ACTS of 2006

Anti-Gang Package – This legislation co-sponsored by Senator Wilkerson is one of the most comprehensive gang and violence reduction pieces of legislation in the Country. Adding tougher gun laws, an $11 million grant program to reduce gang activity throughout the state and a new comprehensive witness protection program makes this legislation a monumental step in the health and life of our youth. Senator Wilkerson was a major force on passing this tough legislation that will assist judicial and public safety officials on combating gang violence while also being the strongest voice on funding a real witness protection program in Massachusetts. Wilkerson pushed for more funding which was doubled from the original $750,000 to $1.5 million for a fully funded witness protection program. Approved by the Governor on March 30, 2006 and is now Chapter 48 of the Acts of 2006.

Health Care Reform – In addition to involvement in the overall creation of the landmark health care reform in Massachusetts, Senator Wilkerson was specifically involved in certain aspects of the legislation which was signed by the Governor on April 12, 2006 and is now Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006. Below are some specific issues in which Wilkerson as involved.

• Health Care Disparities Council – Wilkerson created the first-in-the-nation disparities council through the Senate Version of the Health Care reform. This Council, which is mandated to make crucial health care and access recommendations regarding minority persons, is a continuation of the Legislative Commission to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities which the Senator Co-Chairs.
  
• Community Outreach Program – Senator Wilkerson strengthened the language of this section of the Senate Version of Health Care Reform to address access barriers, racial and ethnic disparities, and environmental justice.
  
• Socioeconomic Benchmarks – This adopted amendment called for the website created through this section include the important socioeconomic adjustments to performance benchmarks envisioned under the consumer health care quality and cost information board. Recent experience with the GIC/Tufts Health Navigator Plan measures, which did not account for such socioeconomic adjustments, placed hospitals in “tiers” and set deductibles based on cost and quality measures in manner that was not fully reflective of underlying patient demographic factors. Making certain that these cost and quality benchmarks are adjusted for socioeconomic demographics will promote more information and protect against benchmarking that does not take these into consideration.
  
• Patient Protections in Uncompensated Care Pool - Providing for the continuation of current patient protections and services under the uncompensated care pool. During the transition to expanded health insurance access, this amendment called for the current eligibility, covered services and patient protections to remain in place. This is important to prevent a repeat of the regulatory changes proposed by the Romney Administration in August 2005 (a legislative moratorium was placed on these regulations until January 31, 2006) that would shift approximately $150 million in costs to patients and providers.
  

Homelessness Commission – This legislation establishes a special commission whose purpose is to devise and oversee a comprehensive program to eliminate homelessness in the Commonwealth.

Boston Ballots – Being the sole State Senator representing Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood this legislation mandating that ballots be printed in both English-Chinese and English-Vietnamese was a priority of the Senator’s. This law was signed by the Governor on June 15, 2006 and is now Chapter 111 of the Acts of 2006.

Fire Safe Cigarettes - With assistance from Senator Wilkerson Massachusetts is the second state to require “fire-safe” cigarettes that self-extinguish when not smoked because of the paper they are wrapped in. Cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths, so it’s estimated the requirement will save hundreds of lives and millions of dollars in property damage.

Needle Bill – Senator Wilkerson was a key legislator in the passing of this important legislation which allows consumers over the age of 18 to purchase hypodermic needles without a prescription at pharmacies in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading diseases such as HIV and AIDS.

Minimum Wage Increase - Senator Wilkerson remained an ardent supporter of raising the minimum wage and fought to do so. This legislation increased minimum wage from $6.75 to $8.00 over two years and at the same time impacts 315,000 low-income workers giving Massachusetts the third highest minimum wage in the country.

Higher Education Bond Bill - invests $430 million over seven years to increase affordability, caps tuition and fees to the inflation rate and increases financial aid for students. (in House Ways & Means)

 

Economic Stimulus of 2005-2006

• Environmental Remediation – Senator Wilkerson and the community is one-step closer to finally having the old Modern Electroplating Building finally cleaned up. Through her work on the $2 million is going to be made available for the environmental remediation on the site, which poses an environmentally hazardous threat to those who live around the site.
  
• Workforce Development – Senator Wilkerson was able to create a $350,000 matching grant line-item, that with private monies will become $700,000, for a workforce development program to train Boston residents to take advantage of the 10,000 new jobs outlined in the 10 year MASCO Master plan.
  
