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Re: [bluetooth-dev] Stack design and some anoucements
Hi Oliver,
> > What do you mean by direct interface ?
>I was thinking about an interface similar to what you have done with HCI.
>An interface that can be registered besides the socket interface.
>This could be useful if you don't have enough space for all the socket
>interface (in this case you had to have a possibility to replace sk_bufs
>I guess, or make them dependent on the stack) and you don't require it.
That's the thing. You'll have to "invent" some new interface for the protocol that is perfectly suited for the socket api.
I agree that one may develop "smaller" api for L2CAP that sockets but sockets are not at all that expensive in terms
of resources. You may save 1-10K but you'll most likely lose compatibility, efficiency, etc.
BTW Sockets are _always_ present in the kernel (unless you hack it really hard :)). Look in the init/main.c, they are
initialized unconditionally, which make sense because even pipes are implemented using sockets :).
So, the point is I don't think that you'll save a lot by "inventing" other non-standard api.
>If you have to/want to use sockets I agree. It is a clean solution. I've
>been thinking of a stack as flexible as possible (and I understand under
>stack more or less what is specified by the spec). For some reason I
>don't really like the idea to cut the whole stack in half (just a design
>question, performance should be more or less the same).
What do you mean by "cut the whole stack by half" ?
> > Actually L2CAP sockets by themselves provide all necessary functionality for L2CAP apps.
> > But you right library is also important.
>By library I mean nice functions to invoke inquiry, paging and the like.
Paging is initiated by calling connect on L2CAP socket.
Inquiry should be in the library.
Maksim Krasnyanskiy
Senior Kernel Engineer
Qualcomm Incorporated
(408) 557-1092
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Introduction {#S1}
============
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes acute and chronic conditions, such as stroke and coronary heart disease ([@B1]). CVD results in a shortened life span and is the biggest cause of death worldwide ([@B1]--[@B3]). The endothelium is the single cell layer that lines blood vessels and lymphatic system and its dysfunction contributes to the development of CVD ([@B4], [@B5]). Endothelial cells (ECs) play an important role in controlling vascular tone and by secreting or expressing surface molecules, they ensure appropriate regulation of blood flow, counteracting intravascular activation of platelets, and coagulation ([@B6], [@B7]). Moreover, cardiac ECs have been shown to affect the ventricular myocardium. Thus, the force-frequency response of cardiac muscle in the presence of increased cardiac workload is blunted after damage to the cardiac endothelium ([@B8]).
A vascular surface that normally is thromboresistant, anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, and antiproliferative can turn into a surface that is thrombogenic, proinflammatory, vasoconstricive, and stimulatory of smooth muscle cell proliferation. Often this change is reactive and transient restoring vascular homeostasis. However, in diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (DM) such changes, known as endothelial dysfunction, may be prolonged and critical for disease progression. The extent of pathological metabolic perturbation is determined by an interaction of lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise with underlying genetic factors ([@B9]--[@B12]). Consequently, health-care interventions may be more effective if adapted to an individual.
Metabolic modeling offers insights into cellular metabolism ([@B13]). Below, we consider endothelial metabolic alterations, their contribution to endothelial dysfunction, and integrated analysis of this information with genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) to advance personalized health care.
Endothelial Metabolism {#S2}
======================
Endothelial cell metabolism has been investigated in multiple contexts including angiogenesis, hypoxia, shear stress, glycemia, and response to perturbations with mediators of vascular health including thrombin, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and more ([@B14]--[@B19]). The endothelium operates with variable nutrient availability and oxygen partial pressures in a manner that is EC subtype specific ([@B20]) and results in altered synergy in the oxidation of its core nutrients glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids ([@B17], [@B21]--[@B23]) that are reviewed specifically elsewhere ([@B24], [@B25]) but considered collectively here and illustrated in Figure [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}.
{#F1}
Glycolysis Affects Endothelial Proliferation and Angiogenesis {#S2-1}
-------------------------------------------------------------
Endothelial cells oxidize glucose largely by glycolysis, allowing maximal availability of oxygen for transendothelial transport to perivascular cells ([@B26]--[@B29]). Carbons from glucose are primarily excreted as lactate with only 1 in 200 pyruvate equivalents contributing to oxidative phosphorylation ([@B26]). Laminar shear stress, the frictional force created by blood flow, promotes anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and anti-oxidative properties in ECs and helps to maintain quiescence largely *via* the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 ([@B30]) that acts to repress phosphofructokinase-2/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase-3 (PFKFB3) thereby promoting a quiescent phenotype ([@B16]).
In response to angiogenic factors induced by injury or in pathological conditions such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, or tissue damage, ECs quickly form new vasculature by sprouting. During vessel sprouting, glycolysis is increased further, mediated by increased activity of PFKFB3, the loss of which impairs vessel formation ([@B26]). Increased glycolysis without oxidation of pyruvate relies on lactate dehydrogenase to supply NAD^+^, and the activity of PFKFB3 is reflected in both intracellular and secreted lactate of ECs ([@B31]). Furthermore, lactate is involved in PFKFB3-mediated endothelial proliferation, tube formation, and Akt activation providing a plausible explanation for PFKFB3-mediated angiogenesis ([@B31]). Lactate dehydrogenase activity also increases with EC subtype proliferation rate. In pulmonary microvascular ECs, rapid angiogenesis is dependent on lactate dehydrogenase A expression ([@B14]).
Endothelial-dependent vascular function correlates with blood glucose levels ([@B32]--[@B37]). In hyperglycemia, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is inactivated, impeding glycolysis ([@B38]). A build-up of fructose-6-phosphate, a glycolytic intermediate, impacts hexosamine biosynthesis generating *N*-acetylglucosamine that glycosylates and modifies angiogenic proteins including Notch and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 ([@B39]--[@B45]) and, inhibits eNOS ([@B46]). Excess glucose also enters the polyol pathway, producing excess advanced glycation end products (AGEs) ([@B47], [@B48]). AGEs alter the binding of erythrocytes and platelets to the endothelium ([@B49], [@B50]), and clinical arterial responsiveness correlates negatively with the ratio of AGEs to soluble receptor of AGEs ([@B51]).
Fatty Acid and Amino Acids Metabolism {#S2-2}
-------------------------------------
Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) is an intracellular fatty acid chaperone protein that impacts the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor transcription pathway ([@B52]). Circulating levels of FABP4 are associated with endothelial dysfunction in DM patients ([@B53]) and increased risk of atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular malformations ([@B54], [@B55]).
Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) accounts for roughly 14% of ATP production in cultured EC ([@B22]). Carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT1A), a long-chain fatty acid shuttle protein regulated by AMP-activated protein kinase, is a key point of FAO regulation ([@B22], [@B56], [@B57]). Palmitate has been shown to contribute carbons to nucleotide formation *via* the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. When CPT1A was knocked down *in vitro*, vessel sprouting was impaired due to low levels of deoxy ribonucleotides. CPT1A knockdown in mice produced impaired retinal vessel formation ([@B58]).
In addition to glucose and fatty acids, amino acids contribute to EC metabolism and function ([@B59]). Specifically glutamine fuels anaplerotic reactions *via* the TCA cycle ([@B23], [@B29], [@B60]). Internalization of glutamine occurs *via* solute carrier family 1 member 5 ([@B23], [@B29]), and inhibition of glutaminase causes premature senescence and reduced proliferation in ECs ([@B61]). The most intensely investigated amino acid with respect to endothelial dysfunction is, however, arginine in the context of its conversion to the vasorelaxant nitric oxide (NO) by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Is Important to Vascular Function and Its Production Is Affected by Genetic and Metabolic Factors {#S2-3}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to causing vasorelaxation, NO affects smooth muscle cell proliferation, aggregation and adhesion of platelets and leukocytes, important processes to atherosclerosis and other CVD ([@B62], [@B63]). When eNOS has insufficient arginine, a result of competition with arginase, and/or lacks the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin, it produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) instead of the products NO and citrulline -- in a pathological state known as uncoupling ([@B64]--[@B71]). Furthermore, the pressure of $\text{O}_{2}^{-}$ causes rapid inactivation of endothelium-derived NO ([@B72]). Indeed, arginase and eNOS activities and genotypes in addition to tetrahydrobiopterin levels have all been linked to endothelial function ([@B73]--[@B76]).
Altered NOS activity due to inhibition by asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) encourages NOS uncoupling leading to endothelial dysfunction. ADMA levels, and the ratio of ADMA to arginine, have been connected to several aspects of CVD risk ([@B77]--[@B80]).
Genetic variation in eNOS affects some measures of recovery of blood flow control in acute myocardial infarction ([@B73]). Inhibiting arginase activity, which reduces eNOS uncoupling, is helpful in restoring endothelial function in both coronary artery disease and after ischemia--reperfusion injury ([@B64], [@B65]). Genetic variation in NOS1 has also been linked with CVD in various studies ([@B75], [@B76]). Furthermore, the ROS scavenger methionine sulfoxide reductase A, important to reducing the effect of uncoupled NOS and other ROS, is affected by genetic variation relevant to coronary artery disease risk ([@B81], [@B82]).
Interestingly, the extracellular presence of certain amino acids -- ornithine, [l]{.smallcaps}-lysine, [l]{.smallcaps}-homoarginine, [l]{.smallcaps}-glutamine, [l]{.smallcaps}-leucine, or [l]{.smallcaps}-serine -- decreases NO and increases endothelium-dependent vascular resistance. This effect is reversible by adding arginine to the medium and was shown to be dependent on y^+^L and y^+^ family amino acid transporters ([@B83]).
Decoding Endothelial Metabolism and Function through Computational Modeling {#S3}
===========================================================================
The previous section highlights the complexity of the contribution of metabolism to endothelial dysfunction. Importantly, some of the most common human metabolic gene alterations impact enzymes that are of importance to endothelial metabolic phenotypes. These include pyruvate kinase and ([@B84]) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which alters CVD risk ([@B85]), in addition to those already mentioned above. The variability of the effect of these mutations on cardiovascular phenotypes highlights the problem of untangling complex genetic diseases ([@B12]). This complexity is aggravated by lifestyle choices that impact the expression and activity of these genes ([@B9], [@B86]--[@B89]). How altered gene expression and the environment combine to advance CVD can, however, be explored on the metabolic level, through metabolic systems analysis using genome-scale models of endothelial metabolism. For CVD research, genome-scale modeling promises to contribute to the definition of endothelial metabolism under different physiological conditions, allow the differentiation of individual endothelial metabolic phenotypes that can be related to CVD states and ultimately contribute to individualized therapy. In the following sections, we explain the concept of GEMs, their current and potential applications toward increasing the understanding of endothelial metabolism, and how this could lead to novel discoveries to combat CVD on the individual level.
GEMs Provide Snapshots of Metabolism {#S3-1}
------------------------------------
Genome-scale metabolic models are computational models that can be used to describe and investigate the metabolic flux phenotype of a cell based on disparate biochemical information. GEMs are built from biochemical component knowledgebases, also termed biochemical network reconstructions ([@B90]). Reconstructions are organism specific and account for genetic, and biochemical components, and their interactions, based on annotated biological information sourced from literature. All metabolic reactions and metabolites contained within a reconstruction can be represented as a numerical matrix, which is comprised of the stoichiometric factors of reactants and products of each metabolic reaction. In this format, the metabolome is subject to computational research allowing metabolic reaction flux at steady state through metabolic pathways to be computed ([@B91]).
Genome-scale metabolic reconstructions aim to account for as many as possible biochemical interactions that have been described in an organism (e.g., a human). While reconstructions afford a mechanistic description of genotype--phenotype relationships, they are not context specific. However, when constrained with cell or context-specific data, for example gene expression information of ECs, reconstructions afford GEMs that are descriptive of the biological event and cell of interest. Gene expression data of a HUVEC cells at normoxia vs. hypoxia would for instance generate two GEMs based on the same reconstruction thereby providing two snapshots descriptive of metabolic flux through reactions as defined by the two expression datasets. Essentially, reconstructions define the biochemical components of an organism, while context-specific polyomic data are required to generate a GEM of a particular cell or cellular event. Genomic, proteomic, and/or metabolomic fingerprints can thus be analyzed and compared within the context of GEMs ([@B92]).
The methodology of building, curating, and analyzing reconstructions and GEMs is commonly referred to as constraint-based analysis. Various software has been developed to facilitate constraint-based analysis including the COBRA and RAVEN toolbox's for Matlab, Merlin and CORDA ([@B93]--[@B96]). Detailed protocols describing the necessary stages of building and curation are established ([@B90], [@B97]--[@B99]). Ultimately, constraint-based analysis of GEMs allows holistic exploration of metabolic phenotypes *in silico* and affords realistic hypotheses of biochemical mechanisms ([@B92]). In the past 5 years, multiple applications of GEMs descriptive of human metabolism have materialized that may contribute to the understanding of how genetic and environmental factors collectively contribute to CVD disease phenotypes when applied to endothelial metabolic research.
GEMs Differentiate between Metabolic Phenotypes {#S3-2}
-----------------------------------------------
In the context of CVD, GEMs that are descriptive of healthy and CVD endothelial metabolism can be produced. As recently reviewed in Väremo et al. ([@B100]), GEMs of various tissues have been built and applied to the investigation of CVD-related disorders, including DM and metabolic syndrome, although not yet endothelium ([@B101]--[@B104]). Transcriptional changes in cardiomyocytes of DM patients have been analyzed using the myocyte-specific GEM, iMyocyte2419, revealing deregulation of metabolic pathways ultimately linked to dihydro-lipoamide dehydrogenase, a unique characteristic of myocyte response in DM ([@B101]).
Genome-scale metabolic models serve as a biomarker discovery tool, and a tool to discover potentially "druggable" metabolic ([@B105]). Computational techniques exist that predict the pathways likely to be responsible for differences between two metabolic states, identifying these differences allows reactions, linked to genes in a GEM, to be selected as drug targets, for example in hepatocellular carcinoma and Alzheimer's, or metabolites to be identified as potential biomarkers for example for drug resistance in ovarian cancer ([@B100], [@B106]--[@B108]). Changes due in FAO in ECs leading to alterations in EC permeability -- clinically important to sepsis -- have been detected using a GEM. Altering FAO using drugs was shown to alter permeability, which may be clinically useful ([@B109]), future discoveries of this type may be linked to NO synthesis or clotting factor production useful for modulating CVD risk factors.
GEMs Can Define Endothelial Metabolism {#S3-3}
--------------------------------------
Genome-scale metabolic models that are descriptive of core endothelial metabolism have already been produced. Patella et al recently used endothelial proteomic data to constrain the human reconstruction, Recon 1 ([@B110]), to generate a GEM that describes EC cell core metabolism during tube formation in matrigel ([@B109]). FAO was identified as an area of metabolism that is altered during tube formation. CPT1A inhibition affects ATP production *via* the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Downstream, this alters Ca^2+^ signaling and junctional proteins *via* phospho-signaling to alter endothelial permeability, which were partially reversed by pyruvate supplementation ([@B109]). Automated GEMs have also been generated for colon and cerebral cortex ECs ([@B111]), though these models were not applied to CVD research.
Although automatically generated GEMs of EC metabolism have been used to reveal basal endothelial metabolic pathway usage, further curation and validation of EC GEMs would be beneficial. Investigations of vascular endothelial metabolism in different conditions and with different genetic backgrounds could be achieved, allowing genetic variation outside the context of core energy metabolism to be queried. For example, due to the inherent connectivity of metabolic reactions within GEMs, alterations in the release of sphingosine-1-P (a sphingolipid involved in vascular and immune signaling pathways) from ECs could be hypothesized and related to alterations in core energy metabolism induced by global metabolic expression profiles. The release of sphingosine-1-P from ECs and its contribution to individual vascular health could thus be proposed on biochemical alterations on the systems level as opposed to mutations in sphingosine kinase alone.
GEMs Can Be Personalized to Account for Individual Genetic Variation {#S3-4}
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Computational modeling can contribute to decisions regarding the suitability of a treatment for individual patients. GEMs could be produced for individuals based on genomics and subsequently used to stratify patients and personalize medical interventions for CVD. GEMs maybe based on generalized transcriptomic data from a pool of samples from a cell type ([@B112]) or a set of models may be created from individual samples and comparing the metabolic phenotypes predicted by each, allowing links between metabolism and broader phenotype, such as drug resistance in cancer cells, to be explored and may lead to insights about predictive biomarkers and druggable targets ([@B108], [@B113], [@B114]). Various algorithms for selecting active reactions for context-specific models based on transcriptomic and proteomic data are available including INIT and iMAT. These approaches have differing strengths and weaknesses that have been described and compared elsewhere ([@B98]).
Individualized hepatocellular carcinoma models have been used to predict patient outcomes based on the predicted production of acetate, identified as a key metabolic pathway for survival ([@B114]). Twenty-four individualized GEMs of erythrocytes were created based on genetic and metabolic data. These captured altered dynamics of erythrocyte metabolism and allowed the identification of individuals at risk to drug-induced anemia based upon their genomic sequence ([@B115]). These examples highlight a potential workflow, exemplified in Figure [2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}, to contribute to the personalization and stratification of medical treatments in the clinic. In the future, it is envisioned that an EC GEM could be used in a similar fashion by comparing GEMs CVD patients and healthy individuals to identify key metabolic changes to CVD for example those that increase production of atherosclerotic plaques.
{#F2}
Conclusion {#S4}
==========
Developing personalized CVD therapeutic interventions relies on the ability to account for genotypic and phenotypic variation. Variability in disease phenotypes can be captured and understood in the context of GEM's to facilitate this process.
Genome-scale metabolic models provide an integrated approach in studying EC metabolism. They allow analysis of the multiple factors affecting ECs in the body, facilitating the exploration of the relationship of genotype to metabolic phenotype. This offers the possibility of producing personalized predictions of CVD risk and treatment, that account for both genetic and lifestyle factors. Currently, GEMs are the only biochemical model type that can account for both of these factors within a predictive modeling framework ([@B92]).
Genome-scale metabolic models are only one type of model used to account for EC function. Focused and mechanistic computational models of various aspects of vascular biology have also been made. These address some important biophysical parameters that are currently outside the scope of GEM modeling. This includes assessing the effects of shear stress on blood vessel reactivity and growth as well as the effects on blood cell/endothelium interactions of flow ([@B116]--[@B122]). Models describing the effects of circulation on endothelial metabolites have also been built ([@B123]). Endothelial NO interactions ([@B124]--[@B126]), Ca^2+^ signaling ([@B127]) along with protein ([@B128]) and mechanical ([@B119]) signaling have also been addressed with computational modeling. Models have been individualized using patient data and have explored the effects of stenting on blood flow ([@B129]--[@B132]).
Integrating biophysical and signaling parameters with GEMs would generate a more complete understanding of the role of endothelial metabolism for CVD. In addition, these future GEMs would allow retrospective analysis of biophysical and genomic data that have been generated in the last few decades from population studies ([@B86], [@B133]), whose analysis is currently confined to multivariate statistical and comparative analysis techniques for the identification of CVD risk factors. Such an effort could allow, for example, *in silico* querying of the effect of LDL deposition on global endothelial metabolism. Indeed, computational analysis of LDL metabolism has already proposed novel approaches to combat CVD ([@B134]--[@B136]).
Realistic computational predictions of the effects of genetic and environmental perturbations on endothelial metabolism are possible and beneficial. There has been some exploration of CVD with GEMs and analysis of EC metabolism with GEMs; however, the full potential of this technique is only just beginning to be explored. Existing and future models will allow clinicians and researchers to investigate variable endothelial function *in silico* in a data-driven manner, to optimize future clinical interventions.
Author Contributions {#S5}
====================
SM and OR wrote the manuscript and conceived the ideology. HH, SP, and PJ conceived the ideology and contributed to writing of the manuscript.
Conflict of Interest Statement {#S6}
==============================
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The authors would like to thank the Rigshospitalet Denmark for financial support. OR acknowledges RANNIS grant 130591-051. SP acknowledges European Research Council grant 641093.
[^1]: Edited by: Matteo Vatta, Indiana University. USA
[^2]: Reviewed by: Nazareno Paolocci, Johns Hopkins University, USA; Mete Civelek, University of Virginia, USA; Andrew James Murphy, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia
[^3]: Specialty section: This article was submitted to Cardiovascular Genetics and Systems Medicine, a section of the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
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A is for Albumen - A Glossary of Common Chicken Terms
Here is my non-scientific, layman's guide to some of the more common terms and their meanings, plus where I could, I linked to a full-length blog post on the topic if you wanted to read even more information:
Albumen - The thick, clear, viscous liquid inside an egg, basically the egg white.
Ameraucana/Araucana - Two of the true 'blue egg layers'. Purebred Ameraucanas and Araucanas lay blue eggs. [Read more about blue eggs here...]
Apple Cider Vinegar (otherwise known as ACV) - Multipurpose general health elixir, used as an additive to chickens' water.[Read more about ACV...]
Bantam - A miniature version of a standard breed, usually 1/4 to 1/2 the size of a standard.
Bloom - The natural coating on the outside of an eggshell that provides a barrier and prevents air and bacteria from passing through the pores in the shell.
Broody - A hen who's natural instinct to sit on eggs until they hatch and then raise the chicks has kicked in. Although the broody genes have been bred out of most modern breeds, many do still retain that hormonal urge [Read more about broody hens...]
Brooder - The heated box or other container that chicks are kept warm in and raised in before they are old enough to be outside [Read more on brooding chicks...]
Bumblefoot - A bacterial infection similar to a staph infection on the bottom of a hen's foot that is characterized by a black scab, often caused by a small cut or a hard landing off the roost [Read more about bumblefoot...]
Candling - Shining a light on a fertilized egg to determine if the embryo is developing correctly. The term originated from the olden practice of using an actual candle; now flashlights or commercial candlers are used.
Clutch - A collection of eggs that a hen 'hoards' in order to amass enough to start sitting on and ultimately hatching them
Coccidia/Coccidiosis - An intestinal parasite that infects chickens, causing bloody diarrhea and often death, mainly in young birds
Cockerel - A male chicken, usually less than a year old
Comb - The flexible, usually red, protuberence on top of a chicken's head which in part helps them regulate their body temperature
Coop - Chicken house, hen house; where the chickens spent the night.
Crop - Holding area in the esophagus where food is deposited after eating, then ground up and softened before continuing on to the stomach.
Diatomaceous Earth (otherwise known as DE) -Ground fossils that can be added to chickens' feed and dust bath area to control parasites [Read more about DE...].
Easter Egger (otherwise known as EE) - Mixed breed Ameraucana or Araucana chickens, who lay a colorful array of egg colors from bluish-green to green, pink to brown or cream, not being purebred blue-egg layers.
Egg Bound - The state of a hen who is unable to lay an egg which can be life-threatening if not treated [Read more on egg bound hens...]
Egg tooth - The sharp knob at the tip of a chick's beak that it uses to crack through the eggshell in order to hatch.
Frizzle - A chicken with curled or twisted feathers.
Grit - Small stones, pebbles, coarse dirt or sand that chickens eat and store in their crop to assist in digesting their food.
Hackles - A chicken's neck feathers.
Incubate/incubator - To hatch eggs in an artificial environment instead of under a hen [Read about my very first experience hatching eggs in our incubator...]
Keel - The bony ridge along the breast bone.
Molt - The annual process chickens go through in which they lose their old feathers and grow new ones in anticipation of the cold winter weather [Read more about molting HERE...]
Nesting Box - A wooden, metal or plastic box, usually in the coop, where hens are encouraged to lay their eggs.
Pecking Order - The rigid social order within a flock that dictates hierarchy between each hen. Those higher in the pecking order can peck those below them and have first choice of treats, feed and a spot on the roosting bars.
Pip - The initial hole a chick breaks in the eggshell as it begins to hatch so it can begin to breathe outside air.
Point of Lay (otherwise known as POL) - A pullet of laying age, usually around 20-24 weeks old.
Probiotics - digestive aid found in yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and fermented feed that is beneficial to chicken health [Read more about probiotics here...]
Pullet - Older than a chick, younger than a hen, pullet usually refers to a bird less than a year old.
Roost - (n) The pole or branch in the coop where the chickens sleep; (v) the act of sleeping on the pole or branch.
Run - Yard or outside area where the chickens spend their days if they aren't free range, normally attached to the coop or built around the coop.
Saddle Feathers- A chicken's lower back feathers where the back meets the tail.
Scratch - A grain/corn mix, either homemade or commercially mixed, fed as a cold weather treat to keep hens' warm overnight [Read more about scratch...]
Sex-Link/Sexing - Sex link chicks are able to be separated into males and females at birth by their coloring; sexing is the process used to determine the sex of a newly hatched chick.
Sickles - A rooster's tail feathers which are longer and more of a plume than a hen's tail feathers.
Spurs - Sharp talons on the back of a rooster's legs, mainly used for protection or fighting.
Straight Run - Chickens that haven't been sexed before being sold, so you will likely end up with a mix of males and females.
Vent - The rear opening through which both excrement and eggs pass, although the egg travels down the oviduct to the vent, while excrement travels down the intestine.
Wattles - The two rubbery red protusions under a chicken or rooster's beak which help in part to regulate a hen's body temperature.
Zip - The crack a hatching chick makes in the blunt end of the egg/eggshell so it can push itself out of the egg.
Now you can talk chicken with the best of them!
Are there any other terms you have learned since you began your chicken keeping journey?
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1. Great list. Tell me about the "bloom". Sometimes the eggs get dirty so we wash them off. But, I've heard you say not to wash them until you are ready to eat them. Is this because they are protected by the "bloom"? Or is the bloom a protectant on the inside of the shell? I hate to put them in the fridge dirty.
1. Good point ! I need to specify that the bloom is on the outside. The bloom really does a great job of keeping both air and bacteria out of the egg, so not washing is optimal. But dirty eggs do need to be washed, so I rinse those in warm water and then use them first.
2. Small in stature, but large in personality, the Bantam is one of the oldest domestic animals and the miniature of the chicken family. Some Bantams were bred as a small variety of a standard size chicken, and true bantmas are small and always have been. The breed has many varieties--from Silkies, Sebrights, Rosecombs, Polish, and Beligans to mixed breeds. And, they are quite hardy, requiring little special care. Its brilliant plummage, and almost tame disposition have certainly added a splash of color and a sense of peace to life on the farm.
3. what breed is the last rooster from the bottom?
1. The white one is a Light Sussex and the black one is an Olive Egger.
4. I have 3 chickens that I've had for 2 years. Lately 2 of the chickens have been picking on the other one and they chase her, stand on her back and pull her feathers out and they are just down right mean to her. What do I do? I have been letting her out of the coop during the day and then putting her in at night when it's dark and they roost. Any ideas?
5. thats happening to one of my chickens to like when she tries to eat she gets bullied away | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '23', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9241403341293336}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '243776', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:YOT3QWVZKX34523F3U7B5QKSVAE3N3ZW', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:edb1ce5e-8229-48e1-b204-3b4ded0f5072>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 12, 6, 10, 22, 19), 'WARC-IP-Address': '172.217.12.243', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'application/xhtml+xml', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:3HB732EKLNVS77ZVU45IFY7VCABZOUNP', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:761f4d1b-a560-4561-ba4c-71fadef46c3f>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2012/11/a-is-for-albumen-decoding-chicken-terms.html?showComment=1354303853177', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:291fe487-6f5c-4815-8ad0-c1b813d35787>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '1382', 'url': 'https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2012/11/a-is-for-albumen-decoding-chicken-terms.html?showComment=1354303853177', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-51\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for December 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-27.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.37140005826950073', 'original_id': '26755910bd7f1b05910d40500acdc9e28928bef1f6ffda7db05a83d5be470668'} |
Wildlife Photography
Wildlife is an exciting, enthralling, and often dangerous endeavor. The wildlife photographer must essentially enter the natural habitat of the creature in which he or she is trying to capture on film.
The single most important piece of equipment the wildlife photographer must have is the lens. The photographer must be able to keep at a safe and comfortable distance from the animal, while still being able to photograph the creature, and the only way this kind of look can be acheieved is with a high zoom lens. Ideally, the photographer would have at least a 50-500mm zoom on his camera. Because of this, many wildlife photographers still opt for conventional film cameras, as opposed to digital cameras, as zoom is often compromised in digital photography. A lens filter is probably also necessary for the photographer to achieve the shot he or she is looking for, as sunlight is a hard light source to manipulate, but there is very little the photographer can do about it when shooting wild animals outdoors.
Since wildlife photographers must often use film cameras, the film must be carefully considered depending on the environment, the animal and the photographers goal. In bright sunlight, a 100-200 ISO will do, but if the photographer is going to be taking action shots, or taking shots in fading light, a 400 ISO is more appropriate. A 400 ISO is also the appropriate choice when using a zoom lens.
If the photographer find himself shooting in the middle of the afternoon, when the sunlight is at it's harshest, he may want to consider using a flash. If the object of the photograph has an element of backlight to it, fill flashes can help reduce the muddy shadows that often compromise an image. Flashes are important for compensating for the distinct shadows a midday sun can create.
Tripods are another piece of equipment the photographer will probably need. Long exposure shots can come out blurry if the animal is moving, and a camera secured to a tripod allows the photographer to manipulate the shutter to avoid this blurriness.
While popular thought remains that wildlife photography is "luck" and catching an animal at the "right time" - it is, in fact, the opposite that is true. The professional wildlife photographer has studied his or her subject for a long period of time prior to the shoot, and he will know what to expect from the animal. Every wildlife shot is one that has been thought out, planned, and set up.
2020 @ Photographers.org, All Rights Reserved | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9684478044509888}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '14684', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:OHLYE7WDSGM4VSUUATI6AWP5ZCFEMLQM', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:5a4e3d07-3368-4494-b02c-9898e7770f71>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2020, 1, 18, 10, 12, 39), 'WARC-IP-Address': '67.231.242.52', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:LH5OW5UB6346GUIUJTFTU4HNQK3XDFHX', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:1cde9d33-bd42-4cc8-afde-c919ded37b4a>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.photographers.org/wildlife-photography.html', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:f4b72198-c56f-4e4d-9c81-c8239745a0c0>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '422', 'url': 'http://www.photographers.org/wildlife-photography.html', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-05\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for January 2020\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-62.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.018254339694976807', 'original_id': '8b762fb1b9b7390231d1428a833e7127737d9fccab084fb279187827e9280bae'} |
Uneasy Conscience
The brutality of which a Pharisee of every age resist those whom puncture his pretentions proves the uneasiness of his conscience. The Fury of which oligarch, dictator and priest -kings, ancient and modern and ideological pretenders turn upon their critics, is clearly the fury of an uneasy conscience– though it must not be assumed that such a conscience is fully conscious of itself. An uneasy conscience which is not fully conscious of itself is the root of further sin.
The relation of injustice to pride and the vicious circle of injustice increasing as it does the insecurity which pride was suppose to overcome.
Self Love anodyne …the futility of worshipping the “creature rather than the creator”
Gratification of desires without limits, is on the one hand a form of self love sometimes its purpose is to display power and enhance prestige. But sometimes luxurious living is a frantic effort to escape from self. It betrays an uneasy of conscience. The self is seeking to escape from itself and throws itself into any pursuit which will allow to forget for a moment the inner tension of an uneasy conscience. The self finding itself to be inadequate as the center of its existence, seeks for another god.
Anxiety is the internal precondition of sin. (the psychological condition that precede sin… Kierkegaard) (Reinhold Niebuhr- The nature and destiny of man) | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.8472796678543091}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '175477', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:M3VBF6WOT4DP5BG7EET6K3WGZWLDGM3M', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:9fa357e4-c5e9-4f65-9dce-7826014aac69>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2020, 6, 3, 0, 12, 34), 'WARC-IP-Address': '192.0.78.13', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:OBWBAIVHVSSWY5TMHA373YJ5GVNW7J6T', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:20d79354-5163-4705-b285-3faa1802113c>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://avidano.wordpress.com/x-heresy/x-niebuhr/', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:18547d04-77fb-41be-a475-3e5c438343b3>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '220', 'url': 'https://avidano.wordpress.com/x-heresy/x-niebuhr/', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-24\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for May/June 2020\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-190.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.030069351196289062', 'original_id': 'c3384f7817d465997f6b2531e7f47613930dd542de3997bb7ea6522012f9133e'} |
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The School Football Bible
(Read 442 times)
Posts: 36,289
Gender: Female
Location: Cambridge - New Zealand
I'd give up chocolate but I'm no quitter!
The School Football Bible « on: July 26, 2006, 12:10 PM »
This is a bit long winded but from an observers point of view, is so true! Wink
Matches shall be played over three unequal periods: two playtimes and a lunchtime.
Each of these periods shall begin shortly after the ringing of a bell, and although a bell is also rung towards the end of these periods, play may continue for up to ten minutes afterwards, depending on the nihilism or "bottle" of the participants with regard to corporal punishment met out to latecomers back to the classroom.
In practice there is a sliding scale of nihilism, from those who hasten to stand in line as soon as the bell rings, known as "poofs", through those who will hang on until the time they estimate it takes the teachers to down the last of their gins and journey from the staffroom, known as "chancers", and finally to those who will hang on until a teacher actually has to physically retrieve them, known as "bampots".
This sliding scale is intended to radically alter the logistics of a match in progress, often having dramatic effects on the scoreline as the number of remaining participants drops.
It is important, therefore, in picking the sides, to achieve a fair balance of poofs, chancers and bampots in order that the scoreline achieved over a sustained period of play - a lunchtime, for instance - is not totally nullified by a five-minute post-bell onslaught of five bampots against one.
The scoreline to be carried over from the previous period of the match is in the trust of the last bampots to leave the field of play, and may be the matter of some debate. This must be resolved in one of the approved manners (see Adjudication).
In the absence of a crossbar, the upper limit of the target area is observed as being slightly above head height, although when the height at which a ball passed between the jackets is in dispute, judgement shall lie with an arbitrary adjudicator from one of the sides. He is known as the "best fighter"; his decision is final and may be enforced with physical violence if anyone wants to stretch a point.
In games on large open spaces, the length of the pitch is obviously denoted by the jacket piles, but the width is a variable. In the absence of roads, water hazards or "a big dug"(dog), the width is determined by how far out the attacking winger has to meander before the pursuing defender gets fed up and lets him head back towards where the rest of the players are waiting, often as far as quarter of a mile away. It is often observed that the playing area is "no' a full-size pitch". This can be invoked verbally to justify placing a wall of players eighteen inches from the ball at direct free kicks It is the formal response to "yards", which the kick-taker will incant meaninglessly as he places the ball.
The Ball
There is a variety of types of ball approved for Primary School Football. I shall describe three notable examples.
1. The plastic balloon. An extremely lightweight model, used primarily in the early part of the season and seldom after that due to having burst. Identifiable by blue pentagonal panelling and the names of that year's Premier League sides printed all over it. Advantages: low sting factor, low burst-nose probability, cheap, discourages a long-ball game. Disadvantages: over-susceptible to influence of the wind, difficult to control, almost magnetically drawn to flat school roofs whence never to return.
2. The rough-finish Mitre. Half football, half Portuguese Man o' War. On the verge of a ban in the European Court of Human Rights, this model is not for sale to children. Used exclusively by teachers during gym classes as a kind of aversion therapy. Made from highly durable fibre-glass, stuffed with neutron star and coated with dead jellyfish. Advantages: looks quite grown up, makes for high-scoring matches (keepers won't even attempt to catch it). Disadvantages: scars or maims anything it touches.
3. The "Tubey". Genuine leather ball, identifiable by brown all-over colouring. Was once black and white, before ravages of games on concrete, but owners can never remember when. Adored by everybody, especially keepers. Advantages: feels good, easily controlled, makes a satisfying "whump" noise when you kick it. Disadvantages: turns into medicine ball when wet, smells like a dead dog.
There is no offside, for two reasons: one, "it's no' a full-size pitch", and two, none of the players actually know what offside is. The lack of an offside rule gives rise to a unique sub-division of strikers. These players hang around the opposing goalmouth while play carries on at the other end, awaiting a long pass forward out of defence which they can help past the keeper before running the entire length of the pitch with their arms in the air to greet utterly imaginary adulation. These are known variously as "poachers", "gloryhunters" and "fly wee bastarts". These players display a remarkable degree of self-security, seemingly happy in their own appraisals of their achievements, and caring little for their team-mates' failure to appreciate the contribution they have made. They know that it can be for nothing other than their enviable goal tallies that they are so bitterly despised.
The absence of a referee means that disputes must be resolved between the opposing teams rather than decided by an arbiter. There are two accepted ways of doing this.
1. Compromise. An arrangement is devised that is found acceptable by both sides. Sway is usually given to an action that is in accordance with the spirit of competition, ensuring that the game does not turn into "a pure skoosh". For example, in the event of a dispute as to whether the ball in fact crossed the line, or whether the ball has gone inside or "over" the post, the attacking side may offer the ultimatum: "Penalty or goal." It is not recorded whether any side has ever opted for the latter. It is on occasions that such arrangements or ultimata do not prove acceptable to both sides that the second adjudicatory method comes into play.
2. Fighting. Those up on their ancient Hellenic politics will understand that the concept we know as "justice" rests in these circumstances with the hand of the strong. What the winner says, goes, and what the winner says is just, for who shall dispute him? It is by such noble philosophical principles that the supreme adjudicator, or Best Fighter, is effectively elected.
Team Selection
To ensure a fair and balanced contest, teams are selected democratically in a turns-about picking process, with either side beginning as a one-man selection committee and growing from there. The initial selectors are usually the recognised two Best Players of the assembled group. Their first selections will be the two recognised Best Fighters, to ensure a fair balance in the adjudication process, and to ensure that they don't have their own performances impaired throughout the match by profusely bleeding noses. They will then proceed to pick team-mates in a roughly meritocratic order, selecting on grounds of skill and tactical awareness, but not forgetting that while there is a sliding scale of players' ability, there is also a sliding scale of players' brutality and propensities towards motiveless violence. A selecting captain might baffle a talented striker by picking the less nimble Big Jazza ahead of him, and may explain, perhaps in the words of Linden B Johnson upon his retention of J Edgar Hoover as the head of the FBI, that he'd "rather have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in".
Special consideration is also given during the selection process to the owner of the ball. It is tacitly acknowledged to be "his gemme", and he must be shown a degree of politeness for fear that he takes the huff at being picked late and withdraws his favours.
Another aspect of team selection that may confuse those only familiar with the game at senior level will be the choice of goalkeepers, who will inevitably be the last players to be picked. Unlike in the senior game, where the goalkeeper is often the tallest member of his team, in the playground, the goalkeeper is usually the smallest. Senior aficionados must appreciate that playground selectors have a different agenda and are looking for altogether different properties in a goalkeeper. These can be listed briefly as: compliance, poor fighting ability, meekness, fear and anything else that makes it easier for their team-mates to banish the wee bugger between the sticks while they go off in search of personal glory up the other end.
Playground football tactics are best explained in terms of team formation. Whereas senior sides tend to choose - according to circumstance - from among a number of standard options (eg 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 5-3-2), the playground side is usually more rigid in sticking to the all-purpose 1-1-17 formation. This formation is a sturdy basis for the unique style of play, ball-flow and territorial give-and-take that makes the playground game such a renowned and strategically engrossing spectacle. Just as the 5-3-2 formation is sometimes referred to in practice as "Cattenaccio", the 1-1-17 formation gives rise to a style of play that is best described as "Nomadic". All but perhaps four of the participants (see also Offside) migrate en masse from one area of the pitch to another, following the ball, and it is tactically vital that every last one of them remains within a ten-yard radius of it at all times.
Much stoppage time in the senior game is down to injured players requiring treatment on the field of play. The playground game flows freer having adopted the refereeing philosophy of "no Post-Mortem, no free-kick", and play will continue around and even on top of a participant who has fallen in the course of his endeavours. However, the playground game is nonetheless subject to other interruptions, and some examples are listed below.
Ball on school roof or over school wall. The retrieval time itself is negligible in these cases. The stoppage is most prolonged by the argument to decide which player must risk life, limb or four of the belt to scale the drainpipe or negotiate the barbed wire in order to return the ball to play. Disputes usually arise between the player who actually struck the ball and any others he claims it may have struck before disappearing into forbidden territory. In the case of the Best Fighter having been adjudged responsible for such an incident, a volunteer is often required to go in his stead or the game may be abandoned, as the Best Fighter is entitled to observe that A: "Ye canny make me"; or B: "It's no' ma baw anyway".
