be safe.
Exonerees Lobby for Timely and Adequate Compensation
On Monday, Oct. 2, people who have been found to be innocent and wrongfully incarcerated for decades came to rally and lobby their own legislators for our bill to:
require $5000 cash stipends for immediate needs when someone is released because of innocence, and another $15,000 when their compensation case is filed in court
fast tracking of cases, and changing the burden of proof to be like other civil suits
removal of the $1 million cap on damages.
Channel Five's Mike Beaudet continued his excellent reporting on the issue with this report. (photo from WCVB). WHDH also had a report.
Exonerees are released after decades in prison with no money, no job, no home, no resume, no knowledge of technology such as cell phones. Some turn to shelters. Some get help from friends or family. Exonerees wait up to two years for compensation and often, in desperation, settle for much smaller sums than the statutory cap. For example, I filed the original wrongful compensation bill which passed in 2005 when I learned about Lawyer Johnson, the last man on Massachusetts death row. Mr. Johnson was exonerated after 10 years in prison, and needed support so much that he settled for $275,000 rather than continue to fight the Attorney General in court for more assistance.
We raised the $500,000 cap to $1 million in 2018, but that is still many times less than juries award in damages when exonerees pursue a civil rights suit, which is even harder.
Sean Ellis, whose story was featured in the Netflix documentary Trial 4, has organized a support group, The Exoneree Network. They organized the lobbying effort, and we hope the Judiciary Committee will approve it soon. I was able to secure $260,000 in the budget for the network
Among those at the lobby day were Dennis Maher, one of the earliest exonerees to receive compensation, and Stephen Pina, who was just released last year. As a result of press coverage, two exonerees I knew from 2005 called me to talk; I encouraged them to join the Network.
Drowsy Driving and COVID Remembrance Day bills heard
On Wednesday morning, the State Administration Committee heard testimony on my bills S2012, An Act to establish a COVID-19 Remembrance Day, and S2013, An Act relative to drowsy driving awareness. More on those later too.
House Passes Wage Transparency Bill
On Wednesday, the House passed the Wage Transparency bill. Chair Josh Cutler and I combined a bill requiring businesses to include pay ranges in job postings (which we had co-sponsored with Rep. Fluker-Oakley) and another bill creating a process to collect data to identify gender and racial gaps within business sectors (sponsored by Senators Feeney and Miranda, and Reps. Christine Barber and David Rogers).
I've written about pay equity in a previous newsletter, and will say more as the bill moves through the Senate. Just Friday the Ways and Means Committee reported out the bill for action this Thursday!
For now, here's a Shirley Leung article, the Globe editorial and a Herald article.
Education Hearing: THRIVE Act and more
On Thursday, Oct.5, I joined other members of the Education Committee to hear five hours of testimony from educators, parents, students and others. Most were in favor of the Thrive Act, which would end MCAS as a graduation requirement, while establishing local graduation requirements. It would also end state takeovers of districts and schools. I've previously written about the graduation requirement and takeovers. I joined my colleagues, Senators Liz Miranda, Adam Gomez, Jo Comerford, and Jake Oliveira to speak in favor of the bill.
I submitted testimony in favor of my bill S291, which would remove the prohibition against educators and school committee members serving on the board. It also requires the appointment of members representing those groups. Every other board regulating a profession requires representation, and usually a majority of those professionals.
I also submitted testimony in favor of my bill S193, which would require use of "growth scores" instead of just raw MCAS scores in accountability. Growth scores are less tightly correlated with income.
Menstrual Equity Rally
Also on Thursday, I joined a great rally to celebrate the Public Health Committee's favorable report of our Menstrual Equity Bill, and urge its swift passage. Thanks to Committee chairs Rep. Rep. Marjorie Decker and Sen. Julian Cyr, who sent it to the Senate. I hope we will take it up soon.
The bill, supported by the strong organizing of Sasha Goodfriend, executive director of MassNOW, and the Mass. Menstrual Equity Coalition, would require distribution of free menstrual products in public schools, shelters, jails and prisons.
Stay safe, stay in touch,