What's ahead in state government this week
Polito: Cranberry Chamber and Community Compacts; Wolf nuke plant closure bill
ARTICLE | POLITICS | NOVEMBER 14, 2015 06:00 AM | BY STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
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Legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Baker do not appear too concerned by their lack of progress on major bills as they head towards a seven-week recess period running through Thanksgiving, Christmas and into the new year. On issue after issue - from energy to opioids to public records and transportation services regulation - Baker and Democratic legislative leaders say they're working together and are confident that their work will eventually lead to results. So they're treating Wednesday's end of formal sessions for 2015 - a deadline written into legislative rules - for what it is, a temporary suspension of major activity until January when they can pick up where they left off, presumably after making some inroads during the recess. A burst of activity in the branches is likely early next week, with the House planning to finally take up public records and solar energy bills that have long been in the works, and the Senate poised to consider social media privacy and both physical and sexual education bills. But with the possible exception of some bills affecting veterans it's possible that lawmakers won't finish work next week on any major bills. Aside from action in the branches, there are plenty of other storylines.
-- BAKER, WALSH TESTIFY ON OPIOIDS: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh plans to join Gov. Charlie Baker Monday to testify before a legislative committee on the governor's opioid bill. Baker and others are calling for drastic steps to stem the deadly toll of heroin and prescription opioids, including new limits on prescriptions and giving doctors the ability to commit patients to treatment without their consent. The Senate has approved legislation to address opioids. Gov. Baker initially expressed hopes of receiving a bill by Thanksgiving but has dialed back his expectations. It's not clear when House leaders will put an opioid bill on the floor.
-- BALLOT QUESTION SIGNATURE DEADLINE: Wednesday is the deadline for ballot question proponents to file scores of signatures with local election officials for certification. On September 2, Attorney General Maura Healey certified 22 petitions as ballot eligible, including 20 proposed laws and two proposed constitutional amendments. The petitions cover 16 topics as some petitioners submitted multiple proposals on the same subject. The signature requirements - petitioners need 64,750 certified signatures in the first round of gathering - have historically been too much of a hurdle for many campaigns to clear. No more than one quarter of the certified signatures may come from any one county. So expect the field of possible 2016 ballot questions to slim down soon. Proponents of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes and expanding access to charter school have already expressed confidence that they have sufficient signatures to met the first, and largest, of two signature filing requirements.
-- BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTES ON STUDENT ASSESSMENT: The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has a major decision to make on Tuesday. The board plans to take up Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester's recommendation that the state move to a "next generation MCAS" student assessment that would draw material from the PARCC exam, which is based on the Common Core education standards. The board also meets Monday afternoon to take last-minute comments on the student assessment decision.
-- NEW DCF POLICIES TO BE ROLLED OUT: The Baker administration is expected to roll out new policies for the Department of Children and Families early next week, the product of negotiations with the labor union that represents about 2,900 DCF social workers, supervisors and investigators. On the heels of several high-profile cases that shined a light on shortcomings of the state's child protection agency, the administration announced in September a series of reforms, including the retooling of the agency's intake policy, which Baker said has not been updated in 12 years. Through negotiation with SEIU Local 509, Baker said, the policy will be updated to include a standardized risk assessment procedure, criminal records checks in all cases, review of a family's entire history with DCF, including current and prior contacts, review of the frequency and type of emergency responses to the home, and an assessment of parental capacity. The DCF intake policy, Baker has previously said, "is at the root of a whole series of cases that have recently come to light." The Baker administration and union have also been working to update the department's supervision policy to provide some clarity for social workers to determine when a case should be kicked up for higher review.
