Senate Releases Bill to Lower Signature Threshold for Some Candidacies

The Massachusetts State Senate Committee on Rules has released a bill to address public health concerns surrounding the gathering of signatures for candidates for public office during the COVID-19 State of Emergency.

"This is an unprecedented time, and we must consider all of our actions with an eye towards protecting the health and safety of our residents," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The Senate is therefore taking steps to reduce the number of signatures for offices that require a large number during this public health crisis. With this legislation, we hope to find a way to ensure that those who decide to run for public office can demonstrate the necessary support they have in their communities without endangering their health or the health of others."

"We must prioritize the protection of public health during this pandemic," stated Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem), Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules. "This bill appropriately halves the requirements for candidates who need one thousand or more signatures to get on the ballot, thereby protecting both civic-minded citizens and potential officeholders."

"We need to ensure that everyone who wants to participate in the political process can do so in a way that keeps themselves and their neighbors safe, which is why this legislation is so important," stated Senator Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws.

The Senate plans to take up the bill on Monday, April 13, 2020.

The bill text is found here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1irUIqz_4AHaCK4vZuiSmHYV5D-ebJ2vp/view?usp=sharing

or viewed here

In the News: How do candidates collect signatures while social distancing?

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Franklin resident Matt Kelly has been driving around a lot lately, and using a lot of hand sanitizer. 

The Franklin town councilor is hoping to become a candidate on the November ballot for state senator, but social distancing guidelines have made collecting the necessary signatures a much more difficult task than in years past. 

The typical approaches – standing outside grocery stores or downtown, going door-to-door meeting people or holding events – are now public health risks. 

Instead, Kelly is spending his days asking people via social media if they’ll support his campaign, then donning one of the masks his young children made for him and driving to people’s homes with a nomination sheet. He tapes them to storm doors or puts them in mailboxes, then picks up the signed papers the next day."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200410/how-do-candidates-collect-signatures-while-social-distancing

Related post: The MA Senate has released the text of a bill for work next week to reduce the number of signatures required due to the circumstances of the pandemic. 
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/senate-releases-bill-to-lower-signature.html

In the News: Gov. Baker signs bill to suspend MCAS for this school year

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"MCAS testing requirements for the school year are suspended. The bill the governor signed into law Friday also calls for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to modify or waive graduation requirements for students set to complete high school this summer, and for due dates for district improvement plans to be pushed back. 

School districts have been closed by executive order since March 15. The new law also postpones the MBTA’s budget timeline and makes housing assistance benefits easier to acquire remotely. 

“Cancelling MCAS testing for the remainder of this school year will enable our teachers and students to focus on learning and personal well-being as we continue to navigate the current public health emergency,” Sen. Jason Lewis, co-chair of the Legislature’s Education Committee, said in a statement after the branches agreed to the bill Thursday. “Legislators heard loud and clear from teachers, parents and superintendents that this was the right thing to do.”

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200410/gov-baker-signs-bill-to-suspend-mcas-for-this-school-year/1

Related post: The legislation press release was shared on Friday
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/ma-legislature-passes-bill-to-help.html

Great visual to reinforce social distancing

From the Ohio Dept of Health  https://youtu.be/o4PnSYAqQHU

Their COVID-19 page  https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home

New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments

“The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments.

However, for some people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration — specifically those who have dependent children under the age of 17—it is to their advantage to go to this portal to ensure they also get the $500 per dependent Economic Impact Payment. I encourage them to do this as soon as possible, and want to provide the following details:

People who receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability insurance benefits and who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who have qualifying children under age 17 should now go to the IRS’s webpage to enter their information instead of waiting for their automatic $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.

By taking proactive steps to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment. If Social Security beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait to receive their $500 per qualifying child."

Continue reading the article for additional details
https://blog.ssa.gov/new-guidance-about-covid-19-economic-impact-payments/

New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments

MA Legislature Passes Bill To Help Vulnerable Residents, Support Schools Amid The COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

Provisions address homelessness, MCAS testing requirements

The Massachusetts Senate and House on Thursday (4/09/20) passed legislation that supports those experiencing homelessness and provides testing and budgetary flexibility to school districts.

"The Senate remains steadfast in its approach to offering relief to students, families and all sectors of our Commonwealth as we continue adjust to the challenges caused by COVID-19," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D – Ashland). "This bill is just the latest step as we help to guide the state through this unprecedented time. I want to thank Senator Michael Rodrigues for his leadership, Speaker DeLeo for his partnership, and all my colleagues in the Senate for their dedication and collaboration on this legislation."

