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As of midnight last night (July 31, 2012), the formal session of the 2011 – 2012 Massachusetts Legislature ended. The legislature will meet only in informal sessions for the remainder of the year and will only pass non-controversial issues (only takes one objection to table an issue.) This was a very successful session for MFA and its members with success on all three of our major issues: · On July 3rd Governor Patrick signed into law Chapter 138 of the Acts of 2012 which allows for food stores to apply for an option to utilize technology for price disclosure to increase price accuracy as long as certain labor and consumer protections are met. This was a hard fought victory that took a lot of time, effort and follow through. We will now work with the Executive Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation along with the Division of Standards to coordinate industry’s participation in the regulatory process so we are prepared for the January 1, 2013 implementation date. · On December 20th, 2011, the Governor signed into law a bill to increase the number of liquor licenses an individual or corporation can hold from 3 to 9 to be implemented over an 8 year period (2 in 1012; 2 in 2016 and 2 in 2020.) This compromise piece of legislation became a reality because MFA and our members qualified a ballot initiative for the 2012 November ballot. An intense negotiation process over a 3 month period resulted in the compromise legislation. · At the end of the session a final attempt by the proponents of the expanded bottle deposit law to put an amendment into the jobs bill failed to wind up in the final conference committee report after it was adopted by a voice vote in the Senate. This was one of several attempts by the proponents to get the legislature to expand the law. MFA spearheaded a multi association and company coalition effort to defeat every attempt. As part of the effort MFA participated in the formation of the group “Real Recycling for Massachusetts” which concentrates on comprehensive approaches to recycling and waste reduction efforts. MFA along with the Beverage industry announced a Massachusetts Recycling Challenge which set up a program which will work with municipalities to promote cost effective ways to increase recycling such a “pay as you throw" programs. Industry will also purchase approximately 200 “on-the-go” recycling receptacles to be deployed in high visibility locations. In addition MFA along with a coalition of other Association groups support an amendment to the Health Care Cost Containment Bill called the “Fair Share Assessment Amendment”. This amendment is aimed at addressing a problem faced by many small and independent business owners who offer insurance and employ part-time and seasonal employees who are likely to have insurance from other sources... Many of the businesses that offer quality insurance to their workers are still subject to the fair share contribution penalty. This provision in essence says that employers would no longer be fined if they offer qualifying insurance and their employees are covered. This amendment survived in the Conference Committee report that was accepted by the legislature last night and is on the Governor’s desk (he is expected to sign it.) There were numerous other issues before the legislature of concern to the industry that MFA submitted testimony or information that were not acted on such as family leave, minimum wage, plastic bag ban/tax, or compostability bills, and snack taxes proposals just to name a few. This was a very hefty agenda that required a lot of people’s time, effort and coordination. I want to thank all of you who participated in some way whether it was grassroots contact with your elected officials, hosted store visits and demonstrations on issues (item pricing, bottle law, etc.), testifying at a Committee hearing, participating in a committee or sub- committee or providing information. In the end all of it added up to a very successful year. Thanks and have a great rest of the summer! This article has been moved here
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE 2011-2012 FORMAL SESSION ENDS – SUCCESSFUL MFA SESSION
- Thursday, August 02, 2012
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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE 2011-2012 FORMAL SESSION ENDS – SUCCESSFUL MFA SESSION
- Thursday, August 02, 2012