SATURDAY, NOV. 14, 2015
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL DEBATE: Democratic candidates vying for the presidential nomination will meet in Des Moines, Iowa for a debate sponsored by CBS News, KCCI and the Des Moines Register. The debate, moderated by John Dickerson, will feature Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. Last month former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb dropped out of presidential race. (Saturday, 9 p.m., CBS News, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa)
MASSDEMS MEETING: The Democratic State Committee meets. The agenda includes a rules committee update and discussion of the 2016 budget, Democratic National Convention info sessions, the "fill every seat award" and a new website. (Saturday, 11 a.m., Lee Elementary School, 310 Graylock St., Lee)
ROSENBERG AT NURSING CENTER: Senate President Stanley Rosenberg speaks 10:15 a.m. Speaks at Applewood Nursing Center. (Saturday, 10:15 a.m., 1 Spencer Dr, Amherst)
CHILDREN'S TRUST GALA: The Children's Trust, an organization that runs coaching programs for parents, will honor Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at its annual "Evening of Promise" gala. He is being honored for supporting children and families in Massachusetts, both in the Massachusetts House and as mayor. The event will include a cocktail reception, dinner, auctions, and a raffle. Tickets are $250 each and can be purchased at 501auctions.com/promise. (Saturday, 6 p.m., Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston)
CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION CLINIC: The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition holds a free clinic in New Bedford to help qualified immigrants fill out paperwork to apply for U.S. Citizenship. To be eligible to apply, attendees must have been a permanent resident of the U.S. for five years (or three if married to a U.S. citizen); have no serious problems with the law; and speak, read and write basic English. Volunteers who speak English, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages will be on hand to help with applications and waivers for the $680 application fee, MIRA said. Registration for immigrants and volunteers is available at miracoalition.org/en/citizenship/sub-citizenship-clinics. (Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford)
HILLARY FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE CANVASS: State Treasurer Deb Goldberg will be in Salem, N.H. to kick off the Hillary for New Hampshire Canvass. Before volunteers go door to door, Goldberg will discuss Clinton's advocacy for equal pay. She and her team are meeting at the Boston Teachers Union in Dorchester at 9:30 a.m. and riding up on a bus together. (Saturday, 11 a.m., 15 Ermer Road, Salem, N.H.)
YOUNG MEN OF COLOR CONFERENCE: The Home for Little Wanderers, with Brandeis University and The Human Services Providers Council, holds the Young Men of Color Conference to bring "young men of color together with men that have navigated many of the same challenges and emerged strong and successful." Guest panelists include Brandeis Dean of Students Jamele Adams, Corey Yarbrough of the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition, WCVB-TV reporter Frank Holland and Duane Jackson of Alinea Capital Partners. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Brandeis University, Hassenfeld Conference Center, 415 South Street, Waltham)
Y.O.U., INC. GALA: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito offers remarks at a gala for Y.O.U., Inc., a non-profit child welfare and behavioral health organization serving troubled and at-risk children, adolescents and families in the Worcester county area. (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester)
SUNDAY, NOV. 15, 2015
PROGRESS IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT PANEL: Journalist and author Thomas Oliphant moderates a Getting to the Point panel discussion at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute about the book, "Lion of the Senate: When Ted Kennedy Rallied the Democrats in a GOP Congress." The event will feature David Nexon, co-author of the book, and Doris Kearns Goodwin, historian and author of the book's foreward. The other panelists are Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Michael Myers and Patricia Knight. Myers was former chief counsel to Sen. Ted Kennedy and Knight was former chief of staff to Sen. Orrin Hatch. Those interested in attending should RSVP to press@emkinstitute.org, and the event will be livestreamed on emkinstitute.org. (Sunday, 4 p.m., Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, 210 Morrissey Blvd., Boston)
TSONGAS ON THE RECORD: Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) will be a guest on "On The Record" with co-hosts NewsCenter 5 Anchor Ed Harding and State House Reporter Janet Wu. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch 5)
MONDAY, NOV. 16, 2015
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m.
