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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Natalie Higgins, [email protected], 978-602-3772 House Passes Bill Establishing Campus Climate Surveys at Higher Education Institutions Surveys promote safer campuses with published results; expert task force to oversee the effort July 31, 2018 (BOSTON) – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined her colleagues in the House to pass legislation requiring Massachusetts higher education institutions to conduct surveys assessing the campus climate relative to sexual misconduct every two years. With the goal of fostering safe and inclusive campus environments, the surveys – known as campus climate surveys – will assist institutions with gathering sexual misconduct data, including the number of incidents of misconduct as well as provide information about student awareness of campus policies and procedures, and help campuses identify at-risk groups. “Massachusetts is home to thousands of college students and this bill will promote safer campus life and build transparency into the reporting of occurrences of sexual misconduct at institutions across the Commonwealth,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “Thank you to Representatives Scibak, Ehrlich and Farley-Bouvier for their work to move this forward and to the students who helped to advocate for this important measure.” “Sexual violence and misconduct continue to be a problem on many college campuses,” said Representative John Scibak (D-South Hadley), Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “While several of our colleges have led the way in utilizing climate surveys to address the issue, not all institutions have done so. This bill, which was championed by students across the Commonwealth, is an important step in addressing this problem and ensuring the safety and well-being of students on all of our campuses.” “I want to thank the Speaker and Chairs Sánchez and Scibak for their support in passing this critical legislation to protect Massachusetts students,” said Representative Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead), Chair of the Committee on Export Development. “I am proud to have filed and championed this bill. Every campus is different in regards to the prevalence and nature of sexual violence -- but what is true of all of them is that all students deserve a safe place to learn, study, and grow, as well as transparency from school administrations about sexual violence.” The legislation requires universities and colleges use model surveys based on the recommendations provided by a 21-member task force, which is co-chaired by the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Public Health. The task force is charged with developing a model climate misconduct survey based on peer-reviewed research for statewide distribution to higher education institutions. Its members include the Attorney General, the Secretary of Public Safety and Security, representatives of rural and urban rape crisis centers, the Victim Rights Law Center, Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, public and private higher education institutions, survey analysis researchers, and students. The task force is due to complete its work by March 31, 2019 and the legislation would take effect on Aug. 1, 2019. The legislation requires that the surveys are anonymous with no identifying information collected and that the results be published on institution websites 120 days after the completion of the survey. Under the legislation colleges and universities may use their own campus-specific surveys if approved. The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration. ###
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Natalie Higgins, [email protected], 978-602-3772 Legislature Passes Civics Education Curriculum July 30, 2018 (BOSTON) – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined her colleagues in the Legislature to enact S.2631, An Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement. This legislation is the result of years of advocacy and collaboration between bipartisan House and Senate legislators, and it will implement a civics education curriculum in all Massachusetts public schools. The legislation promotes a hands-on and experiential approach to fostering civic engagement. It incorporates project-based learning components, encourages the instruction of civic competencies – including news and media literacy – and provides extracurricular civic-participation opportunities. “I am incredibly proud that we have passed this legislation because it is so important that young men and women are given the opportunity to learn how to affect change in their community,” said Senate President Emerita Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester). “This civics curriculum is a long-term investment in the future of our Commonwealth. When we begin to educate our children about civic responsibility at a young age, we foster the growth and development of our nation’s future leaders.” “Civic engagement is at the heart of our democracy and this legislation will empower young people with the information and tools to get involved in their government from their hometowns to Washington, DC,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “Thank you to Senate President Chandler and my colleagues in the House and Senate who worked diligently to put this in place for our students.” The bill is now before the Governor for his consideration. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Natalie Higgins, [email protected], 978-602-3772 Legislature Passes New Data Breach Protections for Consumers Provisions increase transparency, improve credit monitoring and provide better consumer notifications July 27, 2018 (BOSTON) – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined her colleagues in the House and Senate to announce legislation enhancing protections for consumers against data breaches. The bill includes provisions that make it easier for consumers to monitor their credit, request security freezes on data, limit fees associated with data breach protections as well as requires transparency from breached companies and their affiliates. The bill requires breached entities to provide more detailed consumer notifications about data breaches and options to help consumers better protect themselves. “This bill ensures that Massachusetts residents will have the right to more control over their personal data, and will provide essential protections for consumers,” said Senate President Emerita Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester). “I