August 2024 | The Stanley Report | | |
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Dear Friend,
August's issue of The Stanley Report includes the latest news from Waltham and Beacon Hill.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you need assistance.
Sincerely,
Tom Stanley
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Chaplains on the Way and First Parish Church in Waltham to host silent auction and community barbecue at First Parish in Waltham on September 15, 2024, at 12:00PM in support of the homeless. Learn more. | |
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Rep. Stanley, Legislature Pass Largest Housing Investment in State History;
Bill includes Rep. Stanley's priority to establish a senior housing commission
Rep. Stanley and the Massachusetts Legislature passed the Affordable Homes Act, marking the largest housing investment in the state's history. This landmark legislation authorizes $5.16 billion in bonds and tax credits to boost housing production, preserve public housing, and implement sweeping policy changes to address the housing affordability crisis.
The Affordable Homes Act included Rep. Stanley's priority to create a Senior Housing Commission to bring together a diverse set of stakeholders to recommend comprehensive strategies to leverage local communities, anchor institutions, and public and private sector organizations on how best to expand the supply of affordable, supportive senior housing for older adults. The Commission will map out the economic profile of the state's older adults to quantify the need for supportive senior housing, determine strategies for bridging housing and healthcare silos for supporting elders to age in community and identify actions to support integration, estimate the net savings and potential impact of programs to develop proof of efficacy and efficiency; create a set of pilot programs to test various approaches and partnerships; and create academic partnerships to document and evaluate program innovations.
Key provisions include a tax credit of up to 10% of development costs for converting commercial properties into residential or mixed-use units and a new tax credit for homeownership targeting households earning up to 120% of the area median income (AMI). The bill also makes the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) permanent, raises the statewide cap on donations from $12 million to $15 million, and extends the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit through 2030, doubling the available amount from $55 million to $110 million.
Additional measures allow by-right construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under 900 square feet in single-family zones across the state, enhance consumer protections for homeowners and tenants, and provide tools for seasonal communities to address unique housing challenges. The bill also safeguards tenants from eviction-related discrimination and prevents renters from being forced out due to condominium conversions.
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Rep. Stanley Announces Elder Affairs Budget Investments
Rep. Stanley, as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, is pleased to share some key highlights from the FY25 Final Budget, particularly in the area of Elder Affairs and other programs that are crucial to the well-being of the Commonwealth’s older adults. These investments reflect his continued commitment to supporting aging residents and addressing workforce challenges within our Continuum of Care.
• Executive Office of Elder Affairs: $5.7 million allocated, marking a $660,000 increase from FY24. Includes a $75,000 earmark for Fenway Health’s LGBTQIA+ Aging Project.
• Community Choices: $303 million allocated for health care services under MassHealth, including the Clinical Assessment and Eligibility Program.
• Prescription Advantage: $19.8 million allocated, including a $2 million earmark for the SHINE program, which provides free health insurance counseling for aging residents.
• Supportive Senior Housing: $11.7 million allocated, a $2.2 million increase from FY24, supporting over 1,500 residents with services like emergency coverage and health clinics.
• Home Care Services: $236.9 million allocated, with a $22 million increase from FY24. Includes a $300,000 earmark for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Dementia Care Coordination program.
• Protective Services: $47.9 million allocated, a $4.7 million increase from FY24, funding elder abuse prevention and guardianship services.
• Geriatric Mental Health: $2.5 million allocated to support Elder Mental Health Outreach Teams addressing behavioral health needs.
• Congregate Housing: $3.4 million allocated, with a $856,000 earmark for naturally occurring retirement communities.
• Nutrition Services Programs: $12.7 million allocated, including $750,000 for Meals on Wheels to support nutritional needs across the state.
• Grants to Councils on Aging: $29.6 million allocated, increasing grants based on a $15 per-elder formula, with a $160,000 earmark for a statewide virtual LGBTQ+ senior center.
• MassHealth Senior Care: $4.56 billion allocated for senior health care services, including the Medicare Savings Program and Senior Care Options.
• MassHealth Nursing Home Supplemental Rates: $625 million allocated to support Medicaid rates, with a $40 million earmark for wage increases and hiring in nursing homes.
• Alzheimer’s Public Awareness Campaign: Continued funding to raise awareness and increase outreach, especially in underserved communities.
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Rep. Stanley and Legislature Pass HERO Act;
Bill Includes policies from Rep. Stanley's bill, the Military CHILD Act
Rep. Stanley and his colleagues in the Legislature passed an Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Service Members and Veterans (HERO Act), legislation designed to boost support for hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state who have served in the United States military, including nearly 30,000 women veterans and thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans. Additionally, the HERO Act includes policies from Rep. Stanley's bill, the Military CHILD Act, that make additional updates to quality-of-life issues for our service members.
