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Advocates urge fast childcare vouchers and automatic early-intervention referrals for children entering shelter
Providers, parents and city and state officials told the Joint Committee on Children and Families and Persons with Disabilities that House Bill 215 would immediately connect children in shelters to childcare and early-intervention services, shortening a process they say can now take about 30 days.
Doctors push insurance coverage for children's vision screening and follow-up exams
Ophthalmologists and optometrists backed H280, saying early screening and insurance coverage would catch treatable conditions such as amblyopia and avoid lifelong vision loss for children.
Providers and legal advocates press lawmakers to restore presumptive shelter eligibility and extend stay limits
Witnesses told the committee that recent changes to Emergency Assistance (EA) have limited access to shelter, leaving families sleeping in cars or parks; H216 would reinstate presumptive eligibility, prohibit stay limits shorter than nine months, and require the Executive Office to use existing state records rather than deny families who lack documentation at intake.
Survivors and clinicians press legislature to ban aversive therapies; opponents warn licensing is insufficient
Hundreds of pages of testimony and multiple survivors described painful electric shocks and other aversive practices at the Judge Rotenberg Center, urging passage of H245 to ban aversives; opponents warned licensure proposals (H240) would merely formalize harmful practices.
Advocates and educators urge repeal of 'Learn Fair' attendance sanctions in Massachusetts
Legal-aid groups, superintendents and education advocates testified that the 'Learn Fair' law unfairly cuts cash assistance to families for student absenteeism; supporters said it disproportionately affects students with disabilities and families of color and urged favorable action on H210.
Users of service animals tell lawmakers denials are rising; bill would study enforcement gaps
Service-animal users, including the Statehouse ADA coordinator, described frequent denials by rideshares, restaurants and landlords and asked the Legislature to create a study commission (S2714) to document discrimination and recommend enforcement changes.