Stray dog on pitch. An interruption of unpredictable duration. The dog does not have to make off with the ball, it merely has to run around barking loudly, snarling and occasionally drooling or foaming at the mouth. This will ensure a dramatic reduction in the number of playing staff as 27 of them simultaneously volunteer to go indoors and inform the teacher of the threat. The length of the interruption can sometimes be gauged by the breed of dog. A deranged Irish Setter could take ten minutes to tire itself of running in circles, for instance, while a Jack Russell may take up to fifteen minutes to corner and force out through the gates. An Alsatian means instant abandonment.
Bigger boys steal ball. A highly irritating interruption, the length of which is determined by the players' experience in dealing with this sort of thing. The intruders will seldom actually steal the ball, but will improvise their own kickabout amongst themselves, occasionally inviting the younger players to attempt to tackle them. Standing around looking bored and unimpressed usually results in a quick restart. Shows of frustration and engaging in attempts to win back the ball can prolong the stoppage indefinitely. Informing the intruders that one of the players' older brother is "Mad Chic Murphy" or some other noted local pugilist can also ensure minimum delay.
Menopausal old bag confiscates ball. More of a threat in the street or local green kickabout than within the school walls. Sad, blue-rinsed, ill-tempered, Tory-voting cat-owner transfers her anger about the array of failures that has been her life to nine-year-olds who have committed the heinous crime of letting their ball cross her privet Line of Death. Interruption (loss of ball) is predicted to last "until you learn how to play with it properly", but instruction on how to achieve this without actually having the bloody thing is not usually forwarded. Tact is required in these circumstances, even when the return of the ball seems highly unlikely, as further irritation of woman may result in the more serious stoppage:
Menopausal old bag calls police.
Goal-scorers are entitled to a maximum run of thirty yards with their hands in the air, making crowd noises and saluting imaginary packed terraces. Congratulation by team-mates is in the measure appropriate to the importance of the goal in view of the current scoreline (for instance, making it 34-12 does not entitle the player to drop to his knees and make the sign of the cross), and the extent of the scorer's contribution. A fabulous solo dismantling of the defence or 25-yard* rocket shot will elicit applause and back-pats from the entire team and the more magnanimous of the opponents. However, a tap-in in the midst of a chaotic scramble will be heralded with the epithet "poachin' wee bastart" from the opposing defence amidst mild acknowledgment from team-mates. Applying an unnecessary final touch when a ball is already rolling into the goal will elicit a burst nose from the original striker. Kneeling down to head the ball over the line when defence and keeper are already beaten will elicit a thoroughly deserved kicking. As a footnote, however, it should be stressed that any goal scored by the Best Fighter will be met with universal acclaim, even if it falls into any of the latter three categories.
*Actually eight yards, but calculated as relative distance because "it's no' a full-size pitch".
At senior level, each side often has one appointed penalty-taker, who will defer to a team-mate in special circumstances, such as his requiring one more for a hat-trick. The playground side has two appointed penalty-takers: the Best Player and the Best Fighter. The arrangement is simple: the Best Player takes the penalties when his side is a retrievable margin behind, and the Best Fighter at all other times. If the side is comfortably in front, the ball-owner may be invited to take a penalty.
Goalkeepers are often the subject of temporary substitutions at penalties, forced to give up their position to the Best Player or Best Fighter, who recognise the kudos attached to the heroic act of saving one of these kicks, and are buggered if Wee Titch is going to steal any of it.
Close Season
This is known also as the Summer Holidays, which the players usually spend dabbling briefly in other sports: tennis for a fortnight while Wimbledon is on the telly; pitch-and-putt for four days during the Open; and cricket for about an hour and a half until they discover that it really is as boring to play as it is to watch.
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Robert Findlay (footballer)
Robert Findlay (1877 – 1926) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Kilmarnock, Celtic, Motherwell, Port Glasgow Athletic and Scotland.
References
Sources
External links
London Hearts profile
Category:1877 births
Category:1926 deaths
Category:Scottish footballers
Category:Scotland international footballers
Category:Association football wingers
Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players
Category:Celtic F.C. players
Category:Motherwell F.C. players
Category:Port Glasgow Athletic F.C. players
Category:Place of death missing
Category:Sportspeople from East Ayrshire | mini_pile | {'original_id': '6d114f2f8669235969a36c6b023fd90c350d599e432cb08ab7cc98a5f33540f3'} |
Anti-apoptotic effect of taxodione on serum/glucose deprivation-induced PC12 cells death.
Taxodione, a diterpenoid from the roots of Salvia chorassanica Bunge, possesses cytotoxic, apoptotic, and antimicrobial activity. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of taxodione on serum/glucose deprivation-induced ischemic injury in PC12 cells and related mechanisms. In an in vitro model of ischemia, PC12 cells were exposed to serum and glucose deprivation for 6 and 18 h. The protective effects of the methanol extract of S. chorassanica and taxodione were assessed using alamarBlue(®) assay. Intracellular ROS production was measured by fluorimetry using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). The levels of PARP, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins were detected after western blot analysis. It was shown that taxodione (0.2-1.5 μM) significantly increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner after ischemic insult. Taxodione has antioxidant activity and protects PC12 cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death. Meanwhile, pretreatment with taxodione significantly induced an increase in Bcl-2 and a decrease in Bax protein level. The results of this study confirmed the protective effect of taxodione in serum/glucose deprivation-induced ischemic injury and the putative role of apoptosis as a underling mechanisms. Thus, it would be fair to consider taxodione as a promising ingredient of S. chorassanica for the expansion on novel class of anti-ischemic agents. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '4abf75657ba1e482582d2b57c30bed40d8b6dab675b39641578113d638502ba2'} |
Mar 31, 2009
Another Winner....Soy Sauce
We have another winner......Soy Sauce! She went back for multiple dips. Yea!
Standing Pretty Straight
Ainlsey is getting better and better and standing (with support). She wasn't too happy but look how straight she is?! Whohoo!
Mar 29, 2009
What's Next?...We have an answer.
This is fun!
Uh oh! I got caught!
Well when I said "Who knows what this girl will do next!" I didn't think it would be this. We use this shape sorter in the bathtub so I guess she figured if she wasn't going to get to take a bath she was going to problem solve a solution and find her own water. She found it!
Mar 27, 2009
Holy Cow She Ate A Chip!
Can you believe this? It was just this week we found she likes HP sauce and last night she ate a tortilla chip?! I've always said this girl likes to keep me guessing. Nothing ever makes any sense. Earlier in the day her speech therapist and I were working on feeding therapy at the snack table with the other kids and she wouldn't eat strawberry yogurt, pureed food, or even the HP sauce. Nothing. Then later that day she eats a CHIP?! WTH?
I know it's hard to tell from the video but this was totally voluntary. We always give her a plate of food at family dinner time but usually she just plays with it and gags and retches if any makes it's way into her mouth. This time she decided to pick up the chip and EAT it. Of course she kind of stopped as soon as I picked up the camera to record it but you can get an idea and see it's in her mouth and she's doing OKAY.
Who knows what this girl is going to do next!
Mar 25, 2009
Ewwh Gross! - Thick milk that's disgusting!
A mother will do a lot of disgusting things for the love of her child. It starts with childbirth and the parts people never tell you about that (I'll leave you to guess on that one), later there inevitably comes the time that you are vomited on, and then there are the poopy diaper accidents. At some point there is little that can shock the seasoned mom. Been there, done that, pretty much to every thing there is. I can add a few more unusual ones, picked dozens of stitches out of my kid's head, monitored the blood drainage in her drain after cranial surgery, blew regurgitated vomit back through a hole in my child's tummy so she wouldn't lose too much weight, inserted a tube into a hole in her neck (once a month minimum), had my face covered in coughed up trach secretions (i.e. snot), oh about 10,000 times. I could go on. But tonight in the effort to try to teach my child to drink milk I demonstrated how to suck thickened milk (see swallow study results from 2 weeks ago) from a sippy cup. Although the taste is pretty much the same I have to say there is something just really disgusting about thick milk.
Ah what a mom won't do......
Mar 24, 2009
A True Brit!
The road to eating has been long and torturous at times and we are only a short ways into our journey. We started feeding therapy when Ainsley was only a few months old. Desperate to teach our child the joy of eating we have tried just about everything and were shocked to find she didn't even like children's favorites like lollipops, ice cream, whip cream, pudding and the like. Still, I kept trying, despite making little progress even with the sweets. She didn't do any better with the savory either.
So imagine our surprise when after 2 years we finally discover the first food Ainsley truly LIKES.....HP sauce, a tangy and slightly spicy steak sauce that is very popular in England. Steve, whose family is from England declared with delight "She is a true brit!"
We gave it to her again tonight with great success. AND she even put a bit of scrambled egg in her mouth. Perhaps it had a hint of HP on it. Even though she didn't eat it I was amazed that she put it in her mouth. And last night she decided that she likes ranch dip even though she'd tried it before and didn't like it. Perhaps she is on the verge of discovering the delights of food. Wouldn't that be grand?!
Mar 20, 2009
Please Don't Stare
In Seattle there is a shortage of spaces in the better schools and we were lucky enough to apply at just the right time and get into one of the most popular schools. I wish I could say that all of the schools are equally good but they really aren't. Our children are fortunate to attend a really amazing school, one that really celebrates diversity. The student body is made up of rich poor and in between, children of all races, kids that speak English as a second language as well as native English speakers, kids from very typical houses with a mom and dad and two kids, as well as single parent families, gay and lesbian parents, foster kids. You get the picture. There are other things I love about the school but this is a big part of it. I grew up in a place and time when everyone at my school was white, middle class and came from a two parent family. I love the diversity that my kids' school celebrates. Our world is truly a beautiful place because we are not all the same in every way
Last night we attended Multi-cultural night at the school. The PTA funds a really great music teacher and he and the teachers select and teach each classroom a song and/or dance that represents a culture to perform on stage for the evening. My son, a Kindergartner, learned a Japanese dance. They wore happi coats and used fans in their dance. My daughter's grade sang a song about diversity in Spanish. There were African dances, a Chinese red ribbon dance, a rap song about us all being one and many other great numbers representing cultures from all over the world. Among the most impressive was a really cool number where they talked about immigration from different countries over the centuries and turned the flags from other countries into one big American flag.
So I was very disappointed to go and find that even at this school of all places that many many children (and a few adults) stared at Ainsley. Everywhere we go we get looks. I'm used to that. To some degree it's just human nature. But it doesn't take the sting out of being constantly reminded of her difference when we are just trying to go about living our life. Being in a room full of hundreds of people, and having 1/3 or more give looks, double takes, stares or even paying extra positive attention because of Ainsley's specialness was a bit overwhelming. Even when you're good and very practiced at ignoring people it's hard not to let that affect you.
We sat next to a really big aisle on the side because we wanted to have the stroller (she's not yet in a wheelchair). We have to have her bag with her spare trachs and supplies as well as her suction machine so it's actually more efficient to put it in the stroller than to set bags everywhere. Little did we know that was where the 3rd graders were going to line up during the show. Even though we moved a chair out of the way so she was in the space of one seat the kids were very close. And there was a group of them that wouldn't stop staring.
One girl in particular stood three feet away and stared at Ainsley during the entire show, with the exception of when she was on stage. She literally had her back turned to the stage and did not take her eyes of Ainsley for well over an hour. Needless to say it kind of spoiled things for us, it's hard to relax when someone is watching you like that. Luckily Ainsley was oblivious or we'd have said something right away.
We had a conversation about it with our kids when we got home just to make sure they know better. I want to ask, please, even if you think they already know, have a conversation with your children about why it's not polite to stare at people that look different. As they said last night in their final words we are all different and all the same, united together we can change the world.
Adrian's class dance.
Ainsley entertaining herself (note a starer in the background).
Evie's grade singing.
The flags of other countries from which immigrants came.
That makes up the United States.
The teachers performing the Hampster Dance. Hilarious!
Ainsley put her hands together at the end for her attempt at applause.
Mar 12, 2009
Airway Results from Laryngoscopy
Ainsely's vocal cord area. Still a bit swollen.
Suprastomal collapse around the trach.
Ainsley has been doing well since her Nissen Fundoplication in October 2008. Her upper airway around the false vocal cords had been completely swollen shut. Within weeks of the surgery we saw improvement when she was scoped in the otolaryngologist's office in November. Then again in January it was even a little better yet. She had been wearing her PMV (speaking valve-requires exhaling via mouth/nose) all day unless she was sleeping so our new otolaryngologist gave us a cap which covers the trach completely making the patient breath through the nose and mouth. Since January she has been able to wear it a few minutes at a time most days, which was encouraging.
So it was with contained excitement that we waited in the surgery waiting area today for the results of the laryngoscopy hoping for some information in the long saga of Ainsley's mysterious airway problems. Unfortunately there is no easy answer. The swelling, although better after the fundo, isn't completely gone. Since we don't know why it's there, we can't really do anything to treat it.
He says the vocal cords don't move real well likely due to scar tissue that built up from being intubated for 5 weeks when she was born. He could do a cricoid split surgery that would divide the cartilage but there is a chance that the scar tissue would reform and not really help. Plus there is a risk of causing aspiration problems with this surgery. So it's not a miracle solution. If we want to go that route he feels the swelling has decreased enough that there is room to do it with the laser and it could be done without an incision by going in with a scope. But since things have gotten better over the last few months he wants to wait 3 more months and then take another look before deciding.
He saw some suprastomal collapse at the trach insertion point. You can see in the pictures. He isn't worried he said because she still has room around it to breath. He may not be worried but I am concerned that to get the trach out it will require a LaryngoTracheoPlasty (LTP) where they repair the collapsed area of the trachea. There are many kids on the support forum whose children have required an LTP to get their trachs out for exactly this problem that is caused by the trach itself. Maybe he's not worried because she's not ready to get the trach out and this can be repaired and is a fairly common surgery in the trach world. I just hope not to go down that particular road.
The bigger problem is the obstruction at the vocal folds. He acknowledged that the ball is in his court at this point. Either he figures something out or we just wait and hope for a change. Those are the options.
Our very last ace in our pocket is Botox. She had her salivary glands injected with Botox today to reduce drooling and possibly aspiration of saliva. There is some small chance that aspiration of her own saliva could be contributing to the airway swelling. So now we wait and see if there is any improvement. We've already noticed that she is drooling less. If we start to see an improvement in the amount of time she can be capped then we'll know it is helping her airway. However I think it's wishful thinking that this will do anything but it's worth a shot.
So we wait. 3 more months. Please hope for all our sake that something changes in that time.
BAER Hearing Test Results
If you are a regular follower of Ainsley's blog you know we've been concerned about her hearing. Although when she was a few months old she had a normal hearing screening we started to have our doubts after 2 behavioral hearing tests were unable to be completed. I wanted answers, so we added a BAER test onto the schedule on a day she would already be sedated for a laryngoscopy. They hook electrodes up to the head and measure brain response to different frequencies. The fear was that, although she could clearly hear, some frequencies could be missing making language very difficult to understand. Although her language processing is quite delayed it is not because of this.
Mar 11, 2009
Orthopedic Follow Up
Ainsley had so much fun bouncing this light up eye ball.
We're pretty thrilled that she's learned to throw a ball.
The current x-ray of Ainsley's hips.
Wednesday we had an x-ray of Ainsley's hips to see if they are still in the hip sockets, followed by an appointment with her orthopedic surgeon. The x-ray seemed to show they were still in place at this time however he is concerned that the sockets themselves don't seem to be forming around the leg bone as much as he'd hoped. He is afraid they will slip out over time either partially and cause pain or fully and cause an unusual and difficult gait.
Since Ainsley was going under anesthesia the very next day he checked to see if he could add on an arthogram to the surgery schedule. He injected her hips with dye and then watched to see where that dye traveled when her legs were moved in different positions. Unfortunately her left hip shows some movement of the leg within the socket which is likely to lead to dislocation.
Regardless her hip sockets are too shallow to hold her legs into place. The hope was that after her last hip surgery, spica cast and hip brace that the leg bones being fixed into the sockets would prompt the sockets to form more deeply in response to the pressure. Unfortunately it didn't work.
The next step is a rather long surgery where they take bone from another part of the body (hopefully the pelvice) and use it to reconstruct hip sockets by cutting the existing hip apart and curving it downward. At the same time he would do a double osteotomy where he cuts and reshapes her thigh bones. After the operation she would be fitted into a hip cast for 6 weeks. After the cast came off she would be in a hip brace for another 6 weeks. It is expected that it would be 2 months before she could put pressure on her hips because of pain. And in all the surgery is likely to take 6 months for her to recover from developmentally. Meaning in addition to not making gains, it would likely take 6 months for her to simply be doing what she was prior to the surgery.
He said that if Ainsley were a typical child there is no question we would want to move forward with this surgery. But he doesn't want to put her through this if she isn't going to walk. The analogy he used is a car with wheels out of alignment. If your wheels are out of alignment and you bring the car out occasionally for 300 miles a year the tires will last forever but if you drive a lot miles per year the tires are going to wear out quickly and cause a big problem. So basically we have to try to figure out if she's going to be a regular driver or just your Sunday driver. I feel more than ever that she will walk on some level, even if it's with a walker just around the house. He says that even if that is the extent of her walking that it would be best for her hips to be in place.
Dr. Song likes to pay careful consideration to a disabled child's development when planning a surgery like this. He wants to see her back in 3 months to do another x-ray. We'll see how the hips look and what she is doing developmentally and then we will decide what the plan is. She's been doing so well I too hate to set her back by doing this surgery now but I also would hate to wait until she is walking and then have to immobilize her. The mostly likely timing would be this fall or next spring, taking care to avoid being in the hospital during cold and flu season due to her airway.
I was really saddened to know that the previous treatments didn't work and she went through all that for nothing. And now to be faced with yet another major surgery is very hard to stomach. Ainsley has been through SO much already and she is such a sweet natured child, it seems so unfair. It's very unlikely but I'm still holding out a small amount of hope that somehow, some way, things will have improved slightly by the next x-ray. Although that may just make the decision that much harder. I think we're still in a little bit of denial that this thing is really going to have to happen.
First Ever Emergency Trach Change
When you have a child with a tracheostomy you have to always be prepared for an emergency. Everywhere Ainsley goes we always have to have a suction machine to clear the airway of secretions, saline to help thin the secretions if needed, a spare trach in case something happens and another spare trach in a smaller size in case the regular size won't go in. In addition we always have a resuscitator bag and tanks of oxygen in the car. Of course we have all these same supplies at home.
In the two and half years of living with a trach we've had 1 911 call due to RSV and two accidental decannulations. Fortunately in both those situations the trach, while there was no longer a patent airway because the trach cannula was not in the trachea the cannula was still ever so slightly inside the neck, allowing it to be reinserted fairly easily. Never in this whole time have we used our spare trach. I was surprised that today was the day.
We headed with our nurse to Children's Hospital for the swallow study. Afterward we have a few hours before our next appointment so we head to the toy store to buy a jumbo 14' jump rope for Evie's school auction basket. As we are leaving I see in the rear view mirror that Ainsley is asleep. Her color is good but she is gasping for breath every few seconds. She sounds a little dry but not particularly junky. I get out of the car and suction her because I don't like the sound she's making. The suction catheter passes through the tube but it feels ever so slightly tighter. I use an entire saline bullet to help thin the secretions but there is still a slight whistle sound. Since the catheter passes we head back to the hospital for her orthopedic appointments.
The strange sound is still there and I still can't get it to go away no matter what I do. I realize that I'm going to have to change the trach. I get it out of the bag and lube it. I pull the trach and the nurse puts the new one in. I push the obturator (device for inserting a tube) through the cannula and out pops this sticky secretion that had been stuck inside the cannula. It has a very unusual consistency like half dried Elmer's glue. I washed the old trach in the bathroom just in case I needed it later (even a non-sterile trach is better than no trach in an emergency).
We proceeded to our appointments and all was fine. Later that night when I suctioned her I got another glue like plug stuck inside the suction catheter. After thinking it over I realized the next day it must have been some of that barium she'd aspirated was mixed in with her secretions causing it to form like glue.
Thankfully things were better the next day and I'm hoping it was a fluke. I'd come to feel pretty sure I wasn't ever really going to need those spare trachs I'd been carrying around so this was a good reminder why.
See the sticky stuff on my finger?
Videoflouroscopic Swallow Study
Not too happy.
Even with bubbles.
The x-ray video screen. The black is aspiration of thin liquid.
Ainsley's has always been protected from truly aspirating food and/or liquids because her upper airway was virtually swollen shut. Even with an ineffective swallow the food and liquid couldn't really go down the wrong way because the swelling stopped it. After her Nissen Fundoplication in Oct. 2008 the swelling of her airway started to decrease. In November when I put some blue dye in her foods, she coughed some after eating and I found a tinge of color in her trach secretions. I stopped trying to feed her regularly for fear the food or liquid would further damage her lungs, since she has been diagnosed with bronchiectasis. Lung health is nothing to mess with.
Over the following months I would periodically try the dye tests again and things looked okay. However since her airway opened up some she has been less interested in eating and drinking. This concerned me that perhaps the reason is that she is protecting her airway. So I had been anxiously waiting for today's VSS to know if it was safe to proceed with feeding.
Unfortunately Ainsley's greater degree of comprehension has made it more difficult to perform tests and procedures because she isn't as likely to simply go with the flow anymore. She was immediately very unhappy when placed in the seat in the radiology room. And when they moved the x-ray machine into place she really started crying. Why this scared her I don't know. We had our nurse blow bubbles while I attempted to feed her the different foods that were mixed with barium (the substance that makes the food show up on the x-ray) while the speech pathologists viewed the results on the screens. The fact that she was so unhappy really didn't help but we did manage to get enough swallows to perform the tests.
The findings were better than expected really. She did okay on nectar consistency (think melted milk shake) and thick (like baby food). But she did aspirated on thin liquids.
What all this means is that she is okay to proceed with trying to eat baby foods as much as she tolerates. There may be times she may tire quickly and only be able to safely eat a few bites or other times she may do well and eat much more.
Her liquids will have to be thickened with a powder or gel that we were given. The good thing is that she coughed afterward to get it up out of her lungs. Silent aspiration is worse because the food/liquids can just remain in the lungs.
They thought they could see no appreciable vallecular sinuses (they hold the food/liquid before it's swallowed). I was very concerned that there was an anatomical problem but at the laryngoscopy the next day the otolaryngologist said they were there.
So really that leaves us pretty much where we were before in regards to eating. I hope that perhaps her airway swelling will continue to get better and some of these swallowing issues may be helped by that. As with so much with Ainsley only time will tell.
Mar 10, 2009
Hugs and Kisses
First I apologize for being MIA. You all know I was planning Evie's Harry Potter birthday party. It was so fabulous that I decided to make a blog about it. I know many of you have been dying to hear about it so here it is: Now I just need to put the house back together. But that'll probably have to wait. This week is going to be a busy week. Ainsley has multiple doctor appointments and procedures. Most importantly a swallow study, hearing test and scope in the operating room. Think good thoughts. I'll post an update later in the week with the results.
Ainsley has been doing really well. There are a lot of things I'd love to post but for now I just want to post this big one. Over the past weeks I have seen evidence that she has started to understand a lot more. Sometimes it's hard to be sure but on Friday I asked her to give me a kiss and she leaned over and put her wet little mouth on my cheek. Then the following day she repeatedly gave Steve and I hugs and kisses when asked to do so. It is such a great feeling to have your child show their affection and the fact that she is understanding us is huge. Here's a picture Evie took for me. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9865644574165344}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '206377', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:HTGQWIQCX3TV6ONSJG3XRILWQ7SUKP2R', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:fe850417-eb07-4cb1-9aee-d2bd5f913935>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2017, 10, 23, 6, 3, 22), 'WARC-IP-Address': '172.217.13.225', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'application/xhtml+xml', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:DM3K5264YBKH2VWKFMRLI5N4WCGUMKN6', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:02a1280d-8cf2-401f-bae1-0885bffffaf6>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://ainsleyrae.blogspot.com.au/2009_03_01_archive.html', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:b9919a25-81fb-4b0b-8a29-2324f14c6409>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '4339', 'url': 'http://ainsleyrae.blogspot.com.au/2009_03_01_archive.html', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-228-98-39.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-43\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for October 2017\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.024272263050079346', 'original_id': 'e17a650e9989749be6aff0746b68d7a87966441562e914dd6edb19bac9e7df08'} |
Scorpions Book Activities
Instructor: Elisha Madison
Scorpions is a book about the struggle of dealing with gangs and poverty. This lesson provides a variety of activities for students to become more knowledgeable on the book.
Walter Dean Myers' Scorpions
Myer's Scorpions tells the story of 12-year-old Jamal, and how he is dealing with his brother being in jail, his mother's struggles, being without his father, and trying to do the right thing. It is an engaging story where students will examine themes of friendship, loyalty, drugs and violence. Activities, in groups and individually, can really help students to relate to the novel and become engaged in the messages that the author is trying to convey.
The following activities can help students that learn in a variety of ways, while also making sure to hit the major themes within the book. They are designed to be done towards the end of the novel or after it is finished, though they can be adapted to fit instances during the actual reading of the story.
Group Activities
Group activities are good for students to take on larger amounts of work, because it can be divvied out amongst the students. Additionally, it is helpful in getting students to work together and develop relationships.
Have the students break into teams. Each person should debate key points in the novel, making sure they use references and quotes from the text. For example, students could debate whether the school should have the responsibility to decide if a student needs medication or needs to be sent to different school meant for problem children.
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Create An Account | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '91', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9686123132705688}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '196493', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:6GZIFR5HWWN7N4XJPORBBRLYVODTZ5UO', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:095eb9dc-7a39-4547-af54-5d2d9e8957d7>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 6, 18, 2, 34, 44), 'WARC-IP-Address': '107.23.88.72', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:HNKWZJVA4IZE5CEQ2A2K7GW4NKU2UQVU', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:d00bd962-095d-4f07-a7c6-50a96d61dc99>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://study.com/academy/lesson/scorpions-book-activities.html', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:be2ffa60-fb61-49e7-94fc-90fa1dc719da>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '470', 'url': 'https://study.com/academy/lesson/scorpions-book-activities.html', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-26\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for June 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-168-158-209.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.026146352291107178', 'original_id': 'b5bd6d74e9836de6567505edd666dfadf3bb01402277074def33b87aa9d4e3c0'} |
Abstract Artificial curiosity tries to maximize learning progress. We apply this concept to a physical system. Our Katana robot arm curiously plays with wooden blocks, using vision, reaching, and grasping. It is intrinsically motivated to explore its world. As a by-product, it learns how to place blocks stably, and how to stack blocks. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.949921488761902}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '581', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:FMO4XLCOXXUKWE5O77I6H5QMHMOGEF5I', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:4fb41a1e-b3e4-4a74-8ca9-1a5abeab79b2>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2013, 12, 13, 11, 35, 17), 'WARC-IP-Address': '195.176.70.135', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:5DPR7FOZG22EYTQXEA7FX5ZHMOREWYRP', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:cdeab55b-c377-4068-a53a-d708af6aab7b>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.idsia.ch/~alexander/2012/2/abstract_utf8.txt', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:169c7405-15a5-4b59-a4e3-24d7dba5b0e2>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '53', 'url': 'http://www.idsia.ch/~alexander/2012/2/abstract_utf8.txt', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2013-48\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for Winter 2013\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.038032591342926025', 'original_id': 'd0a89c894cd2b06ec3a3d9d3ed4074286c5944801745eb9362d1f2216535e8dd'} |
1. Introduction {#sec1}
===============
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is frequently used for treatment of many malign and benign diseases, particularly aplastic anaemia and thalassemia. Although it yields positive results in the treatment of many diseases, hematopoietic cell transplantation also leads to significant mortality and morbidity \[[@B1]\]. Because of its positive effects on life expectancy and quality of life, the number of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation centers and patients who benefit from this treatment is rapidly increasing. A total of 1,678 autologous, 702 related allogeneic hematopoietic, 129 unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic, 122 haploidentical, and 953 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations were performed in Turkey in 2015 \[[@B2]\].
After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, quality of life may be adversely affected because of autoimmune and hematologic complications, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases, ocular complications, musculoskeletal problems, oral mucosa and dental problems, genitourinary system problems, gastrointestinal and hepatic complications, metabolic problems, nervous system disorders, secondary malignancies, and psychosocial problems \[[@B3]--[@B5]\]. Prevention of infection and late complications are the primary treatment and care priorities after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Treatment and care requirements during and after transplantation vary depending on patient performance status, age, disease stage, conditioning regimen, transplantation type (autologous or allogeneic), treatment, and transplantation-associated complications \[[@B1], [@B6]\]. Studies have demonstrated that the quality of life among patients who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is affected negatively on many levels and that they require support for symptom control \[[@B7]--[@B14]\].
Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation require assistance with symptom control and for dealing with side effects in order to avoid negative effects of their physical condition, social/family status, emotional status, functional status, and additional detrimental effects on their quality of life. For successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and prevention of complications, the information and support needs of the patient and their family should be determined before the patient is discharged. Studies on the difficulties and problems faced by patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation will help to improve patient quality of life and better meet their needs in the early stages of the postdischarge period. Therefore, this descriptive study evaluated patient care needs and quality of life after discharge following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in order to identify the variables associated with quality of life.
2. Methods {#sec2}
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2.1. Setting {#sec2.1}
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The study was conducted in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant service of a university hospital.
2.2. Study Questions {#sec2.2}
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This study assessed the following three questions.Does hematopoietic stem cell transplantation affect patient quality of life?What are the support needs and the symptoms experienced by patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?What are the sociodemographic, health-related, and disease-related characteristics of the disease of patients who are undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?
2.3. Dependent and Independent Variables {#sec2.3}
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Dependent variables are quality of life, symptoms, and care needs.Independent variables are gender, age, educational status, history of chronic disease, type of transplant, period of transplantation, and hospitalization history.
2.4. Study Population and Sample {#sec2.4}
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The study population included adult patients undergoing allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at a university hospital. The study aimed to reach the entire target population.
Between March and October 2015 a total of 104 patients were assessed. Patients included in the study were those who (1) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allogeneic or autologous); (2) were ≥18 years of age; (3) could understand, read, and write Turkish; (4) whose general condition made them eligible for participation in the study; and (5) agreed to participate in the study. Three patients were excluded because they were in the terminal stage of disease, and one was excluded because he did not understand Turkish. Thus, 100 patients met the inclusion criteria. This study used convenience sampling, one of the nonprobability sampling methods.
2.5. Ethical Issues {#sec2.5}
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Ethical Committee (Ethical Committee Decision number 13.01.2015/27-192) and institutional approval were received to perform the study. Data were collected between March and October 2015 from the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation services center. Permission was granted to use patient\'s quality of life scores from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT, 4th Version) questionnaire.
2.6. Data Collection {#sec2.6}
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Data were collected by face-to-face interview, as described below. Interviews were held in the patients\' rooms. Information about disease and treatment was collected from patient medical reports. Patient interviews were completed within 20--25 minutes.
2.7. Data Collection Tools {#sec2.7}
--------------------------
Patients provided written informed consent. Features related to sociodemographic and disease characteristics were collected using the patient information form. The symptom checklist asked the patients to provide information about the frequency of their symptoms. In the FACT-BMT, individuals were asked to answer the questions regarding their status in the last 7 days.(1)Patient information form contained questions to determine the personal, disease, and treatment-related characteristics.(2)Symptom checklist was developed by the investigators to determine the frequency of symptoms experienced during the treatment process. Symptoms which could be related to the treatment (hair loss, weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, loss of taste, headache, dizziness, itching, leg-muscle-bone pain, sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, decrease in sexual function, lack of appetite, and nausea-vomiting) were included in this form. Each symptom was rated from 1 to 5 points ("always" → 5 points, "often" → 4 points, "sometimes" → 3 points, "rarely" → 2 points, and "never" → 1 point).(3)FACT-BMT scale, multidimensional, health-related quality of life scale, is used to evaluate the quality of life of patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The scale consists of five dimensions and 47 items in total. The subdimensions of the fourth version include (1) physical well-being, (2) social/family well-being, (3) emotional well-being, (4) functional well-being, and (5) additional concerns. The fifth subdimension of the scale, "Additional Concerns," consists of 23 questions to determine side effects in Bone Marrow Transplant Subscale (BMTS) patients who might experience physical and psychological problems and treatment side effects \[[@B15]\]. The minimum and maximum FACT-BMT scores are 0 and 148, respectively. Higher scores indicate better quality of life. The validity and reliability of the FACT-BMT Scale were reported by McQuellon et al. in 1997. The overall reliability coefficient (Cronbach\'s alpha) of the Turkish version of the scale in this study was 0.90.
2.8. Statistical Analysis and Evaluation of Data {#sec2.8}
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Data were evaluated using SPSS 16.0. Descriptive statistics such as arithmetic averages, standard deviations, and percentages were used to analyze the data frequency. Parametric or nonparametric tests were used depending on the data characteristics and distribution in order to compare total average scores and variables. Spearman\'s correlation analysis and Pearson correlation tests were used for correlation analysis. *p* values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The normality of the data was tested using the one-sample Kolmogorov Smirnov test; since significance levels were less than 0.05, nonparametric tests were used for further analyses. Among these, Mann--Whitney *U* and Kruskal--Wallis tests were used for comparison of two and more than two independent variables, respectively.
3. Results {#sec3}
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3.1. Personal and Treatment-Related Characteristics {#sec3.1}
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The average age of the subjects in this study was 44.99 ± 13.92 years, and 54% were married men. Among the subjects included in the study, 27% had graduated from high school and 22% had bachelor\'s degrees. Twenty percent of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were undergoing treatment for chronic disease. Most of them (59%) continued acute-phase treatment following transplantation. Most of the patients (71%, *n* = 71) underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and 29 (29%) patients underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The average time elapsed since transplantation was 3.99 ± 5.27 months (range: 1--34 months). Hospitalization following discharge occurred in 38% of patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ([Table 1](#tab1){ref-type="table"}).
3.2. Symptoms and Support Needs {#sec3.2}
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The most common complaints of patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were decreased sexual function (*n* = 59), hair loss (*n* = 43), and loss of taste (*n* = 37). Most of the patients reported not experiencing dizziness (*n* = 47), itching (*n* = 44), and bone pain (*n* = 36) ([Table 2](#tab2){ref-type="table"}).
Patients reported difficulty in attending social activities (33%) and fulfilling of social roles and responsibilities (31%). Nearly one-quarter of the patients (23%) reported that they felt alone; they also had concerns about dealing with treatment side effects (19%) and using medicine after discharge (13%). The patients had received training on protection against infection (60%), activities of daily living after discharge (55%), nutrition (46%), catheter care (40%), medication side effects (30%), and graft-versus-host disease (27%).
3.3. Quality of Life Scores {#sec3.3}
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The total FACT-BMT scale score (81.38 ± 21.91) suggests a moderate effect on patient quality of life, with the physical well-being most affected (12.13 ± 6.88). Furthermore, the emotional and functional well-being of transplant patients was moderately affected (12.70 ± 6.41 and 13.95 ± 4.61, resp.). The BMTS subdimension score was 21.79 ± 6.61 ([Table 3](#tab3){ref-type="table"}).
The highest and lowest scores were given to the items "I have confidence in my nurse(s)" and "I regret having the bone marrow transplant," respectively ([Table 3](#tab3){ref-type="table"}).
3.4. Comparison of Quality of Life Average Scale Scores Based on Personal Characteristics {#sec3.4}
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FACT-BMT scale scores were compared based on the gender of patients who had undergone stem cell transplantation. Statistically significant differences were found only between scores of the emotional well-being subdimension (*p* \< 0.05). The emotional well-being subdimension scores were significantly higher in male patients than in females patients (*Z* ~mwu~ = −3.262, *p* = 0.001) ([Table 4](#tab4){ref-type="table"}).
Statistically significant differences based on age were found only between social life and family well-being subdimensions (*p* \< 0.05). The social life and family well-being subdimension scores (22.82 ± 5.43) among patients 60--69 years of age were higher than those of patients 50--59 years of age (19.70 ± 4.27) (*χ* ^2^ ~kw~ = 10.305, *p* = 0.036). A very low, statistically significant negative correlation was found between FACT-BMT scores for physical well-being subscale and age (*r* ~*s*~ = −0.22, *p* \< 0.05).
Statistically significant differences in BMTS were observed for marital status (*p* \< 0.05). The subscale score of married patients (22.59 ± 6.81) is significantly higher than that of single patients (19.93 ± 5.80) (*Z* ~mwu~ = −2.013, *p* = 0.044).
Only the social life and family well-being subscale differed significantly for patient family types (*p* \< 0.05). The subscale scores were higher (23.66 ± 3.35) in patients with traditional, large families than the scores of patients with "elementary" or "broken families\" (20.33 ± 4.02 and 19.00 ± 5.59, resp.) (*χ* ^2^ ~kw~ = 12.024, *p* = 0.002) ([Table 4](#tab4){ref-type="table"}).
Based on chronic disease history, statistically significant differences were also observed for emotional well-being subscale (*p* \< 0.05). Scores were higher in patients without chronic disease (13.44 ± 6.25) than in patients with chronic disease (9.75 ± 6.31) (*Z* ~mwu~ = −2.270, *p* = 0.023).
There were also significant differences in physical well-being, functional well-being, FACT-G dimensions, and FACT-BMT scale scores based on the health perception of patients in the last year. The physical well-being, functional well-being, FACT-G, TOI (Trial Outcome Index) scores, and FACT-BMT scale scores were higher among patients who reported their state of health as "good" or "moderate" compared to patients who reported their state of health as "bad" ([Table 4](#tab4){ref-type="table"}).
Statistically significant differences in physical well-being and FACT-G and FACT-BMT subscale scores (*p* \< 0.05) were observed for treatment/follow-up location. Scores were higher in outpatients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation than patients who had acute treatment in the hospital (*p* \< 0.05) ([Table 4](#tab4){ref-type="table"}).
There were statistically significant differences between social life and family well-being, functional well-being, and FACT-G and FACT-BMT scores (*p* \< 0.05) based on rehospitalization history. Scores of the patients who were not rehospitalized after discharge were higher than those of the patients who reported rehospitalization.
4. Discussion {#sec4}
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4.1. Patient Symptoms {#sec4.1}
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The cytotoxic agents used for immunosuppression during the treatment period of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have side effects. These toxicities are temporary and include bone marrow depression, alopecia, mucositis, hemorrhagic cystitis, emesis, diarrhea, and negative effects on sexual life \[[@B16]\]. The most common symptoms, decrease in sexual function, hair loss, loss of taste, lack of appetite, and sleep disorders, are due to the posttransplantation treatment process and immunosuppressive treatment.
Increased symptom severity in patients with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was associated with poor quality of life and physical impairments \[[@B7], [@B10]\]. Fatigue, financial difficulty, and loss of appetite were the main problems experienced by hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients \[[@B17]\]. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors suffered mostly eye problems, dry mouth, cough, sexual problems, fatigue, anxiety, and changes in taste \[[@B18]\]. A study on a multiracial study population reported fatigue, pain, and insomnia to be the most common symptoms \[[@B17]\]. Another study reported that fatigue, sleep and sexual problems, emotional distress, and relationship difficulties were the main problems reported by patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation \[[@B13]\]. A study conducted in a hospital outpatient clinic on hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients after hospital discharge found that patients experienced psychological problems \[[@B19]\]. Another study conducted on Turkish hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients after discharge reported that psychological symptoms were more common than physical symptoms and that problems with sexual interest or activity, difficulty sleeping, and diarrhea were the most distressing symptoms \[[@B11]\]. Similar to previous studies, this study observed that patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation commonly experienced the following symptoms: decreased sexual function, hair loss, loss of taste, lack of appetite, and sleep disorders. Collectively, these study results indicate that patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation require support to address their emotional problems, fatigue, pain, body changes associated with hair loss, sexual problems, lack of appetite, and sleep disorders.
4.2. Patient Quality of Life {#sec4.2}
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Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation affects different aspects of adult patients\' social life as well as physical, family, emotional, and functional well-being. The potential effects also include intestinal problems, skin problems, vision defects, and sexual dysfunction. In the study by Grulke et al. (2012) patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation had minimal quality of life during their treatment in the hospital. One year after transplantation, their quality of life had returned to normal levels; however, the patients reported continuing fatigue, dyspnea, and sleep disorders \[[@B20]\]. A study from Kisch et al. (2012) reported that all quality of life dimensions (except emotional well-being) deteriorated over 100 days following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation \[[@B8]\]. Song and So (2015) found that the quality of life scores showed a decreasing tendency 100 days following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation \[[@B14]\]. Worse quality of life was especially pronounced in female patients and patients with complications associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation such as infection and graft-versus-host disease \[[@B8]\]. One qualitative study reported that patients experienced various physical limitations and changes in social roles and family and sexual life associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; concerns over bodily changes were also expressed by these patients \[[@B21]\]. Cohen et al. (2012) found that social interactions, sleep, and rest were the most negatively affected areas of well-being \[[@B7]\]. Another study found that the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation survivors with high levels of distress over physical symptom had worse quality of life scores \[[@B10]\]. In the current study, quality of life was moderately affected in patients who had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, primarily the physical well-being subscale. The physical well-being subscale scores indicate that the patients also had mild pain. Thus, patients may require more support to cope with pain and discomfort associated with treatment, as well as decreased energy and nausea.