• Boston Public Marketplace – Senator Wilkerson secured $75,000 in the Senate Version of the Economic Stimulus Package for a feasibility study on creating a public marketplace in the City of Boston. (only included in Senate Version)
  
• Columbus Center Project – $4.3 million dollars is allocated in the Senate Version for economic development in the city of Boston. This money will be spent on structure material and decks for the Columbus Center air rights project set to bring in hundreds of new jobs for the city. (only included in Senate Version)

 

FY07 Budget – Senator Wilkerson again advocated and won millions of dollars of State money to go directly back into the Second Suffolk District.

• HIV/AIDS – This language makes sure that monies spent on HIV/AIDS by the Commonwealth is distributed based on demographic need
  
• Women Mentoring Program – Wilkerson partnering with the Women’s Union, The Jewish Vocational Service and the Center for Women’s Enterprise secured $200,000 for a women’s mentoring program that focused on the welfare to work population by taking successful women and having them mentor those women trying to gain access into the workforce.
  
• Museum of Afro American History – Wilkerson gained a victory through a $250,000 earmark in the FY07 Budget to assist in the rehabilitation and celebration of the African Meeting House on Joy Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Wilkerson’s district. The Museum of Afro-American History is dedicated to preserving, conserving and accurately interpreting the contributions of African Americans in New England from the colonial period through the 19th century.
  
• Cass and Kelly Rinks - Wilkerson secured an allocation of over $6.5M for renovations to the Melnea Cass Rink and Pool and for the Kelly Rink on the JP/Roxbury line. The $3M for the renovation of the Melnea Cass Rink & Pool will resolve an ongoing dispute between The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and community residents who expressed outrage over DCR’s launch of a community fund raising campaign to help pay for renovations to the pool. No other community is being asked to pay for renovations to state property. The Cass would have received a $2,829,500 state grant to enclose the facility and construct a wading pool for toddlers and the Kelly would have received a $2,200,000 grant combined with a $1,500,000 dollar-for-dollar matching grant to have a grand total of $5,200,000 for the construction of a new facility. (only included in Senate Version)
  
• Caribbean Carnival – As she does every year, Wilkerson secured $50,000 for the Caribbean Carnival which runs each summer in the City of Boston to celebrate its Caribbean population.
  
• METCO - Thanks to the Senators efforts in convincing her mostly suburban colleagues of the importance of the program, METCO received an additional million to make the overall budget for FY07 a $2,000,000 increase over last years.
  
• Trotter Institute – The William Monroe Trotter institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston was founded in 1984 to address the needs and concerns of the Black community and communities of color in Boston and Massachusetts through research, technical assistance, and public service. Senator Wilkerson saw fit that the State provide the institute with $350,000 to help them in their cause.
  
• Boston Health Care for the Homeless - Wilkerson also obtained $300,000 for Boston Health Care for the Homeless program which operates a facility at the Barbara McGinnis House in Jamaica Plain, which provides healthcare to homeless citizens that are usually not sick enough to stay in the hospital but too sick to be out on the streets with no shelter.
  
• Winter Jobs - Senator Wilkerson added language to the Senate budget to roll over any funding not utilized in the city’s summer job program to the city’s winter job program, which targets court involved juveniles for employment. (only included in Senate Version)
  
• CORI Reform -Senator Wilkerson was instrumental in contributing language that was adopted in the Senate version of the FY07 Budget. The CORI Reform amendment would have:
  
  • form a commission that would study current sealing statutes in an effort to curb recidivism;
  • have only convictions or cases pending on an individuals CORI record;
  • give judges the discretion to purge juvenile records;
  • correct and prevent mistakes in processing CORI records,
  • create an apparatus for citizens to dispute a CORI record.
    (only included in Senate Version)

 

Other FY07 Funding - Wilkerson also obtained funding for programs all over the Second Suffolk District in the Senate FY’07 Budget including:

• Funding for the Southwest Corridor Park to hire a much-needed horticultural expert to maintain the park’s plants and flowers;
  
• $100,000 for the programs at Inquilinos Boriquas en Accion (IBA), which provides Boston residents with the opportunity to take adult education (e.g. ESL, GED, Basic English and Math courses) and college-level classes (both on-site and online);
  
• $300,000 to Radius Hospital in Roxbury to do state-of-the-art workforce development
  

 

ACTS of 2005

Repeal of Indian Prohibition Act – Very early in the legislative session Senator Wilkerson passed a piece of legislation that is akin to the backbone of her Senate career, equal rights and justice for all. This piece of legislation repealed the arcane and racist law established in 1675 during the King Philips War which stated that any Native American caught in Boston after sundown will be imprisoned. This was signed by the Governor on May 20, 2005 and is now Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2005.

