Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the recent debate on the Senate’s version of a $55.9 billion fiscal year 2024 state budget.

$300,000 for firefighters’ cancer screenings (S 3)

The Senate, 39-0, approved an amendment that would provide $300,000 for a municipal grant program for firefighter cancer screenings, including advanced blood testing and imaging.

Amendment supporters say the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health undertook two large studies focused on firefighter cancer, concluding that firefighters experienced a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths compared to the general population.

“Early screening of firefighters is so particularly important in the fight against cancer,” said sponsor Sen. Walter Timilty, D-Milton. “Quite simply, our firefighters experience a higher risk of cancer as a result of the work that they so courageously perform to both protect and care for us. Truly, firefighters both need and must have access to lifesaving cancer screenings.

“Furthermore, the chance of firefighters being diagnosed with terminal leukemia increases with the number of fire-related call responses,” Timilty added. “In addition, the chance of a lung cancer diagnosis, an insidious disease and subsequent death increases with the amount of time a firefighter combats a blaze. In short, firefighting is a dangerous profession. Therefore, we must do everything we can to ensure that firefighters experience the same safety, security and protections they afford to us.”

A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes

Sen. Anne Gobi — Yes

Sen. Paul Mark — Yes

$250,000 for protection of right whales (S 3)

The Senate, 39-0, approved an amendment that would provide $250,000 for the protection of right whales by increasing the patrols of officers to identify and remove abandoned fishing gear and to enhance their ability to enforce speed restrictions through use of drone technologies to minimize potentially harmful interactions between vessels and right whales.

Amendment supporters say more than 90 whales have either died or been injured since 2017 and that there are fewer than 340 right whales remaining today.

“Since its incorporation in 2005, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) group’s North American office has run a dedicated program to save this imperiled species and implement protective measures to save right whales from those threats,” the group’s website states. “WDC has worked to develop and implement rules to reduce vessel strikes, successfully reducing the risk of a fatal collision by 80% to 90% in U.S. waters, and to increase federally designated critical habitat to cover nearly 40,000 square miles of the U.S. East Coast.”

Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his amendment.

A “Yes” vote is for the $250,000.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes

Sen. Anne Gobi — Yes

Sen. Paul Mark — Yes

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (S 3)

The Senate, 39-0, approved an amendment mandating that the state’s Department of Public Health and Department of Mental Health conduct a study on the occurrence and impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Neonatal abstinence syndrome is a treatable condition that newborns may experience as a result of prenatal exposure to opioids and other drugs the mothers might take. Babies can then go through painful and difficult drug withdrawal after birth.

Amendment supporters say this has become a big problem in Massachusetts and across the nation.

“Pregnant women who use drugs, smoke or drink alcohol put their unborn babies at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome and other problems,” Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s website reads. “Women who use drugs also may be less likely to get prenatal care. This can also increase the risks for both mother and baby.”

Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his amendment.

A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes

Sen. Anne Gobi — Yes

Sen. Paul Mark — Yes

Also up on Beacon Hill

The Public Health Committee held a hearing on 54 bills, including these four that deal with smoking laws.

Pharmacists and smoking cessation medicine (S 1428): Would authorize licensed pharmacists to dispense medications to help individuals quit smoking. The pharmacist must first complete a training program that would include proper documentation, quality assurance and referral to additional services, including recommendations that the patient follows up with a medical practitioner.

“Despite decades of public health campaigns and legislation, smoking remains one of the most common causes of death in the United States,” said sponsor Sen. Mike Moore, D-Millbury. “The good news is that we have powerful tools to help individuals overcome their addiction to nicotine through several safe and effective smoking cessation medications — though access can be a key barrier for many. This critical legislation would expand access to lifesaving anti-smoking drugs by allowing trained pharmacists to dispense medications to qualifying patients looking to live longer and healthier lives.”

Repeal the menthol ban (S 1364): Would repeal the state’s 2000 law that bans flavored vaping and tobacco products, including mint and menthol cigarettes.

“The state menthol ban was put in place as a reactionary measure for the rare occasion where it was deemed harmful, without much thought to the potential implications of the legislation,” said sponsor Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton. “With my legislation to repeal the menthol ban, it would make the sale of current menthol products legal and subject to the regulatory and taxation requirements of the state, ensuring that the product is made and distributed according to our standards. It would also benefit small businesses that lost out on a significant portion of their income when the initial ban was hastily passed into law.”

Sale of cigarettes to people ages 21 and over (S 1397): Would allow cigarettes and other tobacco products to be sold only in adult-only retail tobacco stores or smoking bars. These stores are defined as an “establishment that is not required to possess a retail food permit whose primary purpose is to sell or offer for sale, but not for resale, tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia, in which the sale of other products or offer of services is merely incidental.” No one under age 21 is allowed in these stores.

Supporters said current law says people must be 21 years of age to buy tobacco but tobacco is still sold in hundreds of convenience stores and gas stations across the state. They said this is inconsistent and noted these stores are sometimes lax, selling cigarettes and other tobacco products to people under 21.

Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, the sponsor of the measure, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his proposal.

Require retailers that sell tobacco to also sell alternatives (S 1341): Would require any retailer that sells tobacco products to also sell at least one type of nicotine replacement therapy drug or device that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for assisting with helping people quit tobacco use. Violators would be fined $100 for the first offense, $200 for a second offense and $300 for a third or subsequent offense.

Supporters say this might result in more people buying these drugs or devices to help them stop smoking and will ultimately lead to a reduction in smoking. They argue it is important to have these drugs and devices readily available.

Sen. Brendan Crighton, D-Lynn, the sponsor of the measure, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his proposal. The same measure filed by Crighton last year was shipped off to a study committee where it died, as do most bills that are sent to a study committee.

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