It is noteworthy that social life and family well-being were the least affected aspects of quality of life in Turkish patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This finding indicates that Turkish patients had support during their treatment and adaptation to social life after transplantation. The family structure and cultural characteristics are likely the reason that the social life and family well-being subscale was the least affected area. Increasing social support for patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is recommended to improve adaptation to treatment and resumption of normal life activities.
Based on the symptoms associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, patient work life, enjoyment of life, acceptance of disease, and evaluation of the satisfaction with quality of life are important. The findings of this study revealed that transplantation patients\' emotional well-being and functional well-being were moderately affected, which indicates that the patients did not receive sufficient support during their treatment and the process of transplantation to enable them to adapt to daily life activities and cope with emotional problems. These patients should be encouraged to have hobbies, enjoy their lives, and deal with their sleep disorders. Sufficient support will result in increased acceptance and adaptation to the treatment process. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients should be encouraged to express their feelings, emotions, and concerns and should be encouraged to consult a psychologist.
The BMTS subscale scores in this study indicate that patients require support for the following issues: appetite, physical well-being and problems associated with treatment process, memory status, blurred vision, and taste changes, skin-intestines problems, and difficulties that affect close relatives. Patients\' ability to deal with these issues after discharge should be improved and training on managing symptoms should be provided to the patients and their families.
Nurses who work in this area have significant roles and responsibilities, from patient diagnosis to their quality of life after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Patients reported feeling highly satisfied with the care and support received during the acute period following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. They stated that safety, empathy, and encouragement during the treatment and care provided by the medical and nursing staff were important. Although transplant patients stated that they believed hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to be an effective treatment modality, they had some concerns for the future \[[@B22]\]. Patients who had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were satisfied with their bone marrow transplantation therapy and reported relying on their nurses. These findings underscore the importance of patient trust in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation treatment. These are very important indications that patients believed that they received sufficient support during the transplantation process, were satisfied with the nursing, and appreciated the treatment and care.
4.3. Comparison of Average of Quality of Life Scores Based on Personal Characteristics {#sec4.3}
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Many physical, emotional, and social well-being characteristics of patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are affected by factors such as conditioning regimen, type of transplantation, and complications associated with transplantation. The results of the current study indicate that social life and family well-being of patients 50--59 years of age were more negatively affected than those of patients 60--69 years of age. This study also revealed that quality of life in the lower body was more negatively affected in younger patients. Study findings indicate that patients need increased social support with increasing age; these patients also require more support for physical problems associated with transplantation.
Functional difficulties associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, changes associated with role performance, and emotional problems might occur depending on patient gender. Social functioning in male hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients was affected more negatively than that of female patients \[[@B17]\]. Other studies found that female patients had more psychological problems such as depression \[[@B19]\] and poorer quality of life scores \[[@B8]\]. Another study reported depression to be a common problem in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation \[[@B9]\]. Similar to our study findings, emotional well-being is reportedly more affected in female patients. Based on these observations, female patients should be encouraged to express their feelings and receive emotional support.
Karacan (2006) found that married patients who had peripheral blood stem cell transplantation experienced more anxiety during the early hospitalization period and were more likely to experience depression after 30 days \[[@B3]\]. Unlike the findings reported by Karacan, the BMTS subscale scores in the current study were more negatively affected in single patients than in married patients. This result indicates that single patients require more support during transplantation and for problems associated with transplantation.
Song and So found that social addiction and loneliness negatively affect patient quality of life after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation \[[@B14]\]. Similarly, the findings of the current study revealed that the social life and family well-being were more negatively affected in patients with elementary or broken families than in patients with large traditional families. These results suggest that family type affects quality of life and that wide social environment and sources of social support are important to successfully adapt. Thus, family structure and evaluation of social relationships are recommended in order to improve social support.
Perception of health status is a multidimensional concept covering physical activity, daily life activities, perception of the patients\' health situation by the patients and the patients\' communities, psychological well-being, and social activities \[[@B23]\]. Determining the perception of patients who have undergone transplantation regarding their health will contribute to improved care and treatment success during the transplantation process. A study reported that although patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation experienced various impairments in their functional status, most of them defined their health as quite good or excellent \[[@B18]\]. Most patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation rated their quality of life as good or very good \[[@B17]\]. In this study, the quality of life of transplant patients who defined their health within the last year as "bad" were more adversely affected than those who defined their quality of life as "moderate" or "good." Thus, assessing the perceptions of health among transplant patients is essential in order to determine and meet their health needs with a holistic approach.
Patients with worse functional status and those who had complications associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation had worse quality of life scores and more severe symptoms \[[@B7], [@B18], [@B24]\]. In this study, patients who returned to the hospital for treatment after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation had worse quality of life after discharge than those who had outpatient follow-up. This finding indicates that increased support is needed for physical complaints and functional and emotional well-being.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients are at high risk of complications and recurrent hospitalizations. Frequent monitoring and treatment adjustment may help to decrease the incidence of late complications. In a study on patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant, the majority of patients (83.3%) did not report rehospitalization history after discharge \[[@B11]\]. Similarly, the results of the current study indicated that history of hospitalization more negatively affected patient quality of life. Patient social life and family well-being, functional well-being subscale, and total quality of life scores following discharge were significantly lower than the scores of patients who did not have hospitalization history after discharge following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve social support and functional performance in rehospitalized patients.
There are many risk factors that influence the outcome after HSCT which were the type of disease, stage of the disease, the age of the patient, the time interval from diagnosis to transplant, and, for allo-HSCT, the donor/recipient histocompatibility \[[@B25]\]. If the autoimmune disease does not respond to approved therapy and progress cannot be stopped, clinicians should considered auto-HSCT \[[@B26], [@B27]\]. The report of European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (2015) suggests adult patients with the underlying autoimmune diseases be considered as indications for auto-HSCT \[[@B25]\]. Auto-HSCT should be considered for patients with aggressive disease with poor outcomes. Auto-HSCT has been used as a rescue strategy and treatment for the autoimmune diseases with poor response to the established therapies for more than two decades. Stem cell transplantation has been offered for patients with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn\'s disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune cytopenia, and autoimmune cytopenias with either immune thrombocytopenia or autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Overall 5-year survival and a progression-free survival have been reported to be high in autologous HSCT patients according to each AD-specific condition \[[@B25]--[@B27]\].
One-third of the sample (29%) in the current study underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Some patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with the diagnosis of light chain deposition disease (*n* = 1) and autoimmune cytopenias (*n* = 4) and a few with severe immunodeficiencies (*n* = 5). In the current study, the number of patients who underwent auto-HSCT with the diagnosis autoimmune cytopenias was only four. Because of that, it not possible to make a conclusion for the quality of life of patients undergoing autologous HSCT with the diagnosis of autoimmune hematologic diseases. The outcomes of HSCT differ in patients undergoing autologous HSCT for autoimmune hematologic diseases. Studies are required on more selected patients with undergoing allogenic HSCT or autologous HSCT for the treatment of hematological malignancies.
5. Conclusion {#sec5}
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The results of this study highlight the need for implementation of strategies to improve mean total scores and, consequently, quality of life of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
The authors wish to thank all the patients who participated into the study.
Additional Points
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*Relevance to Clinical Practice*. Frequent screening and management of patient symptoms in order to help patients adapt to life following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are crucial for meeting care needs and developing strategies to improve the quality of life of transplant patients. One possible solution is to provide additional patient support regarding the transplantation process in terms of physical/body well-being, emotional problems, and management of symptoms during acute care after transplantation. Patients with chronic diseases and female patients should be observed closely for adverse emotional effects. Social support should be provided for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, particularly female patients, single patients, and those aged 50--59 years, as well as patients with elementary or broken families, history of chronic diseases, and a reported history of rehospitalization after discharge.
Consent
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All participants gave informed consent for the research and their anonymity was preserved.
Disclosure
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This manuscript has not been published before and is not being considered for publication elsewhere.
Competing Interests
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Authors\' Contributions
=======================
Authors approve the content of the manuscript and have contributed significantly to research involved/the writing of the manuscript.
######
Demographic and treatment-related characteristics of patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (*n* = 100).
Variables *n* \%
------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ ----
Age Mean **±**sd 44.99 **±**13.93 (range: 20--69)
*Gender*
Male 54 54
Female 46 46
*Age group*
20--29 16 16
30--39 21 21
40--49 19 19
50--59 28 28
60--69 16 16
*Marital status*
Married 70 70
Single 30 30
*Profession*
Not working currently 24 24
Housewife 23 23
Clerk 14 14
Self-employed 14 14
Retired 14 14
Worker 11 11
*Types of family*
Elementary family 73 73
Traditional, large family 18 18
Broken family 9 9
*History of chronic disease*
No 80 80
Yes (diabetes, etc.) 20 20
*Perceived health status*
"Bad" (0--3 score) 42 42
"Moderate" (4--6 score) 46 46
"Good" (7--10 score) 12 12
*Frequency of medical checkups*
In case of presence of any symptom or problems 29 29
According to physician\'s recommendations 24 24
No regular medical checkups 18 18
Once in six months 15 15
Once in three months 10 10
Once in a year 4 4
*Type of transplantation*
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation 71 71
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation 29 29
*Indications for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation*
Acute myeloid leukemia 26 26
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia 22 22
Hodgkin\'s disease 11 11
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 11 11
Chronic myeloid leukemia 6 6
Dysmyelopoietic syndrome 5 5
Severe immunodeficiencies 5 5
Autoimmune cytopenias 4 4
Multiple myeloma 1 1
Light chain deposition disease 1 1
Other disorders (bone marrow aplasia, etc.) 8 8
*Current treatment*
Acute-phase treatment following transplantation 59 59
Outpatient follow-up 29 29
Treatment of transplantation-related complications 12 12
*History of hospitalization after transplantation*
No 62 62
Yes (infection, *chronic graft-versus-host disease*, etc.) 38 38
######
Symptoms experienced during treatment of patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (*n* = 100).
Symptoms experienced during treatment Always Mostly Sometimes Rarely Never
--------------------------------------- -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------
Hair loss 43 23 15 12 7
Weight loss 29 15 21 22 13
Constipation 7 9 29 23 32
Diarrhea 12 9 32 21 26
Loss of taste 37 20 17 15 11
Headache 13 8 22 26 31
Dizziness 8 4 15 26 47
Itching 10 2 21 23 44
Leg pain 26 10 14 26 24
Myalgia 19 5 22 23 31
Bone pain 23 9 16 16 36
Sleep disorder 27 23 18 10 22
Difficulty in concentrating 28 12 14 13 33
Decrease in sexual functions 59 11 10 7 13
Loss of appetite/anorexia 33 22 15 15 15
Nausea, vomiting 17 20 26 19 18
######
Means of FACT-BMT Scale following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (*n* = 100).
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) Mean ± SD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
*Physical well-being* I have a lack of energy 2.43 ± 1.26
I have nausea 1.50 ± 1.42
Because of my physical condition, I have trouble meeting the needs of my family 2.85 ± 1.47
I have pain 2.08 ± 1.54
I am bothered by side effects of treatment 2.50 ± 1.37
I feel ill 2.15 ± 1.43
I am forced to spend time in bed 2.36 ± 1.53
* Physical well-being subscale* 12.13 ± 6.88
*Social/family well-being* I feel close to my friends 2.66 ± 1.13
I get emotional support from my family 3.53 ± 0.90
I get support from my friends 3.17 ± 1.07
My family has accepted my illness 3.45 ± 0.87
I am satisfied with family communication about my illness 3.22 ± 0.87
I feel close to my partner (or the person who is my main support) 3.07 ± 1.37
I am satisfied with my sex life 0.94 ± 1.21
* Social/family well-being subscale* 20.81 ± 4.26
*Emotional well-being* I feel sad 2.03 ± 1.42
I am satisfied with how I am coping with my illness 2.36 ± 1.30
I am losing hope in the fight against my illness 1.41 ± 1.48
I feel nervous 2.45 ± 1.39
I worry about dying 1.73 ± 1.66
I worry that my condition will get worse 2.04 ± 1.60
* Emotional well-being subscale* 12.70 ± 6.41
*Functional well-being* I am able to work (including work at home) 1.08 ± 1.24
My work (including work at home) is fulfilling 1.07 ± 1.21
I am able to enjoy life 2.02 ± 1.19
I have accepted my illness 3.51 ± 0.89
I am sleeping well 2.23 ± 1.38
I am enjoying the things I usually do for fun 2.10 ± 1.17
I am content with the quality of my life right now 1.94 ± 1.08
* Functional well-being subscale* 13.95 ± 4.61
* FACT-G total score* 59.59 ± 16.46
*Bone Marrow Transplant Subscale (BMTS)* I am concerned about keeping my job (including work at home) 1.87 ± 1.33
I feel distant from other people 1.79 ± 1.38
I worry that the transplant will not work 1.50 ± 1.43
The side effects of treatment are worse than I had imagined 1.47 ± 1.44
I have a good appetite 1.73 ± 1.38
I like the appearance of my body 1.96 ± 1.15
I am able to get around by myself 2.42 ± 1.44
I get tired easily 2.59 ± 1.35
I am interested in sex 1.28 ± 1.39
I have concerns about my ability to have children 0.99 ± 1.46
I have confidence in my nurse(s) 3.62 ± 0.63
I regret having the bone marrow transplant 0.52 ± 0.87
I can remember things 2.79 ± 1.27
I am able to concentrate 2.50 ± 1.27
I have frequent colds/infections 1.35 ± 1.44
My eyesight is blurry 1.43 ± 1.53
I am bothered by a change in the way food tastes 2.44 ± 1.42
I have tremors 1.33 ± 1.44
I have been short of breath 0.65 ± 1.22
I am bothered by skin problems (e.g., rash, itching) 1.49 ± 1.51
I have trouble with my bowels 1.36 ± 1.44
My illness is a personal hardship for my close family members 2.47 ± 1.42
The cost of my treatment is a burden on me or my family 2.63 ± 1.44
* Bone Marrow Transplant Subscale (BMTS)* 21.79 ± 6.61
* TOI subscale* 47.87 ± 15.49
* FACT-BMT total score* 81.38 ± 21.91
PWB: physical well-being, SWB: social/family well-being, EWB: emotional well-being, FWB: functional well-being, BMTS: Bone Marrow Transplant Subscale, and TOI: FACT-BMT Trial Outcome Index.
Each item is measured from 0 to 4. Possible range score for PWB is 0--28, for SWB is 0--28, for EWB is 0--24, for FWB is 0--28, for BMTS is 0--40, for FACT-BMT Trial Outcome Index (TOI) is 0--96, for FACT-G total score is 0--108, and for FACT-BMT total score is 0--148.
######
Comparison of FACT-BMT Scale means with patients\' gender, family type, perceived health status, treatment, and history of rehospitalization following transplantation (*n* = 100).
Gender *n* Mean ± SD *Z* ~mwu~ *p*
---------------------- -------- --------------- --------------- ----------- -------------
PWB Female 46 11.26 ± 7.19 −1.229 0.22
Male 54 12.87 ± 6.57
SWB Female 46 21.01 ± 4.86 −0.953 0.34
Male 54 20.64 ± 3.71
EWB Female 46 10.39 ± 6.33 −3.262 0.001^*∗∗*^
Male 54 14.67 ± 5.84
FWB Female 46 13.78 ± 4.63 −0.392 0.70
Male 54 14.09 ± 4.64
FACT-G Female 46 56.45 ± 17.58 −1.768 0.08
Male 54 62.27 ± 15.09
BMTS Female 46 20.70 ± 6.15 −1.431 0.15
Male 54 22.72 ± 6.89
TOI Female 46 45.74 ± 15.24 −1.215 0.225
Male 54 49.69 ± 15.61
FACT-BMT total score Female 46 77.14 ± 22.66 −1.757 0.08
Male 54 84.99 ± 20.79
Type of patient family *n* Mean ± SD *χ* ^2^ ~kw~ *p*
-------------------------------- ------------------------ --------------------- --------------- -------------- ------------
PWB Elementary family 73 12.56 ± 7.02 1.245 0.54
Traditional, large family 18 10.89 ± 6.95
Broken family 9 11.11 ± 5.67
SWB Elementary family^(1)^ 73 20.33 ± 4.02 12.024 0.002^*∗*^
Traditional, large family^(2)^ 18 23.66 ± 3.35^(1,3)^
Broken family^(3)^ 9 19.00 ± 5.59
EWB Elementary family 73 12.22 ± 6.43 1.583 0.45
Traditional, large family 18 14.28 ± 5.03
Broken family 9 13.44 ± 8.63
FWB Elementary family 73 13.73 ± 4.86 3.141 0.21
Traditional, large family 18 15.39 ± 3.76
Broken family 9 12.89 ± 3.79
FACT-G Elementary family 73 58.84 ± 16.34 1.478 0.48
Traditional, large family 18 64.21 ± 13.30
Broken family 9 56.44 ± 22.59
BMTS Elementary family 73 21.51 ± 6.93 2.455 0.29
Traditional, large family 18 23.61 ± 6.16
Broken family 9 20.44 ± 4.16
TOI Elementary family 73 47.79 ± 16.09 0.818 0.66
Traditional, large family 18 49.89 ± 14.84
Broken family 9 44.44 ± 12.15
FACT-BMT total score Elementary family 73 80.35 ± 22.14 1.392 0.50
Traditional, large family 18 87.82 ± 18.56
Broken family 9 76.89 ± 25.96
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perceived health status *n* Mean ± SD *χ* ^2^ ~kw~ *p*
---------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------- -------------- -------------
PWB "Bad"^(1)^ 42 9.48 ± 6.21 11.39 0.003^*∗∗*^
"Moderate"^(2)^ 46 13.85 ± 6.88^(1)^
"Good"^(3)^ 12 14.83 ± 6.38^(1)^
SWB "Bad" 42 20.54 ± 4.26 0.926 0.63\
"Moderate" 46 20.95 ± 4.09
"Good" 12 21.24 ± 5.14
EWB "Bad" 42 11.40 ± 5.91 3.357 0.19
"Moderate" 46 13.78 ± 6.98
"Good" 12 13.08 ± 5.30
FWB "Bad"^(1)^ 42 12.31 ± 3.84 10.992 0.004^*∗∗*^
"Moderate"^(2)^ 46 14.65 ± 4.63^(1)^
"Good"^(3)^ 12 17.00 ± 5.10^(1)^
FACT-G "Bad"^(1)^ 42 53.73 ± 13.81 11.053 0.004^*∗∗*^
"Moderate"^(2)^ 46 63.24 ± 16.68^(1)^
"Good"^(3)^ 12 66.15 ± 18.81^(1)^
BMTS "Bad" 42 20.98 ± 6.22 2.788 0.25
"Moderate" 46 21.85 ± 6.83
"Good" 12 24.42 ± 6.91
TOI "Bad"^(1)^ 42 42.76 ± 13.23 10.230 0.006^*∗∗*^
"Moderate"^(2)^ 46 50.35 ± 15.85^(1)^
"Good"^(3)^ 12 56.25 ± 16.63^(1)^
FACT-BMT total score "Bad"^(1)^ 42 74.70 ± 18.67 9.005 0.011^*∗*^
"Moderate"^(2)^ 46 85.08 ± 22.67^(1)^
"Good"^(3)^ 12 90.57 ± 24.49^(1)^
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current treatment *n* Mean ± SD *χ* ^2^ ~kw~ *p*
--------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- --------------- -------------- -------------
PWB Acute-phase treatment following transplantation^(1)^ 59 10.22 ± 6.61 11.634 0.003^*∗∗*^
Outpatient follow-up^(2)^ 29 15.21 ± 5.93^(1)^
Treatment of complications^(3)^ 12 14.08 ± 7.53
SWB Acute-phase treatment following transplantation 59 21.08 ± 4.28 1.63 0.44
Outpatient follow-up 29 20.86 ± 4.27
Treatment of complications 12 19.35 ± 4.17
EWB Acute-phase treatment following transplantation 59 11.59 ± 6.63 5.095 0.08
Outpatient follow-up 29 14.97 ± 5.74
Treatment of complications 12 12.67 ± 5.82
FWB Acute-phase treatment following transplantation 59 13.25 ± 4.81 4.218\ 0.12
Outpatient follow-up 29 15.48 ± 4.01
Treatment of complications 12 13.67 ± 4.42
FACT-G Acute-phase treatment following transplantation^(1)^ 59 56.15 ± 16.43 7.073 0.029^*∗*^
Outpatient follow-up^(2)^ 29 66.52 ± 14.57^(1)^
Treatment of complications^(3)^ 12 59.76 ± 16.89
BMTS Acute-phase treatment following transplantation 59 20.36 ± 6.61 5.71 0.06
Outpatient follow-up 29 24.34 ± 6.06
Treatment of complications 12 22.67 ± 6.32
TOI Acute-phase treatment following transplantation^(1)^ 59 43.83 ± 15.40 10.640 0.005^*∗∗*^
Outpatient follow-up^(2)^ 29 55.03 ± 12.98^(1)^
Treatment of complications^(3)^ 12 50.42 ± 15.79
FACT-BMT total score Acute-phase treatment following transplantation^(1)^ 59 76.51 ± 21.92 8.286 0.016^*∗*^
Outpatient follow-up^(2)^ 29 90.86 ± 18.96^(1)^
Treatment of complications^(3)^ 12 82.43 ± 22.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History of hospitalization after transplantation *n* Mean ± SD *Z* ~mwu~ *p*
---------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------------- --------------- ----------- ------------
PWB No 62 12.68 ± 7.01 −0.956 0.34
Yes 38 11.24 ± 6.65
SWB No 62 21.55 ± 4.06 −2.110 0.035^*∗*^
Yes 38 19.61 ± 4.35
EWB No 62 13.45 ± 6.13 −1.362 0.17
Yes 38 11.47 ± 6.74
FWB No 62 14.68 ± 4.62 −2.013 0.044^*∗*^
Yes 38 12.76 ± 4.40
FACT-G No 62 62.35 ± 15.01 −2.003 0.045^*∗*^
Yes 38 55.08 ± 17.88
BMTS No 62 22.74 ± 6.61 −1.921 0.06
Yes 38 20.24 ± 6.39
TOI No 62 50.10 ± 15.45 −1.851 0.06
Yes 38 44.24 ± 15.05
FACT-BMT total score No 62 85.10 ± 20.33 −2.014 0.044^*∗*^
Yes 38 75.32 ± 23.29
*χ* ^2^ ~kw~: Kruskal Wallis test; *Z* ~mwu~: Mann--Whitney *U* test; ^*∗*^ *p* \< 0.05 and ^*∗∗*^ *p* \< 0.01.
PWB: Physical well-being; SWB: social/family well-being; EWB: emotional well-being; FWB: functional well-being; BMTS: Bone Marrow Transplant Subscale; TOI: FACT-BMT Trial Outcome Index; FACT-G total score.
Each number refers to the order of the group of each variable. 1: first group: "elementary family group," "bad perceived health status group," and "acute-phase treatment following transplantation group"; 2: second group: "traditional, large family group," "moderate perceived health status group," and "outpatient follow-up group"; 3: third group: "broken family group," "good perceived health status group," and "treatment of complications group."
[^1]: Academic Editor: Kathleen Finlayson
| mini_pile | {'original_id': 'c7c366d05c6edd7c3e57222673c6c931253b9847cc96175817285e2e65d61d30'} |
2014 Latest CompTIA CV0-001 Exam Dump Free Download!
A. Apply operating system patches to the application server after the migration.
B. Contact the vendor to see if the application is supported in a virtual environment.
C. Take a backup of the application server after the migration.
D. Migrate the application server in a test environment and have users test it.
Answer: B
A. CHAP
B. AES
C. PKI
D. VPN
Answer: D
A. Access controls
B. RC5
C. SSL
D. Zoning
Answer: A
A. The dynamic resource pool is malfunctioning.
B. The server is missing security patches.
C. The VM servers were not properly configured.
D. There are insufficient resources available on the host.
Answer: C
Which of the following storage technologies is file-based?
A. WAN
B. DAS
C. SAN
D. NAS
Answer: D
Which of the following storage technologies can leverage switches in its implementation?
A. HBA
B. DAS
C. SCSI
D. SAN
Answer: D
A. RAID 0
B. RAID 1
C. RAID 5
D. RAID 10
Answer: B
A. NFS
B. SAN
C. NAS
D. SMB
Answer: B
A. Rapid deployment
B. Cloud bursting
C. Multi-tenancy
D. Pay-as-you-grow
Answer: B
Passing your CompTIA CV0-001 Exam by using the latest CV0-001 Exam Dump Full Version: http://www.braindump2go.com/cv0-001.html | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '97', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.7186347246170044}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '261019', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:E2I3UPMA5C7ZVLIVOTYZ7LGFJYUXIFK6', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:3647a380-a08d-4009-afd1-d25eb66febfb>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2021, 6, 23, 3, 26, 34), 'WARC-IP-Address': '104.21.14.129', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:JMGSEY5ZF4KAFYOU3VQRQ4PBAJDUNHYU', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:62272981-30a0-403b-869f-5a6b416612c7>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://www.vcp550dumps.com/2014-latest-citrix-1y0-a13-exam-demo-free-download-2-2.html', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:9b925fb3-f2fb-4335-8df7-b5e503e6f88f>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '395', 'url': 'https://www.vcp550dumps.com/2014-latest-citrix-1y0-a13-exam-demo-free-download-2-2.html', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2021-25\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for June 2021\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-187.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.18 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.2-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: https://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '1.0000052452087402', 'original_id': '45838a4fb54c14bd45cc8741d5c6b84b935e6f032e961a8b1daf6c80c64d102f'} |
Autism: An Informative Study/Guide
Autism is a complex neurological disorder of human beings which include different impairments in social and communicative study. It is mainly caused due to connections of the nerve cells in the brain being different than in an average human. However, that does not always result in a derogatory condition. Indeed, it has been observed that while most autistic people have an inability to communicate properly with the society, their non-verbal and cognitive skills are far higher than any average person. These include various fields like drawing, music or their capability to learn new things. Autism can be recognized in the first three years of any child’s life.
No two persons in autism have the same behavioural pattern. That is what makes autism so difficult to control. Autism can be classified into various forms including the Autistic Disorder, the most common form of autism. This is characterized by inability to communicate verbally and performance of repetitive behaviours. In Asperger’s Syndrome, people are characterized by often high non-verbal test IQ, but possession of limited interest in society. For girls, Rett Syndrome is the most common form. These girls start normally, but by 1 to 4 years, they develop signs of autism. Pervasive Development Disorder (or PDD) is used for children who do not fit into any known categories. Along with these, another term common in context to autism is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, used to classify children who develop normally for 2 years but regress after that.
The Genetics of Autism
Autistic children can be taught to behave normally with people by repetitive advices on how to interact properly. It has been found that autism is more common in identical twins who share the same genetic blueprint than in fraternal ones. The concordance rate in monozygotic twins is between 60 -90%. This means that monozygotic twin studies, autism appeared in both twins in 60-90% of cases. Autism is undoubtedly connected to genetics at some level, however as recent studies have found out, 20 of the normal genes found might be involved. Various genetic tests are under way to determine the exact mutations responsible for the condition and scientists have identified several genetic abnormalities in autistic people. Dealing with all variations of such a large number of combinations is highly time consuming and hence, the exact cause of autism has not been determined yet. Two genes identified and linked to the condition are Engrailed 2 (EN2) and the Serotonin Transporter. EN2 abnormalities are linked and believed to cause structural changes in the cerebellum, a part of the brain related to motor skills and cognition.
Genetic DNA testing and analysis of the human genome has classified 98% of our DNA as “junk DNA”. Whilst the term is misleading because of the connotations of the word “junk”, we simply do not know what purpose junk DNA serves.
Associated conditions:
• Autism is often seen alongside fragile X syndrome, a condition caused by abnormalities on the X chromosome affecting males more than females and often resulting in mental retardation.
• Although rare, autism also sometimes manifests itself in individuals suffering from tuberous schelorsis.
Studies have pointed that parents with schizophrenia are more susceptible to autistic children, and the chances of autistic children having a new pair of genes missing, as compared to their parents, is huge. Flu or fever for more than a week during pregnancy can also double the chances of bearing autistic children. Though no fixed treatments for autism exist, early treatment of diagnosed children have often proven to be helpful.
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Leave a Reply | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.959198236465454}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '67367', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:XDNSRCF4YP43U3WCU4JMGG67MNZA2GEL', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:fdaceff2-34b4-4691-9b0e-a0dab1bae6e0>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 5, 23, 5, 39, 39), 'WARC-IP-Address': '216.187.117.213', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:OH7LFJSHLXAI3L4JDFF2DL6UCYXM5DOL', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:893f26c2-16f6-4b42-9adf-15ec8a171a86>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.stuartduncan.name/autism/autism-an-informative-studyguide/', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:30bf4fbc-d127-41de-9aef-cbeb292d4855>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '586', 'url': 'http://www.stuartduncan.name/autism/autism-an-informative-studyguide/', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-22\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for May 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-158-174-231.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.164844810962677', 'original_id': '27d148a2f2690c34496fd86e1c567c83c55d97b3d25a4d62b2ac96f04f2e2da2'} |
XMission Mail Rejection Statistics --------------------------------------------------------------------------- XM-RJCT01: 15052 (Invalid XMission Username) XM-RJCT02: 1941 (Invalid Virtual Mail recipient) XM-RJCT03: 0 (IP address listed in XMORTS) XM-RJCT04: 158415 (User listed in SBL) XM-RJCT05: 521680 (User listed in XBL) XM-RJCT06: 22319 (Unauthorized relay attempt) XM-RJCT07: 0 (User listed in rcpt-rbl) XM-RJCT08: 462 (Invalid Spamcatcher recipient) XM-RJCT09: 0 (Invalid MAIL FROM line) XM-RJCT10: 3 (Virus detected from XM user) XM-RJCT11: 0 (Spammy forwarded virtual mail message) XM-RJCT12: 0 (Invalid Deluxe Mail recipient) XM-RJCT13: 0 (MAIL FROM is unauthorized/forged) XM-RJCT14: 0 (IP listed in sa.bl.xmission.com) XM-RJCT15: 7785 (IP in reject_hosts) XM-RJCT16: 6198 (SPF hard failure) XM-RJCT17: 3621 (DomainKey failure) XM-RJCT18: 0 (Message with SA score of >= 25) XM-RJCT19: 199274 (IP listed in PBL) XM-RJCT20: 21544 (Syntactically incorrect MAIL FROM line) XM-RJCT21: 1884 (Domain has XM as their MX, but no actual hosting) XM-RJCT22: 55028 (IP listed in ram.bl.xmission.com) | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '174', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.6643653512001038}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '1440', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:CQLXQUC5O7A3NUB65AD6DTUNY5S3AWON', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:72b41466-59f1-443a-a1a1-bd3230e56540>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 12, 6, 14, 26, 12), 'WARC-IP-Address': '198.60.22.201', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/plain', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:P5EAWVVJKYXULDDBZM7QSFWS2NPSQEOK', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:80958bf2-3c18-4819-89e6-9bd8dc638b70>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://postmaster.xmission.com/stats/plaintext/rejectstats_2012_07_21.txt', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:96d88292-45ea-4d56-a52a-dd3bc798a1ee>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '119', 'url': 'http://postmaster.xmission.com/stats/plaintext/rejectstats_2012_07_21.txt', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-51\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for December 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-27.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.06385856866836548', 'original_id': 'b5d3752511573363dcaf718ab4d768e885de5c3063f093f4b5f34d4de9ac7cc3'} |
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Judge bans D&D in prison, rules it 'could lead to gang behavior'
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If you're reading this, chances are you've played Dungeons & Dragons: a game that involves creativity, quick thinking and a tendency to eat too many potato chips in one sitting.
Anyone can play D&D who can get his hands on a rules book and a set of dice—except for Kevin T. Singer, a prisoner in Wisconsin's Waupun Correctional Institution, who in 2004 had his D&D materials confiscated.
Singer, imprisoned for bludgeoning his sister's boyfriend to death with a sledgehammer, has sued the facility for violating his First Amendment rights. But on Jan. 25, 2010, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ban ... because Waupun believes D&D promotes gang-related activity.
He explained that the policy was intended to promote prison security because co-operative games can mimic the organization of gangs and lead to the actual development thereof. Muraski elaborated that during D&D games, one player is denoted the "Dungeon Master." The Dungeon Master is tasked with giving directions to other players, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.
In this fascinating article from Above the Law, Elie Mystal says it best:
Look, I know the title "dungeon master" sounds scary and important. But don't let the words confuse you. We're talking about a guy who sits around all day drawing maps and debating whether a cloak of anti-venom can protect you from a fictional rat bite. (Note: It can't, rats have diseases, anti-venom contemplates poisons, those are two completely different things. Please don't tell my wife about this.)
If you were around in the 1980s, you would recall the public's fear that D&D led to mass criminal activities and/or psychiatric disorders. As with heavy metal music, comic books and videogames, these fears did not come to fruition. But it seems that these prejudices still exist, despite the fact that many of these former D&Ders went on to become happy, productive members of society; and others even created our current technology revolution.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals quoted cases in which extreme escapism fostered by D&D led to murder or suicide and resulted in the offenders' imprisonment. However, none of these cases dealt with current inmates trying to rehabilitate. Singer, on the other hand, brought in Paul Cardwell, chair and archivist of the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games, who testified that "there are numerous scholarly works establishing that role-playing games can have positive rehabilitative effects on prisoners."
Ultimately, the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor of upholding the ban because none of Singer's witnesses could prove that D&D didn't ultimately lead to forming gangs. And if you follow the news, you'd know that gangs are extremely dangerous organizations that are detrimental to prison security and to rehabilitation.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals also writes:
D&D can "foster an inmate's obsession with escaping from the real life, correctional environment, fostering hostility, violence and escape behavior," which in turn "can compromise not only the inmate's rehabilitation and effects of positive programming but also endanger the public and jeopardize the safety and security of the institution."
Yes, D&D is about escapism. It can provide a nice mental break from the stresses of life, especially if that life is one without parole. D&D has been proven over time not to lead to violence, and it does not incur extra cost to the taxpayers. So why is it being withheld from Singer and his group?
Mystal again says it best.
[W]hat this is all about is punishment. It's not about rehabilitation, it's not about security, it's about old-school vengeance carried out by state actors. He killed somebody, and we as a society found something else he liked that we can take away. So we're going to take it away. It's Christopher Lloyd playing a Klingon in Star Trek 3 telling Kirk he won't beam up Spock "because you wish it."
I guess that is our right. I guess there is no compelling interest in making the life imprisonment of a murderer a little less horrible. But vengeance, even when legal, is still ugly. The Seventh Circuit just made a Lawful Evil decision here. | mini_pile | {'original_id': 'ee2756b9412f7ce85b29b3304e00fdc72667b50f6a5fc0876d118770036617a2'} |
35 0.5 0.501 0.3477 0.3926
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ICC issues Gaddafi arrest warrant
ICC warrant … the international criminal court has charged Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi with crimes against humanity. Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA
The international criminal court's decision to charge Muammar Gaddafi with crimes against humanity both tightens and legitimises the noose that David Cameron and others had gratuitously hung around the Libyan leader's neck. But far from hastening his removal from power, the court's demarche may reinforce Gaddafi's determination to stay and fight to the bitter end.
Few would dispute that Gaddafi and two close associates, his son, Saif al-Islam, and Libya's military intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Senussi, have a case to answer. The pre-trial chamber judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe the three men conspired to impose a state policy "aimed at deterring and quelling, by any means, including by the use of lethal force, the demonstrations of civilians against the regime which started in February".
Gaddafi "had absolute, ultimate and unquestioned control over the Libyan state apparatus of power, including the security forces", and used it to enforce his plan to crush the uprising, the judges declared. Saif Gaddafi, his father's "unspoken successor and the most influential person within his inner circle", and Senussi "both made an essential contribution to implement that plan", the court alleged.
The ICC's action will be applauded by advocates of universal justice and humanitarian law and by supporters of UN notions of the international community's responsibility to protect. It will also be welcomed by the British and French governments, prime movers in the Libyan military intervention, as further evidence that their parallel, non-military campaign to isolate, ostracise, delegitimise and undermine Gaddafi is working, even if Nato bombing is not.
"The warrants demonstrate why Gaddafi has lost all legitimacy and why he should go immediately," said the British foreign secretary, William Hague. He went on to urge Gaddafi supporters to consider their own positions in the light of the ICC ruling. "People at all levels of seniority should think carefully about the consequences of what they do," Hague warned. Those involved in continuing regime attacks on civilians would be held responsible.
It's an obvious divide-and-rule tactic, but it may slowly be having a cumulative effect. Reports this week of secret talks in Tunisia involving senior Libyan cabinet members, high-profile defections and a renewed offer by the regime spokesman (later partially withdrawn) to put Gaddafi's continued tenure to a popular vote have encouraged those looking for fatal cracks in the Tripoli edifice. Welcoming the warrants, a rebel spokesman suggested they meant Gaddafi was finished and there was no longer any point in even trying to negotiate with a "war criminal" regime.
As usual, there is a large dose of unreality and wishful thinking about all this. The ICC's action could easily backfire, as have other aspects of Libyan policy. The court's personal targeting of Gaddafi will revive questions about the wisdom of the Anglo-French-US approach (distinct from that of Nato) of making his removal from power the key measure of success in Libya. It will also fuel claims that the ICC is only interested in pursuing African leaders, as in Sudan and Kenya, and that the US in particular (which is not a party to the ICC) is guilty of double standards.
The UN security council resolution authorising military intervention was silent on the issue of Gaddafi's status. It had to be. If the resolution had been openly portrayed as authorising regime change, or a de facto assassination, it would certainly have been vetoed by Russia or China or both.
Yet British officials now privately admit that nothing less than a fresh start will suffice – and that if Gaddafi were perchance to die in a bombing raid on a command and control target, his killing would be regarded as justified. Thus is one man's fate now dictating the course of the war and the wider international policy associated with it.
For his part, Gaddafi and his people are adamant he will not stand down, will not leave the country and will not hand himself over to the ICC or anybody else. "Muammar Gaddafi is Libya's historical symbol and he is above all political actions and tactical games," said Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim. "In this current stage and in the future, Gaddafi is the historical choice which we cannot drop."
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Back to back: A look at 2008 hurricanes Gustav and Ike
Posted: 10:32 PM, May 23, 2018
Updated: 2018-05-23 23:32:21-04
We say just one tropical system can have a major impact. In 2008, Acadiana took on two hurricanes within a couple of weeks.
One a direct hit with mainly wind and rainfall, the other an indirect hit with record storm surge flooding.
Labor Day weekend was coming fast, but instead of barbeque’s, Acadiana was fleeing from Gustav.
After brief visits to Haiti and Jamaica, it strengthened to a near Category 5 hurricane and made landfall over western Cuba on August 30th.
As it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, Gustav maintained decent strength prompting hundreds of thousands to evacuate, including a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, the first since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Gustav struggled to maintain strength but still made landfall at Cocodrie as a modest category 2 hurricane with winds of 105 mph. As the storm moved northwestward, it weakened, but wind gusts up to 77 mph were recorded in Lafayette, and over 80mph in Abbeville. Wind damage was widespread, but the surge was concentrated to southeast Louisiana.
The same day Gustav made landfall, another system started brewing in the Atlantic. Eventually this would become Hurricane Ike.
Ike would strengthen to Category 4 before reaching Cuba.
Ike was disrupted after traveling over the majority of Cuba from east to west. Ike did restrengthen to a strong Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph.
The structure and widespread wind field produced record storm surge flooding. Ike brought water over almost every inch of Cameron Parish with water reaching as far north as Lake Charles. Flooding over Vermilion and Iberia was similar or greater than Rita just three years earlier.