The Military Child Act policies in the HERO Act focus on improving the quality of life for military families in Massachusetts. These policies include recognizing the U.S. Space Force in state law and ensuring its members receive the same benefits as other military branches. The Act exempts Family Child Care (FCC) providers, who are often military spouses, from needing additional state licensure when moving to a new location, streamlining their ability to offer childcare. It also requires the appointment of a military spouse liaison to advocate for military spouses and assist with professional licensing. Additionally, the HERO Act supports military-connected students by providing extra resources and encourages schools to notify teachers when such students are enrolled. It mandates flags to be flown at half-mast when a Massachusetts service member is killed in action or when POW/MIA remains are repatriated. Finally, the Act improves the coordination of child abuse reporting between state and military authorities, ensuring better protection for military children.
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Rep. Stanley Appointed to Lead House Efforts in Long-Term Care Conference Committee
Representative Stanley has been selected to lead the House delegation in the Conference Committee tasked with reconciling differences between two key pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing the quality and oversight of long-term care in Massachusetts. House Bill 4193, which passed unanimously in the House on November 15, 2023, and Senate Bill 2900, which similarly passed unanimously in the Senate on July 25, 2024, both focus on improving long-term care.
Rep. Stanley will collaborate closely with fellow House members, Representative Peisch (D-Wellesley) and Representative Kane (R-Shrewsbury), as well as the Senate members, Senator Rodrigues (D-Westport), Senator Jehlen (D-Somerville), and Senator O'Connell (R-Weymouth). He is committed to working diligently with his colleagues to reach a timely compromise and is confident that the resulting legislation will secure final passage in this session.
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Rep. Stanley and Legislature Pass Wage Equity Legislation
Rep. Stanley and his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature have taken a significant step towards closing the gender and racial wage gap by passing legislation that mandates salary range transparency. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Healy last week, requires employers with 25 or more employees to disclose salary ranges when posting a position and protects employees' rights to inquire about salary ranges during job applications or promotions. H.4890 will make Massachusetts the eleventh state to enforce such transparency, building on the 2016 Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, which prohibited wage discrimination based on gender.
Additionally, the bill mandates that employers with more than 100 employees share their federal wage and workforce data with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD). This data will be used to identify gender and racial wage gaps by industry, further strengthening efforts to ensure fair compensation across the Commonwealth.
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Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Parentage Act
Rep. Stanley helped passed a bill to ensure legal parentage equality, extending the full rights of parentage to LGBTQ+ families and families created via assisted reproduction. The bill dismantles archaic legal barriers to basic parenting responsibilities for modern families, opening the door to legally attend and make decisions during medical appointments, manage a child’s finances, participate in educational decisions, and provide authorizations for a child’s travel.
Despite leading the nation by legalizing same-sex marriage 20 years ago, LGBTQ+ residents continue to face significant barriers in obtaining full legal recognition as a parent. In response, the legislature’s bill updates the Commonwealth’s laws so common paths to parentage may be utilized equally by all families, regardless of marital status. It also creates a new path to parentage for individuals who are ‘de facto’ parents and ensures that every child and parent has the same rights and protections without regard to the marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation of their parents, or the circumstances of their birth.
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Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Firearm Safety Reform Bill
The Massachusetts Legislature passed a firearm safety reform bill that cracks down on the sale of ghost guns, strengthens the Commonwealth’s red flag laws, updates the definition of assault-style firearms, and limits the carrying of guns into polling places and government buildings while updating our current prohibition of guns in schools to include school transport.
Following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, the Massachusetts Legislature acted quickly to patch areas in the Commonwealth’s framework governing the issuance of licenses to carry firearms, which were undone by the Supreme Court’s actions. This legislation was made possible following a comprehensive review of the Commonwealth’s gun laws, with the goal of proposing solutions to emerging threats in technology, such as the prevalence of ghost guns.
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Announces $50,000 Grant for Waltham Schools
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston has announced that Waltham has been awarded a $50,000 targeted assistance grant, funded by both federal and state sources. This noncompetitive grant is designated for districts with one or more schools identified under the Massachusetts District and School Accountability System, providing focused and comprehensive support. The funds will help advance district priorities, including fostering systems that support the whole student, promoting deeper learning, and developing a diverse, culturally responsive, and well-prepared workforce.
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MassDOT Unveils Final Plan for Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that the final Beyond Mobility plan document, executive summary, and appendices have been posted to the Beyond Mobility website.
Considered the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan, Beyond Mobility serves as a blueprint for guiding transportation decision making and investments in Massachusetts in a way that advances MassDOT’s goals and maximizes the equity and resiliency of the transportation system. The project team, considering what the world will be like in 2050, has analyzed previous plans, public engagement responses, and results from a needs assessment and has identified six key priority areas of Massachusetts to focus on over the long term. These are: safety, destination connectivity, travel experience, reliability, supporting clean transportation, and resiliency. Within the Plan, vision statements, values, problem statements, and over 100 action items have been developed and are organized by these six priority areas.
