Legislation

Green Communities Act
 
More commonly referred to as the "energy bill," the Green Communities Act has passed both houses and was signed into law by the Governor on July 2, 2008. As Frank Gorke, Director of Environment Massachusetts, explained, "This amounts to a major update to our state's energy policy, and it charts a course to a new, cleaner energy future. Everyone knows we have huge energy challenges, including pollution that changes the climate and dependence on dirty and dangerous energy sources. In addition we're at the end of the pipeline here in the northeast, so we have little control over the cost of conventional energy supplies. These are some of the reasons why the steps in this bill are so important. This bill puts energy efficiency at the heart of our energy policy. It takes several steps that ought to help break the logjam and spur the development of new clean renewable power sources like wind and clean biomass. It opens the door to more local generation of power, so that homeowners and business owners can start to install their own clean, efficient power supplies. It takes steps to make sure we build smarter buildings that use less energy and cut global warming pollution."

Life Sciences Proposal

This proposal of the Governor's seeks to ensure that Massachusetts remains the international nucleus of the life sciences industry and the hub of medical discovery. The House of Representatives passed this bill on February 28th and the Senate passed it on March 20th, 2008. The Governor signed this bill into law on June 16, 2008, at which point he flew with the Speaker and the Senate President to San Diego to encourage industry leaders to establish their businesses in Massachusetts.
 
National Popular Vote

The House enacted a bill that is part of a national initiative to base presidential elections on the national popular vote. If this bill is successful in passing a sufficient number of state legislatures whose electoral votes add up to more than 270, those state would give all of their electoral votes to the candidate who had won the national popular vote, therefore ensuring the candidate's election to the office of President of the United States.

As former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis explained, " Here is what the bill will not do. It will not result in a proliferation of third party candidates. It is not unconstitutional. It will not continue to effectively disenfranchise millions of American voters whose vote isn't counted as part of a popular majority. On the contrary, it will help increase voter participation and put a premium on strong and effective grassroots organizing in all states. We have a historic opportunity to join with other state legislatures to fix the electoral college system once and for all by passing the national popular vote bill."

Unfortunately, despite final approval by the House, and initial approval by the Senate, the bill was not finally enacted in the Senate before the clock ran out on 7/31/08. As one of the chief proponents of the bill in the House, Rep. Peisch is especially pleased at its passage in the House, but disappointed that it failed to pass the Senate. She is optimistic that it will pass next session.

Mental Health Parity/ Children's Mental Health
 
In June, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass landmark mental health parity legislation that will require health plans to cover mental health and substance abuse disorders to the same extent as all other medical conditions.
 
This bill seeks to complete what the Legislature began in 2000 when it passed legislation that expanded health insurance coverage of mental health services, but it stopped short of full parity by granting parity to a limited number of so-called "biologically based disorders" while setting limits on coverage of all other mental disorders.  Examples of disorders that were not fully covered by the earlier statute are eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse disorders.
 
The House accepted the Senate version and the Governor has signed the bill.  Rep. Peisch is also pleased to report that a Children's Mental Health bill passed the legislature. The bill will make sure that children suffering from mental  illness are identified and receive appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

Global Warming Solutions Act

In the final formal session of the legislative calendar, the House unanimously passed the groundbreaking Global Warming Solutions Act.  The bill, which has overwhelming grassroots support, puts Massachusetts in the forefront of greenhouse gas emission reduction policy.  The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will be given authority to regulate emissions across the economy and is directed to reduce levels to 80% below the 1990 baseline by 2050 with short term goals of between 10% and 25% by 2020.  These goals are in line with the most recent scientific findings for curbing extreme environmental impacts associated with climate change.  Rep. Peisch is proud to have supported this watershed legislation and believes that it will put Massachusetts businesses in a position, as early adopters, to be leaders in a global trend towards increased emission efficiency.