STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JULY 17, 2015….Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday signed a fiscal 2016 budget that both sets state government out on a path to accomplish scores of new directives while turning back to the Legislature for further consideration the governor’s budget vetoes, amendments and a new mini-budget to address fiscal 2015 accounts. Baker slashed $162 million from the budget with his veto pen, including $38 million in spending earmarks authored by lawmakers. The budget contains no new taxes, Baker said, while limiting spending growth to 3 percent, assuming an income tax cut on Jan. 1, and increasing spending on transportation and local aid. It uses $600 million in one-time solutions but for the first time in four cycles does not draw from the state’s rainy day fund, which state officials are trying to build back up after years of withdrawals. Baker on Friday also signed off on a budget rider creating an MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board, which will meet on Tuesday. Baker named Meridiam Infrastructure partner Joe Aiello to chair the new board and appointed Lisa Calise, Brian Lang, Steve Poftak and Monica Tibbits-Nutt to the board. It appears the House will take its time reviewing Baker’s budget moves before acting – the next formal sessions in the House are planned on July 29 and July 30. The only formal session planned next week is Thursday in the Senate.
Other developing storylines for the week ahead:
— Appeals Court Judge Scott Kafker seems well positioned for a promotion to chief justice of that court. Kafker encountered no resistance this week during his confirmation hearing before the Governor’s Council. Both Kafker and Gov. Charlie Baker served in the administration of former Gov. William Weld.
— Legislation authorizing a two-day suspension of the 6.25 percent sales tax on Aug. 15-16 has cleared the Economic Development Committee but bills covering the same topic are scheduled to be heard next week by the Revenue Committee.
— The weeks ahead will likely bring more initiative petition campaigns out into public view. Campaigns are already taking shape around the issues of charter schools, Common Core education standards, hosting the 2024 summer Olympics, and legalizing marijuana. Petition hopefuls face an Aug. 5 deadline to file language and a list of initial sponsors with the attorney general.
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2015
MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED REPORT CARD: The Environmental Protection Agency, joined by the Mystic River Watershed Association, the mayors of Somerville and Medford, and officials from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, will release the 2014 Mystic River Watershed Report Card and kick off the 2015 Water Chestnut Removal Project to clean up the Mystic River. (Saturday, 9:15 a.m., Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Dr., Somerville)
RALLY FOR IRAN DEAL: Students, veterans, and peace activists will rally in support of the deal struck by Secretary of State John Kerry and announced by President Barack Obama. The rally is organized by Massachusetts for Peace Action. (Saturday, 1 p.m.- 2 p.m., Park Street MBTA Station, Boston)
SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2015
DeLEO ON KELLER: House Speaker Robert DeLeo is Jon Keller’s guest on his Sunday morning talk show, according to a DeLeo aide.
WCVB: ON THE RECORD: Former New Hampshire Gov. and President George HW Bush’s Chief of Staff John Sununu is a scheduled guest on WCVB’s “On the Record.” Sununu will talk about how the former president is doing after his fall, the Iran deal and New Hampshire presidential politics. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB: On the Record)
ROSENBERG IN DEERFIELD: Senate President Rosenberg plans to present a citation at Clarkdale Farms’ 100th anniversary celebration. (Sunday, 1 p.m., 303 Upper Road, Deerfield)
MONDAY, JULY 20, 2015
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches plan to meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m.