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Rep. Stanley Helps Pass the FutureTech Act
Rep. Stanley and members of the Massachusetts Legislature enacted the FutureTech Act, taking action on a $1.26 billion bond authorization to modernize the Commonwealth’s digital infrastructure and create safer and more accessible experiences for residents and employees alike. Funding and projects included in H.4889, legislation to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts, would allow state agencies to deliver services more efficiently to residents, enhance cybersecurity on statewide platforms, and broaden access to services used by hundreds of thousands of residents statewide. The bill would also invest in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and create a fund to secure anticipated federal funding to bolster health and human services-related projects.
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Rep. Stanley Cosigns Resolution for Disability Voting Rights Week
Rep. Stanley has cosigned a resolution designating September 9th-13th as Disability Voting Rights Week. This week highlights the vital contributions of people with disabilities to their communities while acknowledging the persistent systemic barriers that make voting challenging for many. Voting is a fundamental right for all, and this resolution underscores the importance of ensuring that the disability community has full and equitable access to the electoral process.
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Wreaths Across America at Mt. Feake Cemetery
On December 14, 2024 at 11:00 am (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony), Wreaths Across America will be at Mt. Feake Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud. Learn more.
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MBTA’s Income-Eligible Reduced Fare Program Launches September 4
The MBTA is expanding access to reduced fares for income-eligible riders beginning Wed., Sept. 4, 2024. The online application is simple and can be completed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, simplified Chinese, Haitian-Creole, or Vietnamese. The launch will also include the availability of in-person support at five locations around the MBTA service area in partnership with Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) network. An additional 31 locations will become available for service over fall 2024. A pool of “early adopters” of the program will be able to apply online beginning Tues., Aug. 20, 2024. Learn more.
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Join Us for the Steward Virtual Town Hall
The recent decision by Steward Healthcare to sell their hospitals in Massachusetts, including the planned closures of Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, will have a significant impact on our community, particularly our veterans. These changes could affect thousands of veterans who rely on these facilities for their healthcare needs.
To address these concerns and provide crucial updates, join a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, August 21st, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) in collaboration with the Executive Office of Veterans' Services (EOVS) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), this town hall will offer the latest information on the Steward situation and explore alternative healthcare options available to veterans through the VA.
This session will include a Q&A segment, providing a valuable opportunity for veterans and their families to voice their questions and concerns directly to healthcare leaders and representatives. To request a link to join the virtual Town Hall, please contact Rep. Stanley.
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Check out Summer Eats!
Summer Eats ensures that every kid has access to the food they need to thrive by providing free, nutritious meals throughout the summer! Join Project Bread to support and promote this critical summer meal program. Need help finding a site? Learn more.
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Legal Assistance Available!
MassLegalHelp.org, a collaborative effort of the Massachusetts civil legal aid community, offers over 800 pieces of content in article, e-book, and video format. This comprehensive legal information website serves as a valuable resource for residents facing various legal challenges. Whether individuals are dealing with landlord-tenant disputes, appealing denied SNAP benefits, seeking domestic violence restraining orders, understanding their rights in ICE detention situations, or navigating CORI sealing processes, MassLegalHelp.org provides accessible and empowering self-help materials. Learn more.
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Regan's Corner
Meet Regan! Rep. Stanley and his family rescued a pup and named her Regan. Regan loves long walks, playing games in the yard, making friends and lounging with Rep. Stanley!
Help an animal find a home! Learn more about The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and ways you can help.
The Animal Rescue League continues to support legislation that enhances and improves protections for animals, and to oppose reforms that endanger the welfare of animals in Massachusetts. Learn more about ARL's current legislative agenda here.
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About Rep. Stanley
State Representative
City Council
Former City Council President
State Committee:
Co-Chairperson, Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
Member of:
Massachusetts Elder Nutrition Commission
Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias
City Council:
Veterans Committee
Economic Development Committee
Committee of the Whole
Education: Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (BS - Management), Mass Bay Community College (AS - Business Administration)
Community Involvement (Past & Present):
Waltham Boys & Girls Club, Waltham Youth Basketball Association, Basketball Plus Program, Central Middle School Basketball, Little Nippers Baseball, Warrendale Little League, Waltham Youth Soccer, Waltham Police Athletic League, CCD Teacher, St. Jude Church, Waltham Lions Club, Waltham Rotary Club, Reagle Players Board of Directors, Warrendale Little League Board of Directors, Waltham Partnership for Youth Board of Directors, Waltham Day Center (Homeless) Advisors Board, Waltham Family School Advisory Board, Waltham Safe & Healthy Schools YRBS Steering Committee, Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Waltham Public Library Planning Committee, Waltham Sons of Italy, Middlesex Area Enough Abuse Campaign
Awards:
Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, Shining Star Award, Edinburg Center, Community Health Center Leader Award, The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Dignity Award Certificate of Appreciation,
Home Care Ally Award, Home Care Aid Council
Personal:
Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss
Children: Ryan, age 30, Parker, age 21 & puppy Regan
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