FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2014
House Passes Legislation to Combat
Substance Abuse Epidemic
Includes Several Measures to Curb
Prescription Drug Abuse and Save Lives
(BOSTON) – State
Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. joined his colleagues in the House of
Representatives in voting unanimously to pass a bill that will increase access
to substance abuse treatment as well as create several measures to combat the
current epidemic.
The bill aims to increase access
to treatment by requiring all insurance plans in the Commonwealth to cover
acute treatment services, clinical stabilization, and medical detox for at
least ten days. Patients will be able to
access treatment without first having to obtain prior authorization. Additionally, licensed drug and alcohol
counselors will be added to the list of covered specialists to allow providers
to bill insurers for their services.
“This legislation is the first
step in quelling the rise in substance addiction that is devastating the lives
of people across the Commonwealth,” House
Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said. “The bill provides the foundation for
sustainable improvement by increasing access to care and changing the way we
monitor and respond to unprecedented public health crises like the one we’re
currently confronting.”
The bill creates several measures
to combat abuse, including a provision to ensure access and utilization of abuse-deterrent
pain medications. These medications are specially
engineered to be more difficult to abuse.
The bill expands the Drug Formulary Commission and requires them to recommend
a list of abuse-deterrent, chemically-equivalent substitutions for opiates.
“Prescription drug abuse has
reached epidemic proportions in our communities and we need to do more to
battle this,” said Rep. Golden. “This bill will make it more difficult for
those to abuse medications and will also prevent drugs from being altered for
use other than prescribed. Technologies
and products are on the market today that prevent someone from crushing,
cutting, grinding, or abusing opiates. The
DEA and others in law enforcement will attest that medications with
abuse-deterrent properties are making a difference in helping combat
abuse. This bill would ensure that they
are accessible and utilized. It will
save lives in our communities and our state.”
The bill also authorizes the
Department of Public Health (DPH) to create a list of prescription drop boxes
and other safe locations where people can dispose of excess prescription drugs.
“Education about prescription
abuse is critical,” Rep. Golden added. “People need to know how important it is to
take their medications as directed, store them securely, and properly dispose
of them when no longer needed.”
Finally, the bill authorizes DPH
to temporarily categorize a substance as “schedule I” on an emergency basis to
avoid imminent hazard to public safety or to preserve public health.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2014
House
Establishes Framework for Paroling Juvenile Murderers
(BOSTON)
– State Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of
Representatives in passing legislation that creates a framework for determining
parole eligibility for juveniles who have been convicted of first degree
murder.
This legislation is in response to
recent federal and state court rulings that declared life sentences without
parole for juveniles to be unconstitutional.
The legislation applies to 14-18
year olds and creates two categories.
The first category applies to those who have committed felony
murders. These individuals would be
eligible for parole in 20-25 years. The
second category concerns those convicted of first degree murder who showed
“deliberate premeditation with malice aforethought.” These individuals would be eligible for
parole in 25-30 years.
The bill also protects the families
of victims from having to testify excessively when a prisoner shows no signs of
rehabilitation. The parole board may use
a 10-year setback period to extend the period of time before a prisoner may
next present themselves before a parole board.
Rep.
Golden said,
“In light of recent judicial decisions, this bill aims to protect the citizens
of our Commonwealth while staying within the confines of the Constitution.”
Finally, the legislation changes the terms
of violating parole for juvenile murders from committing a crime to committing
a violent offense. This change
safeguards juvenile offenders who are released on parole from violating their
parole because of minor criminal behavior, such as operating an uninsured
vehicle.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 06,
2012
House Passes Bill
Authorizing $200 Million
for Municipal Road
and Bridge Maintenance
I joined my
colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives last week in passing
legislation to authorize $200 million for the maintenance and upkeep of municipal of roads and
bridges across the Commonwealth, and a portion of that will be allocated to Lowell
and Chelmsford for the upcoming fiscal year.
This $200 million
marks a continued commitment for Chapter 90 funding and demonstrates the House’s
strong support to local road funding.
Promptly making these
funds available to the City of Lowell and the Town of Chelmsford will give them
the ability to maintain and make much-needed repairs on roads and bridges and will
further ensure the safety of drivers across our state.
As a member of the
House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, I recognize
the importance of this investment and I look forward to the results. This allocation of Chapter 90 funds will provide cities and
towns with the necessary support to make repairs to ailing roads and
bridges. These investments in our antiquated infrastructure will save the
Commonwealth money overall, by driving new businesses and families into the
state.
As always, if you
have any questions, comments, or concerns about this or any thing else, please
do not hesitate to call me at the office at 617-722-2020 or at home at
978-453-3069.
Tom
Thomas A. Golden Jr.
State
Representative
16th
Middlesex District
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