In Texas, the Bolivar Peninsula was flattened by storm surge over 17 feet. Even with mass evacuations, Ike claimed over 100 lives in the United States and still ranks as the 6th costliest hurricane making landfall in the United States. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9667860269546508}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '66912', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:BAWY4OGTLNFTK6GABU6LSMIN5NYKDKLX', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:d4e83dd8-d728-431a-807c-6c6521c09652>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2020, 3, 30, 7, 42, 20), 'WARC-IP-Address': '13.249.43.99', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:753E5ZTBUE5G6G2VJIQZKJ73K7KT3ELX', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:41795925-3935-45d0-8496-d92126f87cb5>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://www.katc.com/news/2018/05/24/back-to-back-a-look-at-2008-hurricanes-gustav-and-ike/', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:740eb11d-8a56-4939-8799-1eca80f01277>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '333', 'url': 'https://www.katc.com/news/2018/05/24/back-to-back-a-look-at-2008-hurricanes-gustav-and-ike/', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-16\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for March/April 2020\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-170.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.02030014991760254', 'original_id': 'b6bd12c0896a0b0f21de654931ab5cf241dec73e7e48bb7424953343b22c9acf'} |
Under the U.S. Supreme Court: 'Dark' money clouds the political waters
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- After a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in January opened the floodgates for unrestricted corporate and union spending on political campaigns, what started out as a mere trickle grew into a deluge of outside money by the time midterm elections arrived with a crash Nov. 2.
Much of the tens of millions of dollars raised as a result of the ruling has been "dark" -- donors not identified.
But the impression that Republicans benefited more from the outside expenditures than Democrats turned out not to be true, though the GOP benefited much more from the "dark" portion.
The 5-4 decision along the Supreme Court's ideological divide in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission generated more than one of the most expensive midterm elections in the nation's history. It sparked a caustic feud between the White House and several conservative Supreme Court justices, who like to think they are above politics. It gave Republican strategist Karl Rove a new opportunity to re-emerge as the dark prince of the GOP. It gave Republicans realistic hope not only of sweeping future congressional elections, but of taking back the presidency in 2012.
Depending on your point of view, the Citizens United decision either leveled the playing field for political speech -- it erased restrictions that kept corporations and unions from using their own funds to buy "electioneering communications" 30 days before a primary or 60 days before an election -- or it threw away 100 years of law and Supreme Court precedent to give money an even more crucial role in U.S. politics.
"The censorship we now confront is vast in its reach," Kennedy said, citing earlier Supreme Court opinions. The government has "'muffled the voices that best represent the most significant segments of the economy' ... and 'the electorate (has been) deprived of information, knowledge and opinion vital to its function.' ... By suppressing the speech of manifold corporations, both for-profit and non-profit, the government prevents their voices and viewpoints from reaching the public and advising voters on which persons or entities are hostile to their interests. Factions will necessarily form in our republic, but" -- citing the Federalist Papers -- "the remedy of 'destroying the liberty' of some factions is 'worse than the disease.' ... Factions should be checked by permitting them all to speak ... and by entrusting the people to judge what is true and what is false."
Retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, the leader of the dissenters, had a harsh though somewhat sad rejoinder.
"The court's ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the nation," he said. "The path it has taken to reach its outcome will, I fear, do damage to this institution."
Later, he added, "At bottom, the court's opinion is ... a rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self-government since the founding, and who have fought against the distinctive corrupting potential of corporate electioneering since the days of Theodore Roosevelt. It is a strange time to repudiate that common sense. While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics."
If the majority thought that would be the end of the criticism, President Barack Obama destroyed that notion days later in his State of the Union address.
"With all due deference to separation of powers," Obama said in his nationally televised speech, "last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections." The president spoke as conservative members of the Supreme Court sat and steamed below him in the chamber.
Justice Samuel Alito was visibly angered, at least twice mouthing, "Not true" as the president spoke. Chief Justice John Roberts was so upset at the unprecedented direct criticism he later suggested there was no need for justices to attend future State of the Union addresses.
Also during the State of the Union address, Obama spoke hopefully of Congress acting quickly on legislation to repair the political system and undo the ruling. That hope appears to have evaporated with the new political reality.
Rhetoric aside, how much and what kind of outside contributions did the Supreme Court ruling generate?
The non-profit educational organization, the Sunlight Foundation, said in a posting Nov. 4 outside-party groups raised and spent $126 million on the elections without disclosing the sources of the money.
That $126 million from undisclosed sources added up to more than a quarter of the $450 million spent by outside groups on the midterms. Some $60 million more was spent by groups who were allowed to raise money without limits but still had to disclose the sources.
The total amount of outside money made possible by the Citizens United ruling reached $186 million, or 40 percent, of the total spent by outside groups, the foundation said.
The money tended to flow toward Republicans. GOP groups raising unlimited money, while disclosing the money's sources, spent $35.7 million -- $11 million more than similar Democratic groups. But when looking at groups that failed to disclose their donors, Republicans outspent Democrats six to one, the foundation said -- $59 million to $10 million.
Crossroads GPS, a group linked to Rove which does not disclose its donors, spent 75 percent of its money in races where the Republican candidate won, the foundation said. The group spent $4.4 million -- the most it spent in any race -- opposing Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias, who lost a close U.S. Senate race for Obama's old seat to Republican Mark Kirk by 2 percentage points.
Other Republican groups, including another Rove-linked organization, American Crossroads, spent most of their money in races won by Republicans, the foundation said.
The foundation posting said Democratic-linked groups, including big unions, didn't do as well in the election. The union for public sector workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, spent $6.51 million -- 85 percent of its money -- in races Democrats lost.
So what's the bottom line?
Mother Jones, the left-wing investigative magazine, said there was little evidence outside money benefited Republicans more than Democrats.
Mother Jones said Democratic support with disclosed donors was likely to come through party committees like the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, while Republican support was more likely to come through "darker" outside groups like American Crossroads or Crossroads GPS, which spent $21.5 million and $16.7 million, respectively.
Meanwhile, The New York Times says the trend of using outside groups and anonymous donations is just beginning and plays a large part in Republican planning to take back the White House in 2012.
In an article published in the Times Oct. 31, officials with American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS said they would continue anti-Democratic advertising as Congress returns and takes on the issue of extending the Bush-era tax cuts.
Robert M. Duncan, chairman of American Crossroads, told the Times he also informed major donors in October that "research and development" would make the groups more effective in the next election.
"It's a bigger prize in 2012, and that's changing the White House," Duncan told the newspaper. "We've planted the flag for permanence, and we believe that we will play a major role for 2012."
The Times said Duncan's comments confirmed what Democrats say they fear -- that the major Republican independent groups viewed the 2010 elections as a proving ground for 2012.
Non-party outside group fundraising is not a Republican invention. Democrats set up a network to collect and spend millions in donations from unions, corporations and the wealthy in the 2004 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. John Kerry, countering the better-financed campaign of President George W. Bush. But the Democratic money groups were set up as political committees, the Times said, and had to report the identities of their donors for tax purposes.
Obama's campaign in 2008 didn't use the network -- causing it to wither and lose its effectiveness for 2010 -- and instead used money raised from small donations by individual supporters. Democrats now are taking another look at the wisdom of that policy, whatever its morality.
United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.
With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '621634bc9aeddbb258ae6cde08134110f323c88e0708beda741f5bc4e6853fb3'} |
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When I gathered all my 2009 receipts in preparation for my Income Tax filing, I came across a large number of expenses incurred for my pets. Are these expenses tax-deductible?
share|improve this question
Only if you claim them as dependents. =) – JohnFx Mar 19 '10 at 14:09
Well they don't exactly contribute to the household... ;-) – Nat_Rea Mar 20 '10 at 2:40
Sure they do! Dogs and cats contribute to the security of house and home (when they want to). :-) – Zephyr Mar 20 '10 at 14:23
Medical bills for yourself or your human companions may be: Canada Revenue
Seeing-eye dogs and the like also get special treatment Nice Doggie
There are pet medical insurance policies; but as they are often priced like human policies, they might exclude your animal if it has a pre-existing condition.
Good Luck Scott
share|improve this answer
I would expect that if the animal in question was part of your business (such as a farm animal, or a security dog) then you could probably claim vet bills as a business expense. – DJClayworth Mar 11 '11 at 19:37
In the US service animals are treated like durable medical equipment from a tax POV, and some expenses can be deducted. Likewise, expenses associated with working animals are business or hobby expenses than can be deducted to a certain extent.
But pets, no. Legally they are "chattels" -- property that can move. Generally speaking, you can't deduct the cost of maintaining your belongings.
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Your Answer
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Diego Godín has rebuffed a big-money offer from Manchester City in order to stay at Atlético de Madrid, where he is one of Diego Simeone's on-pitch lieutenants. The club coached by Manuel Pellegrini had been willing to trigger the centre-back's €40 million release clause and tried to convince the Uruguayan by offering him a deal worth €6.5m a season.
The Citizens stepped up their interest in the defender over the last couple of weeks, but Godín has decided to spurn their advances and stick around at the Calderón. The 'Rojiblancos' are set to reward this show of loyalty by extending the 29-year-old's contract, which currently runs until 2018, and handing him a wage hike.
Though his new terms will remain a far cry from what was on the table at City, Godín is nevertheless appreciative of the effort Atlético have made to keep him sweet. The club is equally grateful to the former Villarreal star for turning down the opportunity to significantly boost his bank balance at the Etihad.
The details of Godín's new contract at Atlético have been finalised and the centre-half will put pen to paper in the coming days. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '3dc79ef7d552e9ff14930a35a1d8c6a1bb038365b774ec31c2c0cfbdbe084491'} |
\section{Graph of Nonlinear Additive Function is Dense in the Plane}
Tags: Additive Functions
\begin{theorem}
Let $f: \R \to \R$ be an additive function which is not linear.
Then the graph of $f$ is dense in the real number plane.
\end{theorem}
\begin{proof}
From Additive Function is Linear for Rational Factors:
:$\map f q = q \map f 1$
for all $q \in \Q$.
{{WLOG}}, let:
:$\map f q = q$
for all $q \in \Q$.
Since $f$ is not linear, let $\alpha \in \R \setminus \Q$ be such that:
:$\map f \alpha = \alpha + \delta$
for some $\delta \ne 0$.
Consider an arbitrary nonempty circle in the plane.
Let:
:its centre be $\tuple {x, y}$ where $x \ne y$ and $x, y \in \Q$
:its radius be $r > 0$.
We will show how to find a point of the graph of $f$ inside this circle.
As $x \ne y$ and $r$ can be arbitrarily small, this will prove the theorem.
Since $\delta \ne 0$, let $\beta = \dfrac {y - x} \delta$.
Since $x \ne y$:
:$\beta \ne 0$
As Rationals are Everywhere Dense in Topological Space of Reals,
there exists a rational number $b \ne 0$ such that:
:$\size {\beta - b} < \dfrac r {2 \size \delta}$
As Rationals are Everywhere Dense in Topological Space of Reals, there also exists a rational number $a$ such that:
:$\size {\alpha - a} < \dfrac r {2 \size b}$
Now put:
:$X = x + b \paren {\alpha - a}$
:$Y = \map f X$
Then:
:$\size {X - x} = \size {b \paren {\alpha - a} } < \frac r 2$
so $X$ is in the circle.
Then:
{{begin-eqn}}
{{eqn | l = Y
| r = \map f {x + b \paren {\alpha - a} }
| c = Definition of $Y$ and $X$
}}
{{eqn | r = \map f x + \map f {b \alpha} - \map f {b a}
| c = {{Defof|Cauchy Functional Equation}}
}}
{{eqn | r = x + b \map f \alpha - b \map f a
| c = Additive Function is Linear for Rational Factors
}}
{{eqn | r = y - \delta \beta + b \map f \alpha - b \map f a
| c = Definition of $y$
}}
{{eqn | r = y - \delta \beta + b \paren {\alpha + \delta} - b a
| c = Additive Function is Linear for Rational Factors
}}
{{eqn | r = y + b \paren {\alpha - a} - \delta \paren {\beta - b}
}}
{{end-eqn}}
Therefore
:$\size {Y - y} = \size {b \paren {\alpha - a} - \delta \paren {\beta - b} } \le \size {b \paren {\alpha - a} } + \size {\delta \paren {\beta - b} } \le r$
so $Y$ is in the circle as well.
Hence the point $\tuple {X, Y}$ is inside the circle.
{{qed}}
\end{proof}
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2015 General Election Endorsements
The general election is just a month away. We’ve whittled down our choices for City Council from 47 (!) to 18 candidates, but only nine will make the cut — seven serving districts across the city and two serving the city at-large. We took the time to sit down with each of the candidates and ask about their vision for housing, transportation, and equity. From our interviews and the subsequent campaigns, we’re excited to release our endorsements for the general election. We believe these candidates represent a comprehensive vision for a changing and growing city. Together, they represent an urbanist Council.
There are also a host of important ballot initiatives, from campaign finance reform to transportation funding. We believe each of the four considered measures embodies our values of creating vibrant, healthy, and equitable communities.
Position 1 (District 1): Shannon Braddock
Shannon Braddock
Shannon Braddock will bring political experience to this West Seattle race that has not seen any incumbent contenders. She is Chief of Staff for King County Council Member Joe McDermott and holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington. She strongly supports planning ahead for future populations by ensuring infrastructure is prepared for new development and by breaking down barriers between city departments. She supports the urban village land use strategy and is open to the whole toolbox of of affordable housing options, particularly accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family areas. On transportation, she is supportive of multi-modal and safety projects, such as increased bus service on the popular Route 120, a road rechannelization on 35th Avenue SW, and a Ballard-West Seattle route in the Sound Transit 3 package.
Along with being supportive of family and child issues, such as childcare subsidies and closing the technology divide in schools, she is motivated by the needs of economically displaced people and Seattle’s homeless population. She supports policies that provide greater services and opportunities to marginalized people. She also wants to foster better relations between neighborhoods and the Seattle Police Department.
We believe Shannon has the community experience and vision for West Seattle that will benefit both her constituents and the city as a whole. We support her for District 1.
Tammy Morales will provide a unique voice for urban issues in Southeast Seattle. As an advocate on food access, she championed policies that give residents healthier, fairer, and wider access to quality food choices. On land use and development, she wants to see a broader set of choices for housing and building types. Tammy thinks that the City should reevaluate the urban village strategy, particularly in Southeast Seattle, so that it can better align with the infrastructure investments like light rail.
As a fighter for working families, she will work to bring more family-sized units to the housing market. She’s also concerned about the welfare of renters, supporting policies that give them greater stability. She’s an unabashed supporter for the City’s Vision Zero program, calling for bold action on a safety redesign of Rainier Avenue. She wants to expand transit and Pronto bike share throughout the city, including a new light rail station at Graham Street.
Tammy is also a total planning wonk; she’s a planner by trade with a degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas, Austin. We think that will work to her benefit in dialogue and advocacy on a wide range of social, environmental, and economic issues.
Kshama Sawant is well known for her successful campaign to raise Seattle’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, and her urbanist credentials are no less impressive. She believes solutions for affordable housing must meet the scale of the problem before us. To that end, she supports the maximum linkage fee, using the city’s bonding capacity to build high quality, affordable units, and, central to her campaign, rent stabilization measures. Building on her principles of standing up for working people, she believes the City needs a strong tenant’s bill of rights. She also appreciates the way marginalized communities, like LGBTQ folks and people of color, are especially impacted.
Kshama understands the strong connection between housing and transit, and the need to accommodate growth without causing excessive displacement. She understands a successful transit system serves trips beyond rush-hour work commutes. She is as committed to Vision Zero as anyone we talked to, asserting that the City should not tolerate traffic deaths any more than we would accept them in our own life.
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We love that Kshama is unafraid to propose big, urbanist changes, and after 15 Now, we believe she can make them happen.
Michael Maddux is a renter, a bike-commuter, the only openly gay candidate, and a true-blue urbanist. A long-time local activist and organizer, Michael knows how to achieve large policy goals, like establishing the Seattle Park District. His current goals are even more ambitious and just as admirable. He wants to turn parking lots into affordable housing. He wants the elimination of traffic deaths on municipal roads to be the city’s highest priority. He wants to investigate new progressive revenue options, including a capital gains tax on property transfers to target property speculators. He supports a new LGBT community center to address growing community needs, including a spike in hate crimes. He wants to invest in infrastructure, like safer road design and high-capacity transit. And he wants to invest in people, too, by funding apprenticeship programs (like the one at South Seattle College) that can help to give young people a way out of poverty.
Though he’s running for a district seat, Michael rejects parochialism. He wants what’s best for the city, and especially for its most vulnerable residents, regardless of where they live. We heartily endorse that sentiment — and we heartily endorse Michael’s candidacy.
Debora Juarez has spent her life’s work fighting for the little guy. Her experience in the legal field has focused on bringing justice to marginalized groups. She’ll continue in that spirit on the City Council by championing programs that deliver equity.
One way that she plans to do that is through community development policies. She has a vision for the city future where whole communities are built — places that provide for every income and household type, contain all of the amenities needed to live, work, and play, and meet community-wide sustainability goals. Debora also wants to provide opportunity in every sense of the word. She believes that people should have the tools to innovate, learn, and get ahead.
Debora recognizes that her district in particular has serious transportation issues, which in many ways is the result of late annexation to the City. She staunchly supports measures that will create safer streets, provide better facilities for people on foot and bike, and enhance local transit. Debora will fight hard to bring a new light rail station at 130th St.
Debora embodies the best values of her district and will bring a thoughtful and sensible voice to the City Council.
Mike O’Brien understands inclusionary zoning and spearheaded the linkage fee policy, for which he received considerable pushback. He could have limited his efforts to accessory dwelling unit and detached accessory dwelling unit reform but instead committed to solving the real problem: raising revenue to expand access to urban benefits. It is clear he understands the intersection of land use and inequality. He doesn’t gloss over issues with ‘growth is good’ talking points, but rather aims to make growth work for everyone. Mike is chair of the Select Committee on Housing Affordability and has actively implemented Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) advisory committee proposals, recently introducing legislation with Mayor Murray, to deliver 6,000 affordable homes through a commercial linkage fee and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing for new multifamily developments. As chair of the Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee, Mike has shown a dedication to keep growth equitable and circumvent reactive opposition by community members.
On transportation issues, Mike is equally strong. He’s been a strong advocate on the Sound Transit Board, supporting transit oriented development and equity. But more importantly, as a person who bikes, he understands the urgency of walking and biking issues.
The city that The Urbanist wants in the future is the city that Mike O’Brien is working to shape. His knowledge, experience, strategy, and tone are invaluable.
Sally Bagshaw represents both the ultra-dense urban living of downtown and the car dependent single-family neighborhood of Magnolia, giving her a moderated vision of urbanism. As a bike commuter, she depends on protected bike lanes for her commute, noting how much time the new 2nd Avenue lanes save her. She’s the local representative for Seattle’s “Downtown interests,” but displayed a willingness to push back where she anticipated backlash — pointing, for example, to the positive impacts bike lanes have on nearby businesses.
On growth, she noted there’s “no silver bullet, but there is a silver buckshot,” including a range of social investments from pre-K to nursing services for new parents. Sally fought for and won the right for 20 mph speed limits on city streets — a crucial component for our Vision Zero plan. With an eye towards equity, she wants to create a one-stop shop for low-income programs from the ORCA low-income fare to Seattle City Light’s utility discount. Paired with her recent votes against a series of anti-density amendments on low-rise development, she’s shown herself to be a vote we can count on.
Tim Burgess has been a leading voice on the City Council since he was first elected in 2008. He led the way on the voter-approved pre-K education initiative and currently serves as City Council President. His diverse job history, including stints as a journalist and detective for the Seattle Police Department, has given him a grounded and moderate perspective on city politics. Throughout his tenure on Council, he has supported numerous urbanist policies, including: two recent tenant protections policies giving renters 90 days notice before eviction, a remodeled employee head tax to lessen congestion, a business development incentive for local small music venues, and the HALA “Grand Bargain.”
Tim is a strong supporter of density, upzones, and progressive taxation. He’s shown an authentic willingness to reconsider past policies — from the employee hours tax to micro housing. Tim is a leader, he shares our values, and he will continue to be a voice for our issues on the City Council.
Lorena González is a tried and true leader with life and work experience that will provide wisdom and a needed perspective to the City Council. Raised as a migrant farmworker in the Yakima Valley, she worked her way through college to become a civil rights attorney, President Emeritus of OneAmerica, and President of the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington. She displays an understanding of and dedication to social justice principles and has a pragmatic eye for how to implement those principles city-wide.
Lorena will be an aggressive advocate in obtaining state and federal funds to build more low-income housing while searching for progressive and reliable revenue tools to ensure the City can fund its priorities. She supports mandatory inclusionary zoning, transit-oriented development, tenant protections, and accessory dwelling units. She believes that the City should aspire towards Vision Zero and challenges the primacy given to neighborhood aesthetics at the cost of greater housing.
She’s as comfortable in the weeds of wonky policy as she is giving a 30,000-foot values-based analysis of her political priorities. She’s a fighter, a tested and proven advocate, and a grade-A urbanist.
Initiative 122, also known as Honest Elections, is a thorough and pragmatic attempt to limit wealthy influence in Seattle elections and amplify the influence of individual citizens. The initiative would trigger a number of changes like prohibiting politicians from lobbying the City shortly after leaving office and preventing donations to elected officials from businesses that win City contracts.
Honest Elections goes further than most election reform laws. The signature change is a policy called Democracy Vouchers. This portion of the initiative would provide a $100 in vouchers to every voter in the city. The vouchers can be given to any candidates they choose, allowing individual citizens (including people who don’t have money to spend on politics) to become more engaged in the political process. Further, even if a small number of citizens used their vouchers, it will reduce the marginal benefit of money from special interests, likely reducing the incentive for special interests to spend enormous sums on elections.
You can read a more detailed take on the proposal from the Sightline Institute, including their entire coverage, addressing inaccurate criticisms and additional benefits. Overall, this initiative has the potential to spark a change in the way elections are managed across the country. Seattle would be the first city to enact Democracy Vouchers. A small increase in property taxes could transform elections.
We encourage a “yes” vote on Honest Elections initiative.
Transportation Levy to Move Seattle (Proposition 1): Vote Yes
The Levy to Move Seattle is a $930 million, nine-year measure to fund essential transportation investments across our city. As our city grows, our infrastructure must keep up.
The measure funds a host of new transit choices, including seven RapidRide+ corridor projects and improved light rail connections, like a new stop at Graham St in Southeast Seattle. It offers more options for people who bike and walk. Over 50 miles of protected bike lanes, 60 miles of Neighborhood Greenways, new Safe Routes to Schools, and a pedestrian bridge across I-5 at Northgate will be funded by the package. It also addresses our growing maintenance backlog by repairing 225 blocks of sidewalks and seismically reinforcing vulnerable infrastructure including 16 bridges — to name just a handful of projects.
Some naysayers have decried the price tag and raised concerns about accountability. We say those concerns don’t match the facts. To start, this levy represents a mere $12 per month increase for the average homeowner. The real cost comes from hours spent sitting in traffic and lives lost due to unreliable infrastructure and unsafe intersections, which this measure will mitigate. But even if the price tag is large, we believe big problems require big solutions. Regarding accountability, City’s transportation department has a track record of over-delivering. The Bridging the Gap Levy, which this measure would replace, met or exceeded nearly every goal, including: 48 new Safe Routes to School (goal of 30), six bridges replaced or rehabilitated (goal of three to five), 90,000 replaced street/regulatory signs (goal of 50,000), and 50,000 hours of new Metro service (goal of 45,000). Paired with an oversight committee and annual reporting metrics, we have every reason to believe this measure will be another success.
Passing this levy is essential to keep our city moving. Vote “yes.”
Best Starts for Kids (Proposition 1): Vote Yes
On the King County ballot, Best Starts for Kids (Proposition 1) is one of the first initiatives of its kind in the nation to comprehensively address early childhood development. The proposition will fund early intervention and prevention programs to improve health and well-being outcomes.
Although much of King County is prosperous, geographic inequalities including higher incidences of poverty and infant mortality impact child development. Best Starts for Kids is informed by evidence that brain development is most critical from ages 0 to 3, with early intervention being the most effective and economical approach for addressing serious health and social problems. Proposition 1 is critical for enhancing educational, social and economic opportunities for children regardless of geographical location or socio-economic background. Presently, 75% of King County’s General Fund is dedicated to the criminal justice system to deal with the negative outcomes of mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration and homelessness, through law enforcement, courts and jails. This proposition aims to focus investment on preventing these negative outcomes and reduce the costs and consequences of treating people later in life.
To boost services to support the cognitive, emotional and social development of children, King County is asking for $65 million per year, funded through a property levy of 14 cents per $1,000 assessed value, over six years. The levy would support a range of health and educational programs, particularly for children under 5, including nurse home visits for new parents and babies, prenatal support, mental health and developmental screenings. Funds would also be directed to prevention of child and youth depression, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and homelessness. Place-focused interventions include increasing access to healthy and affordable food, and expanding economic opportunities and affordable housing.
We recommend a “yes” vote for Best Starts for Kids.
Community Transit Now (Proposition 1): Vote Yes
Community Transit service before and after. (Community Transit)
Transit in Snohomish County could be radically transformed for first time in nearly a decade if voters approve Proposition 1. The measure is slated to increase transit funding by 25% and transit service by roughly 100,000 hours annually, all for a new 0.3% sales tax. Proposition 1 is built upon two fundamental pillars: making existing transit services better and creating brand new service where there is strong demand. Community Transit has always been a good steward of taxpayer resources and made tough choices during the economic crisis by eliminating over 37% of service. Since then, the agency has made targeted investments through fleet upgrades, improved route efficiency and reliability, and increased service by more than 47,000 hours — with another 21,000 hours programmed for addition — all without asking for more funding.
Proposition 1 will deliver immediate and longer-term investments that increase daily trip frequencies–particularly during midday and evening hours — across the local bus network, restore more Saturday, Sunday, and holiday service, introduce late night service, and boost service on in-demand commuter routes to Downtown Seattle and the University District. Wasting no time in implementing enhanced transit improvements, the first round of changes would begin in early 2016 with continued service expansion at least through 2018. But the good news doesn’t stop there.
Community Transit will introduce brand new routes, too. Building upon the massive success of Swift, a bus rapid transit service, at least two new corridors will receive similar high quality service treatments. The first new Swift line is planned from Paine Field to Bothell via Mill Creek; three other corridors are contenders for the other new Swift line. High on the list for new local bus service is a Marysville-to-McCollum Park route, which will roughly follow SR-9 and SR-96 to offer more neighborhood-to-neighborhood connections in suburban communities. Community Transit will also invest heavily in the popular vanpool program that provides alternative access for commuters and commit to even better DART service for those with accessibility challenges.
Proposition 1 investments will undoubtedly position Snohomish County on a stronger social, environmental, and economic footing by allowing people to get to work, school, and other places, often without ever having to use a car. We recognize that transit is imperative to creating healthier, walkable, and sustainable communities. We give our strongest possible endorsement for this sensible and comprehensive approach to local transit.
Vote “yes” on Proposition 1.
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The Urbanist was founded in 2014 to examine and influence urban policies. We believe cities provide unique opportunities for addressing many of the most challenging social, environmental, and economic problems. We serve as a resource for promoting and disseminating ideas, creating community, increasing political participation, and improving the places we live. The Urbanist's sitting board members and senior editors represent the Editorial Board.
Joe Wolf
Not a reason to vote “no” on Move Seattle, but the $20M dedicated to the Lander Street Overpass project needs to be re-directed to other uses. Either that, or the Overpass project needs to be moved from Lander north to Holgate.
Rationale:
– Lander while an arterial is a “stub”. Holgate connects with the greater city.
– If executed the Lander Overpass project will severely limit both the amount and type of vehicle access possible at Seattle Public Schools’ John Stanford Center. One of the primary functions of the Center – District operations – will no longer be possible, as semi ingress/egress will also not be possible.
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The Urbanist was founded in early 2014 in order to examine and influence urban policies. We believe cities provide unique opportunities for addressing many of the most challenging social, environmental, and economic problems. We serve as a resource for promoting and disseminating ideas, creating community, increasing political participation, and improving the places we live.
Join us each month in Downtown Seattle for a social gathering to talk about urban issues and hear from local thought leaders. | mini_pile | {'original_id': 'b03361d16521c9da553f2b1221d398f7597bf1abb1c8ba81da71bacca8cf9cb1'} |
<div class="leaf "><div class="inner justify"><p>The colonists knew this beautiful wooded coast, since they had already explored it on foot, and yet it again excited their admiration. They coasted along as close in as possible, so as to notice everything, avoiding always the trunks of trees which floated here and there. Several times also they anchored, and Gideon Spilett took photographs of the superb scenery.</p><p>About noon the “Bonadventure” arrived at the mouth of Falls River. Beyond, on the left bank, a few scattered trees appeared, and three miles further even these dwindled into solitary groups among the western spurs of the mountain, whose arid ridge sloped down to the shore.</p><p class=" stretch-last-line ">What a contrast between the northern and southern part of the coast! In proportion as one was woody and fertile so was the other rugged and barren! It might have been designated as one of those iron coasts, as they are called in some countries, and its wild confusion</p></div> </div> | the_stack | {'hexsha': 'a6d0e49011c44b730b18f937a9161b2455e97b44', 'size': '1013', 'ext': 'html', 'lang': 'HTML', 'max_stars_repo_path': 'manuscript/page-874/body.html', 'max_stars_repo_name': 'marvindanig/lile-mysterieuse', 'max_stars_repo_head_hexsha': '447a108315da8789bb7bde9dc43096467a8c0512', 'max_stars_repo_licenses': "['BlueOak-1.0.0', 'MIT']", 'max_stars_count': '', 'max_stars_repo_stars_event_min_datetime': '', 'max_stars_repo_stars_event_max_datetime': '', 'max_issues_repo_path': 'manuscript/page-874/body.html', 'max_issues_repo_name': 'marvindanig/lile-mysterieuse', 'max_issues_repo_head_hexsha': '447a108315da8789bb7bde9dc43096467a8c0512', 'max_issues_repo_licenses': "['BlueOak-1.0.0', 'MIT']", 'max_issues_count': '', 'max_issues_repo_issues_event_min_datetime': '', 'max_issues_repo_issues_event_max_datetime': '', 'max_forks_repo_path': 'manuscript/page-874/body.html', 'max_forks_repo_name': 'marvindanig/lile-mysterieuse', 'max_forks_repo_head_hexsha': '447a108315da8789bb7bde9dc43096467a8c0512', 'max_forks_repo_licenses': "['BlueOak-1.0.0', 'MIT']", 'max_forks_count': '', 'max_forks_repo_forks_event_min_datetime': '', 'max_forks_repo_forks_event_max_datetime': '', 'avg_line_length': '1013.0', 'max_line_length': '1013', 'alphanum_fraction': '0.7867719645', 'original_id': 'c109997485e60e847ec4ff953a78ea2c836d99b07d560d97fd0fafa0cca86f8c'} |
tirsdag 14. juli 2020
US declares 'most' of China's maritime claims in South China Sea illegal
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday announced a formal rejection of "most" of China's maritime claims in the South China Sea, the latest in the escalation between Washington and Beijing.
Describing the move as "strengthening U.S. policy," the top US diplomat asserted that "Beijing's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them."
"The world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire. America stands with our Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law," Pompeo said in a lengthy statement.
Beijing claims almost all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory and over the past several years has built up military fortifications on several islands.
But specific islands and waters in the South China Sea are claimed by several states and islands that surround it, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and self-governing Taiwan. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '37', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9436063766479492}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '272999', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:7BT3NFLVLKYEU3QZE42OE7E3P72W4QQK', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:75727e04-972c-4fc7-87cd-22d1f413fa6e>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2021, 1, 17, 23, 9, 8), 'WARC-IP-Address': '172.217.8.19', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:B264AA3X67MFOJD6K5KAKPX7JWQ3GM3R', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:67529427-4d15-4438-8b1a-190c4deacada>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://blog.kinaforum.com/2020/07/us-declares-most-of-chinas-maritime.html', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:3a49a82f-d2ad-4499-9126-c5e28a88dde0>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '189', 'url': 'http://blog.kinaforum.com/2020/07/us-declares-most-of-chinas-maritime.html', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2021-04\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for January 2021\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-172.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.17 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.2-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.09752994775772095', 'original_id': '32d2c3555bc14d0e8a6361e547ee6f1ffea1010bede43bde77d2246d2132e198'} |
Sponsored by
Texomans Weigh in on CVS's Anti-Tobacco Stance
Starting in October, you won't find any tobacco products at a chain of national pharmacy stores. That's according to an announcement made by CVS Caremark today.
The statistics about the dangers of tobacco have been well known for decades.
Lou Kreidler, director of health for the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District, says, "Each year in the United States, over 440,000 people die of tobacco-related illnesses whether that's cancer, some type of related cancer, or it's lung disease or it's heart disease."
That's something Texoma resident Glenn White knows all too well.
"I had a sister that probably died because she smoked," White says. "She had lung cancer then it went up into her brain and it killed her."
Even so, he says he doesn't necessarily agree with CVS's decision to pull tobacco products from their shelves.
"If they want to lose that revenue, that's up to them, but people are still going to be buying cigarettes somewhere," White says. "I see it as a legal product and they have the right to do it."
"Smoking and tobacco products effect every organ in your body," Kreidler says.
"I don't smoke, so I don't really care what CVS does," Glenn White, a Wichita Falls resident, says.
But it's a decision that's being praised by health officials.
"I think it's an exciting day for public health when a company recognizes that as a healthcare company, as a pharmacy where they're selling healthcare products and they're promoting good health that it's incongruent with their mission to be selling tobacco products, which we know has detrimental health effects," Kreidler says.
Company officials say their more than 7600 stores will stop selling tobacco products by October 1.
CVS officials say they made the decision to support the health and well-being of their customers.
They also plan to launch an anti-smoking campaign in the coming months.
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Poll sponsored by | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '2', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9817298650741576}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '61855', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:DAWFNEPOSZHIWPEITUWXP7QW6XIZ26IR', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:ccdff394-33e9-49a5-b3e9-679273c48779>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2014, 3, 11, 20, 35, 36), 'WARC-IP-Address': '174.35.22.35', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:QMUTMCON23AX7XPSPJ54EKDHZ4NNN23C', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:f9d26a45-4a96-48e8-9dfc-761fd18ccea5>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.texomashomepage.com/story/d/story/texomans-weigh-in-on-cvss-anti-tobacco-stance/25929/4-M4ebQP6UmcQOworVvByw', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:e369ec18-dda3-4d08-ab0b-71576c2fb129>', 'WARC-Truncated': 'length'}", 'previous_word_count': '322', 'url': 'http://www.texomashomepage.com/story/d/story/texomans-weigh-in-on-cvss-anti-tobacco-stance/25929/4-M4ebQP6UmcQOworVvByw', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2014-10\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for March 2014\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.08142423629760742', 'original_id': '225a30fb95af7bbedf9d265f639bbfa9138776c032f1214ec1f4c36e9d2c9539'} |
Best and Worst Places to Be a Mom
May 6, 2010 -- It will be a very happy Mother's Day for moms in Norway,
Australia, Iceland, and Sweden this Sunday, as a new survey ranks these
countries as the best places to be a mom.
The Save the Children Mother's Index compared the health and well-being of
mothers and children in 160 countries. The rankings are based on the health,
educational, and economic status of moms and their kids.
The worst place to be a mom? Afghanistan, where health professionals are
present at fewer than 15% of births, and one in eight women die of pregnancy or
child-birth-related issues.
The U.S. ranked No. 28 in the survey. The rate of maternal mortality in the
U.S. (one in 4,800), as well as the country's less generous maternity
leave policies, were responsible for the low ranking.
A U.S. woman is more than five times more likely to die from
pregnancy-related causes than a woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, or
Italy, and 10 times more likely than a woman in Ireland, the survey finds.
The U.S. also scored poorly on the mortality rate of children under age 5. In
the U.S., eight of 1,000 children die before reaching age 5, the survey
shows.
"While the situation in the United States needs to improve, mothers in the
developing world are facing far greater risks to their own health and that of
their children," said Mary Beth Powers, the chief of Save the Children's
Newborn and Child Survival Campaign, in a news release. "The shortage of
skilled birth attendants and challenges in accessing birth control means that
women in countries at the bottom of the list face the most pregnancies and the
most risky birth situations, resulting in newborn and maternal deaths." | mini_pile | {'original_id': '1cc384c933c13f75b75c4121ea819f4219c5bd04351a5731182c110a9b04c45d'} |
Q:
Mono System.IO.Ports SerialPort class error handling
I am debugging some mono code that is using the serial port.
At some point the mono write a table with the following code :
// Send the 1024 byte (256 word) CRC table
progressBar = new ProgressBar();
progressBar.Update(0.0,"Sending CRC table...");
for (int i = 0; i < MyCRC.Length; i++)
{
MySP.Write(MyCRC[i].ToString("x8"));
progressBar.Percent = (((Double)(i+1))/MyCRC.Length);
}
progressBar.Update(100.0,"CRC table sent.");
MySP is a SerialPort instance.
When I trace this code using strace however, here is what I think are the resulting system calls :
16620 write(3, "3ab551ce", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\0003ab551c", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\0\0003ab551", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\0\0\0003ab55", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\10\0\0\0003ab5", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\0\10\0\0\0003ab", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
...
16620 write(3, "\0005\0\230O+\10\0", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "E\0005\0\230O+\10", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\0E\0005\0\230O+", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\0\0E\0005\0\230O", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "\0\0\0E\0005\0\230", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
16620 write(3, "4\0\0\0E\0005\0", 8) = 8
16620 write(3, "\230O+\10\0\0\0\0", 8) = 8
16620 write(3, "\0\0\0\0\10\0\0\0", 8) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
My understanding is that the SerialPort Write method dos not handle the -EAGAIN case correctly and updates the index by -1 before restarting the write. because after each try, the content of the original buffer is shifted by one byte.
My question is, is it a known problem, and how can I modify the SerialPort class so that it behaves correctly or use the serial port in a blocking way ?
The Mono documentation for the SerialPort class is not very helpful
Additional Info : mono -V output:
Mono JIT compiler version 1.2.6 (tarball)
Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Novell, Inc and Contributors. www.mono-project.com
TLS: __thread
GC: Included Boehm (with typed GC)
SIGSEGV: altstack
Notifications: epoll
Architecture: x86
Disabled: none
A:
Consider upgrading to a newer version.
The bug was fixed here.
| mini_pile | {'original_id': 'a6fe76b26ac0fb970fad475cad058445319fcfd71a527c021f645777c7c1f74b'} |
Sock-a-Bye Baby is the sixty-sixth Columbia Pictures short subject starring the Three Stooges.
The Stooges awake in the middle of the night to a crying baby left on their doorstep. A letter from the despondent mother (Julie Gibson) states that baby Jimmie (Joyce Gardner) has been abandoned. The Stooges react by taking the little guy in, feeding him, and trying their best to act fatherly.
When the mother and two motorcycle cops come to reclaim the baby the Stooges evacuate their home quickly, with Jimmie in tow; unbeknownst to the stooges Jimmie crawled into the back seat of their car. The police on their motorcycles track them down and the baby is returned to the parents who, the father being one of the cops, reconcile. The Stooges, meanwhile, make a conspicuous escape by skittering away hidden in large haystacks.
• Filming for Sock-a-Bye Baby commenced between April 28 and May 1, 1942.
• The film title is a parody of the lullaby "Rock-a-bye Baby". | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9340189099311828}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '173015', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:HVT7BB5YJDT3C23YEMMVD2R5TSXESUPD', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:dab6166f-a519-4684-80b9-a62537716920>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2018, 11, 21, 20, 11, 37), 'WARC-IP-Address': '151.101.64.194', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:RAB5HXAKP7R357ENO25SUCHJPNBU6CXS', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:af44cbfd-b469-4bb4-b64a-1a2593d2e870>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://stooges.wikia.com/wiki/Sock-a-Bye_Baby', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:23761e7f-c681-4386-b403-7cbd7e6c89b5>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '164', 'url': 'http://stooges.wikia.com/wiki/Sock-a-Bye_Baby', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2018-47\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for November 2018\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-5-198-138.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 0.11-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.02917391061782837', 'original_id': 'cc79e8592e1eeb0d6941b055cb8c7a6c87aeb87ddd72e14779e39055a4eff750'} |
Malocclusion and oral health-related quality of life in Brazilian school children.
