Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) announced updates to the public website that will allow users to personalize their experience when navigating bills, committees, hearing information and connecting with legislators.

“The Legislature’s public website is an extremely valuable tool in serving our constituents and making information easily available,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “These new features make the site more user-friendly and interactive. By allowing visitors to personalize their experience we hope to engage more citizens and provide improved access to legislative updates.”

Through “MyLegislature,” users can create a user-id and password to access their secure MyLegislature account. Users can identify specific bills, hearings, committees and legislators that they are interested in following and their personalized homepage will display each selection. Any hearings scheduled for their selected committees will automatically be included in their MyLegislature hearing list. In addition, users can further personalize MyLegislature by identifying any accessibility needs.

The updated website also includes an easy-to-use format to connect with legislators. The public website can be found at www.malegislature.gov.

Earlier in the week, I was joined by Franklin Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting and Fire Chief Gary McCarraher, to testify before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security regarding House No. 2189, an Act establishing a district to operate a regional public safety communications and dispatch center for the Towns of Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham.

The bill would allow the Towns of Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham, through their respective town council and boards of selectmen, to enter into a written agreement for the purpose of establishing a district to construct, equip, operate and maintain a consolidated regional public safety communications and dispatch center.

Combining the dispatches for all of the towns will improve the response times, save taxpayer dollars, and make the citizens of the region safer. The bill would also give the towns quicker access through joint resources. Dispatchers at a regional center will have state-of-the-art tools and the latest technology. Rather than facing the numerous distractions in a typical police station, the dispatchers in the regional center can focus exclusively on taking calls and alerting first responders. The consolidation of resources and enhanced technology will allow dispatchers to stay on the line with a caller during an emergency—providing CPR instructions, for example—while another dispatcher follows through with lining up the response resources. And the dispatchers will receive training that will get them up to, and keep them at, professional standards set by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International. In short, the center will offer amenities that communities couldn’t afford by going it alone.

The bill mirrors Chapter 156 of the Acts of 2010 which established a regional dispatch center for the towns of Cohasset, Hingham, Hull & Norwell. Regional dispatch centers have also been formed in Essex County. The state encourages communities to regionalize emergency dispatch centers because it allows cities and towns to cut the cost of providing those services to residents. It also is a more efficient way of providing the service.

Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham have already been provided with grant money through the State 911 Department Regional and Regional Secondary PSAP and Regional Emergency Communication Center Development Grant program to complete construction of the center and fund operations for three years, but they are unable to proceed without legislative approval of this bill. The State 911 Department supports the development and startup of regional and regional secondary PSAPs and regional emergency communication centers, to maximize effective emergency 911 and dispatch services as well as regional interoperability.

The bill was reported favorably out the committee and now moves onto the House Committee on Bills in Third Reading before it can get to the House floor.

Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D – Franklin) announced that Medway will participate in the first round of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program (Solarize Mass), a grassroots clean energy marketing, education and group-buying program. Roy is a member of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.

The program – run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) – is designed to increase the adoption of solar energy and further reduce the overall cost of solar power, and offers residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar. The more people in a particular community who participate, the greater the savings for everyone in that city or town.

“Medway has made strides towards reducing municipal energy consumption, including becoming a Massachusetts Green Community and installing solar panels on the High School and Middle School,” noted Roy. “The town is committed to creating a green and energy efficient community and this grant will undoubtedly be an asset to making the town’s goals a reality.”

Solarize Mass is an innovative initiative sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) and the Green Communities Division of the Mass Department of Energy Resources (DOER). It provides a structured program for local residential and commercial property owners to access and install competitively priced small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The program will begin in May and the time period for site assessments and sign ups will run through September 30, 2013.

“This year’s program will build on the success of the last two years, saving residents and businesses money while creating local jobs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.

“This program brings together residents, local and state officials, and solar industry workers to form a truly grassroots effort,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “With everyone at the table, we can spread the word about the economic and environmental benefits of solar power across ten communities.”

“This new round of Solarize Mass continues to build on the clean energy leadership we’ve seen over and over again at the community level,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “When neighbors encourage neighbors, it creates local excitement and greater participation. This grassroots commitment is fueling Massachusetts leadership in energy efficiency, clean energy jobs growth, and renewable energy adoption.”

Last year, 17 cities and towns participated in Solarize Mass, with 749 residents and businesses signing contracts to install solar electricity systems with the capacity to generate 4.8 megawatts of clean, renewable energy – enough to power the equivalent of 719 average Massachusetts homes annually. During the 2012 Solarize Mass program, participating customers were able to purchase solar electricity systems for 20 percent less than the statewide average price at the beginning of the program. The program last year also created at least 32 new jobs.

Due to state renewable energy incentive programs like Solarize Mass, residential solar electricity prices dropped 28 percent in Massachusetts in 2012, according to a report issued by the Solar Energy Industries Association in March 2013. This was the second biggest drop in the nation last year.

Massachusetts set a goal of achieving 250 megawatts of solar PV by 2017. As a result of the Solarize Mass program and other incentives, the state is close to reaching its goal – with 220 megawatts of solar electricity installed to date, the equivalent of powering 33,000 homes for a year.

Join State Rep. Jeff Roy and his band, Ben Gardner’s Boat, along with special guests Low Priority and DJ Bob Costello as we celebrate our campaign victory! Listen to great music, enjoy delicious appetizers and dance the night away—or just relax and have some fun with friends and neighbors.

