Announcing March Academy

Posted February 26, 2019

Our office is excited to launch our March Academy, a seven-part on-line teach-in focused on the bills I’ve filed and co-sponsored in the Senate.

Each 45-minute teach-in will feature an overview of priority bills in a particular issue area as well as an opportunity for questions and comments. Many teach-ins will also feature staff from my team and a special guest who will speak to the impact of relevant legislation.

My team and I work for and on behalf of the constituents of the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district. Constituents may be students, have full-time jobs, and many other obligations so I feel they should not have to search through docket numbers and read legalese in order to understand what legislation I have filed on their behalf. These webinars will allow us to bring our work home where it belongs and to hear directly from our number one priority group: Constituents.

We will use Zoom (an easy-to-use on-line platform with video and phone options for constituents) to host the March Academy. Teach-ins will be recorded, captioned, and posted on our brand new website for greater accessibility. Video and phone participation for each teach-in is limited to the first 100 people.

The calendar of teach-ins follows:

Date	Time	Topic	Summary of legislation reviewed	Link to join the video teach-in / phone number to dial
3/4	12 p.m.	Education	Cherish Act An Act evaluating additional educational assistance to school districts with low or declining enrollment An Act ensuring best practice incentives are available for all school building projects An Act adding a suicide prevention hotline number on student identification cards Plus key co-sponsored legislation	Link to join webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/210690681 Phone number to call in: (929) 436-2866 Webinar ID: 210-690-681
3/6	6 p.m.	Health care	An Act advancing public health and safety using fentanyl testing strips An Act expanding care for medically underserved areas of the Commonwealth An Act allowing spouses to serve as caregivers An Act authorizing telemedicine services An Act relative to the continuity of care of mental health treatment An Act supporting equal access to community care for elders and the disabled An Act improving access to dental care in the Commonwealth Plus key co-sponsored legislation	Link to join webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/933240978 Phone number to call in: (929) 436-2866 Webinar ID: 933-240-978
3/10	4 p.m.	The role of state government in 2019	How it all works: Legislation, Committees, Budget, Amendments, Caucuses, and more. What your Senate office is doing: Constituent services, work with municipalities, and more.	Link to join webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/650572418 Phone number to call in: (929) 436-2866 Webinar ID: 650-572-418
3/12	12 p.m.	Energy & environment	An Act establishing a net zero stretch energy code An Act requiring public interest considerations in gas infrastructure expansion proceedings An Act promoting local energy investment and infrastructure modernization An Act to Protect Ratepayers An Act to examine the feasibility of rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston An Act to promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth Plus key co-sponsored legislation	Link to join webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/313402410 Phone number to call in: (929) 436-2866 Webinar ID: 313-402-410
3/13	6 p.m.	Regional development, agriculture & economic equity	An Act improving the earned income credit for working families An Act identifying corporate irresponsibility An Act supporting farming on non-contiguous land Resolve establishing a special commission to foster greater opportunities for skilled immigrants in the Commonwealth An Act providing for coordinated data and assistance to address family homelessness An Act providing for timely reimbursement of cities and towns for veterans’ benefits Plus key co-sponsored legislation	Link to join webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/921123883 Phone number to call in: (929) 436-2866 Webinar ID: 921-123-883
3/18	12 p.m.	Civil & human rights	An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification legislation An Act advancing health equity An Act prohibiting non-consensual pelvic examinations An Act relative to protecting LGBTQ victims An Act establishing gender neutral bathrooms An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth An Act establishing the Massachusetts foster care review office Plus key co-sponsored legislation	Link to join webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/818487393 Phone number to call in: (929) 436-2866 Enter webinar ID: 818-487-393
3/26	6 p.m.	Revenue	An Act establishing local options for generating affordable housing monies An Act to strengthen the foundation of the Commonwealth Plus key co-sponsored legislation	Link to join webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/316015174 Phone number to call in: (929) 436-2866 Enter webinar ID: 316-015-174

Jo Comerford