STUDENT TESTING PUBLIC COMMENT: The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education holds its final public comment session on the state student assessment program before voting Tuesday. Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester recommended this week that the state develop a "next generation MCAS" that blends elements of the MCAS and PARCC exams with customized items unique to Massachusetts. Individuals who would like to speak must register when they arrive and will be given three minutes to speak within the time allotted. Members of the public who are unable to testify are encouraged to submit written comments toboe@doe.mass.edu. (Monday, 4 p.m., Malden High School auditorium, Malden)
IMAGINE BOSTON OPEN HOUSE: The public is invited to an Imagine Boston 2030 Open House. The initiative, led by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, is aimed at getting input on ways to enhance the city of Boston ahead of its 400th birthday. (Monday, 4 p.m., Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building, 2300 Washington Street, Dudley Square)
ROSENBERG AT UMASS: Senate President Rosenberg participates in UMass Boston Political Science Class. (Monday, 9 a.m., UMass Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Wheatley Building 2-198
BAKER, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MEET: Gov. Baker and legislative leaders hold a closed meeting. (Monday, 2 p.m. Speaker DeLeo's third floor office)
ROSENBERG ON "NIGHTSIDE" Senate President Rosenberg is the scheduled guest for a live Interview with Dan Rea, WBZ Radio AM 1030, (Monday, 9 p.m., 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston)
SENATE AMENDMENT DEADLINE: When the Senate teed up four bills for the full body to consider during its final formal session of 2015 on Wednesday, it also established a deadline for members to file amendments with the Senate clerk's office. Any senator wishing to amend a social media privacy bill (S 2034), an extension of military training-related leave (S 2053), the creation of a paint stewardship program (S 2052) or an act further regulating notaries public (S 757) must do so by 11 a.m. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate clerk's office)
YMCA GROUNDBREAKING IN SOUTHBRIDGE: Reps Peter Durant and Joseph McKenna attend a groundbreaking ceremony the Tri-Community YMCA is holding for renovations funded through an $800,000 grant from the Early Education and Out of School Time (EEOST) Capital Fund Program. The Tri-Community YMCA is one of 10 organizations that shared $7.45 million in the first round of the state's EEOST Capital Fund grant awards. (Monday, 12 p.m., Tri-Community YMCA, 115 Marcy St., Southbridge)
PUBLIC HEARING ON BAKER OPIOID BILL: The Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse holds a hearing on Gov. Charlie Baker's bill (H 3817) to combat the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts, which was unveiled on Oct. 15. Gov. Baker plans to testify with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh in support of his bill. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Auditor Suzanne Bump are also scheduled to testify. This legislation sets a 72-hour limit on the supply of opioids a practitioner can prescribe for a first-time prescription, on the premise that use or misuse of prescription opioids can lead to addiction. The bill requires anyone prescribing controlled substances to complete five hours of training every two years on addiction risks. It also authorizes physicians to hold patients with substance use disorders for three days at a hospital or treatment center. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and sheriffs from eight counties have come out in support of the governor's bill, but some medical professionals have expressed concerns. House Speaker Robert DeLeo said it's unlikely the House will consider the bill until sometime in 2016. Full text:https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H3817 (Monday, 10 a.m., Gardner Auditorium)
MIRA THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON: The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition will hold its 11th annual Thanksgiving Luncheon with special guest Gov. Charlie Baker. Baker is scheduled to speak at 12:30 p.m. Other speakers, according to MIRA, include Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Massachusetts Bay Community College President Yves Salomon-Fernandez, and Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants executive director Mary Truong, along with immigrants, refugees, new citizens and asylum speakers.(Monday, 11:30 a.m., Great Hall)
CONGRESSMAN LYNCH ADDRESSES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Congressman Stephen Lynch is scheduled as the featured speaker at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Forum. Contact crudnick@bostonchamber.com for advance registration. (Monday, 8 a.m., The Langham, Boston, 250 Franklin Street, Boston)
COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH SEN. DOWNING: Sen. Ben Downing holds a public forum at Washington Town Hall, the final of his Coffee & Conversation events this year. In 2015, he held such forums in Goshen, Clarksburg, West Stockbridge, Hancock, Heath, Lee, Williamstown, Chesterfield and Florida. Members of the public are welcome to ask questions, pitch ideas or submit comments. (Monday, 2 p.m., Washington Town Hall, 8 Summit Hill Road, Washington)
100 YEARS OF AIM CELEBRATION: Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Inc., a provider of management and human resources services for more than 4,500 employers, holds a gala celebrating its centennial. Expected guests include Gov. Charlie Baker; former Gov. Michael Dukakis, Jane Swift and William Weld; Auditor Suzanne Bump, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg. UMass Boston Chancellor J. Keith Motley will serve as master of ceremonies, and awards will be given to iRobot Corporation, Crane & Company and Bentley University President Gloria Cordes Larson. Tickets, which are $500 each, are available at aimnet.org. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston)