State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D – Franklin) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation that freezes a scheduled increase in the unemployment insurance assessment paid by all employers.

“During the campaign, I talked frequently about the importance of getting our economy back on track and focusing on economic development,” said Roy. “I am pleased that one of my first votes as a Representative will help businesses create jobs, avoid additional costs, and help stabilize the economy.”

“At the open of this session, I stood before the House membership and called for support of another unemployment insurance rate freeze to help lessen the burden of this recession on businesses,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “In these tough economic times, it remains ever important that we pass legislation to help stimulate business expansion and create job opportunities.”

“We continue to work hard to balance the needs of employers and employees in Massachusetts,” said Chairman Brian S. Dempsey of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By freezing the unemployment insurance rate, we are protecting our Commonwealth’s businesses from additional hardship, which in turn safeguards current jobs and maintains vital support services for those workers who are struggling to recover from the Great Recession.”

The unemployment system run by the Commonwealth is primarily funded by the state’s employers. By law, as the funds in the unemployment system become depleted, employers’ contributions would increase. Freezing the rate at Schedule E will save the average employer from having a near 30% increase for unemployment insurance per employee and workers would continue to receive the same benefits under this rate freeze.

Furthermore the bill reduces the appropriations for non-executive offices by 1% and addresses items that require additional funding or corrective language. For example, the supplemental budget draws $30M from the Stablization Fund to address a deficit caused by the Hinton Drug Lab case; however, after this draw, the state maintains a healthy balance of $1.2B in the rainy day fund.

This legislation also includes spending provisions for operating deficiencies of immediate need that include $45M for Homeless Family Shelters and $3M for unexpected costs to state agencies as a result of Hurricane Sandy among others.

State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D – Franklin) was appointed to three committees in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Speaker Robert A. DeLeo yesterday. Roy will service on the Education, Judiciary, and Global Warming and Climate Change Committees.

“It’s a great honor to have been chosen for these committees,” noted Roy. “These are challenging times and these assignments will offer a great opportunity for me to help the residents of Massachusetts. I was pleased that the Speaker will allow me to apply my skills as a lawyer and my background in education to assist with the business of the House of Representatives.”

The committee on education considers all matters concerning education in grades K through 12 and such other matters as may be referred. Roy’s 10 years with the Franklin School Committee and service on school building committees should be helpful with this work.

The duty of the committee on Judiciary is to consider all matters concerning crimes, penalties and sentencing, criminal offender record information, judiciary, including the recall of judges, the salaries of judges, court clerks and court officers of the various courts, probation officers, juries and jury duty, parole, registers of deeds, correction issues previously sent to Public Safety.

Roy has been a trial lawyer in Massachusetts since 1986 and has represented clients at all levels of the trial and appellate courts here. In addition, he has appeared in cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court and Superior Court, the Federal District Courts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the Rhode Island Superior Court, Colorado Superior Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. This background and experience will serve him well with in his work with the Judiciary Committee.

The House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change considers all matters related to the Commonwealth’s climate policy, including greenhouse gas emissions, the climate impacts of renewable energy development and climate change adaptation and mitigation. The committee also serves in an advisory capacity to other joint committees that consider legislation with significant climate impacts, including environment, natural resources and agriculture, transportation, energy, housing and economic development and emerging technologies.

State Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) announced today that constituent office hours will be held in Franklin on Tuesday, January 29th and in Medway on Tuesday, February 5th as follows:

• Franklin – 6:00 PM at the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Room 106, Franklin, MA
• Medway – 8:00 AM at the Medway Municipal Building, 155 Village Street, Sanford Hall, 2nd floor, Medway, MA

Christopher Yancich, his legislative aide, will be accompanying him.

Representative Roy stated that all office hours are open to any residents of Franklin and Medway who may have questions or concerns that they wish to bring to his attention. He looks forward to hearing from you.

He also invites all constituents to call him at his State House office at (617) 722-2425, stop by Room 437 in the State House, or email him at Jeffrey.Roy@MAhouse.gov.

Franklin and Medway joined almost four dozen school districts across Massachusetts in being named to the College Board’s 2012 AP District Honor Roll.  The honor roll recognizes school districts that expand access to Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum and help maintain or improve the percent of students that score 3 or higher.

Massachusetts had more school districts named to the College Board’s 2012 AP District Honor Roll than any other state.  It led the nation with 46 districts on the honor roll, followed by Michigan, with 39.

Inclusion on the 3rd Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on the examination of three years of AP data, from 2010 to 2012.  To be included, districts must:

1. Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts and at least 11 percent in small districts;
2. Ensure that the percentage of African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students taking AP Exams did not decrease by more than 5 percent for large and medium districts or by more than 10 percent for small districts;
3. Improve performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2012 scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2010, unless the district has already attained a performance level in which more than 70 percent of the AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.

Congratulations to the Franklin and Medway Public Schools for continuing to perform at such a high level.  In particular, we applaud the extraordinary efforts of the devoted teachers and administrators who foster rigorous work and enable more of their students to achieve on a college level.

More than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the U.S. offer college credit, advanced placement or both for a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam — which can potentially save students and their families thousands of dollars in college tuition.

The complete 3rd Annual AP District Honor Roll can be found here.