BAKER, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MEET: Gov. Baker and legislative leaders meet Monday for the first time since Baker slashed $162 million from the fiscal 2016 budget drafted by the Legislature. Baker axed $38 million in earmarks. (Monday, 2 p.m., Gov. Baker’s office)
DUKAKIS ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO: Former Gov. Michael Dukakis is scheduled to be a guest on Boston Public Radio to talk about MBTA, Greek debt, casinos and the Pilgrim Power Plant with hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. (Monday, 12 p.m., Boston Public Radio, 89.7FM)
ROSENBERG AT BBJ: Senate President Stan Rosenberg plans to meet with the Boston Business Journal Editorial Board. (Monday, 4:15 p.m., 160 Federal Street #12, Boston)
BOSTON FUTURES: 2024 & BEYOND SERIES: A panel will discuss Boston’s transportation future. Panelists will also discuss how hosting the Olympics in 2024 will impact the city’s path toward identifying and implementing new transport solutions for the future. The panelists are: Shelia Kennedy, MIT Department of Architecture; Wendy Landman, WalkBoston; Kent Larson, MIT Media Lab; Carlo Ratti, MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning; Stacy Thompson, Livable Streets; and Eva Kassens-Noor, moderator, Michigan State University. The hosts include Boston 2024, Boston Society of Architects, The BSA Foundation, Boston Society of Landscape Architects, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, MIT School of Architecture and Planning, Northeastern University School of Architecture, U LI Boston, and The Venture Cafe. (Monday, 6 p.m., MIT Lab, Building E14 3rd Floor, 75 Amherst Street, Cambridge)
LYNCH TALKS IRAN DEAL ON NIGHTSIDE: Congressman Stephen Lynch is scheduled to talk about the Iran nuclear deal in studio on NightSide with Dan Rea. (Monday, 8 p.m., WBZ NewsRadio 1030)
REP. JOHN LEWIS AT KENNEDY INSTITUTE: Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat, will speak at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate about voting rights, civic engagement, and his work with the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. Lewis will appear as part of the EMK Institute’s “Getting to the Point” speaker series. (Monday, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Columbia Point, Boston)
HINGHAM – CLIMATE CHANGE STUDY: A “Climate Change Vulnerability, Risk Assessment and Adaptation” study will be presented to Hingham’s conservation commission and planning board, according to the Patriot Ledger, which reported Friday that Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury and Quincy have already received climate change reports and Hull is planning to begin a study in early 2016. (Monday, 7 p.m., Hingham Town Hall)
HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION: The Health Policy Commission will present at an informational hearing Hosted by Public Health Committee Co-chair Rep. Kate Hogan on 958 CMR 8.00, regulations governing patient assignment limits for registered nurses in acute hospital intensive care units. Commission officials plan to discuss the regulatory development process and outline key considerations in the final regulation. (Monday, 1 p.m., House Members’ Lounge)
REP. LYNCH ON GREATER BOSTON: Rep. Stephen Lynch will be a guest on Greater Boston with Jim Braude to discuss a range of topics including the Olympics. (Monday, 7 p.m., Greater Boston on WGBH)
SHEET METAL INDUSTRY: The Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers will hold a public outreach meeting to solicit ideas for potential revisions to the regulations governing sheet metal workers. The board is holding the initial meeting in light of Gov. Baker’s March order encouraging governmental bodies to look at ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens. (Monday, 10 a.m., Division of Professional Licensure, 1000 Washington St., Room 1D, Boston)
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015
MASSDOT BOARD: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board meets. An agenda will be available here: https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/BoardsCommittees/BoardofDirectors/BoardAgendasandReports.aspx (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 10 Park Plaza, Boston)
MBTA CONTROL BOARD INAUGURAL MEETING: The new MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board will hold its first meeting to establish the role of the board, set board bylaws and determine its meeting schedule. The meeting will feature reports from Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack and MBTA Interim General Manager Frank DePaola as well as a period of comments from the public. Full agenda: http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=6442453513
(Tuesday, 1:15 p.m., 10 Park Plaza, Room 3830, Boston)
ROSENBERG AT MGH PRESSER: Senate President Rosenberg plans to attends a press conference at (Tuesday, noon, Massachusetts General Hospital, Bullfinch Tent)
HEALTH CARE FINANCING COMMITTEE: More than 20 bills are on the Health Care Financing Committee agenda Tuesday, including bills affecting MassHealth and the Mass. Health Connector Authority. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2107&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room B-2)
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: The Public Service Committee holds a public hearing on 21 late-filed bills, including proposals dealing with group insurance benefits for state employees and retirement benefits for teachers. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2173&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room B-1)
DIVESTMENT LETTER DELIVERY: Labor groups plan to ask state pension fund managers to divest from oil, coal and gas companies, a goal of environmentalists that has concerned representatives of public employees who rely on the fund to produce retirement checks. Service Employees International Union Local 509, which represents social workers and others, counting thousands of state employees as its constituents, plans to deliver a letter to the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board, according to the union. Joining SEIU 509 will be joined by other signatories Educators for a Democratic Union, a “progressive caucus” within the Massachusetts Teachers Association, according to an advisory, and Divest Our Pensions Now, an advocacy group. While environmentalists say divestment is a wise financial decision, others have raised concerns that divestment would hamper the fund’s health. The price of gasoline has fallen to a national average of $2.76 for a gallon of regular compared to $3.59 a year ago, according to AAA. (Tuesday, 9:15 a.m., 84 State St., #250, Boston)
HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF DISCUSSES HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas will offer a keynote address at the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Five Year Anniversary event on the department’s efforts to combat human trafficking. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Headquarters, Julie Myers Conference Room, 500 12th St., SW, Washington, D.C.)
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE: Twelve bills dealing with women’s health, including gender-neutral disability insurance and patient confidentiality, are before the Financial Services Committee for a public hearing on Tuesday. Other bills on the agenda deal with breast cancer screening coverage and insurance coverage standards for eating disorders. Newton Democrat Rep. Ruth Balser plans to renew her push to pass legislation (H 784) that she says will help ensure that women do not pay more than men for the same disability insurance benefits. Balser says the current situation is discriminatory towards women, and noted that workers Compensation insurance and disability insurance purchased through an employer are both “gender-neutral.” In Massachusetts, according to Balser, individual disability policies account for 11 percent of all disability policies, or 182,000 people. The bill’s supporters include the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, MassPIRG, the American Association of University Women of Massachusetts, the ACLU of Massachusetts, and major unions representing teachers and nurses. According to Health Care for All, patients, health care providers and members of the Preserving Access to Confidential Health Care (PATCH) Alliance will testify for legislation (S 557 / H 871) establishing mechanisms to “ensure that when multiple people are on the same insurance plan, confidential health care information is not shared with anyone other than the patient.” Attorney General Maura Healey is scheduled to testify in support of that bill captioned, “An Act to protect access to confidential health care”. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2188&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Room A-2, State House)
EQUAL PAY COALITION PRESSER: The Equal Pay Coalition will hold a press conference ahead of a scheduled Labor and Workforce Development Committee hearing on the Act to Establish Pay Equity (H 1733, S 983). The bill aims to eliminate the wage gap for women and people of color. According to organizers, the bill demands equal pay for comparable work, establishes pay transparency, and requires fairness in hiring practices around wages. Expected participants include Women’s Caucus Co-Chairs Sen. Anne Gobi and Rep. Gloria Fox, Attorney General Maura Healey, Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, and lead sponsors Sen. Patricia Jehlen, Sen. Karen Spilka, and Reps. Jay Livingstone and Ellen Story. (Tuesday, 12 p.m., Grand Staircase)
LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Bills addressing pay equity for women (H1733) and reasonable accommodations for pregnant women in the workplace (H1769) are expected to draw testimony before the Labor and Workforce Development Committee for a public hearing on Tuesday. Attorney General Maura Healey is scheduled to attend and testify in support of H1733 known as An Act to establish pay equity. Also at the hearing,a group, MotherWomen, plans to present testimony from women from across the state who will “break their silence about the struggles of being pregnant and in the workforce.” Supportive testimony is also expected from representatives of the Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association; the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association; the Crittendon Women’s Union in Boston; Dean’s Beans coffee company in Athol; Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts; the American Congress of Gynecologists and Obstetricians/Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Coalition of Occupational Health and Safety. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. Room A-2)
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: Eleven bills will be considered by the committee, including a Sen. Anne Gobi bill (S 1653) that would require every state agency to provide receptacles to recycle glass containers, metal containers, paper and plastic bottles in public buildings and parks by Jan. 1, 2016. The bill would also require privately-owned facilities visited by at least 5,000 people annually to provide similar recycling receptacles. The committee will also hear testimony on a Rep. Daniel Hunt bill (H 3415) that would direct the secretary of energy and environmental affairs to formulate a plan to increase access to energy efficiency grants for small businesses. The committee will also consider a Sen. Marc Pacheco bill (S 1704) that would instruct the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards to hold a public meeting about amendments to the building code that would allow solar power installations to be used for swimming pool heating and industrial process heat. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2186&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Room B-2)
CONGRESSMAN RICHARD NEAL ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO: Congressman Richard Neal is scheduled to drop by Boston Public Radio to discuss Boston 2024 and the Iran deal with hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan.(Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., Boston Public Radio, 89.7FM)
HEALEY VISITS SALEM BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB: Attorney General Maura Healey is scheduled to visit and play basketball at the Salem Boys and Girl Club. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 29 Highland Ave, Salem)