GOLDBERG AT LAW LUNCH: Treasurer Deb Goldberg speaks at a luncheon at the law firm Nutter McClennen & Fish, LLP. (Monday, 12 p.m., 155 Seaport Blvd., 5th floor, Boston)
TOUR OF GREENTOWN LABS: Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey and Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Gina McCarthy will tour Greentown Labs. After the tour, Markey and McCarthy will hold a press conference to discuss President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan as well as legislative priorities to address global warming. The tour and press conference come two weeks before world leaders are scheduled to gather in Paris, France to discuss international climate change. (Monday, 1 p.m., Greentown Labs, 28 Dane Street, Somerville)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HEARING: The Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies meets to hear testimony on the Baker administration's comprehensive economic development policy and strategic plan. Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash plans to testify. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Room A-1)
NORTH-SOUTH RAIL LINK WORKING GROUP: The North South Rail Link Working Group will meet at the State House for its monthly meeting with special guest Congressman Seth Moulton. Moulton is expected to discuss the rail link's growing support in Congress, according to an aide to Rep. Sean Garballey. The group, spearheaded by former Govs. Michael Dukakis and William Weld, is looking to commission a study using money from a 2014 transportation bond bill, which included language directing the administration to study the route of a proposed rail corridor linking North and South stations. CLOSED PRESS. Press avail will take place after the meeting. (Monday, 12 p.m., Room 428)
UMASS LOWELL NASA FLIGHT: A NASA rocket scheduled to launch early Monday morning will carry technology developed by a UMass Lowell team, known as Planet Imaging Coronagraphic Technology Using a Reconfigurable Experimental Base. PICTURE-B is an optical-imaging system designed by the university to block direct light from stars so objects close to them -- including planets, asteroids and interplanetary dust -- can be identified and studied. The rocket is headed to the edge of the atmosphere, where PICTURE-B will block the light from the star Epsilon Eridani in order to capture images of the objects in space that surround it. Scientists believe the star's glare is blocking the view of planets, asteroid belts and a disk of planetary dust, according to the university. (Monday, 2:30 a.m., U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico)
CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM: Harvard's Institute of Politics JFK Jr. event series will hold a forum focused on climate change titled "Bringing the Global Community to the Table: Paris 2015 UN Climate Change Conference." The forum will be moderated by former CNN chief political correspondent and IOP Resident Fellow Candy Crowley. The event comes a week before world leaders gather in Paris, France for a discussion on climate change. The forum is free and open to the public. (Monday, 6 p.m., 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge)
SOLAR RALLY: Environment Massachusetts and Vote Solar will hold a rally outside the State House urging legislators to take up and pass a bill that would raise the solar net metering cap. Supporters plan to deliver letters and petitions from civic leaders, business owners, and ordinary citizens in support to House Speaker Robert DeLeo and other legislative leaders. DeLeo said the House plans to consider the bill ahead of its formal session scheduled for Wednesday. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., State House Steps)
PALEOLOGOS ON POLLS: David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, will be discussing his most recent polling on the presidential election with USA TODAY and the Boston Globe. (Monday, 12 p.m., Suffolk University Stahl Center, third floor, 73 Tremont St., Boston)
BAKER AT CITC BREAKFAST: Gov. Charlie Baker gives remarks at a Community Investment Tax Credit breakfast hosted by the United Way and the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations. (Monday 8 a.m., Boston College Club, 100 Federal St., 36th floor, Boston)
TUESDAY, NOV. 17, 2015
HOUSE SESSION: The House plans to meet in a formal session. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., House Chamber)
HOUSE DEMOCRATS CAUCUS: House Democrats plan to caucus ahead of a formal session of the House. (Tuesday, 12 p.m., Location TBD)
BOARD OF EDUCATION ASSESSMENT VOTE: The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will discuss and vote on whether to adopt Commissioner Mitchell Chester's recommendation to develop and implement a "next generation MCAS" that includes material from the PARCC exam as well as new, customized test items unique to Massachusetts. The agenda also includes discussion of spring 2015 school and district results on the PARCC exam, vote on a fiscal 2017 budget proposal and an update on the Holyoke Public Schools. The board members are Chairman Paul Sagan, executive in residence at General Catalyst Partners in Cambridge; Vice Chair James Morton, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston; Babson College Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Craven; Ed Doherty, representing the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; Roland Fryer, the Henry Lee Professor of Economics at Harvard University; Suffolk University President Margaret McKenna; Olde Holyoke Development Corporation executive director Michael Moriarty; Penny Noyce, founding trustee of the education nonprofit Noyce Foundation; Secretary of Education James Peyser; parent representative Mary Ann Stewart of Lexington and Donald Willyard, chair of the State Student Advisory Council. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 75 Pleasant St., Malden)
PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISTS CELEBRATION: Mass Alliance hosts A Celebration of Progressive Champions, billed as "the biggest annual party for progressive activists and legislators in Massachusetts." Treasurer Deb Goldberg is the keynote speaker. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., CIC Boston, 50 Milk St.)