"The wide-ranging effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on our schools and communities demand action, and the Legislature took steps to help those most in need and provide flexibility to our schools so that they may operate effectively during this public health crisis," said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D – Winthrop). "By providing emergency funding for the homeless, we are protecting those most at risk. I appreciate the leadership of Senate President Spilka as well as the work of Chairs Michlewitz and Peisch in moving these critical provisions forward."

"This bill reflects the Senate's continued commitment to act quickly to address the challenges and disruptions posed by COVID-19, and provide relief for taxpayers, students and educators, and municipalities," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D – Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "I applaud Senate President Spilka for her leadership in this uncertain time, and my colleagues in the Senate for their collaboration in supporting residents of the Commonwealth."

"This legislation helps a wide variety of entities deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means (D – Boston). "Whether it's aiding our cities and towns with the needs of their school districts, to helping homeless providers have greater flexibility in protecting those most in need, the Legislature stands ready to help those most affected by this public health crisis."

"Cancelling MCAS testing for the remainder of this school year will enable our teachers and students to focus on learning and personal well-being as we continue to navigate the current public health emergency," said Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education (D – Winchester). "Legislators heard loud and clear from teachers, parents and superintendents that this was the right thing to do."

"This legislation provides much-needed relief to school districts as they face this unprecedented emergency," said Representative Alice Peisch, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Education (D – Wellesley). "The bill waives the MCAS requirement while giving the Commissioner and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education the flexibility to modify or waive the competency determination, and requires the Commissioner to delay the due date for the improvement plans required under the Student Opportunity Act. These provisions will allow districts to focus on what is most important - students' health, safety, and continued learning. I'd like to thank Speaker DeLeo and Chairman Michlewitz for their leadership, and the members of the Education Committee for their hard work and support."

"The Senate and House are working together to rapidly put in place the necessary legislative components to respond effectively to the needs of our students, our communities, the most vulnerable in our society, and the vital systems that serve them," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R – Gloucester).

"The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges that require ongoing collaboration at all levels," said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R – North Reading).  "By addressing education testing, housing assistance and the MBTA budget, the House and Senate are building on the steps we've already taken to facilitate municipal governance and make unemployment benefits more accessible. There is still much more to be done, and we must continue to work together to help ease the burden on the Commonwealth's residents during this public health crisis."

This latest relief package known as An Act to Further Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities, School Districts and State authorities Resulting from COVID-19, includes the following components.   https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4616

Student Requirements and District Operations. To address disruptions caused by the closure of K-12 schools due to COVID-19, the legislation waives the MCAS requirements for the 2019-2020 academic year and allows DESE to modify or waive competency determination requirements related to high school graduation.

In order to comply with measures under the newly implemented Student Opportunity Act, the legislation would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner to extend the deadlines for school districts to submit their three-year plans to address educational disparities in student subgroups.  This deadline shall be extended to May 15, 2020, or later, as determined by the Commissioner.

The legislation also provides budgetary flexibility for regional school as a result of COVID-19.

Helping Vulnerable Populations. In keeping with the Legislature's commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, the legislation repurposes existing homelessness funds that currently support services that can't be provided due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The legislation redirects funding to address immediate and critical homelessness needs resulting from the public health emergency.

MBTA Budget Flexibility. The legislation also provides the MBTA additional budgetary flexibility amid the COVID-19 emergency.

The bill, which is the latest action by the Legislature to address the COVID-19 public health crisis and its effects on Massachusetts, now heads to the Governor.

MA Legislature Passes Bill To Help Vulnerable Residents, Support Schools Amid The  COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

FM #241 - Superintendent Sara Ahern - Remote Learning Phase 2

FM #241 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 241 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about Phase 2 of the remote learning being implemented this week. We review how this new learning mode is not optimal but the best we can do under the circumstances. Feedback on the implementation will be looked for after giving it some time to happen. On the business front, the FY 2021 budget discussions resume next week with a virtual School Committee meeting.

The recording runs about 15 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Sara and hear about what is happening with “Keeping Learning Alive” for the Franklin Public Schools.

https://anchor.fm/fpsvoice/episodes/Remote-Learning-Plan-for-Franklin-Public-School-District-ecjamc/a-a1t3p6i




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As you hear during our discussion, there were updates made to the COVID-19 Portal page for the School District. As I checked the page preparing for this to be posted, the 9-box layout I mentioned has expanded to be 12 boxes. https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/franklin-public-schools-covid-19-closure-information-portal


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/franklin-public-schools-covid-19-closure-information-portal