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Kate's Winter 2016 E-Newsletter
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Welcome to my quarterly E-Newsletter. Here's hoping you all had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday and got to spend time with family.
The past few months have been busy:
As the House Chair of Public Health, our committee heard 331 bills during 13 hearings and are now moving proposals out for further consideration in the legislature. I am also pleased to partner with colleagues and executive offices to begin the work of the "Edge Commission" and start the conversation about creating policy initiatives needed to ensure that our region thrives in the new economy.
There is still much work to be done.
We in government may not all agree on the issues, but mutual respect and a commitment to our districts and to our Commonwealth will ensure a productive session as we tackle the scourge of opioid addiction, the challenges and opportunities in creating a 21st century energy policy, and a renewed commitment to our state's children and their education. ONWARD.
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Issue Update: Opioid Crisis
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House Votes to Pass Comprehensive Opioid Legislation
This month I joined my colleagues in the House to pass substance addiction legislation that creates a new standard to evaluate and treat patients who present in emergency rooms with an apparent overdose. This new best practice, which will be covered by insurance, is designed to ensure the proper assessment and discharge of patients who seek voluntary treatment. The legislation also:
- Gives physicians a 24-hour window to conduct a substance abuse evaluation on patients who show up in an emergency room with symptoms of an opioid overdose;
- Limits first-time opiate prescriptions to seven days for adults and all opiate prescriptions for minors to seven days (with exceptions for chronic pain management, cancer and palliative care);
- Requires all public schools to have a substance abuse education policy.
To read more about the legislation, click here.
Rep. Hogan's Opioid Forum
In November I hosted Opioid Crisis: Identifying Community and Statewide Solutions, a forum to discuss prevention, education, intervention, and treatment and recovery with state officials and community members.
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Rep. Hogan speaking at
Opioid Crisis: Identifying Community and Statewide Solutions |
Special panel guests in
cluded Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey; State Representative Elizabeth Malia, Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse; Maynard Police Chief Mark Dubois; Learn to Cope Regional Manager Marcy Julian; and Nashoba Valley Medical Center Emergency Services Director Richard Ellbeg.
WAVM recorded the forum in its entirety, which can be viewed here.
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495/MetroWest Suburban Edge Communities Commission
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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
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I was successful in creating the 495/MetroWest Suburban Edge Communities Commission, which represents 33 towns and over 450,000 residents along the 495 Corridor.
As part of a public-private partnership with the Commonwealth, the Commission, led by the 495/MetroWest Partnership, will study the economic development needs of our small suburban towns.
Members have been appointed to the Commission and are ready to hit the ground running.
Stay tuned, as we expect to begin holding informational hearings around the region in early spring to learn about the unique development challenges being experienced by our towns.
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| This map highlights the communities in the Commission. Click on the map to visit the 495/MetroWest Partnership website. |
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| Pictured left to right: Former Rep. John Lepper (Chair, Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren), Rep. Hogan, Margo Chevers (Commission Member), and Janice Long (Director, Hudson COA) |
Oftentimes, grandparents who are raising their grandchildren face many challenges including legal questions, financial assistance, and the need for emotional support.
To learn more about the informational session, click here.
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| As appointed members of the Board of Trustees for the State Library of Massachusetts, Senator Jamie Eldridge and I attended the annual meeting with State Librarian Elvernoy Johnson and other trustees. |
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The spike in infected ticks in the state has caused state health officials to declare Lyme disease an epidemic. Recognizing how much the disease affects our towns and region, I will be hosting an educational event on Lyme disease this spring. Health professionals will be available to speak about prevention, diagnoses, and treatment.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that are spread to humans through the bite of tiny, infected ticks (in Massachusetts, by deer ticks). Lyme disease can cause serious joint, heart or central nervous system problems if it is not recognized early in the disease process and treated appropriately. In 2014, the most recent year for which data are available, the state saw 3,830 confirmed cases and another 1,770 probable cases.
For more information about Lyme disease, visit the Department of Public Health
website
and stay tuned for updates for this event.
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Veterans Day 2015
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Rep. Hogan pictured above with Joe Williams at the Bolton Veterans Breakfast
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| Rep. Hogan pictured above with Ed Sokolowski, Commander of the Maynard American Legion |
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This fall I celebrated Veterans Day in all four of my towns. As of last year, Massachusetts ranks first in the nation in Veterans' support - offering nearly 70 programs and services in total. Honoring our Veterans and their families with legislation is a proud November tradition in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
I am proud of Massachusetts for leading the nation in the depth and breadth of Veterans services, though we know we can and should do more. We can never fully repay the members of our armed services for what they have endured, but as they have been willing to invest in our future, let us invest in theirs and let us never forget why it is appropriate to do so.
