PAX Centurion - January / March 2016

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • January/March 2016 • Page 15 Heard on the Hill: Lawrence A. Calderone, BPPA Legislative Agent C ongratulations toWest Roxbury resident Rosemary Connolly and Joseph Leighton of Cohasset. Both attorneys have been nominated for seats on the Massachusetts Superior ourt by Governor Charlie Baker. Connolly, civil division chief at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston, previously worked for eleven years in in the attorney general’s office, including six years as chief of the trial division. Leighton has been a partner at the Boston law firm Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker since 2002 and has practiced almost exclusively in front of the Superior Court, according to the governor’s office. We wish you well. We would also like to congratulate and welcome the winners of this month’s special elections to the House of Representatives. Representatives Gerard Cassidy of Brockton, Stephen Hay of Fitchburg, and ThomasWalsh of Peabody were all sworn in byActing Governor Karyn Polito. We look forward to working with all of you in the future. We are into the second year of this Legislative Cycle (2015-16) with many hot topics on Beacon Hill. Governor Baker, the House of Reps, and the Senate have been working tirelessly on a bill aimed at curbing the rise of opioid abuse in the Commonwealth. Hopefully, the House will approve and send a bill to the Senate and then to the Governor’s desk for approval over the next few weeks. Another bill that is gaining a lot of attention is H 4049, this is an act relative to the ride for hire industry (Lyft, Uber, etc.). This bill has many “moving parts” and very complicated to put together. Although there are many benefits from these companies, stuck in the middle, are all of the taxi cab owners and operators who rely on this business to support their families as well. There has been over thirty- two amendments filed on this bill from creating a state division of overseers, the right to organize and collectively bargain, background checks and fingerprinting of drivers, and even giving them the ability to pick up fares at LoganAirport. One of my favorites is the creation of a “panic button” in their apps to allow riders to immediately notify the police and others in the case of an emergency. But again, there’s a lot of material to cover and issues to be worked out in this one. We’ll follow the changes and this bill as it moves through the process. We’re also working very hard on bills that in some cases would be beneficial and in other instances, would have a negative impact on our members. At this time, the following bills are being closely monitored: H 2106 - AnAct relative to uniform use of deadly force guidelines which mandates the publication of police department guidelines on the use of deadly force. H 2107 - AnAct to provide concurrent jurisdiction for Massport occupied properties basically allows concurrent jurisdiction for police organizations on any properties owned or occupied by Massport, except those exclusive to aviation and port operations. H 2170 - AnAct promoting the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement. In short, this bill forms a committee to make recommendations to the Governor, Secretary of Public Safety, General Court, state, municipal, college or university police, and other law enforcement entities on data collection, setting standards, and having access to audio/ video footage by all law enforcement who would be mandated on the use of body worn cameras during all police functions. H 3278 - AnAct establishing a committee to study post-traumatic stress disorder in law enforcement officers. The commission would identify and analyze methods, practices and programs, to prevent and treat post-traumatic stress in police officers. S 1250 - AnAct to establish regional lock up facilities allows the sheriff of each county to establish a regional lock up facility for persons arrested with or without a warrant or any person arrested under any civil process. A city or town may become a member of a county regional lock up facility at their discretion. S 1307 - AnAct establishing the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Fund sets up a separate fund to be used to memorialize and honor Massachusetts law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty. It will be funded through the sale of registration plates under section 2G of chapter 90. S 1325 - AnAct relative to the University of Massachusetts Police essentially gives full police benefits (Ch. 32, 41 s 111F, and 150E) and powers to UMass Police Officers on University of Massachusetts campuses and properties. We will keep you posted on these and any other bills that could possibly affect our members as this session progresses. As the spring weather gets warmer, please try to spend time with your families and stay safe!! Congratulations all around …andupcomingbillswewill bewatching closely