The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday passed bipartisan legislation to promote equity and transparency as the Commonwealth continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill, An Act Addressing COVID-19 Data Collection and Disparities in Treatment, will increase the amount of statewide, publicly available data as it relates to the coronavirus. The legislation also establishes a task force to study and make policy recommendations to address health disparities for underserved and underrepresented communities during the pandemic. The bill advanced to the governor.
“This strong, comprehensive bill will help us begin to address the disparate impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare, especially among our communities of color and other vulnerable populations,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I am proud of the thoughtful and collaborative work my Senate colleagues, as well as the Senate Working Group, did to advance this urgent piece of legislation. I look forward to it becoming law.”
“Thanks to the leadership of Senate President Spilka, the bill we passed today is a true reflection of the Senate’s teamwork,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D- Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Owing to the collaborative spirit and input of Senators Brownsberger, Comerford, Chang-Diaz, Cyr, and Jehlen, this critical legislation increases transparency and ensures we have access to the important data necessary to effectively and precisely fight this pandemic.”
“This legislation has two major wins: data transparency and government accountability,” said Senator Jo Comerford, co-chair of the Committee on Public Health and Chair of the Senate COVID-19 Working Group (D-Northampton). “Public access to comprehensive data is foundational to a strong democracy and a healthy government is one that commits publicly to address any disparities and inequities found in the data. Thank you to the advocates who organized effectively around this legislation. And thank you to the Senate President, Chair Rodrigues, and colleagues for their tenacious efforts and commitment to propelling this bill across the finish line.”
“Communities of color are more vulnerable to disease because of long-term, structural barriers to care and treatment,” said Assistant Majority Whip Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “COVID-19 has disproportionately sickened and killed underserved and underrepresented populations in Massachusetts, and the Commonwealth is obligated to respond and care for communities where the need is greatest. Collecting actionable demographic data is critical to inform policies and interventions for the duration of the pandemic. This legislation is a step towards making right the gaping equities that COVID-19 has laid bare.”
“This pandemic has been particularly devastating for Black, brown, and immigrant communities across the state, and this bill is a vital step towards helping us craft an equitable recovery,” said Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz (D-Boston), a member of the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus. The bill's data requirements are rigorous, comprehensive, and time-sensitive and — so importantly — it takes the next steps beyond data and requires the development of action steps to address COVID-19 disparities. Many thanks to Senate President Spilka, Senator Rodrigues, and Senator Comerford for ushering through such a strong bill, to the Black & Latino Caucus, and to so many in the healthcare and social services communities--in particular, the Massachusetts Public Health Association--for their dedicated and thoughtful advocacy throughout this process.”
“Overcoming the challenges of gaps in treatment and access to health care has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R- Gloucester). “By working together, the House and Senate have responded with a comprehensive bill, with bipartisan support, that will help close those gaps while informing our future decisions to prevent inequalities from happening in the first place.”
Under the bill, the Department of Public Health (DPH) is required to compile, collect and issue daily online reports on the number of people tested for COVID-19, positive cases, hospitalizations and deaths along with the gender, race, ethnicity, primary residence, occupation, disability, age and primary language of each case.
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of cases statewide, the legislation also requires that daily reports include data and demographic information from municipalities and counties with more than 25 positive cases, elder care facilities, as well as state and county correctional facilities. Facility-specific information will be made publicly available while maintaining individual privacy. In addition to requiring greater data collection, the bill requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to describe the actions it is taking to address disparities identified through the data collected.
In response to increasing concerns about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color and disproportionately impacted populations, the legislation also establishes a task force to study and make policy recommendations for how to address these health disparities. The task force is required to issue an interim report by June 30, 2020, with a final report due August 1, 2020.
The bill, which is the latest action by the Senate to address the COVID-19 public health crisis and its effects on Massachusetts, now advances to the governor’s desk.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Veterans Memorial Walkway Update
Brick Sales Are Ongoing
The May 2020 brick installation has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The next installation will be in June.
Brick sales will be ongoing until all bricks have been engraved.
Brick order forms can be found on this web page. Click on the Veterans Walkway Brick Order Form link on the left side of the Veterans Services home page.
https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/files/veterans-walkway-brick-order-form
Veterans or current members of the U.S. military being honored with an engraved brick do not need to be Franklin residents.
For more information, call (508) 613-1315.
Thank you for your support of this project that honors our Veterans!
 |
| Veterans Memorial Walkway Update |
Franklin Recreation COVID-19 News - June 1 meeting
Recreation COVID-19 News
5/29 Update: On Monday, June 1, the Recreation Dept will be hosting a zoom meeting to discuss phase 2 approach to bringing back youth sports with all Franklin Youth Sports presidents and Recreation Advisory Board members.
