|
Below are the bills that Representative Kaufman has filed for the 187th legislative session, in the following categories:
Budget/Revenue Reform
Energy/Environment
Education/Health Opportunity
Election Laws
Public Service
Local
For full bill text, please refer to the Legislature's (website) or contact Rep. Kaufman's office for additional information.
An Act to promote sales tax fairness for Main Street retailers (H1695). Allows MA to join the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (http://www.streamlinedsalestax.org/index.php?page=faqs) and begin collecting sales taxes on online purchases.
An Act relative to the tax expenditure budget (H2540). This bill requires a yearly review of the various sections of the TEB and an equal reduction for any added expenditures. Also establishes criteria for any newly proposed tax expenditures.
An Act to promote municipal efficiency and innovation through regional collaboration (H2590). This bill promotes existing regional opportunities while creating new regional solutions to help make municipal government more efficient at a time when many communities are strained financially.
An Act relative to broadened eligibility for relief from disproportionate property tax burdens (H761). The circuit breaker program, passed as part of the FY01 budget, provides a refundable state tax credit to qualified senior citizens whose property taxes exceed 10% of their income. The circuit breaker is designed to moderate the most regressive elements of the property tax. The new bill would expand the property tax circuit breaker to citizens regardless of age.
An Act relative to the establishment of municipal lighting authorities (H869). This bill would streamline the process in which a municipality may create their own electrical power authority, saving rate-payers and communities money while enhancing service.
An Act for a competitive economy through safer alternatives to toxic chemicals (H1136). A wide array of toxic chemicals we use in our everyday lives are contributing to an epidemic of chronic diseases and disorders, including asthma, birth defects, cancers, developmental disabilities, diabetes, endometriosis, infertility, Parkinson's disease, and others. The Safer Alternatives bill will establish a pragmatic approach to reducing health and environmental impacts from many of the toxic chemicals we are exposed to in everyday life. It mandates a careful process to identify such chemicals for which there are reasonable alternatives, and then creates a program of transition from the dangerous to the safer chemical.
An Act to prevent the use of the most dangerous pesticides (H228). This bill would prohibit the use of the most dangerous pesticides in public places, including hospitals. The bill defines what the most dangerous pesticides are.
An Act to reduce waste in the Commonwealth (H229). This bill mandates all commercial and public buildings be required to recycle lead batteries, yard waste, tires, and other such items.
An Act relative to property tax exemptions for renewable power systems (H2541). Clarifies the tax exempt status of certain renewable power systems built on tax exempt property.
An Act relative to the rights of public agencies receiving street lighting services in cities and towns (H868). Allows cities and towns to purchase street lighting equipment from quasi-public agencies and other entities.
An Act further providing for reimbursement to cities and towns for extraordinary special education costs (H151). In Chapter 70, adds special education transportation costs into the equation as one of the “extraordinary special education costs” for which cities and towns are reimbursed.
An Act relative to access to epinephrine in schools (H594). This bill allows students to carry their own self-administered EpiPens and would make sure that students have safe, easy access to epinephrine in public schools.
An Act to provide consumer protection and regulation in psychotherapy (H2004). In Massachusetts, the title “psychotherapist” is an unregulated term that anyone can use. This bill would regulate the practice of psychotherapy and establish licensure of psychotherapists, supported by state oversight.
An Act to establishing a board of registration in naturopathy (H2367). This bill would regulate the practice of Naturopathy by establishing educational and testing standards for naturopathic doctors (NDs) and provide oversight by a state board of registration made up of both NDs and conventional medical professionals.
An Act requiring pain assessment and management in health care facilities (H1489). Adds to the patients’ bill of rights the right to the “assessment, management, and treatment of pain.”
An Act relative to safer driving (H2651). This bill would prohibit all drivers from using telephones that are not hands-free. Additionally, a driver can get a fine for a first offense waived by presenting a receipt for a hands-free device that he or she bought after being cited for a violation.
An Act relative to insurance rates (H1186). This bill would prohibit insurance companies from using a consumer’s personal credit information when calculating premium rates, risk classifications or for insurance underwriting purposes on homeowners, renters and automobile insurance. These credit scores particularly harmful to low-income residents.
A Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to creating and expanding access to opportunity in low-opportunity communities (H88). This bill would establish a commission to study the results of a recent opportunity mapping investigation and make recommendations.
An Act relative to state house fees (H1743). This bill would ensure that State House spaces are available for appropriate use by advocacy organizations at no charge.
Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to a vacancy in the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor (H197). This amendment stipulates that in the event of a vacancy in the office of Lt. Governor, a new Lt. Governor would be selected through nomination by the Governor and a majority vote of confirmation by both the House and Senate, as is done in the federal government. Currently there is no mechanism for filling vacancies.
An Act to ensure secure voting equipment (H196). This bill would mandate that all electronic voting machines allow voters to verify his or her ballot before the vote is cast. The Secretary of State currently abides by this practice, but this bill would put that policy into statute.
An Act relative to voting by the instant runoff voting method (H199). This bill would create a method of casting and tabulating votes that simulates the ballot counts that would occur if all voters participated in a series of runoff elections with one candidate eliminated after each round of counting.
An Act relative to voting by the instant runoff voting method in primaries (H198). Same as above but for primary elections only.
An Act relative to retiree health benefits (H2474). Pro-rates the state contribution to a public retiree's health benefit based on years of service, ranging from 25% to 100% of full state contribution.
An Act relative to pension reform (H2962). This bill mirrors the Governor’s pension reform bill that, among other things, raises the retirement age, closes remaining loopholes, and establishes a commission to study group classification.
An Act relative to a special commission on municipal health insurance (HD3524). Sets up a special commission on municipal health insurance to meet in a timely fashion and propose new policies that have to be approved in an up or down vote without amendment.
An Act relative to pension governance reform (H1617). This bill provides Public Employees Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) with greater authority to ensure that retirement systems are paying the appropriate benefits, dealing with reputable firms, and carefully managing the public employees’ retirement funds.
An Act Relative to the cost of living adjustments for retired public employees of the Commonwealth (H701). Immediately moves the base we use to calculate Cost of Living adjustments from $12k to $16k and then gradually moves the base so that it is eventually indexed with the social security base.
An Act relative to providing free tuition for public school teachers (H353). Extends free tuition benefits at public higher education institutions for public school teachers.
An Act relative to eligibility for state group health insurance (H704). Allows part-time faculty at state higher-education institutions to receive their health insurance through the GIC.
An Act relative to the minimum pension for retirees (H703). Increases the minimum pension from $10k to $15k. Also includes a local option for municipalities.
An Act to clarify credible service for sabbatical leaves (H702). Allows a system member to buy back time spent on a sabbatical leave.
An Act relative to the geographical juristiction of the Housing Court (H441). Allows Lexington cases to be heard by the Housing Court rather than District Court.
An Act to further define a scenic byway in the Towns of Arlington, Lexington, Lincoln, and Conrod (H1779). Extends the boundaries of the Battle Road Scenic Byway: Road to Revolutions.
-
| 
