Malden Delegation United in Support of Comprehensive Reproductive Health Bill

Malden legislators voted to pass comprehensive legislation aimed to expand protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care in Massachusetts

BOSTON – Friday, July 29, 2022 – This Tuesday, the Massachusetts Legislature passed H.4954, An Act expanding protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care, which will further protect access to reproductive and gender-affirming care in our Commonwealth. The comprehensive bill was designed to further protect and expand reproductive health care and gender-affirming services in the Commonwealth while establishing additional legal safeguards following the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

With this bill, the Legislature is taking significant steps to ensure that access to reproductive health care and gender-affirming services codified in 2020 throughout the Commonwealth by the ROE Act will remain protected in this state. The legislation provides legal protections to out-of-state patients, abortion care providers, pharmacists, mental health professionals, insurers and other people involved with the delivery of reproductive health services. It also states that law enforcement officials cannot cooperate with out-of-state or federal law agencies investigating abortion care that is legal in Massachusetts. If signed into law, this bill will also give care providers and out-of-state patients the option to countersue over abusive litigation and creates a standing order allowing licensed pharmacists following a training program, to provide emergency contraception.

After negotiations, the House and Senate were able to reach a compromise on Monday regarding a section in the bill on acceptable circumstances for abortions after 24 weeks. The final bill includes language change that updates the ROE Act and allows abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy in the case of “a grave fetal diagnosis”. This will ensure that women who face dire circumstances late in pregnancy are not forced to leave Massachusetts in order to access needed reproductive health care services while allowing them to make critical decisions about their health with professionals who know their medical history and have their best interests in mind.

“As states across the country move to restrict access to abortion, reproductive health care, and gender-affirming services, I am proud that our legislature has taken these critical steps to protect access to these necessary services, their providers, and the rights of those who need them,” said Representative Steven Ultrino (D – Malden). “With this bill, as well as the ROE Act in 2020, Massachusetts has continued its promise to all women and transgender individuals: letting them know that they have equal rights, and we as a legislative body will continue to defend and safeguard their fundamental rights to reproductive and gender-affirming care.”

“Voting with a bipartisan supermajority to enact this bill was a powerful moment,” said Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D – Melrose). “In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, the Massachusetts Legislature has responded swiftly to reject that cruel decision and to protect and expand access to reproductive health, including abortion. During deliberation in the House, I was proud to speak in support of this bill, emphasizing that abortion is not a partisan or political issue. It is a human rights issue.”

“The Reproductive Health bill will ensure that anybody requiring health care for any reason, will be able to do so in Massachusetts. The Commonwealth has the best hospitals in the world and it would be an injustice to prevent anyone from their treatment,” said Representative Paul Donato (D – Medford). “This bill also legally protects providers from being prosecuted for any service they provide.”

“In the wake of the shocking Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade, it is imperative for the Commonwealth to ensure that abortion providers are fully protected and patients, whether from Massachusetts or other states, have access to the care they need,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “I was proud to join with my House and Senate colleagues in passing this critical legislation to further protect and expand access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in Massachusetts. I’m especially pleased that the bill includes an amendment I filed to expand access to medication abortion services on our public college and university campuses to help students overcome the significant barriers to care that many face today.”

H.4954, An Act expanding protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care, has been passed by the House and Senate, and now stands go to Governor Baker for his signature.

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Please reach out with any questions:

Claudia Chung, Legislative Aide

Claudia.Chung@MAHouse.gov

(617) 722-2070

Malden Delegation Expresses Concern over MBTA Bus Network Redesign Plan

On July 22, the Malden legislative delegation including Representatives Steven Ultrino, Paul Donato, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Senator Jason Lewis, submitted a letter expressing serious concerns over the proposed changes to the bus network operating throughout Malden as part of the MBTA's Bus Network Redesign.

28% of percent of Malden residents use public transportation to commute to work, the third highest percentage in the state, behind only Boston and Somerville. We understand that our residents do not just want to use public transportation, but it is essential to their daily lives. Our residents need a stable, consistent, and safe public bus network to travel to work, school, the grocery store, and many other essential destinations.

We voiced support for the City of Malden and Mayor Christenson's earlier letter, submitted on July 18th. The Mayor and the City provided the following feedback on the MBTA-proposed map and included with each item an alternative proposal which would address the relevant concerns:

Terminating the proposed Route 108

• The proposed change disconnects East and West Malden

• It is a key connection between Downtown Malden and Linden Square and allows Linden Square residents to access Malden Center T station, the downtown area, as well as the various essential services and 5 public and private schools located along Salem Street.

• Malden also recently conducted a survey in support of the City's upcoming Transit Action Plan, which found that a majority of the 1,016 respondents utilize route 108. Respondents also cited "more frequent bus service" as one of their main concerns.

