ACS CAN Massachusetts is focusing on a variety of issues in the 2017-2018 Legislative Session. Below is an update on those that have had movement in the past month:
Status of Tobacco Legislation
ACS CAN priority legislation is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee. The current bill number is HB4109. The legislation includes increasing the sales age for tobacco from 18 to 21, adding e-cigarettes to the smoke free workplace law, and prohibiting the sale of tobacco in pharmacies. The bill was the feature of our Lobby Day on March 28. Volunteer advocates are following up with lawmakers after our lobby day and weekly drops are happening in the state house and being posted to social media to keep the drum beat going.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives has come out publicly in support of the bill. We are hopeful for a vote of the full House in the coming weeks.
2018 Lobby Day Update:
Our 2018 Lobby Day was a huge success! Thank you to everyone that came and participated. We had 105 volunteers attend the day. We met with 27 Senators and 46 Representatives about the youth tobacco prevention bill. Our goal was to raise awareness and support of the bill within the legislature, and we did just that. Pledge cards are still coming in!
Take Action:
We are looking for students or young professionals that want to work with us on this campaign. Their photos would be featured on our social media page and delivered to lawmakers with their reason why they want this law to pass.
Twice a week we are posting the photos of students and their reasons why they want the bill to pass on our Facebook and Twitter Accounts. Please like and share these posts, and any other ACS CAN MA posts, as Facebook is putting priority on personal interaction with posts. The more people that comment, like or share the posts, the more people who see them.
We are also still looking for stories of past or current smokers that started using tobacco prior to age 21 to share with our lawmakers, as well as doctors or organizations to write a letter in support of the legislation. Please connect with Melissa via email at [email protected] or via phone at 508-270-4683 if you have a story to share or are interested in writing a letter.
FY19 Budget Update:
The House Ways and Means committee released its proposed FY2019 budget last week. Of note to ACS CAN:
- Funding for the creation of the Office of Health Equity, which ACS CAN has been advocating for since 2007, is included. The office would spearhead efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in Massachusetts.
- Funding for the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program is flat funded from the current fiscal year but represents a 10% increase from the proposed funding in the Governor’s budget. ACS CAN has worked with lawmakers to submit an amendment asking for this line item to be increased from $3.7 million to $8.2 million.
- Funding for the Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education, and Research Program was included in the proposed House budget. The program funding was not included in the Governor’s proposed budget. ACS CAN and its partners are supporting an amendment to increase funding for this important program from $550,000 to $1.5 million over three years.
- The Pediatric Palliative Care Program is funded at just over $3 million, $400,000 over the funding in the Governor’s proposed budget. The additional funding would ensure all families on the waiting list for this program would receive services.
Next steps for the budget include:
- The House will debate and approve its FY 2019 budget proposal next week (the week of April 23rd).
- In May, the Senate will debate their version of the budget.
- In June, a joint House/Senate conference committee will work to reconcile differences between these two budgets.
- The final budget plan, which requires the Governor's signature, will ideally be completed by July 1st, the beginning of FY 2019.
Upcoming Events:
- April 26: ACS CAN Massachusetts will host its monthly advocacy call on Thursday, April 26 at 6:30pm. Join to hear the latest updates regarding our priority issues at the state and federal levels, as well as ways you can take action over the next month. The call-in number is 1-917-727-7985 and the conference ID is 15590430. Anyone is welcome to attend!
- June 18, 2018: Now in its 11th year, the annual ACS CAN New England Research Breakfast brings together more than 250 leaders from business, life sciences, and healthcare who come together to support ACS CAN’s efforts to fight cancer on Beacon Hill, in Washington D.C., and in state capitals across the country. For more information on the event, please contact Shalini Vallabhan at [email protected].