REPORT ON FED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Jobs for the Future, a national non-profit, host members of the state and local media to present a report that highlights 15 examples of opportunities to increase federal funding for Massachusetts through new and existing programs. "The report supports efforts already underway to determine how to more effectively serve the people of the Commonwealth with existing revenue - in other words, how to do more with less," according to organizers of Tuesday's event. The report was commissioned by the Barr Foundation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, the Boston Foundation, and the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. The highlighted funding examples are in health care, workforce development, and community development and examples include foster care/adoption incentives, lead poisoning reimbursement, and diversity in the highway construction workforce. Attendees include Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, Rep. Mark Cusack, Jobs for the Future, the Barr Foundation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, the Boston Foundation, and Tufts Health Plan Foundation. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Senate Reading Room, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston)
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE: The Joint Committee on Financial Services holds a hearing on 19 bills related to health insurance. S 514, sponsored by the late Sen. Thomas Kennedy, requires health insurers to reimburse facilities for the costs of providing sign language and spoken language interpreters. Rep. Thomas Golden has sponsored a bill (H 865) authorizing a medical malpractice insurers to decline to pay claims for negligence when a licensed provider fails to consult the prescription monitoring program prior to prescribing medication. S 489, sponsored by Sen. Vinny deMacedo, prohibits a medical malpractice insurer from refusing insurance to a licensed dentist on the basis of a collaborative agreement between the dentist and a public health dental hygienist. H 792 and S 519 seek to ensure transparency in health plan formularies. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2323&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 1 p.m., B-1)
MARRIAGE EQUALITY CELEBRATION: The Boston Foundation's Equality Fund hosts an event celebrating marriage equality. Speakers include Attorney General Maura Healey; Scott Squillace, a foundation board member and attorney who specializes on life and estate planning for the LGBT community; and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders civil rights project director Mary Bonauto. Bonauto successfully argued in the U.S. Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage across the country. She also served as lead counsel in the case that made Massachusetts the first state where same-sex couples could legally wed in 2004. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., The Boston Foundation, 75 Arlington St., 10th floor, Boston)
ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD: Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Massachusetts Community College Council plan to speak at the Roxbury Community College Board of Trustees meeting to urge members not to replace the school's information technology workers with contractors from a private company. AFSCME represents the IT workers, and MCCC represents faculty and staff. "President Valerie Roberson's attempt to privatize services now being capably performed by public employees, many of whom are RCC graduates, is an affront to working men and women and to Roxbury Community College's mission of strengthening the community it serves," AFSCME steward Laverne Banks said in a statement. "Diverting public funds to private companies who have no accountability to the community is not in the interest of public education." (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Room 2-308, Roxbury Community College)
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE: The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities holds a hearing on 15 bills. Reps Kay Khan and Ellen Story have sponsored a bill (H 3208) establishing a committee to study the education, mental health needs and transportation issues facing the children of incarcerated mothers. H 137, sponsored by Rep. Timothy Whelan and Sen. Richard Ross, requires the commissioner for the Commission for the Blind to create a registry of people whose visual acuity is 20/60 or less - with correction - in the better eye. Other bills provide for additional income tax exemptions for families caring for elderly relatives at home (H 75) and vision screening 12 months prior to entering kindergarten for children of state employees. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2318&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., B-1)
