Thursday, October 8, 2015
State Senate Affirms Budget Priorities
Takes
Steps to Pay Off Debt Early and Add Money to the Rainy Day Fund
Boston-
The State Senate advanced a bill today to
address shortfalls in a number of state agencies and direct funds to a growing number
of priorities such as; protecting children, retooling criminal justice
programs, and addressing several public health and public safety initiatives
intended to combat the consequences of substance abuse.
The $341 million bill sends training and system upgrade
funds to the Department of Children and Families, makes final payments for
contractors who cleared away last winter’s snow and ice, and several other
state programs including a $250,000 pilot grant to equip local police with body
cameras, $5 million for homelessness prevention and a $120 million deposit into
the into the state’s so-called Rainy Day Fund which currently contains $1.1
billion.
“This bill reflects a number of key priorities for
the Senate and the Republican Caucus because it protects the health and
well-being of children, expands substance abuse coverage, seeks to study the
PARCC school assessment prior to any decisions to adopt it, and takes responsible steps to stabilize state
agencies ,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “Among
the most important hallmarks of this bill are those which reflect and support
fiscal discipline; a $120 million deposit into the state’s Rainy Day Fund and
$100 million to pay off debt.”
Members of the Senate Republican Caucus
offered several amendments to the bill, included among them; $20 million in
additional Local Aid to municipalities, $10 million in heating funds for
low-income families, and extended Medicare coverage for health patients.
After
debate, Senators adopted a proposal offered by Tarr to require the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Education to conduct a feasibility study prior to
any decision of adopting the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness (PARCC)
standardized test, in place of the MCAS.
“I am pleased
that we were able to close out the 2015 budget while making up any remaining
deficiencies,” said Senator deMacedo (R-Plymouth) the Ranking Republican on the
Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “We were able to use remaining funds to
address the shared priorities of the Administration and Legislature while
maintaining our fiscal responsibility and prioritizing the maintenance of the
Rainy Day Fund.”
The
Senate gave unanimous support to two other Tarr provisions; one requires the
Department of Public Health to seek federal approval to allow those who receive
WIC benefits to use them on diapers for infants. Currently, families receiving WIC are barred
from doing so.
In
addition, the Senate also gave unanimous approval to Tarr’s amendment which
seeks to secure federal approval of a waiver to address hospital observation
days of patients, control the costs of hospital stays, and reduce the burden of
post-acute care in patients.
A
Republican amendment to provide cities and towns with $20 million in additional
Local Aid payments for essential services was defeated as was an amendment to
provide health consumers accurate information on pricing.
Senate Bill 2025 encompasses a number of health
related areas including directing $203
million to address MassHealth shortfalls, expanding substance abuse efforts to
protect school children with $1.2 million for drug screening, $3.8 million to
fund substance abuse counselors in schools,
$15.2 million to open residential beds, $5.8 million for a
substance use treatment program to provide detoxification and clinical services
for civilly committed women with substance use disorders, and $300,000 for the
Trial court to coordinate service
for individuals with mental health and substance abuse needs.
In
addition, other areas of the bill include:
·
$31.5 million for snow and ice
removal costs for Mass Department of Transportation,
·
$21.7 million to close deficiencies
in ten Sheriff Departments,
·
Setting
Tuesday, Sept. 6 as the state primary date,
·
$3 million to fund Department of
Children and Families training services for foster families and adoptive
families and congregate care and adoption support services,
·
$5 million to support homelessness
diversion, prevention and housing stabilization programs,
·
$9.5 million for National Guard
student tuition and fees reimbursements,
·
Reviving
a special commission charged with examining housing and shelter options for
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault,
·
Setting
the state budget for Fiscal Year 2015 into balance.
The House has also adopted a similar bill to close deficiencies in
state departments, the bill will next move to a conference committee of House
and Senate members to produce a final bill.
The text of the Senate bill can be read by clicking
this link: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S2025