To test the hypothesis that malocclusion and its impact on quality of life has no effect on 8- to 10-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren as measured by an oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) instrument. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a population-based sample of 1204 8- to 10-year-old children attending elementary schools in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Dental examinations were carried out by two calibrated examiners. OHRQoL was assessed using the Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire. The Dental Aesthetic Index was used for the clinical assessment of malocclusion. Dental caries and socioeconomic factors were used as controlling variables. Bivariate analysis involved the chi-square test and the Fisher exact test. A Poisson regression model was employed for the multivariate analysis (P < .05). Anterior segment spacing and anterior mandibular overjet were significantly associated with impact on OHRQoL (P < .05). Schoolchildren with malocclusion were 1.30-fold (95% CI: 1.15-1.46; P < 0.001) more likely to experience a negative impact on OHRQoL than those without malocclusion. Children belonging to families with an income less than or equal to two times the minimum wage were 1.59-fold (95% CI: 1.35-1.88; P < 0.001) more likely to experience a negative impact on OHRQoL than those belonging to families with the highest income. Schoolchildren with malocclusion from lower-income families experience a greater negative impact on OHRQoL. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '83b6f588053cbfd5de0af7fc0d7e4605ba37795fc545bdd7ebfccc98c0ee1e9d'} |
Chapter One
His name is Bill.
You’d probably walk right past him in the street, like all the other people you walk by.
And after reading his story you’d probably do it all over again, but maybe, just for a second, you’d notice him, before more important matters swept your mind away.
But that’s not likely to happen, as Bill has no time for cities, towns, streets or anywhere people have scratched up the warm earth and covered it in concrete and tar seal. Nor would you if you’d seen a kārearea plummet from the sky and turn a kereru into a cloud of feathers that only the breeze could steal away. No, he would no more give up his world of kokako, crystal clear streams and the freedom of the ngahere then a billionaire would give up his mansion for a jail cell.
But there was a time when he was just like the rest of us, busy, always busy, and not really knowing why. His life was filled with bills and worry, deadlines and unpleasantness, and occasionally, just very occasionally he would try and imagine his life being different, but he couldn’t.
This story is about how it happened. If you like powerful endings and good plots then I wouldn’t bother reading any further, this is just a very simple tale about a man who stopped.
Bill was born in a little place called New Lynn (it’s not so little anymore). He had brothers and sisters, parents who did their best, and when he was older he went to school, that’s what kids do.
Life was reasonably straight forward, a bit like a story until his granddad died. He was 12 years old when it happened, and he didn’t like the story he was in anymore and wanted to be in one where his granddad didn’t die. Kids are silly like that.
Watching his dad and uncles throw the last few clods of earth on his Granddads grave was a big turning point in Bill’s life. As they walked back to the car a sadness came over him that decided to stay.
The best day of his life was when he packed up his schoolbooks for the very last time and walked out of the school gates into a world full of promise. That night as he sat at the family table, his dad winked at him as he passed the mashed potatoes. ‘You’ve got the world at your feet now Bill. Your first day on the job tomorrow, I’m proud of you son.’
Bill felt all grown up and liked the feeling. But it didn’t last long.
The mill was a dirty, noisy place. They put him out in the yard to stack timber to see how he would go. His hands stung, back ached and when the smoko bell went, he felt like crying but ate his sandwiches instead. It was the longest day of his life, and when the knock off siren finally sounded he fled the place, vowing never to come back. But when his dad passed the peas and winked at him that night, Bill changed his mind.
He listened to the older blokes as they chatted in the smoko room and could tell they didn’t like being at the mill either, but like him, they kept coming back, they’d just been doing it for longer. When he stood in line that Friday to pick up his pay packet he worked out why they kept coming back. The brown envelope felt good in your hands.
Eager to forget the week just gone and desperate to not think about the Monday to come, most of the older blokes went to the pub. Bill shot into town and put a down payment on a car he liked. He needed it to get to work, and he felt like a million dollars when he drove out of the car yard.
When he filled it up on Monday, it gave him a bit of a shock. He did the maths as he drove to work and it gave him a sinking feeling. He’d need to stack a few more packets of timber each week so he could meet his car payments, board and fuel.
When the knock off whistle went that night, he stayed on to stack timber. By the time he found a forklift driver and filleted a packet of 6×1’s there wasn’t enough light left to go for a rabbit hunt.
He met the foreman in the carpark.
‘You got insurance for your car?’
‘Not even third party?’
‘Your mad!’
As he drove home that night he decided to get some organised. He’d need to work a bit harder to pay for it.
Billed slammed the car door when he got home. He’d never done that before.
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| dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '1', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9868211150169371}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '20478', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:5XIM4GIROH7NMTMEE6BMNQYTAFYIFPG7', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:a3826d4a-6ce5-4c31-848d-7607a63c14c5>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2021, 9, 21, 18, 1, 18), 'WARC-IP-Address': '159.89.41.218', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:534QRWDOXDWNDPORURXBQCCG57EOVSWD', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:4017c445-26bf-4780-bdd7-6aeb216c78bd>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://gonebush.org/stories/tales-from-the-bush/bill/chapter-one/', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:8ab0d992-ce00-421d-8bcd-a1aadb102ce3>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '819', 'url': 'https://gonebush.org/stories/tales-from-the-bush/bill/chapter-one/', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2021-39\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for September 2021\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-130\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.18 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.2-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: https://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.062473297119140625', 'original_id': '0839a4a2c8df221ed745ac428b526b84b0c7c15599cc89cce2c559e1363550f0'} |
Q:
Why does pow(n,2) return 24 when n=5, with my compiler and OS?
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <math.h>
int main()
{
int n,i,ele;
n=5;
ele=pow(n,2);
printf("%d",ele);
return 0;
}
The output is 24.
I'm using GNU/GCC in Code::Blocks.
What is happening?
I know the pow function returns a double , but 25 fits an int type so why does this code print a 24 instead of a 25? If n=4; n=6; n=3; n=2; the code works, but with the five it doesn't.
A:
Here is what may be happening here. You should be able to confirm this by looking at your compiler's implementation of the pow function:
Assuming you have the correct #include's, (all the previous answers and comments about this are correct -- don't take the #include files for granted), the prototype for the standard pow function is this:
double pow(double, double);
and you're calling pow like this:
pow(5,2);
The pow function goes through an algorithm (probably using logarithms), thus uses floating point functions and values to compute the power value.
The pow function does not go through a naive "multiply the value of x a total of n times", since it has to also compute pow using fractional exponents, and you can't compute fractional powers that way.
So more than likely, the computation of pow using the parameters 5 and 2 resulted in a slight rounding error. When you assigned to an int, you truncated the fractional value, thus yielding 24.
If you are using integers, you might as well write your own "intpow" or similar function that simply multiplies the value the requisite number of times. The benefits of this are:
You won't get into the situation where you may get subtle rounding errors using pow.
Your intpow function will more than likely run faster than an equivalent call to pow.
| mini_pile | {'original_id': '830ef47b2af37b9e570bd698b1723e887f9bf5371d5011e8f36eb97ee2b545eb'} |
I had to link this today. I'm really looking forward to Gods and Heroes. I think that this is a pretty good summation of the game
The surprising things these days is what little is actually surprising in most new MMOs. I suppose that's the case with a lot of different types and genres of games at this point. Innovation is hard to come by. Companies are less willing to splurge and try new things. But while much of Gods & Heroes isn't completely surprising there's plenty of little innovations and evolutions to go around that could turn this into an MMO to watch with features that players can appreciate for different reasons than the normal massively multiplayer game. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '154693b133efa8cf19553a937e915c0f5441f42244db6f0963f27691b56a78ca'} |
Poached Egg Avocado on Meat Pattie Roasted Garlic Tomatoes and Rocket Salad
pattie-poached-egg-webLamb patties with poached eggs, garlic roasted cherry tomatoes, rocket (arugula) and Parmesan cheese. A yummy and healthy brunch for any time of the year.
400g (1lb) grass fed (ground) lamb, beef or pork mince
2 slices streaky bacon, diced fine
½ brown onion chopped finely
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 Gluten Free cup bread crumbs
1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
3 tbsp grated carrot
1 tbsp fresh chopped basil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
100g (3oz) tasty cheddar cheese, grated finely (leave out for DF)
6 free range large eggs
3 avocados halved and sliced into thin strips
200g (6oz) sweet cherry tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (leave out for DF)
Make the patties as per the recipe at this link. This can be done the day before and rested, covered overnight in your fridge. This is great to so as the herbs and seasoning’s have a chance to impart their flavour to the meat.
Pre-heat oven to 175C (350F)
Heat your bbq grill to medium high and cook the patties straight from the fridge for about 3 minutes each side, turning once. Place on a tray on the bottom rack of your oven to finish cooking and keep warm.
I time it so they go in the oven for the last ten minutes of the tomatoes cooking.
For the tomatoes toss together cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Roast in a pre-heated 175C (350F) degree oven for about 20 minutes and take the tomatoes out when the skins have just started to break open.
Once they are ready turn the oven off, sprinkle the tomatoes with the cheese, cover with foil and rest while the eggs are poaching.
Poached Eggs
Make sure the eggs are at room temperature and break each egg into small bowls (cups or ramekins)
In a large pot heat some salted water, about 75mm deep (3in) to a point where its just about boiling and then reduce the heat to a very low simmer with only small bubbles raising from the base. I put a small amount of white vinegar in the water to set the egg whites and hold the egg together while its cooking.
Hold each bowl with an egg in it close to surface of the low simmering water and one at a time gently let the eggs slide into the water. Do not stir the water at any stage.
Cook the eggs for 3-5 minutes and remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towels. The whites should be set and the yolk thickened with a warm center.
Serve with a warm pattie with an egg placed on top, some roasted tomatoes, ½ a sliced avocado and some rocket (arugula) on the side. I drizzle some olive or avocado oil over the greens. Season lightly with salt and pepper and if you like a squeeze of lemon juice over the avocado and greens. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.8667951822280884}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '44777', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:4OKQENATBKGQHMJSGQMPOIDHKFK4TBMH', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:e32d8d70-bb84-4134-b1b2-10bec063fbcc>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 1, 20, 1, 50, 56), 'WARC-IP-Address': '103.49.205.15', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'application/xhtml+xml', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:Z6KOSKWASYTNCGYP36NPPSAAR6QFVFLT', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:01f0e509-a546-4915-8dff-9e5364da5972>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.tasteofhome.co.nz/poached-egg-avocado-on-meat-pattie-roasted-garlic-tomatoes-and-rocket-salad/', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:95912540-f828-49e7-8173-4aa4f2d175bb>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '501', 'url': 'http://www.tasteofhome.co.nz/poached-egg-avocado-on-meat-pattie-roasted-garlic-tomatoes-and-rocket-salad/', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-04\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for January 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-145-104-113.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 0.11-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.030606210231781006', 'original_id': '032c12003ffa55e6906c770299e328cbecda887815a02607c925b7c082e9e1d2'} |
Q:
How to count the number of a given VALUE(!) in a C++ map?
I do have a cpp class in an otherwise iOS/ObjC project. It uses the following map:
std::map <std::string, int> testMap;
I do know that I can "count" the number of appearances of a given key in that map via testMap.count. But how do I count the number of appearances of a given value in that map?
e.g. suppose to have the following map:
<Anna, 5>
<Brian, 4>
<Cesar, 4>
<Danny, 3>
--> So if I look for the number of value "4" the function should return 2, for values "5" and "3" respectively it should return 1 for each, otherwise 0...
Thanks in advance!
A:
The easiest way is probably to use std::count_if with an appropriate lambda:
int value = 4; // or something else
std::count_if(std::begin(testMap),
std::end (testMap),
[value](std::pair<std::string, int> const &p) {
return p.second == value;
});
This simply walks through the map and counts all elements that fit the predicate.
| mini_pile | {'original_id': '12c014dc64aa99a10fdd0388fbab8c898a3d8ec5953e17630b83828e61c428d6'} |
- [Vagrant integration](#vagrant-integration)
- [Vagrant commands](#vagrant-commands)
- [Vagrant directory structure](#vagrant-directory-structure)
- [Customisations](#customisations)
- [Editing config.yaml](#editing-configyaml)
## Vagrant integration
This `control-repo` contains different customisable `Vagrant` environments that can be used for different purposes:
- Virtual machines with different OS where to test our Puppet code before committing it
- VMs to use in automated CI pipelines
- VMS to use by application developers configured via Pupept and aligned to prod servers
This `control-repo` is by default shipped as **self contained**:
- It provides all the `Puppet code` and data needed to provision different roles.
- It manages nodes classification with a nodeless, `Hiera driven`, approach based on the companion [psick module](https://github.com/example42/puppet-psick).
- It doesn't use [exported resources](https://puppet.com/docs/puppet/latest/lang_exported.html) (at least in common roles) or any other data provided by `PuppetDB`
- It doesn't rely on an `External Node Classifier` (ENC) for nodes classification
Being self contained the catalog for each node can be compiled locally via ```Puppet apply```, and this is the same method used, by default, in most of the provided `Vagrant` environments.
### Vagrant commands
We can use normal ```vagrant commands``` by moving in the relevant environment (where a `Vagrantfile` is placed) under the ```vagrant/environments/``` directory.
Here we can see a multi VM `Vagrantfile` and its ```config.yaml``` file.
This configuration file provides a quite flexible way to customize the nodes we want to see with our ```vagrant status``` (*Only this feature would deserve a dedicated Project*). Read below for more details on how to work with it.
Basic ```vagrant``` commands (here used a sample VM called ```centos7.ostest.psick.io```):
cd vagrant/environments/ostest
vagrant status
vagrant up centos7.ostest.psick.io
If we change our `Puppet` manifests or data in the `control-repo` we can immediately test their effect:
To provision `Puppet` using our current local copy of the `control-repo:`
vagrant provision centos7.ostest.psick.io
To do the same from the local vm:
vagrant ssh centos7.ostest.psick.io
vm $ sudo su -
vm # /etc/puppetlabs/code/environments/production/bin/papply.sh
If we want to use a `Puppet Server` for `Puppet` provisioning on the VM:
vm # puppet agent -t
Note that by default a ```puppet apply``` is used and so it can work on the local `control-repo` files (mounted on the `Vagrant VM`). If we use a `Puppet Server` which is not in our `Vagrant` environment we will test the code present on the `Puppet Server` itself.
### vagrant directory structure
All the vagrant integration is under the ```vagrant``` directory (*). Here we find the following files:
- `Vagrantfile` a common Vagrantfile, shared by all the different vagrant environments, which parses the environments' `config.yaml` and creates a multivm Vagrant setup
- `bin/` a directory with various scripts used by provisioners in the Vagrantfile (referred via the relative path `../../bin/` as all the actual vagrant actions are run inside environments dirs)
- `boxes.yaml` a definition of each available boxes and the relevant source. Any of these can be used by nodes defined in the environments' `config.yaml`
- `environments` a directory containining different directories, one of each Vagrant environment which can be used.
(*) The following scripts are OUTSIDE the vagrant directory but might be used in the Vagrantfile (if relevant config options are used), they are referred with the relative path: `../../../bin`:
- `bin/puppet_install.sh` installs Puppet agent on different OS
- `bin/puppet_deploy_controlrepo.sh` runs `r10k deploy environment -v` inside the VM to deploy under /etc/puppetlabs/code/environments/ the control-repo and relevant modules
- `bin/puppet_set_trusted_facts.sh` configures trusted facts on the VM's `/etc/puppetlabs/puppet/csr_attributes.yaml` file
- `bin/puppet_set_external_facts.sh` configures external facts under the VM's `/etc/puppetlabs/facter/facts.d/` dir
The most interesting Vagrant environments are:
- `environments/lab`: This is the lab environment where example42 tests psick Puppet code. Relevant Hiera data is [here](https://github.com/example42/psick-hieradata/blob/production/data/zone/lab.yaml) and in node/role specific files. It's based on a Puppet Enterprise + GitLab setup, where both server and clients live withing the environment. You are not supposed to use it as is, but it's useful as reference.
- `environments/bare`: This is useful to test anything on vanilla boxes. No Puppet agent is automatically installed on these VMs.
- `environments/ostest`: This is useful to test Puppet code on different Operating Systems. Puppet is run in apply mode. Quick test of classes for different OS can be done by changing the [osrole](https://github.com/example42/psick-hieradata/blob/production/data/role/ostest.yaml.sample) role data (you will probably work on your own copy of the hieradata module).
- `environments/foss`: A generic Puppet OSS setup with server and clients.
- `environments/pe`: A generic Puppet PE setup with server and clients.
In each environment directory (like `psick/vagrant/environments/lab`) there are at least the following files:
- `Vagrantfile` a symbolic link to the general shared Vagrantfile in `psick/vagrant/Vagrantfile`
- `config.yaml` the actual configuration file of the environment. Here is possible to define which nodes have to be visible when running `vagrant status` and how they are configured
- `README.md` an environment specific README file with specific notes about the relative Vagrant environment
### Customisations
We can customise the `Vagrant` environments in various ways:
- Remove the ```vagrant/environments/``` directories we don't use or need.
- Add one or more custom environments for different use cases, such as Applications developers stations, Puppet developers stations, semi-permanent test environments, continuous integration environments...
- Customise the ```config.yaml``` file to define size, OS, role, number of each vagrant vm.
- Customise eventually the same `Vagrantfile` for our own needs (not recommended if local control-repo structure is supposed to be aligned to upstream psick).
### Editing config.yaml
The ```config.yaml``` file is used by the local `Vagrantfile` to customise easily the VMs we want to use.
Here we can set the general settings valid for all the VM:
vm:
memory: 512 # Default memory in MB to use for all the VMs (set here a sane common default and override on nodes where needed)
cpu: 1 # Default number of vCPUs for the VMs
box: centos7 # The default Vagrant box to use (from the list under `vagrant/boxes.yaml`)
puppet_apply: true # If to provision with puppet apply executed on the local files
puppet_agent: false # If to provision with puppet agent (you have to take care of setting up your Puppet Master)
facter_external_facts: true # If to create external facts in facts.d/$fact.txt. Note 1
facter_trusted_facts: true # If to create trusted facts in csr_attributes.yaml. Note 1
synced_folder_type: vboxfs # Type of sync folders to use (default vboxfs): nfs, vboxfs
Note 1: You may want to set facts on VMS an use them in your hiera.yaml. Psick by default can set and use the following facts: env, role, zone, datacenter, application.
On the default psick's `manifests/site.pp` trusted facts like $trusted['extensions']['pp_role'] are assigned to top scope variables like $role which are then used in the default
`hiera.yaml`. Check the notes in `manifests/site.pp` for more details and notes on cohexisted of trusted d and external facts.
Manage general network settings:
network:
range: 10.42.45.0/24 # The network to use for VMs internal lan, shared by VMs of the same environment
ip_start_offset: 101 # The starting IP in the above range (if an ip_address is not explicitly set for a VM)
domain: ostest.psick.io # The DNS domain of your VMs
Manage `Puppet` related settings:
puppet:
version: latest # Which version of Puppet to use
env: test # Adds a fact called env to the VM with the given value (if vm.facter_external_facts or vm.facter_trusted_facts are true)
zone: local # Adds a fact called zone to the VM with the given value
role: ostest # Adds a fact called role to the VM. You will probably override this in each node
datacenter: london # Adds a fact called datacenter to eventually use in hiera.yaml
application: website # Adds a fact called application to eventually use in hiera.yaml
install_oss: false # If to install Puppet OSS agent on the VMS
install_pe: true # If to install Puppet Enterprise agent on the VMS (vagrant-pe_build plugin needed)
master_vm: puppet.example.com # Name of the VM which play as Puppet server for the others
master_fqdn: 'puppet.example.com' # FQDN of the Puppet server to use with puppet agent
master_ip: '10.42.43.101' # IP of the Puppet server to use with puppet agent
link_controlrepo: false # Add a link for a Puppet environment to the development control-repo
environment: production # Puppet environment to link to local control-repo
Some settings are specific for Puppet Enterprise (in PE based setup the vagrant-pe_build plugin is needed):
pe_version: '2019.1.0' # Version of PE to install on the puppet server. See Note 2
pe_download_root: 'https://s3.amazonaws.com/pe-builds/released/2019.1.0' # Download base url. See Note 2
pe_verbose: true # If to show PE installation output
pe_relocate_manifests: false # If to relocate manifests and module dir. Probably needed when environment: production
Note 2: when changing the version, change also the download_root unless you have a custom one. For locally downloaded files, for example, you can place something like: `pe_download_root: 'file:///Users/al/Downloads'` but when the upstream URL (on S3) is used then update pe_version and pe_download_root with the same version number.
Some other settings about related to Vagrant behaviour:
vagrant:
hostmanager.enable: true # If to enable hostmanager plugin to automatically update /etc/hosts on VMs and eventually host
hostmanager.manage_host: false # If /etc/hosts is updated automatically also on the host
multi_user: false # If to enable the ability of having different users using psick vagrant environments on the same host (VMs names must be unique on the host, with this setting the user name is added to them)
vm_provider: virtualbox # (Default and only one actually tested). What vagrant provider to use for your VMs. Can be overridden for each node.
docker_image: puppet/puppet-agent-ubuntu # The docker image to use if vm_provider is set to docker. Can be overridden for each node.
Define the nodes list (as shown in ```vagrant status```) for each node is possible to override general settings defined in the vm, puppet, vagrant and network sections:
nodes:
- role: log # Puppet role: log
count: 1 # How many instances of log servers to list
- role: mon # Another node, another role
count: 1
- role: docker_tp_build # Role: docker_tp_build
hostname_base: docker-build # Here the node name is overridden
count: 1
box: ubuntu1404 # Also the Vagrant box to use is different from the default one under vm
- role: puppet # A puppet role for the Puppet Master
count: 1
memory: 4096 # More memory than default for this VM
cpu: 2 # More vCPUS
box: ubuntu1604 # Specific box...
ip_address: 10.42.42.10 # Fixed IP address
puppet_apply: true # Force provisioning via puppet apply
aliases: # Added aliases for Vagrant hostmanager plugin (if used)
The box names which can be used are the ones defined in the common `vagrant/boxes.yaml` file.
| mini_pile | {'original_id': '02d96cbe2477fbfb766601a3e16b04da761f19c7d94c8f4e6d3ea9b1114a0795'} |
Many aspects of Americans' lives work together to influence their opinions on issues such as global warming, animal testing, and sending people to space.
(Photo: Kevin Case/Flickr)
Tell me your age, race, gender, and political leanings, and I'll tell you your likely views on issues such as human-caused global warming, GMO foods, and childhood vaccines. I'm no psychic, but I can play the odds: Americans' opinions about these matters of science and technology align strongly with certain personal characteristics, according to a new survey.
The survey, which comes from analysts at the Pew Research Center, offers a fascinating glimpse into the many aspects of Americans' lives that converge to influence how they think, and perhaps vote, about science issues. The findings belie the common assumption that science is apolitical or acultural; whether or not they should, people's cultural environments play a big role in how they think about science. The Pew study can also act as a tip sheet for those wishing to change others' minds about hot-button topics such as GMO foods and vaccines, because it identifies the topics for which a knowledge of facts really helps—and for what topics it doesn't.
The survey required a representative sample of 2,002 American adults on their landline and cell phones. The scientists performed statistical analyses to tease out which characteristics affected people's views on different issues strongly, independent of other factors.
Here's a short list of some important science questions and the personal characteristics that held the greatest influence over people's opinions on them:
Is global warming real and human-caused? Political party, age.
Should we frack more? Political party, age.
Did humans arise through evolution? Age, religion or church attendance.
Are childhood vaccines safe? Race. Black Americans are more likely than whites to say vaccines are generally safe for kids.
Should sick people have access to experimental drugs before they're fully tested? Age, race. Black Americans are much more likely than Americans of other races to think experimental drugs should not be made available early.
Are genetically modified foods safe to eat? Education or science knowledge.
Is it okay to use animals in research? Age, education or science knowledge, gender.
Is it important for NASA to send humans into space? Gender. Men are more likely to say "yes" to this question, which presents a great argument that astronomers need to work on how welcoming their field seems to women. Win the hearts of women and you'll win a large contingency of voters who affect NASA funding.
It's not encouraging to see that people's opinions on topics such as global warming and vaccines hew with factors like political party and age. The former presents the risk that people may automatically decide on science based on their favorite party, instead of thinking through the issue by themselves. The latter is impossible to change.
In addition, education and knowledge have only a weak effect—if one at all—on people's opinions about whether vaccines are safe for healthy children, or whether America should frack more or drill more for oil offshore. These are arguments proponents must win in other ways.
Still, there's some hope. Having better education and science knowledge appears to strongly alter people's opinions on animal testing, nuclear power plants, and GMO foods. More education and knowledge also affect people's opinions on the need for limits on power plants' emissions, the reality of human-caused climate change, and evolution. That's great because education and knowledge are straightforward—if not always easily obtained—objectives.
As for the rest, scientists, politicians, and activists will just have to get creative. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '8d587c794cb9a903ca41e2db15d518f39c20d81975f69b3b427d153187720c0d'} |
*Director Says 2000 Census Moving Along Smoothly
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Kenneth Prewitt, director, Census Bureau, told reporters at a press conference yesterday in Washington that the Bureau's 2000 Census is moving along smoothly and responses are being returned, despite criticism from citizens and congressman who feel some of the long forms' questions are intrusive.
Currently, 55 percent of the population has returned their Census form -- although the bureau did not break out the statistics between short and long forms.
States setting the pace in census mail responses include Ohio (58 percent), Nebraska, Michigan, Pennsylvania (all at 57 percent), Iowa and Massachusetts (all at 56 percent).
"Although I am very pleased to report these rates, we still have many more responses to go," said Prewitt. He also challenged states, local, and tribal governments to surpass 1990 mail response rates by at least 5 percentage points.
Late last month, many Republicans, including Senate GOP leader Trent Lott (R-MS), began telling households not to answer any questions on their long forms that they believe invades their privacy. In addition, conservative members of Congress said they received hundreds of angry calls from voters who received the long forms. Some stem from fears of government databases soaking up vast amounts of personal information, despite assurances that it will remain confidential. Under federal law, US Census officials are under oath not to divulge individual data obtained in a Census to anyone outside the Census Bureau for any reason, including the IRS, the INS, the FBI or any law enforcement agency.
John Czwartacki, a Lott spokesperson strongly urged people to fill out "the basic census information...but if people feel their privacy is being invaded by those [additional] questions, they can choose not to answer those questions."
However, Lott later said people should return the forms with as much information as they could in good conscience provide.
The 52-question long form is sent to one in six -- or approximately 20 million households -- and the proportion is higher in rural areas. The short form, on the other hand, contains seven questions. Both forms were sent out in March and those households that have not returned forms will be visited by Census enumerators who will begin making the rounds on April 27th, If Americans do not fill out their forms, they can be fined $100.
While the short form data asks basic household information -- such as whether a person owns or rents their home and their age and race -- the long-form includes questions like what their income levels are, what time they leave for work and how many bathrooms they have.
Aggregated data collected on the long-form is purchased by data providers so that they can offer marketers detailed demographic information about US consumers -- or a statistical picture -- in a specific neighborhood. In particular, it can track demographic and housing estimates in small areas such as census tracts and block groups that are difficult to retrieve from any other sources. Direct marketers, for example, oftentimes use Census data because it fills in blanks in large consumer databases form companies such as infoUSA and Experian.
DMers who use and suppliers that sell aggregated data from the Census long form fear that this negative publicity may mean less people will fill out the long form completely -- or may not send it back at all -- therefore causing the Census to be less accurate.
"If long-form respondents leave a lot of questions blank, that will have a detrimental
impact on data quality," said Ken Hodges, director of demography at Claritas Inc., Ithaca, NY, a consumer marketing information firm that uses census data in many of its product and services.
Prewitt, however, is continuing his push for people to send back census forms -- completed or not.
"We would much prefer a Census form with some good information rather than no information. But certainly, this country and the US government would prefer a more complete form.," said Prewitt.
Meanwhile, census bureau officials are proposing a new way to collect data -- essentially a survey taken continuously over the 10-year period -- that could eliminate the long form for the 2010 count.
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Brent tumbles on Iran, Libya; U.S. crude up on spread play
Mar 03, 2015
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brent crude tumbled more than 3 percent on Monday on speculation of a nuclear deal that could boost Iran's oil exports, and U.S. crude rose by around 1 percent as traders bet the gap between the two would narrow.Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said a deal on Iran's nuclear programme could be concluded this week if the United States and other Western countries had sufficient political will and agreed to remove sanctions on Tehran.Iranian oil exports have been restricted by sanctions for several years as the United States and Europe responded to Tehran's nuclea... | mini_pile | {'original_id': '6b2931cf16a86d3bca2507fc1c87881c6d2211d28d0284086c4a8f563fbf7926'} |
Bfactor time: 18min 43s
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Low voter turnout renews interest in IRV
It would probably have been cheaper to buy each candidate a fancy racecar and have them do 300 laps:
By mid-morning Tuesday, 10 people had voted in Tyrell County and 14 in Camden County. The largest precinct in Wake County, the seat of state government, had 23 voters. Tuesday’s runoff will cost N.C. taxpayers at least $6 million.
It cost a hell of a lot more than that; we could end up with Tea Party Tedesco superintending all the schools in the state. Here's more via our pals at NC Policywatch:
North Carolina has had several IRV elections, and three exit polls show voters overwhelmingly preferred it to returning to the polls for a runoff. Unfortunately, the state’s voting equipment currently requires “workarounds” that delay the count. Once North Carolina has optical scan equipment like others have, it would have an IRV tally to share on election night along with other results.
Methinks that $6 million would have been better spent upgrading our machines, especially considering the idiots in the General Assembly refused millions in Federal voting funds.
Comparing runoff turnout to IRV is apples to oranges
While I join in deploring abysmal voter participation rates, I remain unconvinced that IRV is an answer to the turnout question.
If some consider IRV the answer, shouldn't it follow that the IRV turnout rates should be the goal?
I do not consider 43% voter turnout an acceptable goal. 43% was the overall turnout in the Nov 2010 election when IRV was used for a NC Courts of Appeals race.
I do not deny that holding more elections costs more money -- both for election infrastructure and candidates. However, recent NC experience does not indicate that IRV is an answer to increasing turnout.
Did I do that?
I've reread what I wrote several times, and I don't see anything about IRV increasing voter turnout.
My problem is, the turnout for the runoff (compared to the Primary itself) amounts to a handful of voters deciding races that tens of thousands voted on the first time around.
I don't know. It just seems both pointless and expensive.
IRV does not increase turnout
In fact in locations where IRV is used (like San Francisco), turnout is down since the time they started using it.
Turnout in Minneapolis was the lowest in over 100 years when they used IRV in 2009. And the single IRV election in 2009 cost $365K MORE (adjusted for inflation) than the combined cost of the 2005 primary and general elections.
Oh - and voter confusion was way up!
The same thing happened in 2008 and 2010 after the 2nd runoffs. Yet the two times that IRV was used to calculate "winners", it was too complex to count. And there were no majority winners.
Former Wake BOE member and verified voting advocate Debra Goldberg (not the Wake Board of Education member Debra Goldman) wrote how IRV threatened election integrity.
Not really sure how much interest there is in the GA for IRV. There were one or two bills to kill judicial IRV outright, and I think only 5 legislators out of 170 favored it. At least one of them isn't coming back.
Oh - the same old IRV advocates will trot it out and claim it's the greatest thing since sliced white bread. But it could cost upwards of $20 million to implement in NC, and then another $3-4 million a year for additional voter education. That's hardly saving any money. You could have a 2nd primary ever two years and never catch up with the cost of implementing IRV in our state.
Chris Telesca
Wake County Verified Voting
A few more sites a verified voting perspective of IRV
http://statewideirvnc.blogspot.com/ - it has an even catchier title once you get to the page
http://instantrunoff.blogspot.com & http://irvbad4nc.blogspot.com - by Joyce McCloy of NC Verified Voting
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/ - by Marilyn Marks who killed IRV in Aspen CO
http://leastevil.blogspot.com/ - by the Approval Voting folks!
http://repealirv.blogspot.com/ - by the folks who killed IRV in Burlington, VT!
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Voting Behavior under Oakland's Ranked Choice Voting Program which won a Firestone Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Research at Stanford University. I think it has a little more going for it than the usual pro-IRV puffery pushed by FairytaleVote!
Chris Telesca
Wake County Verified Voting
They didn't turn down the HAVA money
They are deliberately de-funding the SBOE as a way to attack election integrity AND suppress the vote in our state.
They not only didn't allocate $660K to the SBOE so we could access that nearly $4 million in matching HAVA funds, they also stole another $100K from the SBOE budget.
At the same time they raised the amount they are funding the NC Symphony from an extra $1.5 million last year to $2 million this year. And all that NC Symphony money comes from raiding a self-insurance fund!
De-funding the SBOE and preventing access to the HAVA money will cause a lot of problems all over the state during the November 2012 general election. We won't be able to hire as many poll workers, provide as much voter education, pay for e-polling books, etc. That and all the other things will cause longer lines of less-educated and informed voters at the polls, and cause some to turn away.
And it will be done selectively as well. The Wake BOE members originally approved up to 30 Early Voting sites over 13 days for as much as $3.2 million. We only got half the money but somehow the BOE staff is setting us up for only 25% of the Early Voting sites originally approved by the BOE members in January - 11 OS sites for 2012 instead of the 15 sites we had in 2008. And half the hours that we had in 2008. And the sites are largely in white suburban areas. The only site serving SE Raleigh was changed from Chavis Park (on 5 different public transit routes) to Roberts Park which has better car access but is not on ANY public transportation routes!
Their alternative is to rely more on Absentee By Mail balloting. We had around 22K ABM ballots in 2008. The Wake BOE is planning on between 50K to 100K ABM ballots. With all the extra added cost and hoops to jump through.
That is textbook voter suppression.
Chris Telesca
Wake County Verified Voting
Suppose they gave an election and nobody came...
What if they held an election and no one showed up?
At four polling places in the state - one each in Guilford, Currituck and Tyrell counties and at Washington GT Magnet Elementary School near downtown Raleigh - no one even showed up to cast a ballot in Tuesday's runoff elections.
Watch the video for the story by Laura Lesilie of WRAL.com, and consider why IRV must be on the table for consideration.
Martha Brock
Did any of you rocket scientist check the precinct voting data?
A Tale of Two Precincts
Washington GT Magnet School is the polling place for precinct 01-25. Do you know where precinct 01-25 is in Wake County? 1000 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh NC 27601
Martha knows where it is - right next to where she lives (or by now used to live) down off South Saunders Street.
The precinct contains 728 voters. Of those, 315 are active voters (43.27%).
47 of those voters cast a vote in the May primary. 14.9% of active voters, and 6.45% of all voters.
34 of those voters were Democrats - and how many of them do you really think cared about the Labor Commissioner race in the 2nd primary?
6 were Republican, and 7 were UNA.
28 voters cast in-person ballots (59.57% of all votes cast). 16 voted Early or Absentee (34%). 2 voted a provisional ballot, and one voted a transfer ballot.
We won't know how many of those folks voted early in the 2nd primary - won't know till the 60 day sort.
How many folks in that precinct voted in the May 2008 primary? 119 - 37% of active voters. But only 3 people voted in the June 2008 3nd primary - also for the NC Labor Commissioner race. 332 voted in the November 2008 race. But that's more than the number of currently active voters in that precinct now.
14 voters voted in the May 2008 primary that didn't vote in the November 2008 race - one person even voted in both the 1st and 2nd primary but didn't vote in November. Think there might be a lot of transient people in that neighborhood? Think also that some freak natural thing (like a tornado) might have touched down and wiped out many houses, forcing people to relocate?
I am Chair of Precinct 01-42 - Millbrook Exchange Club Center. We have 2963 voters registered, with 2748 active. 1520 people voted in the May primary (51.3% of all voters, and 55.31% of active voters). 1194 voted in-person. 323 were Absentee or Early Voting, 2 provisional ballots.
In my precinct for the 2nd primary, 247 people voted in person - with two of those being provisional ballots. That's 8.34% of total voters, and 8.99% of active voters).
13 folks voted early or Absentee. 54 voters were Democrats - with 32 votes for Brooks and 22 for Foster. No overvotes or undervotes. I am the precinct Chair, and my voters get great voter education and they don't cast hardly any under-votes and nearly ZERO over-votes (unless there is an IRV race).
The Republicans had undervotes in every one of the 4 statewide races on their ballots, and one over-vote in the Lt. Governor race. You can draw your own conclusions from that.
What conclusions can you draw from one precinct nearing record turnout for the 2nd runoff while one precinct has ZERO turnout on Election Day? Could other demographics be involved? Like income, education levels, and work/transportation issues? People living on the edge who can't find the time (or a ride) to vote?
So you are going to claim that NC should switch to a little used voting method that no voting machines or software has been tested and certified for use in NC because of what happened in precinct 01-25? How well do you think the
And given those things, do you really think that IRV would have helped wring anymore votes out of 01-25 in the May primary?
Chris Telesca
Wake County Verified Voting
The heat is addling my brain
Here's the title of Rob's diary over at the Pulse:
Dismal runoff numbers show need to make instant runoffs work
And here's mine:
Dismal voter participation renews interest in IRV
Sorry, Rob. I really didn't mean to steal such a dismal word...
Reminds me of a story
I was doing a land navigation course one night, and I had plotted a course to keep me well clear of the Big Muddy Swamp. So, I'm walking along on mostly dry ground, then I stepped into a knee-deep wet hole in the ground. Climbed out, then walked a few more feet before the same thing happened again.
A little curious, I took the red filter off my flashlight and shone it around. I couldn't see a patch of dry ground anywhere. I got out my compass and shot a reverse azimuth to get me the hell out of there, but it didn't work. I sloshed through the sometimes waist-high water and mud for two solid hours, and nothing. With my last little bit of energy, I strung my hammock between two trees and crashed for the night.
When I woke up the next morning, the area all around me was dry ground. I was over a mile away from where the edge of the swamp was supposed to be, according to the map. But here's the thing: The map doesn't take into consideration that the swamp just may be alive, and lonely.
Forgot the Thigpen and McCullough Fiasco already?
IRV is sort of a hydraulic fracturing of ballots. It is complex, non transparent and has unintended consequences. IF you don't like runoff elections, don't have them. Most states do not have them.
How soon do you forget?
With the statewide contest for NC Superior Court, between Thigpen and McCullough, we got the full IRV experience:
1. 48 days after the election, instant runoff voting produced a “winner” for the NC Court of Appeals, for the “Wynn”seat.
2. Thanks to IRV, an experimental tallying method was used,
3. the election was almost a tie,
4. a recount was called for, and
5. we had a plurality result, not a majority win.
Oh and about buying new optical scanners to tally IRV.
Another bad and expensive idea:
USA Today ran an article about those particular scanners, the are called the ES&S DS 200 optical scanner. The Federal Election Assistance Commission found several major problems with those scanners:
• Random screen-freezes that prevent ballots from being fed.
• Failure to log errors in a file that would let election officials know of problems.
• Skewing of ballots as they’re fed into the machine, making votes cast in some parts of the ballot unreadable.
In Ohio, 10% of the machines failed the pre election tests.
There are other problems not mentioned in the USA Today article, but basically what happens is that the machines flat out don’t count all of the votes, due to these malfunctions.
See “Federal agency finds defects in ballot scanners”
By Gregory Korte, USA TODAY Updated 12/23/2011
IRV violates a core principle of elections - KISS - keep it simple....
Why are statewide elections increasing in cost?
In 2008, IRV supporters claimed that a statewide election runoff had costs ranging from $3 to $4 million
In 2010, IRV supporters claimed that a statewide election runoff cost $5 million!
In 2012, IRV supporters claimed that a statewide election runoff cost $7 million - an increase of $2 million over 2010!
Why has the cost of a statewide election more than doubled (a 200% - 230% increase) in cost from 2008 to 2012?
The number of precincts is roughly the same - 6 extra precincts in Wake County from 2008. We have the machines already paid for. Ballot prices have gone down not up as more counties find their own certified printers. Poll workers salaries are roughly the same. State and county BOE employee salaries haven't really gone up that much. Gas prices are even down from 2008. We even have fewer days for Early Voting in 2012 than from 2008 and 2010.
So why a 230% increase in cost?
Chris Telesca
Wake County Verified Voting
Another factor in the low turnout....
...could be the late date of the 2nd runoff.
In 2008 and 2010, the election date was in late June. This year it's three weeks later.
That's due to a change in election law last year - to allow for more time to send ABM ballots to overseas voters and our troops.
So I wonder what the tradeoff is between opening up the democratic process to overseas voters and our troops, but losing more voters at home?
Is the gain of overseas voters and troops worth the lower turnout?
Chris Telesca
Wake County Verified Voting
I'm not aware of very many
aspects of human behavior and culture that can be reduced down to a single correlation or trade-off. In fact, I'm aware of none.