ELECTION LAWS COMMITTEE: Twenty-three bills dealing with campaign finance laws will be the subject of a hearing of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. Among the bills to be considered is a bill (H 616) filed by Rep. Chris Walsh that would forbid corporations from contributing to political candidates or campaigns unless the stockholders of the company vote in advance to authorize the expenditure and specify the particular candidate, party, or issue the money will go to. The committee will also accept testimony on a Rep. Colleen Garry bill (H 559) that would require any candidate or PAC found to have falsified or wrongly stated an opponent's stand, vote or background to forfeit all funds in their committee or PAC account to the state. The committee will also consider a Rep. Bradley Jones bill (H 572) that would eliminate limited public financing of campaigns for statewide elective office. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Room 222)
OFFSHORE WIND FORUM: Rep. Josh Cutler and Rep. Tom Calter sponsor a forum in Duxbury on the future of deep offshore wind power and other sources of renewable energy. It will feature Rep. Pat Haddad, experts from the offshore wind industry and proponents of anaerobic digester technology to convert agricultural waste into electricity for farms, according to Rep. Cutler's office. Offshore wind advocates and industry officials met with lawmakers at the State House Thursday, ahead of next year's expected debate on a comprehensive energy bill. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Duxbury Senior Center, 10 Mayflower St., Duxbury)
ALCOHOL LICENSES HEARING: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure holds a hearing on 11 bills related to alcohol licenses. Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Denise Provost have each filed bills (S 144, H 255) to allow municipalities to decide how many liquor licenses to issue. A Rep. Jim Arciero bill (H 149) would create an "instructional winemaking facility" license, while a bill filed by Rep. Mark Cusack (H 173) would allow cities and towns to collect a fee when a liquor license holder sells their license to someone else. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2207&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-1)
RIVERWALK REVIEW: Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash speaks at the Real Estate Finance Association's education series event titled "Riverwalk -- A Revitalization Success," a look at the mixed-use property along the Merrimack River between North Andover and Lawrence that encompasses more than 3.6 million square feet of commercial space. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Riverwalk Salvatore's Conference Center, 354 Merrimack St., Lawrence)
HOME INSURANCE LISTENING SESSION: The Division of Insurance holds a listening session on the topic of home insurance. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Offices of the Division of Insurance, 1000 Washington St., Hearing Room 1-E, Boston)
CLEAN ENERGY CENTER BOARD: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Board of Directors meets. Discussion topics include a quarterly budget report and the authorization of energy justice programs. Full agenda:http://www.masscec.com/events/masscec-board-directors-meeting-11 (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 63 Franklin St., Third Floor, Boston)
ASH TOURS MALDEN: Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash meets with Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and tours Combined Properties. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 300 Commercial St., Malden)
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The Massachusetts Weights and Measures Board of Directors meets. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Bella Costa Ristorante, 147 Cochituate Road, Framingham)
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: The Public Service Committee will hear several bills related to retirement benefits. A Rep. Susan Gifford bill (H 2310) would increase the amount of hours a retired public employee could work for state and local government. Other bills would add presumptions that public safety personnel acquired certain ailments in the line of duty. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room A 2)
BUMP PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY: State Auditor Suzanne Bump participates in the BPE Principal for a Day Program. The program gives leaders a firsthand look at improvements and investments made in the Boston Public School District as well as challenges they still face. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Perkins Elementary School, 50 Rev. Burke Street, South Boston)
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE: The Joint Committee on Public Health holds a hearing on 57 bills related to professional licensure and scope of practice. S 1156 and H 1998 require the Board of Registration in Medicine to form a committee on midwifery, and lay out requirements to be licensed by the committee as a midwife. Sen. Jamie Eldridge has sponsored a bill (S 1143) prohibiting health care professionals from engaging in the torture or abusive treatment of prisoners, using their skills to facilitate the punishment of a prisoner or participating in the interrogation of a prisoner. S 1214, sponsored by Sen. Richard Ross, states that if a registered physician is convicted of three cases of medical malpractice, his or her registration shall be revoked. Other bills provide regulations for dentistry licensure examinations (H 2058), allow a primary care provider to delegate the administration of an immunization to a certified medical assistant (S 1128 and H 2051) and provide guidelines for when a veterinarian can dispense a compounded drug (H 2061). Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2319&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True(Tuesday, 10 a.m., Gardner Auditorium)