Stem Cell Research – Senator Wilkerson was able to include language to ensure that the biomedical research advisory council created in the legislation conduct an investigation and analysis of ways to encourage disproportionately impacted populations' and that there be a promotion and a special attention paid to Health Care Disparities. Wilkerson also included language that the Committee that she Chairs, State Administration and Regulatory Oversight have oversight over the regulations promulgated by the Executive Office for stem cell research. The Governor returned with his objections and was overruled by the Senate and the House on May 31, 2005 and is now Chapter 27 of the Acts of 2005.

Indigent Council Pay Increase – Senator Wilkerson fought tirelessly to ensure that everyone receives a fair day in court. This legislation addressed the problem in the court system of private attorneys no longer willing or being able to afford to take on cases for an indigent client. This was signed by the Governor on July 29, 2005 and is now Chapter 54 of the Acts of 2005.

Hurricane Katrina Aid – Working with the Governor and the Senate President, $25 million dollars was allocated for assistance and aid to those evacuees that are evacuated to the Commonwealth. Senator Wilkerson also visited Houston after Hurricane Katrina to see firsthand the horrors of being displaced. The Senator also held a series of meetings about how the Commonwealth can help those displaced by the wrath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This was signed by the Governor on September 6, 2005 and is now Chapter 81 of the Acts of 2005.

Emergency Contraception – Senator Wilkerson was a vital force in debate over this issue. It is now law to make available emergency contraception in every hospital without exception. The Governor returned with his objections and was overruled by the Senate and the House on September 15, 2005 and is now Chapter 91 of the Acts of 2005.

Interstate Charter for Adult Offenders – This law mandates that the Commonwealth enter into the interstate charter which most states in the Nation are a part of to track adult offenders as they move throughout the country. This was signed by Governor on October, 27 2005 and is now Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2005.

Melanie’s Law - The toughest drunk driving legislation passed in Massachusetts to date. Named after a small child who was killed by a repeat offender drunk driver, the Senator strongly supported making the streets safer for all motorists. This law will now make drunk drivers think twice about getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. This was signed by Governor on October 28, 2005 and is now Chapter 122 of the Acts of 2005.

Welcome Home Bill – In the wake and continuation of the armed conflicts in Iraq and in Afghanistan the Commonwealth passed this legislation, strongly supported by Senator Wilkerson which provides additional benefits, increased pay, tuition and fees for service members, veterans, and their families. This was signed by Governor on November 11, 2005 and is now Chapter 130 of the Acts of 2005.

HEAT Bill – This piece of legislation dubbed the HEAT Bill (heating energy assistance and tax relief), just does that, provide assistance and relief to those burdened by the high cost of energy this winter season. This was signed by Governor on November 22, 2005 and is now Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2005.

Smart Growth – Always a housing advocate Senator Wilkerson supported this legislation that called for additional state school aid for municipalities that adopt “smart growth” zoning districts. This was signed by Governor on November 22, 2005 and is now Chapter 141 of the Acts of 2005.

Film Tax Credit — With probably the highest concentration of filmmakers, producers, writers and actors in the South End, Back Bay, Jamaica Plain neighborhoods in Senator Wilkerson’s district she was all for sales tax exemptions towards the purchase of film-related equipment and 20% tax credit on payrolls for Massachusetts hires to allow the Commonwealth to compete in the film production industry. This was signed by Governor on November 23, 2005 and is now Chapter 158 of the Acts of 2005.

FY06 Budget

• HIV/AIDS – This language makes sure that monies spent on HIV/AIDS by the Commonwealth is distributed based on demographic need.
  
• Women Mentoring Program – Wilkerson partnering with the Women’s Union, The Jewish Vocational Service and the Center for Women’s Enterprise secured $200,000 for a women’s mentoring program that focused on the welfare to work population by taking successful women and having them mentor those women trying to gain access into the workforce.
  
• Museum of Afro American History – Wilkerson gained a victory through a $250,000 earmark in the FY06 Budget an anniversary Celebration of the Museum of Afro American History. The Museum of Afro-American History is dedicated to preserving, conserving and accurately interpreting the contributions of African Americans in New England from the colonial period through the 19th century.
  
• Caribbean Carnival – As she does every year, Wilkerson secured $50,000 for the Caribbean Carnival which runs each summer in the City of Boston to celebrate it’s Caribbean population.
  
• 54th Massachusetts Regiment – The organization which pays homage to the first African-American volunteer regiment by enacting the regiment all over the country got a huge financial boost from Senator Wilkerson who secured $40,000 for the organization through the Tourism line item in the FY06 budget.
  
• Trotter Institute – The William Monroe Trotter institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston was founded in 1984 to address the needs and concerns of the Black community and communities of color in Boston and Massachusetts through research, technical assistance, and public service. Senator Wilkerson saw fit that the State provide the institute with $350,000 to help them in their cause.
  