The variables at play are far too numerous and complex to conduct a reasonable analysis. The economy, the candidates themselves, the miasma of negative advertising, the top of the ticket, the bottom of the ticket, the presence of a referendum, local issues, etc., etc. Asking whether X is THE trade-off to compensate for Y is like a guy wondering if he didn't get laid because of bad breath or crappy table manners.
What's clear is that the current system is (1) not cost-effective and more importantly (2) allows important elections to be decided by an otherwise negligibly small number of voters. The system must and will be changed eventually ... it's just a question of "changed to what?"
I believe it would be impossible to argue that IRV suppresses turnout, either in the short term or over the long term. That said, it most assuredly creates confusion among an electorate that often lacks the brains god gave an animal cracker. Simple is better. And IRV is by no means simple.
I like the plurality idea. Or maybe runoffs could be limited to general elections?
I don't know ... just throwing out ideas.
I read most of your links but didn't find any clarity about what to do instead of IRV.
IRV is complicated
I'm sure there's some engineers and actuaries reading this who are thinking, "It's not complicated at all!" But it is.
Frankly, a simple plurality makes more sense to me than anything else.
Mecklenburg Democratic Turnout
These numbers are only for registered Democrats in each precinct. Our range was 0.07% - 1.17%. Countywide it was 0.60%. Only two precincts (out of 195) had more than 50 people vote (early and election day), 33 had less than 10 people vote with one precinct only having one Democrat vote and that was an early vote.
Well most of the links are there to
debunk the idea that IRV is the greatest thing since sliced whitebread. Once those claims are debunked and IRV comes down off the pedestal and is placed alongside of all the other possibilities (such as lowering the threshold for all primaries, or just lower threshold for the congressional and legislative races and go with straight plurality for the statewide races), then we have a fair comparison.
I get incensed when I go down to the Legislature or to a county commission meeting or city/town council meeting and I hear IRV advocates tell them things that A) have already been disproved other places and B) that the elected public leaders end up find out themselves the hard way.
This reminds me of Julie Robison from Cary, who originally voted to allow Cary to participate in the IRV pilot mainly because she was told that IRV ensures a 50% plus one vote majority win. She never actually checked the results of other IRV races to see if that was correct. Julie worked with RTI in the area of governance and elections - so when she saw the IRV sort/stack/tally process in operation, she was shocked! (as witnessed by myself, Perry Woods, Don Hyatt, Don Frantz and Bryan Lerschall). We witnessed so many irregularities during the count. Don Hyatt and myself caught the numbers not adding up that was later blamed on a "calculator error".
Two days later - after a non-public recount of the IRV votes that no candidates or outside observers were notified of - some missing votes popped up. Not enough to change the results - Don Frantz was declared the winner. Out of the original 3022 votes cast in the Cary District B race, a candidate would have needed 1512 votes or better to win outright. No one met or exceeded that threshold, so they had to look at the 2nd and 3rd column votes. But Don Frantz had the higher total at that point. And at no time during the IRV tabulation did that change. But when all the votes were exhausted, Don only had 1401 votes - not quite the 1512 he would have needed to win in the 1st round. In fact had not one single extra vote been cast for either candidate, Don would have still won. One of the many peculiarities of IRV. It's happened in other races a little further down the rankings - which is even harder to understand. 1401 out of 3022 is 46.36% of the 1st column votes.
And the 2010 statewide judicial IRV race wasn't a majority win either. Judicial IRV was implemented because folks felt that a 24% plurality win for the 8-way 2004 NC Supreme Court race wasn't fair or democratic. So they came up with this mandatory judicial IRV scheme in the same bill as the IRV pilot, but then didn't fund a way to implement it for 4 years. So for the 13-way IRV race in 2010, the winner had just a little under 28% after all the confusion and 45-days of tabulation (including 1 recount). So it's worthwhile asking if the extra cost, confusion and delay were worth it. Those questions need to be asked and answered in the debate over IRV.
IRV most certainly does not increase turnout, but the added confusion for voters (having to consider and rank more than one candidate) can and has turned off voters. Turnout in San Francisco is down since they implemented IRV. And turnout for the 2009 Minneapolis RCV race was the lowest in over 100 years. Costs were $365K higher (adjusted for inflation) for that single RCV race than for the 2005 primary and general election. Costs are higher in San Francisco as well. IRV doubled the costs of elections in Peirce County, WA when they implemented it. When you honestly and accurately include all the costs of doing IRV, it's not cheap.
There has never really been a good and thorough study of IRV done by the SBOE or the General Assembly. Other states have done them - Maryland (home of FairyTaleVote) has done three. I got copies of them, and they show that Maryland is a state with similar election administration and issues that we have. It would cost them around $3.50 per registered voter to implement IRV up front, and about $0.50 per registered voter for voter education every year since it would be used for both state and local elections. And based on a study by a San Francisco grand jury, they found that even the $1.87 per registered voter isn't enough to adequately educate voters.
But let's pretend that it is enough. Transferring those costs to the 6 million NC voters, we'd be looking at $21 million to implement and between $3 million and $11.2 million every year to educate voters. Not just the voters that move into the state every year, but even voters who do IRV only once or twice a year. When you make the ballot more complicated, you have to spend more money on voter education.
Even at $24 million for the first year and $3 million every year beyond that - how many statewide runoffs would you have to have every two years at $7 million to break even with IRV costs? And I don't believe that statewide runoffs cost $7 million in 2012 if they only cost $3.5 to $4 million in 2008. Even if the equipment was available (and it's not available), you wouldn't break even after 6 presidential elections.
All these questions need to be answered fully before you make any decisions about IRV. Lots of research is involved. You gotta dive in deep to get many of the answers, and they won't be glaring out at you on any link provided by me or by FairVote.
Chris Telesca
Wake County Verified Voting
Maybe draw straws, cut a deck of cards, or even arm wrestle...
...to resolve a race without using a runoff - it seems to work for a tie.
But here's my big problem even with lowering the threshold. In traditional top-two runoff elections, the 2nd place finisher in the 1st round can flip the election and win in the runoff 33% of the time. Many things can cause that: new information about the candidate; endorsements from the 1st round losers can go to the 2nd place finisher based on deals or negotiations; etc.
With IRV, the top vote getting in the 1st round tends to win the election in the end about 95% of the time or better with very few races actually being a real majority win (of the first round votes). And I've seen some really screwy IRV races where someone doesn't get a single extra vote and yet you have to go through the extra time and expense of counting the next round and the threshold shrinks and - bingo - the guy wins the election without getting a single extra vote!
Look - we have enough trouble getting folks out to vote or even to run for office these days. Do you really want to ask voters to use a voting method that's confusing and they can't follow it without a degree in math, or have a candidate work their asses off in the campaign (hitting up their friends and family for money) and then not be able to explain just why in the HELL they lost?
In the Aspen IRV election the company their Board of Elections had to pay to come in and administer IRV actually programmed the machines to sort backwards. Luckily the test was such a small one that it bothered someone who stayed behind to look at the results - and they caught the problem before the actual election. But even the pros hired to come in and do the counting got it wrong. Why make it so complicated?
Chris Telesca
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Skylanders
The Kaos Trap. Mini but Mighty
When the students arrive at Skylanders Academy without their pilot, Tessa and Carli search for Flynn. Along the way, they rescue an academy student. Will the girls find Flynn? And what does the student have to do with Kaos? | mini_pile | {'original_id': '8e499583f1eb8876fbbb76257678786eb40c7d54b78bc8091edff077ebbdb0c8'} |
Saturday, May 26, 2018
The Insanity.
Sea-Pink - Armeria Maritima
I have just finished reading an article in the news today about 1,500 immigrant children that were taken from their parents and that the US Government has lost track of where they are. The president recently stated that immigrant children “are not so innocent.” And I cried.
When did the insanity begin? I feel as though I am spiraling down a rabbit hole unable to grab hold of the slick, oily sides. I find myself crying more when I think about the children, the children that come through the court system, the children that are left behind, the children that are taken from their parents crossing the US borders escaping for a better life.
I cannot even begin to imagine the fear that many people south of the border live knowing that the journey under darkness with only the clothes on their back, may get them imprisioned, but yet are willing to risk it all to provide a better life for their children.
I cannot fathom the pain the parents go through as they put their children onto trains to start the dangerous journey to cross the border, because if they stay they are forced to join gangs. And then when they finally reach the ‘promised land’ they are handed back to their government and face death from the gangs they refused to join.
When I heard that the GOP recently wanted to cut $23 billion from food assistance programs, I cried. How is that okay? My head is having a really hard time in trying to wrap around the fact that so many in the GOP who profess to be Christians but yet their inhumanity to those in need is far from what Christ preached.
How do people still justify voting for a person who showed his true colors, but was the lesser of two evils? I will read an article and then proceed to yell, rant and cry to both Bear and T and they just wait until I exhaust myself then we discuss, dissect and figure out what we can do to make a change.
I am surrounded by amazing, caring, compassionate people, and I know that I surround myself by people such as this because I was raised in a family who never turned anyone in need away. My Mother always instilled in us to find a little bit of Jesus in everyone. No matter how bad they were. (I have to admit though that I am still struggling to find Jesus in the current president though.)
Last weekend Bear and I went to harvest mussels at the beach and we came across flowers that were growing on the rocks. I was in awe of these beautiful, perfect, pink blooms growing in a less than ideal environment and it made me realize that beauty and hope can bloom from adverse conditions.
And I cried.
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import React from 'react'
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
import { BrowserRouter as Router, Link } from 'react-router-dom'
import Route from 'react-router-dom/Route'
class Content extends React.Component {
render() {
return(
<div>
<Router>
<Route path="/" exact render={ () => {
return(<main>This is my content.</main>);
}
}/>
<Route path="/artists" exact render={ () => {
return(<main>These are my artists.</main>);
}
}/>
<Route path="/shop" exact render={ () => {
return(<main>This is my shop.</main>);
}
}/>
<Route path="/contactus" exact render={ () => {
return(<main>This is my Contact Us section.</main>);
}
}/>
</Router>
</div>
);
}
}
export default Content; | common_corpus | {'identifier': 'https://github.com/MistahWrite/MaccHard.com/blob/master/src/Content.js', 'collection': 'Github Open Source', 'open_type': 'Open Source', 'license': 'CC0-1.0', 'date': '', 'title': 'MaccHard.com', 'creator': 'MistahWrite', 'language': 'JavaScript', 'language_type': 'Code', 'word_count': '93', 'token_count': '246', '__index_level_0__': '50080', 'original_id': '8176b54ab0a8e28ffdc7fb0def7240221d358a4a8fa50a424101293dd3a1f529'} |
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My first Vue app</title>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/vue"></script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="app">
{{ message }}
</div>
<script>
let arrSuppliers = [];
fetch('https://sdkapi.staging.api.onereach.ai/http/19aa45de-1834-419f-95de-95536f3b9940/sub/http/v1/supplier-lists', {
method: 'get',
headers: {
'content-type': 'application/json',
'Authorization': 'Bearer 9d0a1468b95930e0ecc16a586ca395479edf22e133cb6a452a1c0dc3e3a59110f5d8eb78334c66339223302fccbae38d9ecf859c5a3f1fdfeef0f2d32223de37'
},
// body: JSON.stringify(data),
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
data.items.forEach(e => {
console.log(e._source.supplier_name)
});
})
var app = new Vue({
el: '#app',
data: {
message: 'Hello Vue!'
},
todos: [{
text: 'Learn JavaScript'
},
{
text: 'Learn Vue'
},
{
text: 'Build something awesome'
}
]
})
</script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vue@2/dist/vue.js"></script>
</body>
</html> | the_stack | {'hexsha': '8484bf55d432a83f69ad9f4ef6769124140db802', 'size': '1444', 'ext': 'html', 'lang': 'HTML', 'max_stars_repo_path': 'UI/vue-index.html', 'max_stars_repo_name': 'EpicXKillz/angelowebsite', 'max_stars_repo_head_hexsha': '13b124802472a50b032ffc3e837a8517b342489d', 'max_stars_repo_licenses': "['MIT']", 'max_stars_count': '', 'max_stars_repo_stars_event_min_datetime': '', 'max_stars_repo_stars_event_max_datetime': '', 'max_issues_repo_path': 'UI/vue-index.html', 'max_issues_repo_name': 'EpicXKillz/angelowebsite', 'max_issues_repo_head_hexsha': '13b124802472a50b032ffc3e837a8517b342489d', 'max_issues_repo_licenses': "['MIT']", 'max_issues_count': '', 'max_issues_repo_issues_event_min_datetime': '', 'max_issues_repo_issues_event_max_datetime': '', 'max_forks_repo_path': 'UI/vue-index.html', 'max_forks_repo_name': 'EpicXKillz/angelowebsite', 'max_forks_repo_head_hexsha': '13b124802472a50b032ffc3e837a8517b342489d', 'max_forks_repo_licenses': "['MIT']", 'max_forks_count': '', 'max_forks_repo_forks_event_min_datetime': '', 'max_forks_repo_forks_event_max_datetime': '', 'avg_line_length': '26.7407407407', 'max_line_length': '174', 'alphanum_fraction': '0.4605263158', 'original_id': 'f4856fe14f30e451e6ef681a8dd096923f3fb00426fff4280930c819ec164799'} |
28 Celebrities Who Are Notorious Cradle Robbers
When you date, there are a lot of considerations you take into account. The first thing is usually their personality or how they look. There’s nothing wrong with that because it’s a huge thing. If you’re not attracted to your partner or compatible, then having a long-lasting relationship will be pretty tough even if you both try really hard. The next thing people often take into account is age. When you’re younger, the age gap is usually pretty small. Many people date within a few years of their actual age, but as you grow older, age becomes less of a concern. It isn’t odd for someone to date another that’s 10 years younger than them.
However, some people date others with a pretty significant age gap. We’re talking about when the person is nearly half their age. One of the things we’ve noticed is that celebs do this a lot – and we mean a lot! It isn’t unusual for a famous person to date another that’s 25 when they’re pushing 50!
Granted, we’re not here to say who you can and cannot love. That’s not our thing. What we do want to point out is that some celebs have dated younger people more than once. It isn’t like we don’t notice what they’re doing, and Hollywood has taken note of their cradle robbing behavior. Here are some celebs that genuinely think that age is just a number.
What do you think about people who date others that are significantly younger than them?
Get Started | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9608278274536132}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '96221', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:WOYKMMCO4MNNRQOHPYY5NLIS33GM7G2G', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:932d1a3d-a1f0-491a-9bec-7ab21289e00e>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 11, 14, 7, 17, 32), 'WARC-IP-Address': '208.76.8.205', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:JWQLHOCFKQNZTX7JGV5Y7DKPEIG7WS7H', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:bbfa2504-cefd-4bd1-b18f-3816f63e168f>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://living.alot.com/entertainment/28-celebrities-who-are-notorious-cradle-robbers--11173?ref=related&src=related_rr', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:cce9fd48-7277-4431-bce1-cce5e989eccd>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '261', 'url': 'https://living.alot.com/entertainment/28-celebrities-who-are-notorious-cradle-robbers--11173?ref=related&src=related_rr', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-47\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for November 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-168.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.6338700652122498', 'original_id': '62a8e477242eb337936c1d50f3bb0e166f05b1c52de480feee0d0806a00c4bdd'} |
California poker bill will likely fold again—for now
TAGs: adam gray, California, California poker bill, Jasmine Solana, PokerStars
Despite making solid headway in the past several months, it appears that California’s online poker legislation is on its way back to the shelf this year.
California poker bill will likely fold again—for nowAssemblyman Adam Gray’s AB 2863 was expected to be voted on Monday in the California Assembly, but key stakeholder groups—PokerStars, its tribal allies, and advocacy group Poker Players Alliance, among others—failed to come together on a final compromise, which led to the bill being shelved again for another year.
Just like in the past, the sticking point remained to be the definition of a “bad actor,” or a person or company that would be deemed unsuitable to participate in the California’s regulated online poker market. The coalition of hardline tribes led by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians wanted these so-called bad actors to be completely excluded from the state’s market for “ethical reasons.”
The “compromise” version of Gray’s bill stipulated that PokerStars—clearly the tribes’ prime target—would have to be evaluated by California’s gaming regulators when it applies for a license instead of being outright barred via legislation. But the Pechangas and Agua Calientes managed to force an amendment to AB 2863, which once again included the bad actor clause.
Under the amendment bill, PokerStars and other operators who accepted U.S. customers after the 2006 passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) would be aced out from applying for a gambling license for five years.
Other tribes and some of the state’s largest cardrooms have teamed up with PokerStars to oppose the amendment, which they claimed “arbitrarily and unfairly bans [PokerStars] from competing in the iPoker market indefinitely.”
“These amendments target a single company, Amaya, with provisions that would prevent the company from ever securing a license,” a statement from the coalition said, according to eGaming Review.“It is our understanding amendments were presented to members as imposing a five year penalty box when in reality these provisions would effectively create a lifetime ban for Amaya.”
There is still a possibility that AB 2863 could be voted this year, but that’s still up in the air especially since the California legislature will adjourn on August 31.
“Another year w/o regulated Online Poker in California,” tweeted internet poker entrepreneur Alex Dreyfus. “Players want to play, state wants to be regulated, but parties are fighting. Lose, lose.”
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Fast-Forward to the Future
Through 75 tumultuous years, this magazine has held on to a fundamental optimism about tomorrow. Of course there are problems. But here's to all the promise.
(FORTUNE Magazine) – THE END OF CANCER. FREEDOM from the tyranny of oil. A World Series for the Cubs. None of that is impossible. In preparing this survey, FORTUNE canvassed numerous scientists and other respect- ed thinkers. Broad themes emerged: By 2080 the world's population will have peaked, we will be dealing with climate change, and microbes, not microchips, will be the primary vehicles of innovation.
To try to make sense of the future they described, we applied something we know works: human ingenuity. True, the species has done some terrible things. But resilience and intelligence will help it muddle through. We also believe that the human character will remain unchanged. People will always value hanging out with others, eating pizza, and exploring new things. The eternal questions--love, death, and why there is nothing decent to watch (on 20,000-plus channels!)--will endure.
Of course, we could be wrong. If so, drop us a line and tell us--in 2080.
The Postmodern Body
The next 75 years will make the pace of 20th-century medical advances look glacial. Drugs now in labs are already giving glimpses of a future in which life expectancy will approach 100 and we will have godlike powers to enhance our bodies and our minds.
âñ Drugs that restore or strengthen memory can be bought over the counter. More old people can stay independent, education levels rise as teachers no longer have to spend time reviewing what was forgotten over vacation, and poker and bridge are transformed.
âñ No-sleep drugs and fear inhibitors, originally for military use, are routinely used by football coaches, police academies, and concert soloists. Many drugs are activated through ingested or implanted chips that release dosages at the required intervals.
âñ Individualized cocktails of neurotransmitter-tweaking drugs enable comprehensive shaping of temperament to accord with different situations. Those faced with tough work projects might take enhancers of mental focus, persistence, and self-confidence. Vacation-goers will be able to benignly heighten their receptiveness to novelty, libido, and sensory excitability.
âñ Genomic-testing services let you find out whether you carry gene variants associated with everything from musical talent to the tendency to take risks. Humans remain romantics and passion counts, but they are also as calculating as ever: Dating services will match people according to their genomically analyzed behavioral profiles.
âñ Custom-grown replacement parts. Doctors cut out the diseased bits, then thaw out and inject some of the patient's stem cells (routinely banked at birth). These rebuild the damaged organ.
Blood Cells
âñ Medical records include your complete genome, and medicines will be customized to your unique genetic configuration. That makes treatments more likely to succeed and less traumatic. Routine blood tests will involve thousands of measurements to test for various diseases.
âñ The bloodstream is the highway for nanomachines and medicinal microbes. Equipped with tiny computers and genetically engineered antidotes, nanomachines will seek out and destroy cancer cells or other enemies without collateral damage. The microbes will generate healing compounds right where they're needed.
âñ Male contraceptive pills have been around for decades, but women still wonder: Is he really using them?
âñ Cell technologies can transform male cells into egg cells. Therefore, two men can make a baby, which can develop outside the womb.
âñ No more menopause: Women are fertile all their lives.
âñ Babies are often tweaked by their parents through gene therapies --either to eliminate problems (e.g., Down syndrome, alcoholism) or to implant desired attributes (intelligence, pole-vaulting skill).
âñ No more glasses or contacts, thanks to natural replacement lenses and muscular regeneration treatments.
âñ Solar-powered microchip retinal implants cure certain forms of blindness by converting light into electric currents that zap the optic nerve into action.
âñ Brainstem implants that stimulate auditory processing centers eliminate most deafness.
âñ No more cavities! Microbe mouthwash guarantees it. And if you lose a tooth? Grow a new one in a lab.
âñ Anti-vice vaccinations. If lawsuits don't kill tobacco, this will. People can still smoke, but when they decide to stop, they do--once and forever. Ditto for drug addicts and drunk drivers: If they are charged and convicted, they get a choice of incarceration or vaccination.
âñ No more love handles, thanks to drugs that tweak metabolism to let you gorge without gaining weight.
âñ We will be able to regrow appendages the way salamanders do, and the results will be indistinguishable from the original (except when they are better--for example, by not replicating unsightly moles).
âñ High-tech replacements. When a limb cannot be regrown because of trauma or other reasons, manufactured replacements provide superior performance--i.e., knee joints that never wear out and can take tremendous stress, or elbows with freakish flexibility. The Olympic Games have given up on trying to stop doping but have drawn the line on this one. The new rule: original-limb athletes only.
This New House
No, this building doesn't look sci-fi. That's because we will still want to live in homes, not organic pods. But tomorrow's colonials and split-levels will be transformed--not just with hypersmart descendants of today's gizmos but also with biomaterials and friendly bugs.
âñ The refrigerator has long been a networked device that monitors freshness, orders food, and provides us with the nutritional lowdown on what's inside. But after 2050, the fridge is obsolete because meat and dairy products no longer spoil. (Brewskies and sodas will chill themselves.)
âñ Food. Remember when yogurt had good-for-you active cultures? Now all food is active. What people used to call nourishment, prescription medicine, and nutritional supplements are all rolled into one.
âñ The meaning of "clean" has changed. Where once we nuked our counters with cleansers to obliterate bacteria, our kitchens have now become havens of healthful microbes that eat noxious germs--and have that lemony, fresh smell.
âñ Mattresses are filled with wireless sensors that identify sudden medical conditions--a 4 A.M. heart attack or stroke immediately summons emergency services.
âñ The floor is coated with material that kills harmful microorganisms and always feels cozy and warm.
âñ Windows are membranes that filter air and light and clean themselves.
âñ Pipes and chutes separate and send all garbage to an energy processor. Everything gets used, either as compost or as fuel. A small hydrogen fuel-cell unit also provides power.
âñ A water system collects, filters, and recycles waste to conserve a resource as precious as fine wine.
âñ Junk room. We'll still be pack rats.
Home office
âñ Nanofactory. This is a desktop box, filled with chemical processors, computing, and robotics that can produce items from blueprints ordered online. See a nice blouse? After growing the silk in your basement bioworkshop, you will buy digital rights to the design online, then produce it.
âñ Gizmos everywhere. Networked gadgets for communicating, displaying information, and organizing our lives are now so ubiquitous they've been absorbed into clothes and furniture. Even the walls attend to us, with eyes, ears, and memories.
âñ Persistent technologies. The book endures. The paperless office never happens. That laptop on the desk? It's a quaint souvenir.
Family room
âñ Carpet. It's alive! Sort of, anyway. Through the cross-pollination of inorganic carpet filaments and bioengineered organic compounds, the carpet ingests dirt, spills, and stains.
âñ TV is holographic and always on, streaming live feeds from homes of friends and relatives you like to hang out with remotely. You also use your TV to participate in community events and to vote.
âñ Ritual shrines are the least techie feature. Religion--and the need for quiet contemplation--endure. And when you want to link to fellow believers, the interactive TV is right there.
âñ The medicine cabinet is stocked with nanotech diagnostic devices that you can swallow, plus bioactive pills and lotions that produce what your body needs. The mirror uses face-recognition technology to remind you to take your medicine. (An early prototype advised women on makeup choices. It failed, amid a storm of criticism.)
âñ Sink. Home to the diagnostic toothbrush, which takes samples of saliva and blood; a sinktop analyzer can check for disease. There are also facial wipes that change color to warn of skin cancer.
âñ Toilet. The seat of modern health. It measures body fat and temperature, analyzes urine and feces, and automatically confers with your health providers to spot problems early.
âñ Street addresses aren't used much. The house has GPS coordinates; all its occupants have personal network IDs that make them reachable pretty much anytime.
âñ Power for appliances and gadgets is provided by tiny fuel cells. Backup wiring connects with the electrical grid and the fuel cell in the basement.
âñ Smart monitors. If your 90-year-old grandmother collapses, the monitor knows why--and whom to contact.
âñ A rotating platform allows the house to shift to catch the best rays, or just to change the view.
âñ The roof has a garden that captures and cleans rainwater to replenish the household system. There are also self-renewing solar panels.
âñ Sensors test for CO , anthrax, environmental contaminants, allergens, and radioactivity, and defend against the release of chemical and biological agents.
âñ Keyholes no longer exist. A biometric control pad monitors entry.
âñ The exterior is coated with a substance that can change color on demand--for example, a dark shade in winter or pink for your little girl's birthday party. The outside is made of bio-produced material that looks just like wood or brick. (Twentieth-century retro is very big in 2080.)
âñ The lawn is a harmonious ecosystem that regulates itself.
âñ The family car has been running on hydrogen for years and is mostly biodegradable.
Four Tech Frontiers
It's the law: Every list of predictions must include space vehicles for the common man. Call us conformist, but we are happy to oblige-- because NASA seems genuinely serious this time. Plus a fearless look at how three of today's most promising technologies will play out.
Highway in the Sky
In the opening credits of The Jetsons, George flies to work in his own space car. If NASA has its way, that fanciful image will become a reality sometime around the middle of this century. For the past few years the agency has been quietly building something it calls the Highway in the Sky, a computer system designed to let millions of people fly wherever they want and whenever they want, in their own vehicles.
The dream of zooming around in "skycars" or "planemobiles" is as old as flight itself. But you don't want traffic jams in the sky. So, using Global Positioning System navigation and other technologies, NASA is working on a collision-deterring device that will function as an onboard air-traffic controller.
Boeing, NASA, and several entrepreneurs are constructing such vehicles. One motorcycle-like machine called the AirScooter is now being built by longtime inventor Elwood "Woody" Norris. Powered by a small engine and two sets of blades, it can rise to 10,000 feet above sea level. Norris expects to begin selling it later this year for less than $50,000. NASA hopes to debut its first "personal air vehicle" in the next five years.
In another 25 years or so, many of us will have tiny aircraft parked in our driveways that can drive as well as fly. We'll cruise about two miles to our local airfield, take off on short runways, fly up to 500 miles, and land at another airfield before finishing the trip by driving a couple of miles to our final destination. Eventually we'll have vehicles that can take off without runways, lifting vertically like helicopters. Coming soon: air rage. -- David Stires
Nature is the ultimate engineer, building trees and flowers without fuss; nanomanufacturing, in effect, attempts to mimic the mechanics of nature, building devices from the atom up, as though they were Legos or building blocks but incredibly small and flexible. (A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter; for comparison, a nanometer is to an inch what an inch is to 400 miles.) These qualities will allow us to make things of unbelievable refinement with little use of energy, in small quantities, and without big centralized factories--indeed, even at home. The consequences are huge. Scientists have already created a molecular machine known as the nanovalve that will eventually deliver drugs capable of blasting a single cell. Nanotechnology will harness the sun's energy and split water into hydrogen and oxygen--thus creating a clean pool of hydrogen for fuel cells and other applications. Nanomanufacturing techniques are already being used to develop sensors that can detect a single molecule of a poison gas. -- Cait Murphy
Information Ubiquity
Any kind of information is available anytime you want it. Simply speak a question, or even think it, if you have trained your personal information receiver that way. You will always be connected wirelessly to the network, and an answer will return from a vast, collectively produced data matrix. Google queries will seem quaint. Point your always-on camera (in your glasses, your hat, or your hairpin) at someone on the street and get as much information as you want about them. You can locate anyone at any time and learn the outcome of any event worldwide instantly. Efforts to protect privacy have been long abandoned. Information is controlled by no one, because digital storage is essentially free. An individual can thus have archives as large as the government's, which makes efforts to restrict data hopeless.
You record your entire life on video. Most people make their personal video histories freely searchable by others. Not doing so reduces the trustworthiness ratings that are a primary source of social status. Any book, magazine, or entertainment product is available free. You pay for digital material only because you choose to, for moral or practical reasons. You may, for instance, want to encourage an author to continue writing novels. There is still a place for storytellers, but computer programs automatically extract news and information relevant to you from all the data that is being created by individuals and organizations. Every challenge in life has become like an open-book test. -- David Kirkpatrick
Synthetic Biology
After decades of teasing apart the molecular gizmos inside living things, researchers put them together in novel ways to radically retool cells. They'll start by building multigene modules for desired metabolic functions. Analogous to computer plug-ins that give PCs new functions like wireless data transmission, the modules will be designed to plug into microbes to make them churn out everything from fuels to medicines to spider silk for ultralight body armor. Reengineered cows implanted with such modules will give human milk to use as infant formula, and Lewis Carroll--inspired synthetic biologists will use the technology to engender pigs with wings. (The animals won't fly, but barbecued pig wings will become all the rage at trendy, upscale restaurants.) Dark prospects will also loom--easy-to-use plug-ins will enable terrorists to create supervirulent infectious microbes. To counter that threat, bioengineers will have to come up with microscopic artificial life forms to single out and destroy all manner of disease-causing microorganisms. -- David Stipp
The World, 2080
We don't anticipate the massive boundary shifts or the dizzying creation of new countries that has marked the past 75 years. But we do think the way the world works will change--a lot. A sampling of scenarios from around the globe.
âñ Middle East. Weary of all the drawbacks associated with fossil fuels, the world makes a concerted effort to kick the habit. In 2040 oil consumption begins to fall in absolute terms, and by 2060 oil is a boutique fuel. Oil-dependent Middle East economies, which had never diversified, take a brutal hit--sparking violence. But then a promising generation of reformers emerges to replace their blundering predecessors. Their stated mission: devising a freer political system.
âñ Iowa. Pushed by the effects of 2030's oil shock, the alchemy of turning crops into energy is finally mastered. Biofuels become big business, and young entrepreneurs flock to the heartland.
âñ Singapore is the first country to ban nonhydrogen cars. By 2050, hybrid hydrogen-electric vehicles are king of the road everywhere. Tooling around in an oil-fueled SUV is regarded with as much horror as clubbing baby seals for fur.
âñ Africa. Other than a handful of new nuclear plants, large-scale power projects are rare. Instead, micro-turbines fueled by a variety of sources provide on-the-spot power. One big beneficiary: Africa. No longer reliant on corrupt politicians to extend the grid, many communities finally have reliable power. And the civic organizations that made it happen gain force. These two trends bring new spirit to the continent.
âñ Bangladesh. Water has become the world's most valuable commodity, as efforts to control the weather are still unreliable (and the politics are a nightmare). Extremely wet Bangladesh builds an export business, farming water and piping it to industrial centers in China and India.
âñ Micronesia. Global warming brings more and worse weather disasters; a melting polar ice cap raises sea levels. The low, flat, sparsely populated islands of Micronesia are swamped. Their people are resettled. Population centers that are uncomfortably close to sea level, such as Venice, lower Manhattan, and Egypt's Nile delta, struggle to cope.
âñ Italy. In 2059, with falling birth rates and increased intermarriage and immigration, Italy becomes the first European country to have a nonwhite majority. By 2075 all the traditional large centers of white skin--the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Oceania--have followed suit.
âñ Japan. It happened here first, but all over the rich world, old age is transformed. Aging has slowed and Alzheimer's has disappeared. The fragile elderly get around in exoskeletons. Intelligent machines and elder-care robots shoulder more of our cognitive burdens. Condé Nast launches a celebrity magazine for great-grandparents. The retirement age is 82.
âñ China. Today's toddlers will have to figure out how to cope with the social problems caused by China's urban-rural inequal- ity and the huge disparity between the number of men and women (caused by two generations of parents who favored the birth of boys over girls). Another challenge: how to close the gap with India, which in 2068 overtakes China as the world's largest economy.
âñ Saudi Arabia. States that keep their women uneducated and oppressed suffer economically. Those that figure out how to nurture female potential surge ahead. As the Arab woman goes, so goes the region.
âñ Latvia. Thanks to the example set by fast-growing Poland and the Baltics, the idea of a flat and simple tax system spreads. By 2080 everyone has adopted it, partly in response to the fiscal challenges posed by rapid aging. Except the French. They note that while a flat tax may work in practice, it is hopeless in theory.
âñ Brazil. Shrinking populations cause local shortages of talent. So while countries still have border patrols, they also have recruitment bureaus to compete for immigrants with spe- cific skills. A São Paulo entrepre- neur sets up a global labor auction market where nations bid for talent.
âñ California. The entrepreneur in the garage remains one of the world's most important people.
âñ The oceans. When tuna prices spike in 2035, the world finally gets serious about species depletion and bans all commercial fishing. There is some cheating, but a multinational sea force does an effective job of policing. All fish for consumption is farmed; sport fishing is still allowed.
âñ Planet Mars. In a race that has galvanized the world, America lands an astronaut on Mars in 2060, just beating China. It will be another 75 years before Mars can be developed as a proper frontier.
Ten to Watch
Fame is fleeting. But even if these men and women are not household names in 75 years, what they're doing now will have lasting influence.
Gamal Mubarak
President in waiting. An MBA who worked as an investment banker in London, Mubarak--despite protestations to the contrary--has been groomed to succeed his father, Hosni, as President of Egypt, the intellectual capital of the Arab world. Gamal, 42, is regarded as an economic reformer with a worldly outlook. Some believe he has the capacity to do what his 77-year-old father could not--make Egypt a workable model of tolerance, freedom, and prosperity.
Barack Obama
U.S. Senator (D-Illinois). The most charismatic politician of his generation, the 44-year-old Obama is a crossover politician with strong appeal among both black and white Americans. He will be a key player as the U.S. becomes a more racially diverse society.
Ransom Myers
Oceanographer. Myers's work on the dynamics of fish species provided startling evidence of the 90% population decline since 1950 in bluefin tuna, giant blue marlin, and other big fish. A professor at Canada's Dalhousie University, Myers is working to develop new and better ways to husband the wealth beneath the sea.
Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Jimmy Wales
Web stars. Brin and Page, founders of Google, brought to market the favorite roadmap for the web. In Wikipedia, Wales created a reader-written, interactive encyclopedia. The innovations this trio pioneered have accelerated the democratization of information on the Internet--a phenomenon that is only beginning to show its potential. In a future where information is everywhere all the time, the splashes Google and Wikipedia made will cast ripples in ways that are unpredictable but profound.
Hwang Woo Suk
Stem-cell researcher. A national hero in South Korea, Hwang, with his team at Seoul National University, has won headlines for cloning a cow, a pig, a human embryo, and a dog. The implications are huge. Cloned human embryos could yield therapeutic stem cells to provide breakthrough treatments for conditions as varied as Alzheimer's and spinal-cord trauma. The ethical debate is just beginning. But one thing is certain: Hwang's research will be a major factor in defining the future of medicine.
Angela Belcher
Nanotechnologist. Based at MIT, Belcher specializes in biomimicry--investigating how nature grows things and then trying to replicate the process in the lab. The idea is to create forms that produce other things, such as genetically engineered viruses that can grow electronic components much as an abalone grows a shell. Possible applications run the gamut from vaccine storage to superstrong materials to improved computing.
David Laibson
Economist. The emerging discipline of neuro-economics says that economic decisions are the product of interactions between different brain parts that evolved at different times and for different reasons. Armed with this insight, scholars like Harvard's Laibson are beginning to reconstruct economics from the prefrontal cortex up. That might take us to a far better understanding of why consumers buy, why investors buy and sell--and how everything from 401(k) plans to marketing strategies to tax policies should be put together.
Freddy Adu
Soccer phenom. One final brave prediction: Adu, now 16, leads the U.S. to victory in the World Cup of 2020, providing the breakthrough that makes soccer a major sport in America. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '2', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.933298885822296}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '45801', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:JQCFQHUFQBQ2M475P3WJFEZ4VSIBM2SQ', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:7789c1a1-a3a6-404a-8f8c-693ae1b5c64b>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2018, 10, 16, 22, 23), 'WARC-IP-Address': '54.230.19.31', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'application/xhtml+xml', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:QRDK7LBDTRMINJGMPFAHQZT6JCURSKLK', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:127de768-df6d-49db-a9fb-262941b47d32>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/09/19/8272889/index.htm', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:423558c2-1094-4b31-a8fc-a9a1c2937c99>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '3800', 'url': 'http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/09/19/8272889/index.htm', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2018-43\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for October 2018\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-30-126-152.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 0.11-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.06792128086090088', 'original_id': '8ac243efd634eb94c00cc66fefc3f2db9619d1fccc8900380546665bfe02988a'} |
Sauli Bohm
ResQ Club
Sauli Böhm is a seasoned entrepreneur and Google alumnus, equipped with two master’s degrees and experience in turning businesses around. His doctrine is about tapping into unknowns and going where everyone else sees the impossible. As CEO of ResQ Club, one of the most advanced online marketplaces for surplus food, he thrives on reinventing the anatomy of marketplace building, i.e. how location- and time-sensitive B2C marketplaces should and shouldn’t be built in order to make zero-food-waste communities a reality.
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Multiplicity of infection
In microbiology, the multiplicity of infection or MOI is the ratio of agents (e.g. phage or more generally virus, bacteria) to infection targets (e.g. cell). For example, when referring to a group of cells inoculated with virus particles, the multiplicity of infection or MOI is the ratio of the number of virus particles to the number of target cells present in a defined space.
Interpretation
The actual number of viruses or bacteria that will enter any given cell is a statistical process: some cells may absorb more than one infectious agent while others may not absorb any. The probability that a cell will absorb virus particles or bacteria when inoculated with an MOI of can be calculated for a given population using a Poisson distribution. This application of Poisson's distribution was applied and described by Ellis and Delbrück.
where is the multiplicity of infection or MOI, is the number of infectious agents that enter the infection target, and is the probability that an infection target (a cell) will get infected by infectious agents.
In fact the infectivity of the virus or bacteria in question will alter this relationship. One way around this is to use a functional definition of infectious particles rather than a strict count, such as a plaque forming unit for viruses.
For example, when an MOI of 1 (1 viral particle per cell) is used to infect a population of cells, the probability that a cell will not get infected is , and the probability that it be infected by a single particle is , by two particles is , by three particles is , and so on.
The average percentage of cells that will become infected as a result of inoculation with a given MOI can be obtained by realizing that it is simply . Hence, the average fraction of cells that will become infected following an inoculation with an MOI of is given by:
which is approximately equal to for small values of .
Examples
As the MOI increases, the percentages of cells infected with at least one viral particle also increases.
See also
Infectious disease
References
Category:Virology
Category:Bacteriology
Category:Bacteriophages | mini_pile | {'original_id': '6b32335c8fda12fcbb1acac131d860dbe6abe713e55de0c7850d59b7f839bdca'} |
Villa Ribandar
Ribander, Goa
The villa was originally built in the early 19 th century and is located on the banks of the Mandovi River in Goa, India. The design brief entailed retaining as much of the original structure as possible and adding a new wing as an extension. The exterior of the old house has been meticulously restored to its original character involving extensive research on the building style of the period, and rather than emulating the design style of the original villa for the new wing, it follows a contemporary design language so that a degree of lightness and modernity is introduced into the house. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '24', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9723361730575562}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '15607', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:NCDMGD3I43AS3K746DHHBGDXIIBLYJG3', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:2f1829b5-a447-48b2-a1cf-31248dce35dc>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 5, 19, 22, 19, 25), 'WARC-IP-Address': '138.201.136.178', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:I2GDUFRYNF54PDDK53BMRE3TYQXIEK4J', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:7fb1f5f8-42b0-4e77-957a-32d406f4b2b9>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://rsagoa.in/villa-ribandar.php', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:ac0d3751-7241-4de0-842d-973e66eb62ae>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '107', 'url': 'https://rsagoa.in/villa-ribandar.php', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-22\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for May 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-152-225-239.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.06787973642349243', 'original_id': '3f89ac2a824073714c29e3a20b94f0b554e0d3a4a41dc0998fdf16931c8d102a'} |
\section{Divisibility by 12}
Tags: Divisibility Tests, 12
\begin{theorem}
Let $N \in \N$ be expressed as:
:$N = a_0 + a_1 10 + a_2 10^2 + \cdots + a_n 10^n$
Then $N$ is divisible by $12$ {{iff}} $a_0 - 2 a_1 + 4 \paren {\ds \sum_{r \mathop = 2}^n a_r}$ is divisible by $12$.