REVENUE COMMITTEE: The Economic Development Committee has already endorsed a bill establishing an Aug. 15-16 sales tax holiday, but the Revenue Committee has other sales tax holiday bills and they are up for a public hearing on Tuesday along with a range of other bills addressing the sales tax. House Speaker Robert DeLeo led the push in 2009 to raise the sales tax rate from 5 percent to 6.25 percent. The agenda also includes bills allowing a meals tax holiday (H 2596), applying the sales tax to candy and soda (H 2575), and exempting art sales from the sales tax (H 2697). Marshfield Rep. James Cantwell and Weymouth Sen. Robert Hedlund are sponsoring bills to repeal the sales tax on boats built or rebuilt in Massachusetts (H 2462 / S 1486)). Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2170&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Room A-1)
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: The Massachusetts School Building Authority holds a meeting of its Designer Selection Panel to conduct finalist interviews for Somerville High School. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 40 Broad Street, Boston)
MASS. CLEAN ENERGY CENTER: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Board of Directors meets. An agenda can be found at http://www.masscec.com/events/masscec-board-directors-meeting-8 (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 63 Franklin St., Third Floor, Boston)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015
GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL: The Governor’s Council is scheduled to meet, with plans to vote on the nomination of Judge Scott Kafker to become chief justice of the Appeals Court, succeeding the retired Phillip Rapoza. (Wednesday, noon, Council Chamber, third floor State House)
DISABILITIES ACT ANNIVERSARY: The New England ADA Chapter will celebrate the Americans With Disabilities Act’s 25th anniversary. They plan to have a march, performers, and speakers. Transportation Secretary Pollack plans to attend at noon and state officials say they expect hundreds of people to be there. Attorney General Maura Healey plans to attend at 1 p.m. Rep. Denise Provost testified this week that aspects state disabilities laws need to be updated. (Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boston Common)
TRIPADVISOR BOSTON OFFICE: Assistant Secretary for Business Growth Mike Kennealy will attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for TripAdvisor’s Boston office. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 126 Causeway St., Boston)
HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION: The Health Policy Commission holds a board meeting and commissioners anticipate receiving briefings on the 2015 cost trends report and a draft agenda for the 2015 cost trends hearing, the status of CHART Phase 2 and a technical assistance plan, a presentation on the HPC’s Substance Use Disorder Report, and an update on the HPC’s Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) and Accountable Care Organization (ACO) certification programs. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Boston)
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Probate and family legislation is up before the Joint Judiciary Committee Wednesday, including a Rep. Naughton bill relative to the modification of custody orders involving parents called to active military service (H 1514), a Rep. Puppolo bill relative to temporary guardianship for a person alleged to be incapacitated (H 3607), and a Sen. Forry bill relative to improving training for child advocates to recognize indicators of domestic violence. A Sen. Bruce Tarr bill would deny child visitation rights where the natural parent seeking rights committed felony rape in conception of the child (S 919). Also on the docket are a Sen. Creem bill relative to equitable divorce proceedings (S 743), a Rep. Garry bill relative to child custody when a parent is on active military duty (H 1318), and a constituent petition by request filed by Rep. Garballey (H 1312) establishing the child’s voice in family courts. A Rep. McMurtry bill would require a flier about legal assistance be included with summons in divorce proceedings (H 3447). (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2)
HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL ON CYBER CRIME: US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas will deliver remarks at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Cyber Crimes Center. After his remarks, Mayorkas will join with ICE Director Sarah Saldana for a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil a an expansion of the ICE Crimes Center. The center delivers computer and cyber-based technical services in support investigations into “underground online marketplaces selling illegal drugs, weapons and other contraband; the trading of images of child pornography; and the theft of intellectual property,” according to homeland security. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., ICE Cyber Crimes Center, Fairfax, Virginia)
BIOTECH & REAL ESTATE: The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will host a panel discussion on the biotech real estate boom and its impact on commercial real estate trends at the RealShare Boston conference. The discussion will be moderated by Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Vice President for Communications & Marketing Angus McQuilken. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Omni Parker House, 60 School St., Boston)
ROSENBERG IN FALL RIVER: Senate President Stan Rosenberg plans at 10 a.m. to visit Narrows Center for the Arts with Sen. Michael Rodrigues, located at 16 Anawan St. #1. At noon, Rosenberg plans to have lunch with the Fall River Chamber of Commerce at 200 Pocasset Street. (Wednesday, Fall River)
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015
SENATE: The Senate plans a formal session at 11 a.m., with a closed press Democratic caucus planned for noon in Sen. Rosenberg’s office.
HOUSE: The House plans to meet in an informal session at 11 a.m.