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On the Hill, In the District
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H.3920, also known as the PATCH Act, which aims to close loopholes in medical billing and benefit explanation confidentiality...
H.2334, "An act relative to firefighter training," which will lift the cap on the number of hours that retired firefighters may be employed by the Department of Fire Services as a training instructor...
H.523, "An Act relative to senior hoarding," which encourages and requires those who work with seniors in their homes to report dangerous hoarding and self-neglect behavior...
H.3507, "An Act to establish estate tax valuation for farms," which looks to the future of agriculture in Massachusetts and will protect family farms across the Commonwealth.
I also worked with my colleagues in the House to pass legislation that...
Updates public-records laws and enhances accountability measures, enumerating a timeframe and process in which requested documents must be produced and ensures that judicial remedies can be sought...
Repeals an outdated law and allows non-violent drug offenders to reinstate their license and rebuild their lives...
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Congratulations to the Town of Stow, which was recently designated a Green Community and will receive $144,115 for clean energy and energy efficiency projects!
To learn more about the designation, click here.
I am pleased to announce that additional grants have been awarded to Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) and Senior SAFE for FY16. The Hudson, Maynard, and Stow Fire Departments have received funding and will use the resources to conduct fire and safety education for students and older adults.
To learn more about S.A.F.E. or Senior SAFE, click here.
In November, Rep. Danielle Gregoire and I hosted a Health Insurance Enrollment Forum in Hudson.
Residents came to learn more about the Affordable Care Act and receive information, tools and materials to educate them in making important health care choices.
If you have questions about enrolling, please contact my office for assistance.
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| Rep. Hogan pictured above at the 5th Annual Maynard Sip & Stroll |
This year I led the children in counting down to light the Christmas tree at the 5th Annual Maynard Sip & Stroll. After the tree lighting visitors were invited to stroll through downtown Maynard where many of our businesses opened their doors with music, warm drinks and baked goodies. Carolers joined the evening walk bringing music to the streets on a cold winter's eve.
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| Pictured left to right: Donald Lowe, Town Administrator; Michelle Carlisle, Assistant Tax Collector; Pamela Powell, Town Clerk; Rep. Hogan; Jen Marquis, Assistant Town Clerk; Linda Day, Administrative Assistant to the Town Administrator; Jenny Jacobsen, Health and Permitting Assistant; Tony Jagodnik, Solarize Bolton Solar Coach; Erica Uriarte, Town Planner |
In early January, my staff and I visited Bolton Town Hall to catch up on issues of the day, meet new Town Hall staff, and enjoy a cup of Joe & coffee cake.
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Rep. Hogan helped kick off the 32nd annual Beacon Santa Telethon.
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WAVM
Beacon Santa Telethon reaches the $1 million mark
Maynard, MA
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WAVM, the student-run television and radio station at Maynard High School, hosted its 32nd annual
Beacon Santa Telethon last month and surpassed its goal of raising one million dollars for the Beacon Santa Fund, a charitable organization dedicated to giving people in need a better Christmas. In the spirit of giving students hosted their annual 40-hour live television and radio show which included live entertainment and auctions. Cumulatively, the telethon has raised $1,016,459 - making it the largest fundraiser for the Beacon Santa fund.
The 11 hosts and hostesses and some 33 tech crew members began work on the telethon at the beginning of October collecting auction items, filling the 40-hour schedule, practicing lines, and learning how to run the equipment.
Thomas Brennan, a senior at Maynard High School and one of WAVM's Station General Managers, said, "When I started in WAVM my 7th grade year I never even dreamed of reaching a mile stone as great as one million dollars raised for the Beacon Santa fund. Let alone my senior year in high school. It's a surreal feeling. Being a part of something so big. I feel extremely grateful for all the experiences I've had in my many telethons."
I had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful group of students to help kick off this year's event.
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Join Representative Hogan in the District
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If you are unable to attend Office Hours please call the State House at
(617) 722-2130 to schedule an appointment with Rep. Hogan.
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Please join me for
My 6th Annual
Saint Patrick's Day Fundraiser
for the
Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley
Friday, March 11
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Maynard Country Club
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Contact Representative Hogan & Staff
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Beacon Hill Office
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon Street, Room 130
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2130
District Office
195 Main Street
Maynard, MA 01754
(978) 897-1333
Mondays and Thursdays from
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. or by appointment
Courtney Rainey
Chief of Staff
Jordan Eldridge
District Director
Kelsey Schiller
Communications Director
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