\end{theorem}
\begin{proof}
We first prove that $100 \times 10^n = 4 \pmod {12}$, where $n \in \N$.
Proof by induction:
For all $n \in \N$, let $P \paren n$ be the proposition:
:$100 \times 10^n = 4 \pmod {12}$
\end{proof}
| math_pile | {'subset': 'ProofWiki', 'meta': "{'type': 'Theorem_Proof'}", 'original_id': '4bd0fd65f70250dd067aa36dafc951208c5b2c4b96814f4a0c92e1fc2ea3a155'} |
The North Carolina pastor who came under fire yesterday for telling his congregation to beat their male children if they exhibit effeminate behavior told a local TV station he was simply being hyperbolic like Jesus.
Rev. Sean Harris, senior pastor at Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, dedicated Sunday's service to the promotion of North Carolina's proposed same-sex marriage ban, the so-called "Amendment One."
During his 55-minute sermon, Harris repeatedly called on worshipers to "squash" their son's "girlish behavior," and "give him a good punch" if he starts "acting like a female." Same goes for daughters who start "acting too butch."
"If I had to do it again, would I say it differently, yes I would," Harris told WRAL-TV. (And he ain't lying: Good As You discovered that Pastor Harris "cleaned up" his sermon transcript after it went viral.)
His excuse for encouraging violence against children? It's what Jesus would have done:
He says Jesus often used hyperbole. For example, "If your eye causes you sin, pluck it out," as written in scripture.
Pastor Harris says he was employing the same technique.
But despite the scrubbed transcript and excuses, Harris refuses to retract his main message. "The Bible makes no compromise on effeminate behavior," he said. "God created you a male, God created you a female. If you were created a male, you are to act like a man."
And if you were created a douche, you apparently have no choice in that matter either.
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Due September 2017
Are you guys excited? Do you think it's a boy or girl?
20+ Similar Discussions Found
Oldest First
I'm due at the end of September. I'm only 5 weeks right now so I don't know what it will be. I read that bad morning sickness usually means ur having a girl. I'm still pretty early in my pregnancy, but I haven't had any morning sickness yet so could be a boy. I'm hoping for a girl because I think they're more fun to pick out clothes for. How about you? What do you think you're having?
I'm also a September mom but I'm due the first week of September. I have a five year old girl and I had really bad morning sickness with her and I'm having it bad again. It took us years to get pregnant so we are delighted with boy or girl. My husband is dying for a boy, but like you said, it's still to early to tell.
Very excited at first I was shocked and scared and I thought about the future and school and now I'm 100% happy and excited. I'm due the first week of September I honestly believe it's a girl just a gut feeling
• 1
• 1 | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '6', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.983824610710144}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '513085', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:DIFOSWHBHKKWA4IQ2JM5ZVQ6IIX46T5I', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:b72ffe6a-6589-413d-ba8e-aa8489218e08>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2020, 8, 12, 10, 19, 55), 'WARC-IP-Address': '104.110.195.199', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:RY3QNMDYCUDIH6ACWBGCN7MTSCSIQ7I4', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:f1404526-f32a-42c4-bacd-772035e618fd>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://community.whattoexpect.com/forums/moms-in-college/topic/due-september-2017.html', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:4818a786-99f7-4909-a110-7d9d7b3d8703>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '235', 'url': 'https://community.whattoexpect.com/forums/moms-in-college/topic/due-september-2017.html', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-34\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for August 2020\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-22.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.17 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.2-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.026260673999786377', 'original_id': '942105d112ef6511842e4c2febdc3af05e9eff607008cafc54cb430015ff86d4'} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for driving an LCD device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) devices have been used in many different types of electronic equipment. The LCD devices display images by adjusting the light transmittance of liquid crystal cells according to a video signal. Active matrix type LCD devices have a switching element formed for every liquid crystal cell and are well suited for displaying moving images. Thin film transistors (TFTs) are the devices primarily used as the switching element in the active matrix type LCD device.
However, LCD devices generally have a relatively slow response speed attributable to the inherent viscosity and elasticity of a liquid crystal, as can be seen from the following Equations 1 and 2:
τ r ∝ γ d 2 Δɛ V a 2 - V F 2 Equation 1 where τr is a rise time for response to a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, Va is the applied voltage, VF is a Frederick transition voltage at which liquid crystal molecules start to be inclined, d is a liquid crystal cell gap, and γ is the rotational viscosity of the liquid crystal molecules; and
τ F ∝ γ d 2 K Equation 2 where τF is a falling time for returning the liquid crystal molecules to their original positions by an elastic restoration force after the voltage applied to the liquid crystal is turned off, and K is the inherent elastic modulus of the liquid crystal.
For a twisted nematic (TN) mode LCD device, although the response speed of the liquid crystal may vary with the physical properties and cell gap of the liquid crystal, rise times of 20 to 80 ms and the falling times of 20 to 30 ms are typical. Because these typical liquid crystal response times are longer than a moving image frame period (for example 16.67 ms for moving images according to the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) standard), the voltage charged on the liquid crystal may not reach the desired level before the next frame data is presented, as shown in FIG. 1. The slow response results in motion blurring in which an afterimage is left on the LCD display panel.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a related art LCD device may fail to display a desired color and brightness for a moving image because, when data VD is changed from one level to another level, the corresponding display brightness level BL is unable to reach the desired value due to the slow response of the LCD device. As a result, motion blurring occurs in moving images, causing degradation in contrast ratio and display quality.
As one method for overcoming the low response speed of the LCD device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,265 and PCT International Publication No. WO 99/09967 propose a method for modulating data using a look-up table (referred to hereinafter as an ‘over-driving method’). The principle of this over-driving method of the related art is illustrated in FIG. 2.
As may be appreciated with reference to FIG. 2, the related art over-driving method includes modulating input data VD to produce modulated data MVD, and applying the modulated data to a liquid crystal cell to obtain a desired brightness level MBL. By this method, the response speed of a liquid crystal is rapidly accelerated by increasing |Va2−VF2| in the Equation 1 for a variation in the input data from that of a previous frame period in order to obtain the desired brightness level corresponding to the luminance of the input data in one frame period.
Accordingly, a related art LCD device using the over-driving method is able to compensate for a slow response of a liquid crystal by modulation of a data value to reduce or eliminate motion blurring in a moving image to display a picture having the desired color and brightness.
In order to reduce the memory storage used in implementing over-driving, the related art over-driving method performs modulation by comparing only respective most significant bits (MSB) of a previous frame (Fn−1) and current frame (Fn) with each other, as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, the related art over-driving method compares respective most significant bit data (MSB) of the previous frame (Fn−1) and current frame (Fn) with each other to determine whether there is a variation between the two most significant bit data (MSB). If there is a variation between the two most significant bit data (MSB), the corresponding modulated data (MRGB) is selected from a look-up table as most significant bit data (MSB) of the current frame (Fn).
FIG. 4 illustrates a related art over-driving apparatus implementing the above-described over-driving method.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the related art over-driving apparatus includes a frame memory 43 connected to a most significant bit bus line 42, and a look-up table 44 connected in common with the output terminals of the most significant bit bus line 42 and frame memory 43.
The frame memory 43 stores most significant bit data (MSB) for one frame period and supplies the stored data to the look-up table 44. In the related art over-driving apparatus of FIG. 4, the most significant bit data (MSB) includes the four most significant bits of 8-bit source data (RGB).
The look-up table 44 compares most significant bit data (MSB) of a current frame (Fn) supplied from the most significant bit bus line 42 with most significant bit data (MSB) of a previous frame (Fn−1) inputted from the frame memory 43, as in Table 1 below, and selects modulated data (MRGB) corresponding to the comparison result. The modulated data (MRGB) is combined with least significant bit data (LSB) from a least significant bit bus line 41 and then supplied to an LCD device.
Where the most significant bit data (MSB) is limited to four bits, the modulated data (MRGB) registered in the look-up table 44 of the over-driving apparatus and method is as follows:
TABLE 1Current Frame0123456789101112131415Previous00134679101112141515151515Frame10124579101112131415151515201235789101213141515151530123568910111214141515154001246791011121314151515500023578911121314151515600013468910111314151515700012457810111214141515800012356891112131415159000123467910121314151510000012457810111314151511000002356791112141515120000013457810121315151300000123468101113141514000000123579111314151500000001246911131415
In the above Table 1, the leftmost column represents the data voltage (VDn−1) of the previous frame (Fn−1) and the uppermost row represents the data voltage (VDn) of the current frame (Fn). The contents of Table 1 are look-up table information obtained by expressing four most significant bits in decimal form.
The related art apparatus and method for driving the LCD device is used to provide a high response speed of liquid crystal during a gray-to-gray change between previous frame and current frames. In comparison to the variation associated with a black-to-white change, the gray-to-gray change involves a relatively small voltage difference between frames, so that the liquid crystal response for each gray-to-gray change without overdriving would be slow or non-linear, resulting in poor color change in a moving image or degradation in picture quality.
In the above-described over-driving apparatus a digital memory, such as the look-up table 44, is used in the generation of modulated data (MRGB) in the comparison of the data of the previous frame (Fn−1) with that of the current frame (Fn). The use of the digital memory increases chip size as well as manufacturing costs for the LCD device. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '15fc32647119d969e4fc992c0487989aaa0310d3af5a0b6fee8774b7df22f1e9'} |
Reviews > Books
Silent treatment
Books | Scholar offers good advice to Christians, but his call for political disengagement isn't persuasive
Issue: "Gulf toil," June 5, 2010
Thomas Jefferson set up the University of Virginia as part of his attempt to free America from biblical Christianity. James Davison Hunter has had remarkable success in building a program at that university from which Christian sociologists can graduate without selling their souls.
Now Hunter has come out with To Change the World (Oxford University Press, 2010), wherein he tries to teach Christians how to gain influence in the American intellectual world. The dust jacket says the book "will forever change the way Christians view and talk about their role in the modern world." No it won't. Hunter himself asks toward the book's long-winded end, "Is there anything exceptional being said here?" No there isn't.
That doesn't make it a bad book. Hunter is right to state that Christians have little influence in America "because they have been absent from the arenas in which the greatest influence in the culture is exerted." Christians are an endangered species within major media and universities.
Christians are also underrepresented in cities. The century-old split in Protestantism that left the heterodox "social gospel" people in charge of urban churches and the orthodox "fundamentalists" out in the small towns and rural areas was tragic. Christians thought they could build high walls to keep out the influences of New York and Hollywood, but whoever rules cities rules a culture.
So Hunter's appeal to head for the centers of influence surely makes sense-but how should we live within those centers? He likes the expression faithful presence, by which he means that Christians should "do what we can to create conditions in the structures of social life we inhabit that are conducive to the flourishing of all." That's true, and although that's nothing new for God's people in exile-Jeremiah said the same thing to the Israelites in Babylon-it's a message we need to hear.
We also need to hear that change in a culture requires not only individual evangelizing but the creation of new centers of influence. Hunter posits that cultures change when leaders change them, and those leaders have often depended on "a rich source of patronage that provided resources for intellectuals and educators who, in the context of dense networks, imagine, theorize, and propagate an alternative culture." This sounds like a plea for foundation grants, but it's good for rich Christians to understand their potentially crucial role.
What we don't need is another denigration of Christian political involvement. Hunter suggests that Christians should "be silent for a season and learn how to enact their faith in public through acts of shalom rather than to try again to represent it publicly through law, policy, and political mobilization." I'm all in favor of compassionate activities, but can we afford political silence in this time of liberal aggression? My column deals with that question.
Faith in the Constitution
By Marvin Olasky
Seth Lipsky's The Citizen's Constitution (Basic, 2009) illuminates liberal distortions and also explains why some things are the way they are. For example, a clause regarding presidential elections in Article II, Section I, led to a national Election Day on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Why then? Early November was "after the fall harvest but before the weather got bad enough in much of the country to restrict travel." Why a Tuesday? "Because holding elections on Monday would have required many voters to begin traveling on the Christian Sabbath."
Why does the Constitution assume a Creator without referring to Him explicitly, as does the Declaration of Independence? The Forgotten Founders on Religion and Public Life, edited by Daniel Dreisbach, Mark David Hall, and Jeffry Morrison (U. of Notre Dame Press, 2009), is a fount of scholarly information about who believed what and whose beliefs changed. Alexander Hamilton, for example, moved from theistic rationalism to his deathbed statement: "I am a sinner; I look to . . . the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Marvin Olasky
Marvin Olasky
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What If
Commentators have described the independent romantic comedy What If | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '108', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9467164278030396}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '46471', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:5RNVOZBXNEMAVOBCQK6DQFY6Y6RM3XLP', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:c5122692-1ea4-4e8f-aa23-d51ef564b83e>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2014, 8, 29, 5, 23, 29), 'WARC-IP-Address': '216.74.49.79', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:ZQ7IEJMKJLQ4L72EASK7O2PIG3R7TAG4', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:b6764b62-ba96-45d7-8721-18706639d397>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.worldmag.com/2010/05/silent_treatment', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:4436aa4e-3cfa-4b03-8a01-3abb90237adc>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '773', 'url': 'http://www.worldmag.com/2010/05/silent_treatment', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2014-35\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for August 2014\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.36987370252609253', 'original_id': 'd6f5fa97592c6041c5e66f6dce5dced66f06579e1b73e898d7a1434932ad616e'} |
Automatic deconvolution of 4Pi-microscopy data with arbitrary phase.
We propose a maximum a posteriori-based method that solves an important practical problem in the deconvolution of 4Pi images by simultaneously delivering an estimate of both the object and the unknown phase. The method was tested in simulations and on data from both test samples and biological specimen. It generates object estimates that are free from interference artifacts and reliably recovers arbitrary relative phases. Based on vectorial focusing theory, our theoretical analysis allowed for a simple and efficient implementation of the algorithm. Taking several 4Pi images at different relative phases of the interfering beams is shown to improve the robustness of the approach. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '33391e3c59e74fc98077e3f5fe3b59dd3891047df03f2b4bd8220687315ff289'} |
Home > Forum
Title: extreme cold, excess, and damp
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heather Posted - 16/6/2021 16:20:29
extreme cold, excess, and dampness
What foods/herbs/tea pills help with extreme cold, excess, and dampness?
What is this presentation called? ie: kidney yin deficiency or yang deficiency, or ...
TCM Posted - 29/6/2021 12:41:21
Syndrome differentiation should be based on clinical manifestations, what are the signs?
Extreme cold and dampness indicate an excess pattern, which can be due to endogenous reason such as yang deficiencies of kidney and spleen, or exogenous reason such as external coldness and dampness attacks.
Only when clinical manifestations are fully evaluated, a disharmony pattern has confirmed, then the remedy can be decided. Since cold and dampness can involve different body parts and in different degree, they lead to various clinical manifestations, and the remedies should be designed accordingly. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.8797531723976135}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '6899', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:PXBEIAESKIMQYKHVZKWGPLMRH3VZWDE7', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:7037b6f6-ad87-4cb8-aecc-26d647715a02>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2021, 9, 24, 10, 13, 43), 'WARC-IP-Address': '203.124.10.229', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:KHUYT5ZZKMISQYR2KFTSRUUFNMZHBEYX', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:384e7ce6-3f1d-41f0-8366-ca39b9561800>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://shen-nong.com/eng/forum/topic.asp?v_id=3790', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:9b663247-e05b-4a42-b20c-fa0daa93994f>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '140', 'url': 'http://shen-nong.com/eng/forum/topic.asp?v_id=3790', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2021-39\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for September 2021\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-130\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.18 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.2-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: https://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.2799178957939148', 'original_id': '7a6cfbed8c5163ec6673ec586bba73a21ac7955a260b2ebac9c95390c2f308b9'} |
EWTN Catholic Q&A
Bott Radio
Question from Tony W on 10-30-2017:
Good morning! I used to live in Kansas City where I could listen to Catholic radio everyday on my hour long drive to work. I have since moved to Manhattan, KS and Catholic radio isn't available. I have found Bott Radio Network and have been listening to it for over a year now. Recently I have noticed they were, "Catholic Bashing". It bothered me to hear them talk so poorly of the Catholic religion. They are promoting Martin Luther and his 500th anniversary since his break away from the Catholic Church. My question is since this is the only religious radio/bible teaching I can listen to on the radio, is it okay to continue to listen? Or since they are so anti Catholic, should I stop listening all together? I have thought about listening on the app on my way to work, but data is limited. Thank you in advance and God Bless!
Answer by Judie Brown on 11-15-2017:
There is a lot of Catholic bashing going on and sadly, it even exists in some so-called Catholic news outlets, but the fact is, listening to music is far better than listening to Bott or any outlet that is attempting to demean or faith in the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ.
And, if you wish, you could listen to an audio book of Scripture readings!! | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9651266932487488}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '3354', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:IMVDHTDL3AH3MPGU3TOS7WIGPHSPJVBS', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:269689e0-5c57-4efa-a51a-173c895093ce>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2018, 8, 18, 21, 53, 8), 'WARC-IP-Address': '164.109.56.155', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:J25H3JTEFU3AWZUUSISMJPG6BLZNXVEA', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:1b95f67b-1d69-4237-8cba-d84e1af862b2>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage_print.asp?number=655136&language=en', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:ec5efb92-1bb3-496a-9d0d-baf756b9ed00>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '241', 'url': 'http://ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage_print.asp?number=655136&language=en', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2018-34\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for August 2018\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-61-240-216.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 0.11-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.022569000720977783', 'original_id': '77b77b9c6212225051a85cd31021bde602ac8b098c01930361302c3a6018943e'} |
Michigan Marriage Laws
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A valid marriage in Michigan constitutes a man and woman who are capable of giving consent and consent is obtained freely, have a marriage license and the marriage must be solemnized by an authorized person in the State of Michigan.
A judge of the district court, a district court magistrate, a municipal judge, a judge of probate, a federal court judge, the mayor of a city, the county clerk of a county with more than 2 million residents, a minister of the gospel and non-resident ministers of the gospel who is valid to procure a marriage elsewhere in Michigan state, may all solemnize a marriage in the State of Michigan. You must have two witnesses, not including the officiate, at your wedding. There is a special law that allows the “people called friends or Quakers†and “people of any other particular denomination having, as such, any peculiar mode of solemnizing marriages†to solemnize their marriages in their own manner. The officiate of the marriage must return a ‘duplicate marked’ copy of the license to the married couple and submit the original to the clerk that issued it within 10 days of the marriage ceremony.
You do not need to be a resident of the State of Michigan to apply for a marriage license in the state, however there is a three day waiting period to obtain a marriage license. The three day waiting period can be waived by the county clerk for ‘good and sufficient cause shown’. There is a basic $20 fee for residents and $30 for non-residents of Michigan to obtain a marriage license. The license is valid for 30 days.
No one under the age of 15 shall be married unless they have parental consent and probate court permission. Applicants 16-years-old must have parental consent.
Michigan does not recognize common law marriages, even those that are valid in other states. Michigan also does not allow Covenant marriages, same-sex marriages, cousin marriages or proxy marriages.
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Leave a Reply | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9335631132125854}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '84274', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:47D5SXBVAAI5Y2WRTFS4CHXBTJBCQIZX', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:5af52210-b9e0-458b-ade4-ded504700fab>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 5, 23, 19, 30, 43), 'WARC-IP-Address': '199.188.200.20', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:U4XU2W44LBXZPHNBLWAXAO6AAV6OS5SU', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:a45efbdf-37ad-4439-ac58-4a60837b5572>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://www.prenuptialagreements.org/michigan-marriage-laws/', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:ecfd9a0f-e7f2-4603-806e-5b19a6071d21>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '356', 'url': 'https://www.prenuptialagreements.org/michigan-marriage-laws/', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-22\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for May 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-142-79-158.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.01822298765182495', 'original_id': '91d1f86e40613a3ed4f0dcc6bf78c322443f3997db8352b37982cf0b1c6afb88'} |
1. Show students how optimizing the production process can help a firm keep costs low.
2. Teach students to distinguish between the short-run and long-run costs of production.
3. Help students understand the relationship between labor-intensive and capital-intensive production.
4. Make the lecture memorable to increase retention.
Production is one of the hardest economic concepts for students to learn. Students struggle with this aspect of microeconomics because they lack a fundamental understanding of what it takes to run a business efficiently. Most students have never considered the amount of money it takes to start and run a business so the language of cost (total cost, variable cost, fixed cost, marginal cost, and sunk cost) is foreign to them. In addition, this material is highly mathematical. Students who struggle with simple math and spatial relationships find the computation of cost data to be difficult and the visualization of cost curves to be nearly impossible.
To help introduce the topic of costs we recommend that you show Profits for Penny Blossoms to help your students understand that a firm must lower the cost of production in order to be able to effectively compete in the market.
As a follow up activity you are going to give your students a think-pair-share that looks like an impossible puzzle.
We suggest that your students work in teams of 3 so that they can help each other complete the table. Organize the groups and have them get out calculators.
It is very important that you give this activity a value (points) so that student are aware that they earn more points for completing more of the table correctly. You also need to establish a time limit (we suggest 5 minutes). We use a box in the center of the room and require all the team answers to be in the box inside of 5 minutes or the group does not earn any points. This artificial constraint is highly motivating and the level of engagement during the activity is very high.
When you are ready to begin show the following graphic and start a countdown timer:
Time Required:
The activity takes 5 minutes for students to complete but most groups will not be able to fill in all the blanks in that amount of time so it is crucial that you debrief them afterward. Spend another five minutes to fill in the missing parts of the table as you explain how you made each calculation. As you go through the table point out how you were able to use your understanding of the relationship between total, average and marginal costs to calculate the missing information.
Start with a question, “ Do you think you can memorize all the cost formulas for the next exam? The resounding answer will be no!
This reaction gives you the opening to say that you agree, “I don’t want you to memorize formulas – that is what spreadsheets are for! How did I solve the puzzle? I understood how average and marginal values relate to the totals. I understood that total fixed costs always remain the same in the short-run. When you understand how something works you don’t memorize anything, you simply get how it works – that is goal in this course.”
Penny learns about the costs of production.
Larger Video: Profits for Penny Blossoms | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9315823912620544}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '45737', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:4A24UQ4SV4QRNMMYXCNJSKGCS4TNIXFM', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:ec8ab085-745b-4672-a334-79ec256246c3>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2017, 10, 18, 7, 12, 24), 'WARC-IP-Address': '198.185.159.144', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:I4JPWESYXPJNZGF4RPRJA6TEVZXOPVBF', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:62997045-bb91-4ff3-8964-252bbcdd89e2>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.bazinganomics.com/costs-of-production', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:bd9c0cd6-86cc-4622-8952-23984aa69ed3>', 'WARC-Truncated': 'length'}", 'previous_word_count': '547', 'url': 'http://www.bazinganomics.com/costs-of-production', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-165-76-76.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-43\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for October 2017\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.2528951168060303', 'original_id': 'f9a6ccb9a229a9fde645f54c1ca9d17d24a7fbcc81617faba7830fdcadfccbc3'} |
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A Gentle Introduction to Rust | Hacker News
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Tags: rust
Clipped on: 2018-05-05
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Speaking as someone who's poked around at the edges of Rust and always come away frustrated, the Rust world does need a "gentle introduction". But while this document seems to understand that need, it gets messy pretty fast.
First of all, the introduction is all over the place, and poorly structured. There first section asks "Why Learn a new Programming Language?" but never answers that question (beyond "it's good mental exercise"), and follows it up with a section labelled "Where Rust Shines" that instead vaguely compares its memory management approach to C, calls C a "cowboy language", lists some of Rust's design components (not really even principles, just aspects of the language), and then starts giving advice for how to learn a programming language in general? What?
Next is Hello World, and immediately "Rust is a curly-braces language with semicolons, C++-style comments and a main function - so far, so familiar." Well, to C++/Java/Javascript programmers, maybe it is familiar. That may well be a huge part of your intended audience, but this gloss of the basics is a big red flag about what assumptions might be made further on.
"The exclamation mark indicates that this is a macro call. For C++ programmers, this can be a turn-off, since they are used to seriously stupid C macros"
Whoa, there, cowboy! This is Hello World! Mentioning macros at all should probably be reserved for a little later, much less vaguely referencing the C preprocessor's bad repuation. Then the tangent about "OMG, you mean I have to type an exclamation point!?" is telling, though. At this point in a gentle introduction, you probably shouldn't be already alluding to the trash talking about the language.
We aren't even past the first example. Further down the page, there's some big talk about how Rust favors explicitness, immediately followed by a discussion of how all the types are implicit and how confusing that can be. No mention of how you would remember that `f64` is the default floating point type...
This is a worthy attempt and probably a good first draft. It's definitely a document that needs to exist, but in its current state, it's an gentle intro that only a disaffected C++ programmer could love. But please keep working on it--I need something like this.
"Disaffected C++ programmer" is altogether too accurate characterization of the author :). I've been removing references to other languages because (a) it's confusing (b) can be dismissive ("trash talking") - a language should stand on its own merits. So yes, a first draft.
I try to express the paradox - that although Rust is about explicitness, type inference hides the actual concrete types chosen - `f64` and `i32` are examples. This needs to be made .. explicit.
Personally I don't think it's possible for people with no prior exposure to programming to learn Rust effectively - unless they are exceptional (in the sense of being 'unusual'). This is because of certain hard constraints when learning a systems language that can't simplify computational models with a garbage collector. So, everyone comes from somewhere - but very different places. That's a challenge I haven't handled well enough (yet).
Being gentle is hard. We have to identify the cliffs, and find alternative routes to the top. I really appreciate this criticism, by the way, since most of the feedback has been technical/typos up to now.
So the uses are pretty hardcore: operating systems, device drivers and embedded systems that might not even have an operating system
I think this falls a little short. Think of tools like ripgrep which make use of C/C++-class speed with higher level language features.
I'm a big fan of ripgrep, and there's been a minor revival of command-line tools exploiting the speed + higher-level + reusable-crates that Rust provides. So 'hardcore' is not correct. I've personally found it very effective at writing such tools - I struggle a little more, but debug less.
Let's not forget server-side: I'm still recovering from the trauma of mysterious segfaults when doing C++ on the server, which can easily happen with multithreading and are an absolute bastard to diagnose and fix.
While the default is `f64`, it's only used if the type can't be inferred otherwise.
If the author had changed the `f64` in the code sample to `f32`, type inference would have made the float literal to be an `f32` to match.
That is a little complicated to explain, but the UX is such that literals generally "just work".
I think you are a little unfair, expecting the guide to be towards complete beginners who would get confused by the language having curly braces or not...
Rust is not a first language, it's a systems programming language. For previous programmers, the guide looks pretty good to me.
> Rust is not a first language, it's a systems programming language.
Since when are sys prog langs not introductory languages anymore? I understand that using an dyn typed, interpreted, GCed lang is easier to get started with; but a whole (2) generation(s) of programmers has started with systems programming as their first experience, and I must say they seem well equipped for they jobs (maybe better so than those only exposed to Python/JS/Java/C# that leave higher educations nowadays).
I see it as two different educational strategies: easy first vs hard first. And even when easy first was not an option back in the days, it does not mean that hard first is a bad option nowadays.
A ref to this letter by Dijkstra may be on point (where he "discusses" the move from Scheme/Haskell to Python/Java in a university curriculum).
At my university course, we did C in the first year for all programming courses. THen onto C++ in year 2 onwards, but all the fundamentals were in C.
Now that same course goes straight to Java as the introductory language, alongside html / css and javascript.
Now any sort of low(er) level language is avoid until year 2 when they do a course on C / C++
Which seems ass backwards to me.
I also see some developers come into the industry now who have never done anything lower level than Java or javascript at all
I also thing that a systems programming language should be a must on for any CS degree. Just so you know how the software is written that underpins/compiles/provides-the-runtime-for what you are creating in a higher level language. It's the link between the software and the hardware that becomes truly evident in these languages.
Arguably, school curricula are driven by the industry's needs. People keep asking for Java and Javascript developers, so that's what they have students learn.
I guess my response to that would be, if you just go straight into Java then OK, you've made some Java developers... I think they will be poor developers who happen to know Java.
But if you teach them fundamentals of structuring software, compiler theory, how it all works at a lower level etc. Then teach them Java, you will have good developers, who also happen to know Java.
Thanks, that's a great letter which should get more exposure. The issue is ultimately vocational vs. professional. If someone wants to do data science then Python is appropriate, but someone who is going on to do CS is going to need something more rigorous. Traditionally there are two kinds of rigour (a) systems language with explicit memory management (learning the machine model) (b) functional language like Haskell or Scheme that forces a reboot of "what does programming mean?" and makes mathematical reasoning possible. With the right curriculum and supporting materials, Rust is nicely positioned to accommodate both kinds of rigour.
I'm not saying any way is better than the other. I see advantages/disadvantages either way. I do thing we should have a broad view, especially in higher education (not simply teach the specific trick that the industry needs, but teach generic skills that work no matter what field they are applied to).
While I was on the advisory board of an institution of higher education I tried to show them that "going with JS in the first year" because it is such a lingua franca is IMHO not the best choice. They did it anyway. They want the students to make flashy apps asap. I was proposing to use the SICP for the first years, mainly for two reasons:
* create a leveled playing field, as some students already know JS before starting the course
* learn concepts, not how-to-make-an-app (for which you have to know many techs that simply clutter the minds, like HTML and CSS)
Disagree. I think it does the (a) thing well, but only little of the (b) thing.
Rust could be really great first language. After learning Rust programmer will write much more safe code.
Personally I really dislike documentation with this tone, written as if speaking to a minor, even when I was 11 yrs old and getting to know what programming is like.
Really enjoyed the section on error handling. I had read similar sections in the rust book, but something about this explanation really made things click for me! As much as I love Rust, I personally found it a little difficult to get used to the error handling coming from an language like JS which cares little about appropriate handling
Parsing with `nom` seems like a pretty aggressive introduction to Rust :)
I got carried away with a personal enthusiasm. It happens :) `nom` is marvelous, but the hard bit with combinatorial parsers is getting them to spew out good error messages. By default they are like Prolog - the answer is 'no'.
What makes Rust still rather inaccessible for me is the difficulty in finding «functions I can apply to an argument of type X» and «functions that return a value of type Y» other than, “read every last bit of API doc about everything and memorize it”.
When you search in the API documentation, you will find 3 tabs at the top: "In Names", "In Parameters" and "In Return Types".
The official docs have limited support for it, if you search for i32[0] the default facet is "in names" but you can use the "in parameters" and "in return types" tabs for these. I don't know how well these handle abstract types and it's nowhere near hoogle convenience, but there you are (there were efforts to port/replicate hoogle a few years back but the few I remember seem to have been abandoned, specifying a search syntax is probably non-trivial as well given Rust's signatures are not as convenient as Haskell's there)/
That would be what Hoogle is for Haskell:
Could you start by grepping API docs?
> grepping API docs
Of course, but that's still painfully slow and awkward. It's exactly the kind of repetitive crap we programmers are born to automate.
4th post with this title from this author.
I would assume they really care about getting new Rust devs.
As a Go dev that learned programming via Zed Shaw's learn python the hard way, I have to say this tutorial made me want to learn rust. I've bookmarked for later, once I'm done learning dart/flutter.
Thanks Donovan
The tutorial is also avaliable at slash tutorial
Why does every single rust promoting article have to bash on c++?
They built a GC, good job. But, surely there is something else more worthy of typing about when hyping the language?
> Why does every single rust promoting article have to bash on c++?
Because it was built to be a C/C++ replacement.
> They built a GC, good job.
> Because it was built to be a C/C++ replacement.
That doesn't mean discussions including it have to bash C or C++. In fact, there is supposedly a very high standard in the official Rust community against bashing other languages.
Plenty of languages have completely replaced or circumvented C and C++ (i.e., out-competed them) in their respective niches without it being a heated two-minutes hate every time discussions come up.
I approve whole-heartedly of the "no zealotry" rule. (I seriously doubt that the Jehovah's Witnesses have achieved conversion rates commensurate with the effort expended.) That being said, C has problems, particularly the assumption of the "sufficiently smart programmer". Because I'm not smart enough, I appreciate the nagging of the Rust borrow checker, although to be honest it is a complete pain at first.
> That doesn't mean discussions including it have to bash C or C++.
One mans critique is another mans bashing. Though admittedly I did not really read the article.
To me, it feels like Rust really only has value to people who aren't already using C++14/17. The incremental benefit in certain areas is small, and it steps backwards in other areas.
«The incremental benefit in certain areas is small, and it steps backwards in other areas.»
As someone who doesn't know about C++ and Rust, can you elaborate on that?
Rust is better in that it enforces at language level best practices regarding memory use and thread safety, that are only possible in C++ via conventions or external tools like sanitizers.
C++ still wins down on available compilers, supported hardware and OSes, IDEs, debuggers, libraries, GUI tooling, SIMD, GPGPU, industry certifications for critical systems, ...
For example AUTOSAR just recently moved away from C to C++14 as suggested language for car computer systems, imagine how long it will take for them to suggest other language.
So nothing about ADT, pattern matching, modules, better std, explicit unsafe and cargo?
I skipped over modules, because Visual C++ and clang already have them in some form, it is a matter of getting them standardized in C++20.
Cargo is great, but C++ also has conan and vcpkg, eventually a standard one will emerge.
Also I do have an issue with Cargo's lack of support for binary libraries.
ADTs, while not as good as in ML languages, at least there is std::variant.
I kind of mentioned explicit unsafe when I refereed to the safety enforced at language level instead of conventions and sanitizers.
Pattern matching is a great feature across all ML based languages, there were already some attempts to add it to the C++ as well.
Yes. C++ has all of this in a crippled form. But it doesn't mean that C++ in on par with Rust.
Not from technical perfection point of view, but it is much easier to improve existing codebases than just rewriting the world.
One of the things Rust should focus on as productivity improvement is making that migration as easy as possible.
Right now I cannot justify from business perspective replacing C++ with Rust on the workflows we still use C++ for.
I'm not saying that you should ditch an existing C++ project.
But it doesn't mean that C++ as good as Rust. It's just wrong.
A programming language is not just a grammar and semantics.
The whole eco-system and community around a language is what defines it.
To give a more explicit example, until it reaches parity with C++ on .NET/UWP tooling, it just means less productivity in spite of being a technically better and safer language.
You did not list any steps backwards just that the ecosystem is less mature
Sure I did, lack of SIMD and GPGPU support for example.
If you prefer to be more specific, generics in Rust are still not as powerful as in C++, lacking const parameters and HKT, although they are coming.
Also compile time code execution is not yet supported, although quite a bit can be achieved with macros.
Assuming nothing catastrophic happens in the next five days, can be merged, by the way. So that'll be one thing off your list as of 1.27.
I write multithreaded code all the time. I simply do not encounter the amount of "pain" that is touted as the reason things like the borrow checker need to exist. Generally, you write abstractions around synchronization and asynchronous dispatch and then just use them. C++ works on platforms like PS4, mobile devices, embedded, and more already with good support from vendor toolchains. If I use Rust, I have to use all these wrapping libraries or write my own. Yea the syntax can be pretty in some ways, but I already have structured bindings in C++17 and a whole bunch of other things I can do.
Rust does work on game consoles, embedded platforms, mobile, and more as well.
That said, you should use tech that you’re happy with.
Yea I realize it compiles to LLVM and this can technically target anything. It's the toolchain, profiler, and debugger maturity that worries me.
> That said, you should use tech that you're happy with
Yea this summarizes what I was going for originally. Newcomers may benefit more learning Rust (I don't actually know this for sure).
Yeah, we’ll see. Chucklefish, as far as I know, has been happy. I did a presentation at an Activision studio yesterday. We’ll see!
Maybe I'm living in a special kind of bubble, but I have yet to meet a C++ programmer IRL who doesn't hate it.
There are dozens of us. Dozens! You need to search for programmers that have problems in the microsecond to millisecond scale.
Hello, now you know me. I leave that special spot for C.
Say what you want about C, but at least it doesn't require reading several LotR length books, to be up to date with all the stuff.
Sadly, Rust, seems to be getting a few tomes of its own as well :P
Actually it does, for anyone that cares about how to write portable and safe code in C.
There is this myth that C is a simple language, when devs stick to a single OS/compiler combo.
C is a simple language. It has order of magnitude less concepts than C++. It's application is complex.
In same way Lisp is a simple language, but its application can be just as complex.
Rust finally provides an alternative to C++ in one of the few niches that still mandated C/C++, and now that there is an alternative, it's easy for people to get carried away with evangelism.
I'm obviously a fan, but evangelism does not sit easily with engineering. Can alienate outsiders, and pump up a positive bubble in which sound criticism might be neglected. (In fact, /r/rust has a 'no zealotry' rule.) This submission was not my idea, even though I'm not _too_ embarrassed.
Who built a GC?
Manishearth did, as an experiment. :)
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Zetter Townhouse, Marylebone
October 8, 2015
The first time I went to the new Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone, I walked straight passed it. I knew that the Zetter group was no normal hotel group, but the townhouse was so unassuming, and so ‘un-hotel like’, I questioned google maps a few times before I found it. And what a beautiful house it is; an elegant, warm red brick Georgian building with windows inviting you to have a peek in (though clearly I was too fixed on google maps to do so).
Walking into the ‘lobby’ is also not like walking into a hotel. Instead, it feels like you’re walking into someone’s (grand) home. It’s more a cosy living room than anything else, with dark red walls covered in art, big comfy sofas, quirky antiques, old framed photographs and an elegant grand father clock. It was apparently modelled on John Soane’shouse, and there is a clear resemblance. ‘Uncle Seymour’ hangs proudly above the fireplace – and it is this fictional character which the hotel is based on. Marylebone’s new Zetter Townhouse is effectively ‘borrowed’ from Uncle Seymour while he’s on his travels. We are his guests, lest we forget it.
The place is proudly British, with eccentric touches. I loved all the small details, the beautifully hand painted lift doors (the peacock lift is my favourite), the rugs on the bed which once kept the royal horses warm and delicious REN bath products.
There are only 22 rooms (starting at around £250 per night), and each room is very different. Some have huge stately four poster beds, others have gramophones, and the Edward Lear suite has an outdoor tub (to be honest, all the rooms have very impressive baths).
Seymour’s Parlour cocktail lounge (i.e the red room I described initially) is open for breakfast (popular with non-residing guests too) until late. And the cocktails are as punchy as they are at the Zetter in Clerkenwell (I highly recommend the Valais Fizz, with Arquebuse Vodka, Lime, Fir Essence & soda). You can also grab a bite to eat here, with small sharing plates and ‘Seymour’s famous potted pleasures’ like the potted shrimp.
I loved the feel of the place, and can imagine that those people who dislike the larger, less personal chain hotels which London has so many of, would absolutely love this quirky but loveable Zetter Townhouse. And while it may lack the facilities (no gym/spa/proper restaurant as such), it massively makes up for it in style and character.
And if you need somewhere to go post cocktails here, you’re round the corner from my favourite Seymour Place, with the new Lurra restaurant with Basque grilled tapas, or the Southern American Lockhart with the new Showdowncocktail bar below, or even the new Italian Bernardi’son the corner.
The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone has also just been crowned ‘City Hotel of the year’ by the Sunday Times, which they can certainly be proud of. Most definitely worth a visit!
About Me
My name is Aurelia van Lynden.
Born in London with an Anglo-Dutch background, I have lived in and experienced many European cities but have been living in London for the past five years. With a passion for city breaks and working in luxury travel, I travel as much as possible. Through City Turtle I can share the newest and best places to go, in Europe and beyond. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '1ae901a312a2e36f8f9c778fde2fd8aff406ea2323f27291a057599703310333'} |
According to this discussion on Stack Overflow, we should make a distinction between race conditions and data races. This blog post defines the terms and gives a neat example where the code is modified to exhibit zero, one or both behaviours.
Here’s an example of a race condition – the ordering of the execution affects the outcome (this can occur if one thread checks a value then performs an action, giving another thread the change to mutate the variable in between): | mini_pile | {'original_id': 'bc7b9c65715b0bf3c131f39cf0bf9ce3f80f02c7ea6955c86c02e87bbee34300'} |
May 19, 2013
Hera, Help Me, I Hated Star Trek Into Darkness
It pains me to have to write this but last night I saw Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot, and I hated it.