Reducing Route 105's coverage

• This is a concerning change as it will negatively impact the most low-income, racially diverse part of Malden.

• The MBTA's proposed reduction in coverage will cut off access to public transit to low-income, affordable housing residents, such as those of the Newland Street Development, who heavily rely on this bus route to reach essential services and economic opportunities in Malden and the Greater Boston area.

Eliminating Route 97

• Transit-dependent residents rely on Route 97 to access the Social Security Administration, Cambridge Health Alliance's services, Super 88 Market, ABCD Head Start Preschool & Kindergarten, South Cove Community Health Center, the DTA, Bridge Recovery Center, and many other essential services.

• These services along the Commercial Street corridor is the reason why bus service was requested for this road in 2018. Cutting off access to Commercial Street is harmful to transit-dependent residents, will increase food insecurity, prevent residents from accessing critical government services.

Reducing Frequency of Route 99

• The MBTA also proposed reducing the frequency of Route 99 and the new 99 will replace the existing Route 108.

• The changes will further displace and disconnect the Edgeworth neighborhood from the City and the rest of Malden.

• The new route also does not extend onto Salem Street which means Malden High School students will no longer have a direct connection to the school from Edgeworth.

Both the Delegation's letter of support and the Mayor/City's feedback letter can be found attached.

The deadline for the public to provide feedback to the MBTA regarding the Bus Network Redesign is Sunday July 31, 2022. You can reach the MBTA through the following:

Online submission: http://mbta.com/bnrdfeedback

Email: betterbusproject@mbta.com

Voicemail: 617-222-3011

Malden Bus Network Redesign - City+Mayor Feedback Letter

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Download PDF • 2.35MB

The CROWN Act Signed into Law by Governor Baker

Representative Steven Ultrino’s bill to prohibit discrimination of natural and protective hairstyles has successfully been signed by the Governor

BOSTON – After the State Legislature enacted H.4554, An Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles – better known as Massachusetts’ version of The CROWN Act last Monday, Governor Baker has signed the legislation into law. The bill was first filed last session by Representative Steven Ultrino with the endorsement of the National CROWN Coalition and received increased support from advocates, community members, legal experts as well as Senate and House members this session.

Massachusetts will now join 17 other states to codify the definition of natural and protective hairstyle and protect its residents from being denied employment and educational opportunities because of their hair texture. Discrimination and policies restricting these respective hairstyles in schools, employment, housing, and business settings will now be prohibited in the Commonwealth. This legislation would also expand criminal law prohibiting assault and battery for purposes of intimidation to include natural and protective hairstyles, while adding natural and protective hairstyles to hate crime data collection and reporting requirements.

“Today is a historic day for Massachusetts. When my staff and I first drafted this bill last session, we were inspired by Mya and Deanna’s bravery and resilience,” said Representative Steven Ultrino (D – Malden). “That bravery and resilience have brought us here today, changing lives of Black and Brown communities all across the state. I am proud to be a sponsor of the bill and I look forward to the state legislature continuing its efforts toward empowering communities of color and ensuring equitable living standards in our Commonwealth.”

“Today, marks a great day for Black and Brown Communities throughout Massachusetts. Today, this important piece of legislation in the fight against systemic racism has been signed into law by our Governor” said Representative Chynah Tyler (D–Boston), Chair of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. “Women and girls will no longer need to live in fear of facing repercussions in schools, workplaces, and other institutions based on the way they choose to wear their hair. I would like to thank my colleagues in both branches of the legislature for helping take this bill across the finish line.”

“This really all started when we were in high school and our school banned us from wearing our hair in box braids. When that happened, me and Mya decided to get the school to change the rule. They were very adamant, and we had to protest and do detention sit-ins, to do postcard campaigns and fight to get the rule changed in our school. It sparked a movement for us to push to never have this happen to anyone else again,” said Deanna Cook, one of the Malden residents whose experiences became the inspiration behind the CROWN Act. “All the support for this just feels so amazing. It feels like everyone is ready for this to be a law. Back in 2017, it did not feel like that, so to be here in 2022 is just amazing,” said Mya Cook, sister of Deanna who stood beside her sister against the hair discrimination they faced at school.

With overwhelming support and dedication from the National CROWN Coalition, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, ACLU Massachusetts, New England Blacks in Philanthropy, and many others, Massachusetts will become the 18th state to pass similar legislation prohibiting race-based hair discrimination.

H.4554 was enacted by the House on July 14 and by the Senate on July 18. The bill has been signed by Governor Baker July 26 at 2 p.m. and has been made law in Massachusetts. A recording of the signing can be found here (https://youtu.be/iDQ_xKAugxs).

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Please direct any press questions to Legislative Aide, Claudia Chung (claudia.chung@mahouse.gov)