JOINT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Bills before the Transportation Committee Thursday will cover topics ranging from memorial bridge and road namings to license suspension and alternative fuel vehicles. A Rep. Cutler bill would allow battery electric vehicles to drive in the high-occupancy lane (H 2969), a measure also included in Sen. Eldridge’s bill promoting electric vehicle adoption (S 1824). Eldridge’s bill would also require that 25 percent of the motor vehicles purchased each year by the Commonwealth be electric vehicles by 2025. Also on the docket are a Sen. McGee bill relative to vehicle idling (S 1853), a Sen. Hedlund bill relative to personal rapid transit systems (S 1837), a Rep. Gonzalez bill requiring driver’s license suspension for persons convicted of possessing a controlled substance in an automobile with a minor present (H 3312), and a Rep. Walsh bill relative to suspension for medical reasons (H 3120). Legislation (H 3039/S 1812) filed by Rep. Malia and Sen. Chandler would repeal a law that automatically suspends the license of those convicted of drug crimes for up to five years. Attorney General Maura Healey is scheduled to testify in support of the Malia-Chandler bill. Commonwealth Magazine reported that in 2014 the law caused 2,275 people to lose their license and reinstatement carries a $500 fee. According to the magazine, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and Attorney General Maura Healey support its repeal. The bill would not affect driving suspensions triggered by driving under the influence of drugs, according to an aide. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Room A-2)
BOSTON OLYMPICS DEBATE: In the wake of a coalition filing ballot question language restricting state spending on the Olympics, WFXT FOX25 and The Boston Globe will co-sponsor a one-hour “Boston Olympics Debate.” Boston 2024 chairman Steve Pagliuca and U.S. Olympic Committee board member Daniel Doctoroff will be countered by co-chair of the No Boston Olympics Chris Dempsey and Smith College economist Andrew Zimbalist. The debate will be moderated by FOX25 anchor Maria Stephanos and Boston Globe reporter Sacha Pfeiffer. (Thursday, 8 p.m., live on WFXT FOX 25, Streaming on: bostonglobe.com, myfoxboston.com and the FOX25 app)
NORTH SHORE CHAMBER NETWORKING: The North Shore Chamber will host its new After Hours Networking Reception at the British Beer Company, featuring “connections, conversations, cocktails.” Registration required. (Thursday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., 29 Andover St., Danvers)
HIGHLAND STREET FOUNDATION SPEAKER SERIES: Attorney General Maura Healey will address members of the non-profit sector as part of the Highland Street Foundation Speaker Series. (Thursday, 8 a.m., City Year Headquarters, 287 Columbus Ave, Boston)
FENWAY AREA DEVELOPMENT WALKING TOUR: The Commercial Real Estate Development Association’s (NAIOP Massachusetts) Fenway By Foot walking tour will highlight planned, in process, and completed projects in the Fenway area. Scheduled speakers include representatives of Samuels & Associates, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Skanska, Boylston Properties, and The Abbey Group. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Van Ness Building, 1325 Boylston St., Boston)
ATTORNEY GENERAL HEALEY ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO: Attorney General Maura Healey will take calls from listeners on Boston Public Radio as part of the monthly “Ask the AG” segment” with hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. (Thursday, 12:30 p.m.- 1 p.m., Boston Public Radio, 89.7FM)
DELAHUNT TALKS CUBA ON NIGHTSIDE: Former Rep. William Delahunt is scheduled to talk about Cuban-American relations in studio on NightSide with Dan Rea. (Thursday, 9 p.m., WBZ NewsRadio 1030)
REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS BOARD: The Board of Real Estate Appraisers will hold a public outreach meeting to solicit ideas for potential revisions to the regulations governing real estate appraisers. The board is holding this initial meeting in light of Gov. Baker’s March order to review regulations. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Division of Professional Licensure, 1000 Washington St., Room 1D, Boston)
STATE FISH REGULATIONS: The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation will hold a listening session to solicit ideas for potential revisions to regulations regarding the weighing, sorting and culling of fish. Gov. Baker in March signed an executive order encouraging governmental bodies to look at ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens. (Thursday, 1 p.m., State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Second floor, Conference room 6, Boston)
“DO NOT CALL” REGISTRY REGULATIONS: The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation will hold a listening session to solicit ideas for potential revisions to state regulations regarding the Massachusetts “Do Not Call” Registry. The office is holding this meeting in light of Gov. Baker’s March order to review regulations. (Thursday, 10 a.m., State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Second floor, Conference room 6, Boston)
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015
CHILDREN’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES REGULATIONS: The Executive Office of Health and Human Services will hold a public hearing on the emergency adoption of regulations governing rates of payment for certain children’s behavioral health services. The regulation, which took effect July 1, increased the rate for some services by 8.78 percent on July 1 and will increase the rate by an additional 0.81 percent on Jan. 1, 2016. The regulation has no fiscal impact on municipalities, according to EOHHS. (Friday, 10 a.m., 100 Hancock St., First floor conference room, Quincy)
SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015
METRO MAYORS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Law enforcement officials, teens, and youth services workers will join for the seventh annual Metro Mayors Basketball Tournament. The goal, according to organizers at the Metro Mayors Coalition, is to show solidarity among youth and law enforcement. The five-on-five will feature teams from Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop. Organizers have invited the public to come and cheer on their local teams. (Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Trum Field, 541 Broadway, Somerville – Rain location is Somerville High Gymnasium, 81 Highland Ave.)