Legislature OKs English study bill

The Enterprise - 11/18/2017

HOUSE AND SENATE:

Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' and senators' votes on roll calls from the week of Nov. 13-17.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (H 4032): House 155-1, Senate 37-0, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a bill that would give public school districts the power and flexibility to offer other English Language Learner (ELL) programs in addition to or instead of the current sheltered English immersion program. The current immersion program, approved by Massachusetts voters on a ballot question in 2002, requires all students, including those not yet fluent in English, to be taught English by being taught all subjects in English and to be placed in English language classrooms.

Supporters said since the year 2000, the number of ELL students in Massachusetts has doubled to more than 90,000 students or 9.5 percent of the entire student population. They argued that schools need the flexibility to implement a program that will fit the needs of their students rather than the "one size fits all" current law. They said that the English immersion mandate is not working and noted that these students continue to lag behind their peers in high school graduation rates and going to college.

The lone opponent did not respond to a request for a comment by Beacon Hill Roll Call.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGES (H 4011): House 144-9, approved a bill making some major changes to the state's criminal justice system including repealing mandatory minimum sentences for low level drug offenders, restricting the use of solitary confinement, allowing for the expungement of juvenile records and strengthening laws against fentanyl trafficking.

Supporters said the bill is a balanced one that updates many laws and repeals some arcane laws while still protecting the public. They argued that the bill is a big step toward ending the vicious cycles of incarceration and crime.

"The reforms made in this bill address all aspects of the criminal justice system from a person's first contact with the criminal justice system, up until an individual leaves the system and re-enters society," said Rep. Claire Cronin (D-Easton). "We have updated and improved our laws, made the system more equitable, and are giving people opportunities to rebuild their lives, while also ensuring public safety."

"Our objective with this legislation is to reduce recidivism by removing the many obstacles facing justice-involved individuals after they have served their time," said Rep. Ronald Mariano, D-Quincy. "Individuals in our communities deserve a chance to effectively transition back into productive members of society, and this bill eliminates roadblocks toward achieving that goal. We believe these changes will be instrumental in encouraging folks that mistakes of their past will not serve as a life sentence."

Opponents said that the bill goes too far and weakens the state's criminal justice laws in many ways.

"To get rid of minimum mandatory sentences for fentanyl drug dealers is irresponsible," said Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman. "Larceny felony will no longer start at $250 but rather $1,000, making everything under $1,000 a misdemeanor. That says Massachusetts doesn't consider stealing to be a serious crime. The commonwealth should be strengthening public safety, not passing a 'soft on crime' bill that fails to hold drug dealers accountable."

"We are facing a drug epidemic that is killing people every day," said Rep. Shaunna O'Connell, R-Taunton. "Drug traffickers are knowingly selling deadly fentanyl. Rather than applying harsh penalties, this bill eliminates virtually all mandatory sentences. This criminal justice bill is 'soft on crime,' fails to protect people, neglects victims and will exacerbate the drug epidemic we are facing."

(A Yes" vote is for the bill. A "No" vote is against it).

Rep. Bruce Ayers Yes

Rep. Fred Barrows Yes

Rep. Thomas Calter Didn't Vote

Rep. Gerard Cassidy Yes

Rep. Claire Cronin Yes

Rep. Mark Cusack Yes

Rep. Josh Cutler Yes

Rep. Angelo D'Emilia Yes

Rep. Geoff Diehl No

Rep. William Driscoll Yes

Rep. Michelle DuBois Yes

Rep. Carole Fiola Yes

Rep. William Galvin Yes

Rep. Susan Gifford Yes

Rep. Patricia Haddad Yes

Rep. Steven Howitt Yes

Rep. Louis Kafka Yes

Rep. Ronald Mariano Yes

Rep. Christopher Markey Yes

Rep. Mathew Muratore Yes

Rep. Shaunna O'Connell No

Rep. Keiko Orrall Yes

Rep. William Straus Yes

DELAY HEROIN PENALTY (H 4011): House 117-36, approved a motion that would indefinitely delay an amendment creating a new penalty for heroin trafficking that results in a death. The motion would allow the measure to take effect only after the state has furnished a study of the legislation's impact on public safety and the economy of the state and local cities and towns.

Delay supporters said these dealers can already be charged with manslaughter or second-degree murder under current law.

Delay opponents said it is time to crack down on these heroin dealers who peddle this dangerous substance and are responsible for many deaths across the state. They also noted that the motion made by the Democrats to delay the amendment is sneaky and is simply a way to help Democrats avoid a direct vote on the amendment.

(The vote was on delaying the amendment. A "Yes" vote is for delaying the amendment. A "No" vote is against the delay.) Rep. Bruce Ayers Yes

Rep. Fred Barrows No

Rep. Thomas Calter Yes