believe that with this bill, Massachusetts establishes itself as a model for the rest of the country, and I thank our partners in the House for their work on this vital legislation.” “This bill empowers consumers to take charge of monitoring their credit and to protect their personal data against harmful data breaches,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, (D-Winthrop). “We have taken important steps to protect privacy and increase the requirements for transparency by those entities that are breached. Thank you to Representatives Chan and Benson and our colleagues in the House and Senate for their work on these important issues.” “We are proud to have Massachusetts continue to lead in providing comprehensive consumer protections in cases of security breaches,” said Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy), Chair of the Committee on Consumer Protection. “Each of us entrust our information to others to protect and this legislation gives consumers new resources and greater awareness of the tools they can take advantage of to protect their credit. Through the dedicated efforts of the entire committee and conference members, we were able to work through a very comprehensive bill involving federal and state regulations and are extremely proud of the legislation passed today.” “As an advocate for consumer protection, I filed legislation last year to make it easier for victims of identity theft to freeze their credit reports,” said Representative Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg). “In the wake of the Equifax breach, I worked with the Attorney General and advocates to strengthen the bill with further protections. Consumers in Massachusetts will now be empowered to take control of their credit data, and they’ll have more tools at their disposal to help them recover more quickly from data breaches.” Highlights of the legislation include:
The bill now moves to the Governor for his consideration. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: State Rep. Natalie Higgins, July 23, 2018 Massachusetts Legislature Passes Bill to Protect Women’s Reproductive Rights (BOSTON) – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined her colleagues in the Legislature to pass legislation repealing unconstitutional laws that impose criminal penalties for abortion and contraception in Massachusetts. With an uncertain future for federal action on landmark reproductive rights, Massachusetts took decisive action to protect the rights for women across the Commonwealth. “It’s critical that we protect the rights of Massachusetts women so they may continue to make their own choices regarding their health,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D – Winthrop). “This action takes outdated and misguided laws off the books and makes clear where the Commonwealth stands on reproductive and women’s rights.” “With all of the uncertainty at the federal level, I am proud to join my colleagues in removing these archaic laws off the books in Massachusetts to ensure Massachusetts residents are protected,” said Rep. Natalie Higgins. “I’ve been concerned about the impact of archaic laws remaining on the books since the fight for marriage equality,” said Majority Whip Byron Rushing (D – South End). “During the fight for marriage, Governor Romney demanded city and town clerks enforce the ‘1913 law’ that prevent marriages in Massachusetts if they were not legal in the couple’s home state. This law was originally used to prevent interracial couples from coming to Massachusetts to be legally married here. After decades in obscurity, and not being enforced – but still ‘on the books’ – it was then used to prohibit marriage for same sex couples. It is critical that we take all archaic laws off of our books, because we never know how an old, hateful law will be used in new, hateful ways in the future.” “There have been repeated attempts to limit a woman’s right to make decisions about her healthcare choices, contraception and access to care,” said Representative Claire D. Cronin (D-Easton), Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. “We must ensure that if this occurs, in Massachusetts we have taken the necessary steps to protect the right to choice, and access to healthcare and information necessary to make private medical decisions, “said Representative Claire Cronin, House Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Five of the Massachusetts laws the bill repealed were previously deemed unconstitutional under several U.S. Supreme Court rulings including Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), Roe v. Wade (1973), and Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health (1983). The legislation also repeals the requirement that a person be married in order to receive contraceptives. The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rep. Natalie Higgins, [email protected], 978-602-3772 July 20, 2018 Legislature Passes Balanced Budget; Targets Local Aid, Education and Opioid Epidemic Support Communities, Strengthens Workforce, and Protects Most Vulnerable Residents (BOSTON) – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined their colleagues in the Legislature to enact a $41.88 billion Massachusetts state budget for FY19. The budget features no new taxes or fees and directs a $367 million deposit into the Stabilization Fund to ensure our state’s fiscal health and protect Massachusetts’ future. It also prioritizes our cities and towns, education and those most in need of help. “This budget demonstrates a commitment to our constituents and is a testament to the fiscal strength of our Commonwealth,” said Senate President Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester). “With this funding we are supporting our children’s education, the transit systems in our cities and towns, and underserved youth and families across Massachusetts.” “This is a fiscally-sound budget that addresses our key priorities,” said Speaker DeLeo, (D – Winthrop). “I am particularly proud of our investments in early education and care, the stabilization fund, criminal justice bill and our decision to lift the cap on benefits for children. I congratulate Chairman Sanchez and my colleagues in the Legislature for working together on this important legislation.” “This budget reflects our ongoing commitment to the people of the Commonwealth, including our children, working families and the most vulnerable, while also maintaining fiscal responsibility,” stated Senator Karen E. Spilka, Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee (D-Ashland). “We take