• Distressed Hospitals and Community Health Center’s
  
  o New England Medical Center………………......…$500,000
  o South End Community Health Center………….......$400,000
  o Jewish Memorial Hospital…………………….…...$250,000
  o Dimock Community Health Center………………...$200,000
  o Whittier Street Community Health Center………….$200,000
  o Mattapan Community Health Center……………….$200,000
  o South Cove Community Health Center……….....….$100,000
  o Fenway Community Health Center…………………$100,000FY06

 

Supplemental Budget - Below are some of the important items achieved by the Senator’s hard work to provide for her constituents and her district.

• Forsyth Dental Program – Senator Wilkerson garnered $750,000 for a dental program for free and reduced lunch eligible students in the school systems of Boston, Lynn, and Hyannis. The program will be administered by the Forsyth Dental School which will go into the schools and perform free cleanings and checkups.
  
• Community Health Center Funding – Senator Wilkerson realized the importance of the Community Health Centers in her district and therefore fought hard to gain the following in addition to the aforementioned FY06 Budget allocations, she was able to include these items in the Supplemental Budget:
  
  o Dimock Community Health Center……………...….$200,000
  o Mattapan Community Health Center…………......…$200,000
  o Whittier Street Community Health Center……....…...$200,000
  o HarvardStreet Community Health Center……....……$200,000
  o Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center....$200,000
  o Fenway Community Health Center………….....…….$100,000
  o SouthCove Community Health Center……….....……$100,000
  
• Roxbury Community College CPU Funding – Senator Wilkerson earned funding in the amount of $105,600 for Roxbury Community College to replace and repair the administrative computers at the school
  
• Substance Abuse Language – In the same way that Senator Wilkerson has written into law that the HIV/AIDS line item is allocated based on demographic need, the monies for substance abuse will also be allocating according to demographical need.
  
• Jury Pool Reform – Again, equal rights and justice are attempted to be achieved in this language that will provide for more lists to be added into the jury pool, which will greatly enhance the ability to receive a fair trial judge by a jury of your peers. For too long the jury list left off minorities one way or another, this attempts to eradicate this injustice. (only included in Senate Version)
  
• Homelessness Commission – This language, started as a comprehensive omnibus bill comprised of language not only from Senator Wilkerson but Senator Pangiotakos and Second Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing, creates a commission whose sole goal is the elimination of homelessness in the Commonwealth. Senator Wilkerson was able to have the Senate adopt the language worked so hard on by the aforementioned colleagues and staffs to create this commission in the Senate Version of the Supplemental budget. (only included in Senate Version)

 

Legislative Appointments:

1. Commission to Eliminate Racial & Ethnic Healthcare Disparities, Co-Chair
2. Hynes Convention Center & Boston Common Parking Garage Legislative Commission, Co-Chair
3. Special Commission on Non-Group and Small Group Health Insurance, Co-Chair
4. Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, Member
   

 

Community Appointments and Memberships:

1. 21st Century Black Massachusetts Conference, Convener
   
2. Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD), Ex, Officio Member
3. Asian American Civic Association, Advisory Board Member
4. Boston State Hospital Citizens Advisory Committee, Ex-Officio Member
5. Caucus of Women Legislators, Member
6. Chinatown Trust Fund, Trustee
7. Chinese Progressive Association, Capital Campaign Committee Honorary Member
8. Coalition for Caring, Co-Convener
9. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Member
10. Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, Member
11. Fenway Community Health Center, Member of Board of Visitors
12. Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under the Law, Steering Committee Member
13. Morning Star Baptist Church, Member
14. Northeastern University Community Task Force, Member
15. Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee, Member
16. Roxbury Trust Fund, Trustee
17. Trustees' Fellows Athenaeum Trust Fund Advisory Committee, Trustee
    

 

Awards:
In 2005 and 2006, she received honors, awards and certificates of appreciation from (not an exhaustive list):

1. Affordable Care Today Coalition
2. American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts
3. American Institute of Architects of Massachusetts
4. Boston Center for Community and Justice and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation
5. Boston Connects, Inc. Board of Directors
6. Boston Medical Pediatrics
7. Boston Renaissance Charter Public School
8. Economic Opportunity Hall of Fame
9. Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ
10. JP Regan Youth League
11. Masjid Al-Qur’an
12. Massachusetts Alliance for Adult Literacy
13. National Black Caucus of State Institute
14. Project Place
15. South Middlesex Branch NAACP
16. Suffolk County Caregiver Alliance
17. Vinfen, Inc.
18. Women of Courag
19. YWCA Malden Center for Women and Families