5/28 Update: As of now, the Recreation dept is planning to run summer camp beginning on July 6th, pending meeting to discuss with all School and Town officials on 6/1. There will be no field trips, groups will be limited to 5:1 ratio and extreme safety measures will be in place. More information to come next week.
5/25 Update: All Town and School playing fields, courts, open space are now open with restrictions. Playgrounds are still closed until further notice. See Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen's memo https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/2020-05-22_athletic_fields_reopen.pdf
https://bit.ly/3bDgozC
Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting
Franklin Public Schools
Franklin School Committee
DT Facility Analysis Subcommittee
Per Governor Baker’s order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A sec. 20, the public will not be allowed to physically access this School Committee Subcommittee meeting. Members of the Public can access the meeting via remote conference. The School Committee reserves the right to implement additional remote participation procedures and will notify the public of these procedures as soon as practicable.
DATE: 6/1/2020
TIME:3:00pm
LOCATION:Remote participation - meet.google.com/hbu-nkev-qhv
Meeting ID meet.google.com/hbu-nkev-qhv
Phone Numbers (US)+1314-666-2768
PIN: 807 291 230#
MEETING AGENDA
“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”
Approval of past minutes (5/7/20 and 5/21/20)
Discussion:
●Revisit our 5 Stage Process, discuss Phase Two
●Focus on gathering family and staff member perspectives
○collaborate on questionnaire components
○discuss timeline to disseminate questionnaires
○schedule 2nd community info session (virtual)
●Prepare for Thursday discussion with Craig Olsen
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/agenda_dt_subcom_6.1.2020.pdf
 |
| Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting |
"we cannot bring the world to Boston in September"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200528/updated-2020-boston-marathon-is-canceled-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak-this-is-first-time-in-history-it-will-not-be-held-in-person
https://youtu.be/UY1_FPyIqxQ
"Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Thursday that running the 2020 Boston Marathon is “not feasible this year.”
The race was originally scheduled for Patriots Day and was rescheduled for Sept. 14. The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A) said that the 124th Boston Marathon will be held as a virtual event.
Walsh said Thursday that officials agreed it was not possible for the city and other communities along the route to host the race safely.
“The traditional one-day running of the 124th Boston Marathon is not feasible this year for public health reasons,” Walsh said. “There is no way to hold this unusual race format without bringing large numbers of people into close proximity. While our goal and hope was to make progress and contain the virus and recover our economy, this kind of event would not be responsible or realistic on Sept. 14 or anytime this year.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200528/updated-2020-boston-marathon-is-canceled-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak-this-is-first-time-in-history-it-will-not-be-held-in-person
"Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney to tour UMass Lowell’s Fabric Discovery Center, a Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT) funding recipient conducting high volume screening of locally produced personal protective equipment (PPE) for FDA approval."
https://youtu.be/UY1_FPyIqxQ
Ballpark Dining at McCoy Stadium
PawSox introduce Ballpark Dining at McCoy Stadium
|
.jpg "Ballpark Dining at McCoy Stadium")
Thursday, May 28, 2020
CURBSIDE CAFE opens June 1 at Senior Center
PLEASE REGISTER and select your meal(s) and pricing by 9:00 AM for day of pick up https://www.franklinma.gov/curb
The Curbside Cafe provides freshly prepared meals for curbside pickup, Monday through Friday, at the Franklin Senior Center from 11 AM to 1 PM, for elders, 60 years and older and disabled residents. This program is funded by a grant from the Metrowest Health Foundation and generous support from the Franklin Council on Aging.
PICK UP:
Meal pick up is at the side door of the Center’s kitchen using the rear access road; see sign for Senior Meals as you enter the parking lot.
Stay in your vehicle at all times; meals will be placed in the trunk of your vehicle.
Masks must be worn and physical distancing practiced. If customers are not masked, a separate area is designated for pick up
PAYMENT:
- The program offers meals at a subsidized rate of $2 but customers can make an additional donation to support the program.
- Customers will be invoiced for payment.
- Cash or checks can be mailed to the Senior Center or deposited into the secured mail box at the entrance to the Senior Center. Please include name and phone number on the envelope. (There is a $10 minimum amount for checks.)
- If you cannot afford any payment, please call the Center and ask to speak with our Social Service Coordinator.
GATRA TRANSPORTATION:
Dial-A-Ride is available to drive customers to the Center for meal pickup. Please call (800) 698-7676 by noon on the day prior to pick up.
 |
| https://www.franklinma.gov/curb |
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10dxBBmqG87LZe1E1g9Lk2VGS0P8ZaUD4/view?usp=sharing
 |
| CURBSIDE CAFE opens June 1 at Senior Center |
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)