A look at statewide bills that passed

Only 28 of 178 bills signed by gov affect entire state

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

This week Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on how local legislators voted on some of the bills that were approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker in the 2020 session.

Of the more than 6,000 bills that have been filed for consideration, only 178 have been approved and signed by the governor. And only 28 of those were bills that affect the entire state while the vast majority were either sick leave banks, local landtaking measures or other localrelated measures applying to just one city or town. Of those 28 bills, 13 were related directly to the COVID-19 virus and 15 were on other matters.

Sick leave banks allow public employees to voluntarily donate sick, personal or vacation days to a sick leave bank for use by a fellow worker so he or she can get paid while on medical leave. Land takings are local land measures that usually only affect one city or town.

Here are six of the statewide bills signed into law: lished a registry that identifies individuals who have been found to have committed abuse against persons with disabilities. The measure was filed by Sen. Mike Moore (D-millbury) at the request of a constituent who is the mother of Nicky, an intellectually disabled and nonverbal individual.

Nicky had been inappropriately restrained and struck multiple times by his caretaker. Under current law, unless the offender is criminally convicted, no system exists to identify caretakers and prevent them from finding employment with another provider licensed by the state.

“Enacting this registry will help disrupt a cycle of abuse of individuals with disabilities and put in place common-sense protections that families in the commonwealth deserve,” Moore said. “There are clear benefits to screening prospective employees who intend to work within the licensed caretaker field.”

STUART CAHILL / BOSTON HERALD Gov. Charlie Baker checks out a pesticide sprayer prior to speeking to the media at the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project on July 7 in Plymouth. The House, 158-0, and the Senate, on a voice vote without a roll call, approved a law that would grant additional tools to the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board to combat mosquito-borne illnesses including Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus.