$368 Million Supplemental Budget Funds Several DiDomenico Priorities to Help Vulnerable Children and Families
BOSTON – Last week, Senator Sal DiDomenico joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts State Senate in passing a $368.7 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). Several DiDomenico priorities were included in this legislation to fund vital services that support vulnerable populations and address food insecurity, housing instability, the state’s long-term COVID-19 response, economic development, essential support services for incoming immigrants and refugees, and more. Notably, the bill also extends initiatives first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as outdoor dining, remote public meeting access, and support for assisted living residences. The bill further authorizes $814.3 in bonding to bolster the Commonwealth’s clean water and other public works projects for cities and towns, as well as to support the Commonwealth’s ability to compete for competitive federal grant funds.
“I was proud to vote for this supplemental budget which prioritizes feeding, housing, and financially supporting people across backgrounds in our state,” said Senator DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “I am also especially pleased that we have included funding for several of my priorities including the extension of Universal School Meals through the end of the year, supporting early education providers, extending SNAP benefits, and providing wraparound services for immigrants and refugees. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and their staff for bringing the supplemental budget to the floor.”
DiDomenico spoke during the Senate debate and highlighted the fact that the bill invests $368.7 million to address several time sensitive needs for an array of programs relied on by some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth, including $130 million for SNAP food assistance benefits to provide a glide path for families who were receiving enhanced SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, $68 million for the Early Education C3 stabilization grant program, $65 million for the continuation of free school meals, $45 million for emergency shelter assistance, and over $40 million to support affordable housing for immigrants and refugees. Other measures funded in the bill include:
$8.3 million for judgments, settlements, and legal fees
$7 million for coordinated wraparound services for incoming immigrants and refugees
$2 million for the reimbursement of SNAP benefits for victims of benefit theft
$2 million for the preparation and execution of the 114th National NAACP conference, which is taking place in Massachusetts in 2023, which was adopted via an amendment from Senator Liz Miranda
$1 million for a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the misleading tactics of so-called crisis pregnancy centers and their lack of medical services
$250,000 for Reproductive Equity Now’s free abortion-related legal hotline
The bill also authorizes $814.3 billion in capital expenditures to support economic development projects. Notably, these include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to cities, towns, and other public entities for infrastructure projects, and $200 million for state matching funds to compete for federal grant opportunities, including those funded through the CHIPS and Science Act, which encourage innovation in Massachusetts. Other bonding items authorized by the bill include:
$104 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund
$34 million for a program to revitalize underutilized properties
$30 million for state matching funds to compete for federal broadband expansion grants and improve state broadband infrastructure
$15 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative, which supports innovation within the state’s manufacturing industry, including by offering technical assistance to manufacturers and attracting talent from outside of the state
$14 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program
$9.3 million for broadband middle mile supports
$8 million for the Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund
Recognizing the societal shifts that have taken place during the pandemic, the bill also addresses several pandemic-era related measures, including:
Permanently allowing public corporations and nonprofits to hold meetings by means of remote communication
Permanently allowing notaries public to conduct remote online notarization using communication technology
Extending the ability of graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs to practice nursing in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
Extending the ability of municipalities to allow outdoor dining services
Extending the ability of public bodies to allow remote participation by members in public meetings
Extending flexibilities given to cities and towns that allow for town meetings to be held in hybrid or fully remote capacities and that ease the threshold for a quorum
Extending the ability of nurses employed by assisted living residences to provide skilled nursing care in accordance with valid medical orders, provided the nurse holds a valid license to provide such care
Senator Liz Miranda (D-Boston) and Senator Robyn K. Kennedy (D-Worcester) both gave their inaugural Senate speeches during consideration of the supplemental budget. Senator Miranda spoke on behalf of her amendment for $2 million to support the NAACP’s 114th national conference, which will be taking place in Massachusetts in 2023. The amendment was subsequently unanimously adopted. Senator Kennedy highlighted how the supplemental budget’s $68 million investment in C3 early education grants will provide crucial stability to the early education sector.
As a previous version of this legislation has passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills.
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