important steps towards supporting families through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), expanding access to the economy through the creation of a pilot program to promote employment in state contracts with persons with disabilities, and protecting unaccompanied immigrant youth. We also honor our responsibility to be diligent fiscal stewards through substantial deposits to the Stabilization Fund and the creation of a tax expenditure review commission to ensure our tax payers are receiving worthwhile returns on their investments. I am most proud, however, of our record investment in K-12 education, which is the foundation of our shared success.” “Together, the House and Senate have passed a budget that invests in programs that make a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis,” said Representative Jeffrey Sánchez, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Jamaica Plain). “From healthcare and housing to re-entry programs and education, this is a budget that moves Massachusetts forward. It builds on our strengths so the economy grows for the benefit of all our residents, no matter where they are in their lives. I’m grateful to Speaker DeLeo, my Senate counterpart Chair Karen Spilka, and to all House members for the opportunity to work with them in crafting this conference committee budget.” “This budget makes impressive yet prudent investments in education, health care, housing, local aid, mental health, and seniors,” said Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “These investments reflect the priorities of the conferees as well as all the Senators who shared their insights with the Conference Committee. I want to thank Chairwoman Spilka and the conferees for their hard work throughout this process and their dedication to the people of the Commonwealth.” “It was an honor to serve on the FY19 budget conference committee with Chairman Sanchez, Representative Smola, and the Senate conferees,” said Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington). “I am proud that the final conference committee budget allocates record levels of funding for addressing the opioid crisis, improving education and local aid, and ensuring that environmental agencies have adequate resources to do the important work of protecting our environment. The Department of Environmental Protection is funded at over $29 million. Additionally, there were strong investments made in some of our most important agricultural programs, including an increase in the Dairy Farm Tax Credit from $4 million to $6 million annually, $4 million in funding for the Healthy Incentives Program, and an initial capitalization of $100,000 for the Massachusetts Food Trust. This conference committee budget is balanced, fiscally responsible, and reflects the priorities of the citizens of the Commonwealth.” “I am happy to have been able to work with my fellow members of the conference committee to ensure that the Legislature produced a fiscally responsible budget that lives within our means,” said Senator Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth). “I am especially proud that we will be adding $271 million to the rainy day fund, by the end of 2019 we should have close to $2 billion in the rainy day fund, the highest it has been since the crash of 2008. We were able to accomplish this without increasing any taxes or fees.” "This budget includes significant investments in our communities and in education," said Representative Todd Smola (R-Springfield). "We have also committed to building up our reserves by putting additional money into our stabilization fund, which will help improve our financial position going forward. This is a solid budget that is the result of a careful negotiation with a focus on our cities and towns and the people of the Commonwealth." “I am proud of the investments in our communities we have made in this budget,” said Representative Higgins. “Through this budget, I was able to secure additional funding for two important programs in Leominster -- the Leominster Substance Abuse Task Force & Outreach Program and the Domestic Violence Liaison in the Leominster Police Department.” In recognition of the state’s strong support for education, the Legislature approved an unprecedented $4.9 billion in Chapter 70 education funding, which represents an increase of 3.4 percent over the previous fiscal year and increases funding for teacher health care costs by $39 million. Education funding also features $319.4 million to fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker, $90 million for Charter School Reimbursement, $68.9 million for Regional School Transportation and $5 million to fund the Preschool Partnership Initiative. The budget reflects the Legislature’s commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of children and families by lifting the cap on benefits for children of low income families. This change takes effect in January 2019. The budget also provides $2.5 million for continued support for early childhood mental health consultation services and $20 million to support high-quality Early Education and Care (EEC) programs. The budget also provides $10 million to create an EEC workforce development initiative to tie professional development and higher education opportunities more closely to our community colleges. As part of an ongoing effort to ensure access to safe and affordable housing for the most vulnerable Massachusetts residents, the budget provides $100 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), $32 million for the HomeBASE program, $20 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program and establishes a $5 million rapid homeless rehousing program. To address the ongoing opioid epidemic, the budget includes $142 million for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to create five recovery centers in Massachusetts. The budget features $5 million to support community-based treatment program, $4.9 million for step-down recovery services and $1 million to provide increased access to Narcan to first responders. The budget ensures that cities and towns, large and small, are empowered to effectively manage their regional transit systems to ensure reliable service and fiscal responsibility. Regional Transit Authorities across Massachusetts are allocated $88 million to assure that our residents have access to reliable and affordable transportation. The budget sets aside funds to establish monitoring for hiring, promotion and preferential treatment occurring within the State Police. In addition the budget includes the following provisions highlighted below.
The budget now moves to the Governor for consideration. ### For Immediate Release
Contact: Rep. Natalie Higgins, 978-602-3772, [email protected] July 6, 2018 House Passes Legislation to Ban Conversion Therapy (BOSTON) – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined her colleagues in the House to pass legislation that will prevent healthcare professionals from engaging in “conversion therapy” including practices that attempt to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill outlines and excludes counseling and healthcare practices that are designed to support an individual and facilitate coping. "I am proud to stand with my House colleagues today and vote to ban the use of conversion therapy amongst our young and vulnerable residents," said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). "This practice has no scientific basis, is rooted in bigotry and can have lasting, detrimental health effects. In short, there is no place for this cruel activity in Massachusetts. I would like to thank Chairwoman Khan for her tireless advocacy, as well as Leader Peake and Chairman Sánchez." “A big thank you to Speaker DeLeo who has once again brought forward legislation that will protect our youth from harm,” said Representative Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown). “This bill is all about protecting our kids. Finally, this discredited practice will be relegated to the trash bin where it belongs!” “I am thankful for Chairwoman Khan’s leadership on this legislation to protect the children of the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Natalie Higgins. “I am proud to continue to stand with my colleagues to say hate has no place in Massachusetts.” “As a psychiatric nurse, the House Chair of Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, and a longtime advocate for LGBTQ rights, I was honored to sponsor this critical piece of legislation,” said Representative Khan (D-Newton). "I want to express my thanks to the Speaker and my colleagues for their passionate support of the bill. The bill is a commonsense measure to ensure medically sound, professional conduct by state-licensed health providers and to protect LGBTQ youth from being exposed to fraudulent, ineffective and very harmful practices. I am proud to have filed this legislation and to be working with a broad coalition of over twenty statewide legal, mental health, child welfare, and LGBTQ organizations, as well as parents dedicated to promoting the well-being and safety of our children in Massachusetts.” According to the American Psychological Association, conversion therapy “may pose serious risk of harm,” such as “confusion, depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, and suicidality”. Violation of this law would result in a healthcare provider being subject to discipline from their appropriate licensing board, including suspension or revocation of their license. ### For Immediate Release
July 5, 2018 Contact: Natalie Higgins, [email protected], 978-602-3772 Leominster State Representative Natalie Higgins named a 2018 Emerging Leader BOSTON -- The State Legislative Leaders Foundation named Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) to its 2018 Emerging Leaders Class. The State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to professional development for our nation’s current and future state legislative leaders. The Emerging Leaders Program is designed specifically for the next generation of leaders in our state legislatures and offers mentoring to first- and second-term legislators who have been identified by their peers as future leaders. The program is held every July on the campus of the University of Virginia, in partnership with the distinguished Darden School of Business. Next week, 42 of the best and brightest state legislators from across the nation take part in four days of challenging classroom discussions, led by a team of professors at the Darden School. Since 2005, over 600 legislators have benefitted from their experience at this program, and a significant number have continued their careers in public service. Many have achieved positions of leadership in their states. “I am honored to have been chosen as an Emerging Leader in my first term in office,” said Rep. Natalie Higgins. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had this much homework and I am excited to learn as much as I can in these four days to become a stronger representative of Leominster and a better advocate for our priorities in the Massachusetts State House.” ### For Immediate Release
Contact: Rep. Natalie Higgins, 978-602-3772, [email protected] July 5, 2018 House Passes Legislation to Create Automatic Voter Registration in Massachusetts Bill seeks to remove barriers to voter registration and increase voter turnout (BOSTON) – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined her colleagues in the House to pass legislation creating an efficient and streamlined automatic voter registration (AVR) system, while also protecting the privacy of individuals. This legislation directs the Secretary of State to work with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and MassHealth to automatically enroll eligible individuals to the Commonwealth’s voter rolls. The Secretary of State will adopt regulations governing the AVR system, including provisions requiring electronic transmission, data security protocols, and integration with online portals. “Increasing the number of people who are registered to vote will enhance our democracy and make our government more reflective of the people we represent,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “I thank Chairman Mahoney for his leadership and the advocates who raised their voices.” “I am proud to see Massachusetts continue to lead the way in voting rights to ensure that everyone who is a resident has the ability to participate in our democracy,” said Representative John J. Mahoney, Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws (D-Worcester). “The House, under Speaker DeLeo’s leadership, has taken decisive action to reform and improve our elections systems, and this legislation demonstrates our commitment to further progress.” “Automatic Voter Registration is one important step Massachusetts can take to increase voter registrations and participation and I am proud to stand with my colleagues today,” said Rep. Natalie Higgins. Under this legislation, registration agencies will transmit electronic records of the legal name, age, residence, citizenship information, and electronic signature of each qualified person to the board of registrars of the municipality where the person lives. The board of registrars will then send a notice to the individual informing them that they have been registered to vote and offer the opportunity to choose a party affiliation or decline to be registered. If the individual does not decline within 21 days, their name will automatically be added to the voter lists. The name and address of program participants will remain confidential and the Secretary of State will establish security measures to protect voter information. The bill also requires Massachusetts to join the Electronic Registration Information Center, a non-profit that assists member states with improving voter roll accuracy and increasing access to voter registration. Under this legislation, automatic voter registration would begin on January 1, 2020. The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration. ### |
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