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture holds a hearing on three bills on bee health and one on ivory trafficking. H 655, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Dykema, prohibits people from distributing a neonicotinoid to anyone other than a certified applicator and regulates when neonicotinoids can be sprayed. Rep. Keiko Orrall has sponsored a bill (H 731) requiring the commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources to establish an advisory committee for evaluating honeybee protection efforts. H 3417, sponsored by Rep. Paul McMurtry, establishes a committee to study solutions to bee colony collapse. Sen. Jason Lewis has sponsored a bill (S 440) prohibiting the sale, purchase or possession of any ivory product or rhinoceros horn product, with certain exceptions. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2321&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 1 p.m., A-2)
DESIGNER SELECTION PANEL: The Massachusetts School Building Authority holds a meeting of its designer selection panel to conduct finalist interviews for the Clyde F. Brown Elementary School in Millis. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 40 Broad St., suite 500, Boston)
TRANSATLANTIC SECURITY DISCUSSION: WorldBoston holds a free talk on strengthening European and Transatlantic security, featuring Secretary General Lamberto Zannier from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Zannier previously served as UN Special Representative for Kosovo, director of the Conflict Prevention Centre at OSCE and head of Disarmament, Arms Control and Cooperative Security at NATO. The discussion is sponsored by the Ford Hall Forum at Suffolk University and the American Jewish Committee. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Suffolk University Law School - Main Function Room, 120 Tremont St., Boston)
CHANGING DIABETES DAY: Advocacy groups and state lawmakers gather at the State House for Changing Diabetes Day, in recognition of World Diabetes Day. They plan to discuss improving access to diabetes care and controlling costs. Sponsors of the event include United Way, American Diabetes Association and Massachusetts Public Health Association. According to organizers, diabetes is growing at an epidemic rate and in Massachusetts approximately 596,798 people have diabetes. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Nurses Hall)
OVARIAN CANCER FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY: The Cronin Foundation, which supports women with ovarian cancer by raising funds for support groups, research and education, holds a 14th anniversary celebration. Former Senate President Therese Murray will emcee, and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders will receive the Pat's Friend Award for her support of the Ovarian Cancer Coalition. The foundation is named for Pat Cronin, who created a support group for women with ovarian cancer before dying of the disease. The event includes hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and an auction. Tickets are $125 each, and those interested in attending should email croninfoundation@gmail.com. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Scollay Square, 21 Beacon St., Boston)
OPIOID CRISIS ACTION PLAN: The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum of Brandeis University presents its new report outlining an action plan to tackle the opioid epidemic. The plan aims to increase access to substance abuse treatment, reduce incarceration and address ethnic disparities. The event is sponsored by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. Martha Bebinger of WBUR will moderate a research panel presentation featuring former Department of Corrections Commissioner Kathleen Dennehy, Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez and Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Courtyard Boston Downtown, 275 Tremont St., Boston)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, UTILITIES AND ENERGY: The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy will hear testimony on 23 miscellaneous bills, including one filed by Cape Cod Democrat Sen. Daniel Wolf to establish funding to provide money for post-closure activities at nuclear power stations. The bill would set up a trust fund -- which the nuclear power plant companies would have to pay into -- that would then fund the cleanup and remediation of one-time nuclear power station sites. The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth is scheduled to close no later than June 2019. Wolf has been an outspoken critic of the previous federal relicensing of Pilgrim. The committee will also hear testimony on a bill filed by Rep. Tom Sannicandro and Sen. Anne Gobi (H 2906) that would phase out coal burning in the production of electricity by Jan. 1, 2017. Barnstable Rep. Brian Mannal's bill (H 3531) to establish a special commission to examine the cost of gasoline, oil, natural gas, and electricity on Cape Cod and the Islands will also be considered by the committee. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Hearing Room B-2)
ROSENBERG ON HERALD RADIO: Senate President Rosenberg