Before I go on I should mention two things: a love of Trek was instilled in me at a very young age, it has always been part of my life, and I liked (not loved) the rebooted Star Trek but was behind the effort to take the franchise in an new direction.
But guess what? They kind of threw that out the window with Star Trek Into Darkness. Why? Because they recycled an old story and thought it would make them look incredibly clever to viewers. At least that's how I saw it.
The mystery surrounding Benedict Cumberbatch's casting took over most of the press written about the film early on. Pretty much everyone's first thought was that he'd be playing Khan and although he was "revealed" as John Harrison later in the game, we all still knew he'd turn out to be someone else when all was said and done. After seeing the film, I'm not quite sure why they wanted to keep this a secret. Could it be because it was a really terrible idea? Quite possibly.
I was with the film up to a point - I believe the point was when Cumberbatch said his name was Khan - and then it sped downhill like an Olympic gold medal bobsled team. I hoped we were all wrong, I hoped it wasn't actually Khan, but at the very least if it was, I hoped they'd do something really unique with the character.
They didn't.
The crew of the Enterprise haven't evolved much since we last saw them. They've been going on missions but Kirk is still Kirk, and Spock is still Spock. And that's pretty much it because this is the Kirk and Spock show. Seriously. I actually felt sorry for the rest of the cast because no one else had a chance to shine or even really act together as a crew. Uhura got to speak Klingon, Sulu got to sit in the captain's chair and sound badass for about 10 seconds, Scotty shut down an enemy ship and opened an air lock, Bones got to say funny things, and Chekov...ran around a lot. What a waste of a tremendous group of actors. I won't go into Dr. Carol Marcus all that much but suffice to say, her purpose in the film was minimal and they made her stand around in underwear for absolutely no reason. We didn't even see an actual display of the intelligence she was touted to have.
And then we have Khan. Cumberbatch was phenomenal in the role, there's no question about that. I really hope he gets nominated for tons of awards for it and that it leads to many more high-profile gigs for him. But the whole film was a poor use of the source material. The audience wasn't given a compelling reason to believe in what Khan was doing or why it was really all that bad considering what happened to him. It would have served the story so much more had we actually seen Khan with his people and what they went through instead of just telling us about them.
I still could have been on board with using Khan had something interesting been done with him. For a while during the film, it seemed as if he would actually wind up being a good guy, someone who sides with Kirk and his crew to take down the actual evil in the film, Admiral Marcus, and help the Federation fight the Klingons in a possible third installment. That didn't happen.
And then Kirk decided he was going to enter the Enterprise's warp core.
I physically had to stop myself from shouting at the screen and walking out at this point. I envisioned the writers discussing what they were going to do with the film and saying, "It'll be great! We'll do the EXACT SAME THING as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan but we'll flip it on its head and NO ONE WILL SUSPECT! This is so clever!"
Except it absolutely is not. The whole point of the Star Trek reboot was to keep things vaguely familiar but alter history so they had free reign to do whatever they wanted with the franchise. So they could boldly go, as it were. And they decided to copy the franchise instead. It's one thing to decide this is the direction you're going in, it's another to execute it in the worst way possible.
Like, shit, seriously? Kirk was dead for all of 15 minutes, making sure the plot point had no emotional impact whatsoever. And having Quinto scream Kirk's otherwise trademark "KHAAAAAAAAN!" might take the new top spot for scenes that make me want to vomit. I understand they thought it was an emotional break for an otherwise emotion-lite character but it was cheesy as hell. For a longtime, hardcore fan of the franchise, it was annoying to expect exactly what was going to happen, realize how terrible it would be, and then see it played out just that way.
And don't even get me started on Old Spock spilling the beans on Khan when he should have kept his mouth shut.
Star Trek Into Darkness was incredibly hollow for me. Not just as a Trek fan but as a moviegoer. I'm all for mindless action films now and then but that's not what Star Trek is in our culture. At least, it didn't used to be. When you think back on the legacy of the previous films, there was always a point or lesson to be had, even if it was kind of lame (The Final Frontier, I'm looking at you.) This film had none of that. The only possible thing I could take away from it was a lesson in friendship but even that seems trite considering we don't really get a chance to see the crew interact in such a way. They're too busy dealing with explosions, you see?
Perhaps new Trek just isn't for me. That makes me sad but I can come to terms with it. At the end of Star Trek Into Darkness, we see the crew departing on a five-year mission, a term that harkens back to the original series. We can only hope this is what makes them into what they should be - a team, explorers, and a family.
william said...
I felt the same was about the Khan reveal and the Trek II rehashing. after thinking about it, I came to terms a little bit with it when I realized they're still the same characters, given a similar situation, they'd react more or less a similar way. But the blood set up was too obvious and Spock's Khan scream was unnecessary and misdirected. Admiral Marcus did the damage to the warp core, not Khan. I loved the 1st Trek, this one kinda hurt a little.
Unknown said...
Maybe in this Trek universe the old axiom of "every even numbered Trek is a good Trek" is also turned on it's head and every even numbered Trek is crap?
Cyril said...
I just got out of the theater, and while I initially enjoyed the film for what it was, the more I think about it, the more I realize how much I was left wanting after the credits rolled.
Like you said, there was absolutely limitless places they could have taken this story seed (see what I did there) and used it as a vehicle to tell a new and interesting story about Kahn. I was holding out the hope that they were going to pull one over on us and actually have Cumberbatch as John Harrison, and have the coordinates he gave be the location of the Seed Ship where they might find Kahn and his crew. Instead we find a heavily armed dreadnaught that serves absolutely no function in the story other than to "be menacing."
All that aside, I think one of the fundamental problems I'm having about the film isn't the story that was told, but rather how it was told. There's a tremendous amount of things that happen off screen that we just have to trust happens how it was supposed to happen. My wife made the point to me that it makes sense from the point that we're operating on the same level and amount of information as Kirk, but I'm not sure I buy it. I feel like this screenplay broke one of the cardinal rules of film making (and storytelling in general) in that I sincerely felt I was "told" more than I was "shown." There was definitely some material that they could have cut to work in a scene about Marcus and Kahn, but instead we're treated to Kirk rolling under the covers with two cat-girls and flirting with Starfleet cadets. The pacing also felt really jerky to me. There was a definite beginning, and there was maybe an end in sight, but everything else in the middle felt muddled and confused.
I had high hopes for this one, and I hope they can salvage something out of this story for the third installment. Definitely not Abrams's finest outing.
snell said...
It seems Abrams and company have adopted the Battlestar Galactica motto for their nuTrek: "All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again." I was actually enjoying the film for the first 3/4, but then the descent into plagiarism and creative bankruptcy completely lost me.
Teek Vids said...
I enjoyed the movie a lot more than the first, but I definitely see where you're coming from. Mirroring the whole warp core\Kaaaaahn thing was cringe worthy but it didn't sink the movie for me. It was more of an "okay, so this is the kind of ride we're on" thing.
Don't get me wrong, the movie was stupid as hell, but I was more annoyed with the bad science and pathetic script than any particular crimes against Trek history.
Amy said...
All of this!
Also, why did Bones have a dead tribble with him?!
Small Vox said...
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? No really, I enjoyed the film & once I realized what was coming when I saw the Tribble and the warp-core story lines develop - that we were getting more of "homage" to all things past I settled in and took it for that. Yes, I would have loved Khan the rebel fighter against Starfleet's blood lust for the Klingons, let's rebuild Starfleet possibilities, but hey the F/X were great, and though I do wish they'd dropped a little more info with Adm Markus / Khan's history with filming that, rather than do the WHOLE thing with exposition, (so. much. exposition.) I realize just how hard it is to do the adventure and the funny AND the homage... However, I do so hope that any films going forward spend some time exploring an updated and new version of ST lore.
One other observation regarding the recycling - is it possible this was a whole "hey everyone, we know you're nervous about the reboot, and we MIGHT hand off to a new director the next time out - like Harry Potter did - so we'll keep things nice and "safe" these first two outings, and that'll be fun too. Yay for nostalgia!" ?
Medeevil said...
The movie was very good, the "purists" among you need to quit over thinking everything and just enjoy it...sheesh!
artofstu said...
I loved it. I think this movie has way more going for it than it has detracting from it. It's a pity that some people can't simply enjoy it for what it is.
Blind Squirrel said...
Your review does not surprise me in the slightest. Has J.J.Abrams done ANYTHING original since Felicity?
Jim said...
Not liking a bad movie has nothing to do with being a "purist". Quit dismissing legitimate concerns with a holier-than-thou comment.
I, like Jill, enjoyed the first movie, even if I had to turn my brain off. This movie was poorly (one even might say, lazily) written.
Here Be Dragons. said...
Oh, it wasn't that bad. I agree that the rest of the crew were kinda wasted, especially Sulu and Chekov, and the douchey internet let the cat out of the bag early about Benedict's character. But past that it was really entertaining.
Next movie I need to see some actual trekking however. TOO MUCH EARTH!
Andrew said...
I also had a lot of problems with the movie, but they were not the same problems you had, Jill. In fact, I actually really liked some of the things that you really hated. By far, the thing I agree on most is the "Kirk and Spock show" idea. The rest of the cast was highly underutilized.
Here's a list of my top issues with the movie.
#1 ***Where are the Andorians?!*** Or Tellarites? or even one or two other vulcans? (I realize the vulcans are mostly all dead) Or ANY other actual established federation species? Why couldn't Kirk have been in bed with two hot blue ladies with white hair and antenae? Honestly, as lame a use as that would have been, I would have taken it. As is, there wasn't a single established species represented in the entire movie.
#2 Where the f*** did McCoy get a tribble?!
#3 I'm not generally one to point this out, but this movie was preposterously sexist. I'm surprised you (Jill) didn't address this more deeply. The combined effect of (1) the long gaze upon Carol in her underwear for NO reason whatsoever, (2) the fact that all anyone could talk about when McCoy and Carol go to defuse the torpedo is how they want to flirt with her, (3) Uhura being taken from an unflappable, intellectual, and independant member of the bridge crew (Nichols) to basically Spock's unprofessionally distracted and weepily overly-emotional girlfriend (Saldana), (4) the fact that the women's unifroms are even skimpier (and sleeveless) than the original series, which takes a lot, AND (5) the continued lack of the only other female crew members: Christine Chapel (that quick mention doesn't cut it) and Yoeman Rand, made me sad and uncomfortable throughout the movie. I found Kirk's womanizing somewhat appropriate and humorous, but they definitely overplayed it. Overall, this just made me sad. The original series was so progressive and ground-breaking. This movie took one giant leap backwards.
#4 Dare I get into the latent racism (and persepective sexism) necessary to re-cast a role requiring physical superiority and sex appeal that was originally portrayed by one of the most notable latino actors in American TV and film with a weird, skinny, wonky-eyed, white Englishman with messed up teeth? I mean, I like Cumberbatch a lot, but Khan? The perfect human specimen? Really?! I think not. speaking of racism, even though that awesome bald lady took the helm for HALF THE MOVIE, she was never even addressed by name. That made me a little sad.
#5 Pine demonstrates, above and beyond, that he ain't no Shatner. I'm really surprised by how much I now appreciate Will Shatner's acting chops. Shatner played Kirk. Pine plays the character that Kirk wants to be, without any of the fun and bombast that Shatner brought to the role. Overall, kind of seemed like he was phoning it in.
The more I think about the movie, the more it disappoints. I enjoyed it a lot while I was watching it, but I keep finding things about it that just make me sad.
Sorry for the long comment.
Clearly I had some venting to do.
seminole51 said...
I have read so many negative reviews of this movie that it actually has me wondering how, as a Trek fan, I very much enjoyed it. Were there scenes of EXTREME cheesiness and others that weren't very "Trek"? Absolutely. Uhura and Spock squabbling in the shuttle on Kronos immediately comes to mind. And of course as everyone seems to think, the "KHAAAANNNNN" line was completely unnecessary. BUT, I went into this movie to be entertained. Eat my popcorn and forget about real life for 2+ hours. And that is exactly what happened. For me it was non-stop action from beginning to end. I for one, loved the little homages thrown into some scenes (e.g. Sulu saying how he could get used to the Captain's chair), or entire plot lines (Adm. Marcus's agenda mirroring the plot from Undiscovered Country). Was it "lazy writing"? Maybe. Even though this is a reboot in an alternate universe, what law says some events cannot happen regardless?? As one of the other commenters pointed out, the movie ends with them leaving for the 5-year mission. Well, tribbles and Kahn werent discovered until after that point in TOS. So it happened a little different in this one... so what? I do wish some characters had some more screen time as yes, Kirk and Spock did dominate the screen. However, they ARE the two main characters. That would be like someone complaining that Luke and Vader dominate screen time in Star Wars. Some people will read this and think I have my head up my ass, but this is just one person's take on the movie. I liked it, Im a Trek fan, always will be. For those of you that didnt enjoy it, I hope you like the next one 3-4 years from now.
Kim M. (Cliff Cave) said...
Totally agree, Jill. I can't just "shut up and enjoy it" when the sexism was so overt (which, even in the sixties, Kirk wasn't near as bad and the women were more professional), the science was terrible, and the story line a mess of rehashing stuff that casual fans would recognize and surrounding it with explosions. Abrams has said he wants to make Star Trek for "everyone else" but what he wants is to make Star Trek "dumb because people are dumb and my script is going to treat them that way."
Jeffrey said...
"Pandering to the old, while hopefully giving the new audience who has never watched the show or older films" was probably the pitch. Yes I could have lived without the warp core scene, the Khan cry, the needless death of Kirk. However, none of these however caused me to hate the film though.
I did not like that Nicholas Meyer was never credited, since they nicked the elements from all three of his films he had worked on. I felt that some contrived and unoriginal. I felt like slipping in Mudds ship, The Tribble, and little Easter eggs where there to appease the Trekkies, but failing to understand that every plot device we has seen in Star Trek 2, 3 & 6.
I think they were playing it safe, even though I believe what worked the first time was that the did the unthinkable. They wanted to try and please both new fans and us old ones. The sad thing is that it is us old fans that have been around for the best & the worst for at least for me over 35 years.
All in all, was it regurgitated material? Yes, was it a safe film without a real threat that made you worry like the first? Yes. But did I like the film? Yes, I loved it. It was fun and even though I hated some of it, I liked most of it. The positive is: they make money, realize what they did wrong, rework and go back to what works for the next film.
Travis Langley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Travis Langley said...
While I enjoyed the movie more than you did, I agree it has problems. Benedict Cumberbatch plays a villain well, but he has limited range and I never thought I was watching Khan. The mystery was pointless. To maintain mystery, they can't cast someone who can play the character? We can make a long list of the movie's problems, but for me, that's the biggest one.
Faux Gamer said...
I haven't the new one yet. after the first one I've tried to adopt the same attitude that allowed me to enjoy the new BSG:
Just because all the proper names are the same, it doesn't necessarily follow it's the same franchise.
I've always been of the opinion that if your plan to remake/reboot/reimagine something results in major changes, it's better to simply start with a clean slate.
Over the years I've determined Star Trek is not a movie franchise. Yes, it's sci-fi and yes as such it includes special effects. But that doesn't make it suitable to the role sci-fi it thrust into moviewise: Big effects, action packed blockbuster.
Star Trek as a show was always closer to period piece movies than the role sci-fi has played on the big screen. And the TV implementations as a whole have been at their best when the stories were focused into the 1 episode time frame or given a long period story arc. This is at odds with Hollywood's pursuit of the $100 million weekend 1.5 to 2 hours at a time.
I did like the 1st of the JJ Abrams movie. But whether or not I consider this version to meet my personal standard/expectation/opinion of Star Trek will wait until I see ST:ID.
Even if it's a 'not Star Trek', I won't let that keep me from appreciating anything good it has to offer, just like with the Moore version of BSG.
Kinda of got carried away, so I'll end with: \\//_ Nerd out and geek.
David Bingham said...
I loved it. Re working and mirroring was perfectly acceptable. To those who are new Trekkies, it worked as an exciting sci-fi adventure. To older Trekkies if you have a kind of pseudo-religious mania for "an authentic undiluted trekkie" experience that brooks no alternative vision you really should get over yourself and get out more.
10/10 for me.
Jill Pantozzi said...
I love the people who comment on negative reviews as if not liking a film they liked is a crime or that they must insult the person because they disagreed.
Take a deep breathe, it will all be ok. Me not liking the film doesn't take away from your enjoyment of it. :)
keyser soze said...
As a hardcore trekkie (I have the insignia tatoo on my left chest to prove it), I was pleased with the film. Was it perfect, no, but the second movie in any franchise is alway a little weak. As for your complaint about alice eve in her underware, come on, star trek has always had attractive women scantily clad. After all it is sci-fi and scantily clad attractive women is a sci-fi staple. Not only that but kirk has to take a peak, HE IS KIRK after all. But she should so strength when she got annoyed at kirk and said "I said turn around." Plus they are setting the two of them up for a future romance, how else is Dr. Carol Marcus going to give birth to Kirk's son. It would have been sexist is she was parading around half nake just to try to get kirk's attention, which she didn't do. She is a strong enough character to throw a metaphorical well deserved punch to a "I'm going to sneak a peek" kirk. Which only makes him respect her (ya I said it) and want to win her over even more. Why you say, a strong personality like kirk can't help being attracted to member of the opposite sex who is just as hard headed and strong willed as he is. The whole under ware bit showed that she is possibly the only woman who can put kirk in place. Atleast that's how I viewed as a guy.
Sorry for the long rant, and no jill this is not an attack on you review lol
Comrade Stalin said...
"We never saw a display of her intelligence." (EVE)
We CLEARLY see she is both capable as a leader under pressure and is a competent scientist when she SAVED not only her own life but that of Bones when she disarmed a torpedo that was about to explode.
She also lent CRUCIAL information on the make and methodology of the 72 torpedoes, as well her act of secreting onto the FLAGSHIP of Starfleet is not a small task either.
Kirk looked at her when she was naked because he has a penchant for acting without thinking, it is a recurring theme in the films franchise. There was plenty of nudity from both sides and just because there wasn't an elaborate tale about 'why she undressed' doesn't really matter.
You FORGET that this is FAR into the future. In this future we don't have money or any monetary need, everything is different in a word.
I find it funny you emulate your 21st century sensibilities onto a 23rd century setting.
Your criticism is misplaced and honestly just sounds like vein whining from yet another misinformed neo-feminist.
Jill Pantozzi said...
You are truly adorable, Comrade Stalin. Everything is DIFFERENT in the 23rd century...except men still treat women like a piece of meat. Thanks for reading!
Taranaich said...
Ms Pantozzi, you've been a lot kinder on the film than I was. I, like many others, was suitably diverted by the film: it was reasonably well directed, had a LOT of love from the make-up/props/effects department, the actors all clearly had a ball, and it was a fun couple of hours.
But Star Trek, it ain't.
See, there's a misunderstanding that Trek purists don't want change: they don't want it to be bold or daring or make alterations. They just want Roddenberry, Coon, Jeffries, Theiss, and the original crew, maybe Meyer for the movie era. But for me, the precise reason this reboot franchise bothers me is because it isn't remotely daring enough.
For all the much-touted attempts to make itself all hip and cool and different, this is still the story of the crew of the Starship Enterprise, with the same cast members, the same aliens (for the most part), the same visual and audio motifs. Despite this being an "alternate universe", everything is TOO familiar. If they wanted to be really bold, then why have Kirk as captain? Why have the crew at all? Why have the Enterprise?
Because it's not "new" at all. It's the old with a splash of paint, infused with storylines from Campbell 101. Put the visuals, actors, sound aside: the story has NOTHING. It has none of the imagination, candour, courage or intellect which made the original Star Trek great. "Oh, but sometimes you just want to have fun at the theatre" - for Christ's sake, are you really going to argue there's a dearth of popcorn Sci-Fi flicks these days?
Star Trek was different. Although it had spaceships and battles and whatnot, it also challenged you on some level. It had something to say about the human condition. This set out to be another dime-a-dozen popcorn movie with a sexy cast and lots of action, and it succeeded. But it's no more legitimate as Star Trek than a Saturday Night Live parody.
Apaologies for the rant, but suffice to say, I appreciate the review.
Dean Hacker said...
Thanks for the review. I largely agree with it, although hate is a bit strong. My reaction was more one of deepening disappointment.
First, the previous film had done a lot of heavy lifting to enable a new series of films that borrowed the best of the old franchise while telling new stories, or at least new versions of old stories. It is amazing that given the chance to wrap "Space Seed" and "Wrath of Khan" into one story that this is the best they could do. The cold open was set-up for a better movie that essentially stopped 15 minutes in. Most of the problems flowed from there.
Second, Dr. Carol Marcus was such a waste. The core USS Enterprise cast needs more estrogen. Adding Dr. Marcus as the new Science Officer was a good idea. Alice Eve was well cast in the part. She has a Star Trek look and can act. Her close up USS Vengeance was one of the highlights of the film.
With that said, she was badly shoehorned into the main plot. Her defining scenes were defined by her subordinate relationships to various men (i.e. her father, assisting Dr. McCoy and acting as eye candy for Kirk). The last example has garnered the most criticism, since it is both obvious and wholly unearned. If you want to mix some female nudity into a Star Trek plot, there are literally dozens of ways to accomplish it. It is a franchise that accepts that element more easily than anything this side of Game of Thrones. Put Kirk and Marcus in a unisex airlock/decontamination chamber. Let them have a smart professional exchange about the plot while changing clothes. Ta-Da! You have nudity for the audience while making a mild point about gender equality in the 23rd century workplace.
Finally (and most damningly), it failed as an action movie. It has been widely and correctly noted that Star Wars is an action-driven franchise and Star Trek is not. The reboot essentially recast Star Trek in the mode of Star Wars. Fine.
Even accepting the above, Star Trek has different tools to make action set pieces than Star Wars. Star Wars borrowed heavily from westerns and samurai films. It works best with one-on-one fights scenes. Star Trek works at exactly the opposite end of the scale. The best Star Trek action scenes are large scale Naval battles in space. It is a totally different tradition. Narrowing down the fight scenes excludes the large (and largely wonderful) cast from too much of the action.
dlawyer said...
C'mon Jill! Naw, I felt the same. I remember sitting there watching it, and picking out word-for-word dialogue and specific lines straight from Star Trek II Wrath of Kahn, and then about fell out of comfy theater seat when they essentially reversed the roles of Kirk and Spock, and had kirk say the lines that spock had said in Star Trek II....I remember whispering "really? they couldn't come up with anything original?" Oh well.... I still liked it although definitely not as much as its predecessor.
Jacob Divett said...
Spot on. You'd think Trek woud've left the sexism behind, but they very much have not. And the warp core thing and the tribble coming back to life... it was all too much.
Steve Reinagel said...
I'm with you completely, and being raised on the original series as well has left these films with much to be desired. It sucks when halfway through the movie you come up with a way to make it so much better, and you can't get it out of your head for the rest of the film.
Kahn is an iconic character. Before Cumberbatch makes his announcement, I kept thinking how similar he looked to Kahn's 2nd in command in the original movie - actor Judson Scott, who dies speaking the line "Yours is the superior intellect" (brilliantly delivered, by the way - I was never sure if he was being sardonic or genuine). So I'm sitting there thinking 'Yeah, he should THAT character, his mission in this film to free his commander and idol Khan, and... set it up to have Khan appear in the third movie! And if Kirk has so much trouble dealing with one of Khan's underlings (who are also genetically enhanced), then how much more of a badass would Khan come across in the next film'.
Well, that was it for me. After going down that path the rest of the film didn't have a chance.
It also didn't help that the film confused me from the get-go. Knowing that Khan's ancestry is Indian/Middle-Eastern, and then showing us a father and child of that descent, I kept thinking we were being shown Khan's origin and the seeds of his motivation, but no. So that also got me thinking how interesting it would have been to have started the movie with that story - earth in chaos and Khan as a brilliant warlord - too brilliant and dangerous to be allowed to continue and know the rest. The more I write this the more I wish I could've seen that on the big screen. Cumberbatch was indeed great in the role, but he just didn't look right for a character whose name is Khan Noonien-Singh. I hate to say I'm done with the reboot, but I'm done.
Steve Reinagel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
n8h@wk said...
I found you via watching Comic Book Heroes recently. I'm glad I did. I LOVE YOU. Your look on this movie, especially, made me so giddy. I felt the same way about it. I didn't like that Trek got rebooted, but the first movie was decent (except for the blowing up of Vulcan) and I figured well if this reboot can make my girlfriend, at the time, like something she outright said she hated then maybe it's not going to be so bad.
Until THIS joke of a sequel came out. TWoK is my all-time favorite Trek movie and JJ & Crew literally raped it! Instead of killing Spock, let's kill Kirk. Instead of Kirk screaming Khan's name in a believable and pained way after he kills Kirk's son, let's have Spock scream it in an awkward and this doesn't sound right coming out of his mouth way after Kirk "dies". And let's bring Kirk back with magic tribble blood, everyone loves Tribbles right?
I was just appalled at how they did that to TWoK instead of, as you said, doing something totally original. My brother liked it, but he only saw maybe one Trek movie and a few episodes here and there, so I had to explain to him why I was so irritated with this movie. Which, after I did, he understood.
I just want to say thanks for this honest review and for reading comics, and having boobs. You have a new fan, although I don't have boobs myself; not unless you count man-boobs. LOL
J.J.Abrams.Word to all Trekkies.Lost,Alias.Do you people expect the guy who fracked those shows,will bring anything good to star trek?Do us all a favor-stop rushing out to see everything with the Star Trek put on it.Pretty soon,the movies stop being made.Second Star Trek was ment for tv-not the movies.They only started the movies,not for the fans,but to compete with other propertie-starting the word ''star'' as in ''star wars''
1701earlgrey said...
I hate Abram's reboot of "Star Trek". I hate it so much that I didn't even saw $tupid Trek 2013 and I never will.
And you pretty much stated two main reasons why this reboot sucks. That they are mindless action movies and that there is no originality about them. And it's not just new movie that it's unoriginal, it's also 2009 reboot. C'mon, 2009 movie was clone of "Star Trek: Nemesis" - it was about crazy, bald, Romulan miner who have super duper spaceship and magical technology and who want to destroy Earth for some stupid reason! How oryginal! Of course "Nemesis" was just a clone "Wrath of Khan", so 2009 movie is just copy of a copy. That makes "$tupid Trek: Into stupidity" - copy of a copy of a copy. We have two "clones" of Khan before now we have rebooted Khan, and of course he have big super duper ship... Wake me up when they think up something new, not just this same tired old story of supervillain with uber ship who wants revenge
Matt Youde said...
Wow I agree, but my issues with the whole reboot is the mechanics. the turned phasers(beam) into the flashy pulse weapons. And the killing point for me was "they took the enterprise from you, their sendind you back to the academy." Okay what screwed up universe where people go from cadet to Captain back to cadet. I know the whole new timeline thing but hey that doesn't change our military history. I would like to know any of you service men heard of a Private(AF/Army/Marines) or Cadet(Navy) being promoted to Colonel or Captain in any instance? I could go on for ages on all the little messed up things but bottom line I hate Abrams and the new writing team for killing my childhood(Trek fan since I was 5).
regeya said...
If you hate deus ex machina and you're watching Star Trek, you're going to have a bad time.
regeya said...
Unknown said...
Hollywood was too busy looking at $$ and tried to push out a movie before they had a decent script. They had established a rebooted universe but no story to tell.
Sharon Kashro said...
actually, the reboot is entirely bad. hollow, as you said, nothing except chip drama and i think j.j was just trying to make star trek work as an action movie, for "everybody" and make more money. that "helicopter
like terror attack scene. i mean, this could never happen on the older shows, why? because its the 23rd century, and nobody could pull off something like that. you can accpet that kind of a scene in am 80's stalone action movie, where it belongs, and where it came from, i belive. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '17', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9814859628677368}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '151537', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:ZYFC7KVYAHHCQMMRFQ4P3HHSRN6OOENP', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:7e34e4ac-97b5-4e6d-90e6-a4e73c403296>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2014, 8, 2, 2, 35, 59), 'WARC-IP-Address': '74.125.29.121', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:V7PFO6YA4Q46KSI2EY6WOXS7Y6YXAF2Q', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:b4d9b999-5657-4393-9024-2b0fc04b5e3c>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.thenerdybird.com/2013/05/hera-help-me-i-hated-star-trek-into.html', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:d80db864-ed1f-41e1-bf01-86983a27673d>', 'WARC-Truncated': 'length'}", 'previous_word_count': '6196', 'url': 'http://www.thenerdybird.com/2013/05/hera-help-me-i-hated-star-trek-into.html', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2014-23\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for July 2014\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.12993979454040527', 'original_id': '00ef5238301556b07821aa8905acff36d10e472cdc1ff0491f48a0349d3c33ba'} |
From the beginning of time this world has been haunted by people who say that you can’t, and people who hope that you won’t. My question is, why?
Why are there so many haters, instead of motivators? Wouldn’t the world be a happier place if it were just filled with the type of individuals who say that you can, people who think that you can, and people who hope that you can? Yes, most definitely. I believe that a lot more would be accomplished if the world was not populated with so many doubters, and filled with so many haters.
I see jealousy, spite, doubt, and criticism on a daily basis. I hear it in gossip, I view it on social media, and I feel it in my own life. I witness people talking behind other people’s backs, I hear the negativity in tones of voices, I see the looks on faces as somebody watches another person trying so hard to climb out of the life they have, into the life that they desire. The looks that say, How dare you? Why do you think you deserve that? Who do you think you are?
You know those looks. Chances are you’ve seen them. Felt them. Even believed them. Chances are you’ve had ideas that have been shot down, dreams that seemed too big, and hopes that you were told were too high. You may even have listened to the haters, and let the doubts creep in. Instead of being motivated forward, you were hated backward. That is just so sad.
There are too many people out there willing to tell you that you can’t, and not near enough people out there willing to tell you that you can.
So what do you do when it seems like the whole world is playing mind games with your dreams? You let the haters do their thing. You let the haters motivate you.
I call these people, these particular downers, moti-haters. The pessimistic people who just want to see you:
Don’t let them. Do not let them crush your spirit, steal your ambition, or stomp on your dreams. Let their negativity be a driving force for your own personal positivity. Love yourself and your dreams so much that it drives them crazy. Let the hate motivate, because if you do, if you push forward, if you defy the disapprovers, you will come out on top.
I’m telling you my friend, if God put a dream in your heart, it’s there for a purpose. Whether you believe that or not, God believes in you. No matter what! Push forward, fuel your fight for your dream with the words of moti-haters in your ears, and set the world ablaze with your thoughts, your words, your art, your ideas, your generosity, your music, your service, and your hopes.
Do not let hate get in the way. People are always going to talk, and that’s okay. The talk comes from hate and hate comes from fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of being surpassed, and the fear of watching somebody else win, and being afraid to try for yourself, and fear of being left behind.
Fear is scary, and fear can be ugly. So the next time you see hate, experience hate, or perhaps participate in self-hate, realize that all of it, jealousy, criticism, doubt, all of it stems from a fearful heart. Don’t you dare join in the fear fest. Be brave. Be you. Be the person God created you to be. That’s how you conquer fear. That’s how you eliminate hate. That’s how you win in front of your enemies, all those horrible haters who want you to fail. That’s how you beat the worst hater of all, the ultimate liar, and the one who loves to crush your dreams.
The devil always whispers, You can’t. You won’t. It’s not possible. He loves to watch you fail, become discouraged and see you quit. Do not give him, or anybody else for that matter, that particular satisfaction.
I want you to try something. I want you to picture the people who want you to fail. Picture the looks on their faces if you quit. Can you see them? Those smug looks. The mocking smiles. The superior sparkle in their critical eyes. These people are your moti-haters. When you see them in your mind’s eye, how do they make you feel? Angry? Don’t get mad, just get motivated!
Now close your eyes and imagine these same people, these same moti-haters. Picture them watching you succeed. Picture the surprised looks. The confusion. Picture the shock. How does this make you feel? Do you feel happy? Satisfied? Victorious? Isn’t that how you would rather feel? The joy comes when you keep going, keep praying, keep persevering, no matter what the odds.
Look in your Bible if you can, or Google some Bible stories about victories. So many of the victorious were told that they couldn’t, were told they shouldn’t, were laughed at, criticized, doubted, or worse. Look at Noah, people thought he was crazy. David was too young to battle a giant. Job’s own friends criticized him. Moses doubted himself, Sarah thought she was too old. There are so many under dogs, people who were told no, or you can’t, or you won’t. All of these accounts are great for motivation, but the greatest account is that of Jesus himself. He was hated, disbelieved, mocked, tortured and killed, yet none of this stopped His plan. His plan for you, for me, for us all. His plan to die for us was a success, and now He lives and loves us, and wants our ultimate success, to believe in Him. To believe! He overcame hate so that you and I could too.
So the next time you’re feeling on the verge of defeat, or on the edge of quitting, if you’re feeling scared, or worried about what others think or say, I want you to know that the world is full of people who once felt like you, but who carried on and won the battle. The moti-haters are there to push you forward, to motivate you to prove them all wrong. So keep going!
If you’re feeling discouraged, pray. Look up some verses. Memorize a few. Read the ones that follow this post. Keep going, friend! I’m rooting for you!
And when you do win?
Do it with class. Reach back and grab some people who were left behind. Pull them up, and show the world how you won, through the power of God’s hand on your life. Show the haters love, joy, and teach them to motivate, rather than to moti-hate. Motivate the fear right out of them, and the hate and jealousy will follow.
Happy dream pursuing, friend! God bless!
Nay Towell
If you like what I do, please like and share! Follow me on Instagram @humblegirl1111 or at Humblegirl on Facebook. Thank you for all of you who do!
Psalms 23:5
Revelation 21:7
Isaiah 41:10
Psalms 13:5
Psalms 62:1
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!
Psalms 118:21
Psalms 118:7
Jeremiah 29:11
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Posts: 1178
• Darwins +82/-0
I am not busy. I am an American. And as such, I celebrate Thanksgiving in November as Mohammed, peace be upon him, intended.
Anyway, Math, primo,
I think that's not the greatest analogy. To begin with, you're wrong and Dave is right. A taste for spicy foods is the correct position.[1] But a taste for spicy foods, unless it has some health implications and there's someone dependent on you maintaining your good health or something like that, probably isn't ever going to enter into what we might call a moral calculus. It's just something you do or don't do for yourself. In much the same way, people wouldn't call your musical tastes moral or immoral, unless of course you tricked out your car so that you can play said music at obnoxious volumes.
I think that, as sort of amorphous and vague as a given person's definition of morality might be, a common thread seems to be that if the thing that someone does has no effect on anyone else, it's not really even a question if that thing is right or wrong morally.[2] To use myself as an unfortunate example, I'm currently underemployed due to the economic clusterfuck and what not. While it might be prudent for me to find a new line of work, I'm not sure that anyone say that it's morally right or wrong for me to just be happy just to be employed and have enough to keep the lights on here at casa de Timo. If I had kids or other people to support you would probably (correctly) think that maybe, just maybe my lack of ambition acceptance of the status quo is immoral in some way.
So no, I think that moral questions, even if we think morality is ultimately subjective take on a different sort of flavor than questions about other preferences we might have. There's a qualitative difference since involving other people in your preferences is basically imposing them on other people. Or something like that.
1. And I'm probably worse than your friend. I grew up putting Tapatio on everything from scrambled eggs to pop corn.
2. Though I suppose that for the religious among us, the question is often complicated by the fact that all of us have a relationship with God who sees and knows all and therefore EVERYTHING we do is potentially a moral question.
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Anfauglir Quite right - food is not a moral question! October 11, 2011, 05:46:06 AM | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9601721167564392}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '17876', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:4YVSRM7GPXHH4KZ245YKYTZU6GFV4Z6F', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:cab150b2-26a9-400e-ba5b-067ddd79ee90>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2013, 12, 13, 13, 8, 48), 'WARC-IP-Address': '64.22.100.26', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:NZCT3EIAHRUBPJU43QOBBKZRNJRQUDPH', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:810e1211-faf3-405b-a4d0-fdb59ffd85cd>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/forums/index.php?action=karmamessage;u=3718;topic=20248;m=448757;start=0;sort=action', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:d0dcd32b-fab5-4bb5-81c1-a4b23d3ab92f>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '421', 'url': 'http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/forums/index.php?action=karmamessage;u=3718;topic=20248;m=448757;start=0;sort=action', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2013-48\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for Winter 2013\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.33116477727890015', 'original_id': '3a3739d09652304bb59a98d5f81d6c022f03d22a13a70b508837b9cfdf208cf1'} |
Some friendships transcend lifetimes. In A Dog’s Journey, the sequel to the heartwarming global hit A Dog’s Purpose, beloved dog Bailey finds his new destiny and forms an unbreakable bond that will lead him, and the people he loves, to places they never imagined. Bailey (voiced again by Josh Gad) is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his “boy,” Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). He even has a new playmate: Ethan and Hannah’s baby granddaughter, CJ. The problem is that CJ’s mom, Gloria (Betty Gilpin), decides to take CJ away. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life for a new one, he makes a promise to Ethan to find CJ and protect her at any cost. Thus begins Bailey’s adventure through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion as he, CJ (Kathryn Prescott), and CJ’s best friend Trent (Henry Lau) experience joy and heartbreak, music and laughter, and few really good belly rubs.
Some friendships transcend lifetimes. In A Dog’s Journey, the sequel to the heartwarming global hit A Dog’s Purpose, beloved dog Bailey finds his new destiny and forms an unbreakable bond that will lead him, and the people he loves, to places they never imagined. Bailey (voiced again by Josh Gad) is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his “boy,” Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). He even has a new playmate: Ethan and Hannah’s baby granddaughter, CJ. The problem is that CJ’s mom, Gloria (Betty Gilpin), decides to take CJ away. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life for a new one, he makes a promise to Ethan to find CJ and protect her at any cost. Thus begins Bailey’s adventure through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion as he, CJ (Kathryn Prescott), and CJ’s best friend Trent (Henry Lau) experience joy and heartbreak, music and laughter, and few really good belly rubs.
Some friendships transcend lifetimes. In A Dog’s Journey, the sequel to the heartwarming global hit A Dog’s Purpose, beloved dog Bailey finds his new destiny and forms an unbreakable bond that will lead him, and the people he loves, to places they never imagined. Bailey (voiced again by Josh Gad) is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his “boy,” Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). He even has a new playmate: Ethan and Hannah’s baby granddaughter, CJ. The problem is that CJ’s mom, Gloria (Betty Gilpin), decides to take CJ away. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life for a new one, he makes a promise to Ethan to find CJ and protect her at any cost. Thus begins Bailey’s adventure through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion as he, CJ (Kathryn Prescott), and CJ’s best friend Trent (Henry Lau) experience joy and heartbreak, music and laughter, and few really good belly rubs. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '0c365a71fac2035ed276061305e2b18cf60339db6e6be643a14a82924fcaefb6'} |
Daily bicycle rides keep 93-year-old fit, feeling young
So, Mr. Lincoln McCaddon, you're 93 years old and you look 20 years younger. You've got your own apartment in Evansville. You watch the fights with your friend, Louie, and you ride your bicycle all over town. Life is grand, isn't it?
"I don't have any health problems. I read all the travel articles and historical novels I want. I haven't been to the doctor in a long time. No sense bothering him for nothing."
Let's see. Your father was a telegraph operator in Southern California. You were in the Navy for 20 years, starting after Pearl Harbor. You sold real estate in Los Angeles and then you lived in Missouri for several years before coming to Evansville in 1999. How do you fancy our city?
"The people are easy to get along with. I can't think of anybody that I dislike."
Got to ask the cliche question, Mr. McCaddon. Why do you think you've lived so darn long?
"Exercise. Sometimes I ride my bicycle up to two hours a day. I go to the riverfront, to the bank, wherever. Actually, I've got two bikes. If you know a kid who needs one, tell him I'll give it away."
"I own a car, but I can't remember the last time I took it out. And I have a motorized scooter, but what's the point? Doesn't give you any exercise."
Somebody said you like to fly kites.
"That's right. I have half a dozen or so. Get a little wind and you can find me at the park."
Gee, Mr. McCaddon, you sound more like a kid than a 93-year-old.
"I don't like to sit and do nothing. Never have."
When you were in India during the war, you had a pet mongoose.
"Paid five dollars. Cute little thing. Got a kick out of playing with my shoelaces. We were in the mess hall one night and this drunk sailor started making wiggling motions with his finger. The mongoose grabbed hold of the finger. The sailor screamed and threw my pet into the sea. It didn't make it. I was sad as could be."
Is there any place in the world you haven't been that you'd like to see?
"England. I could look for my ancestors. I was a sea cook in the service and I haven't forgotten anything. I could work my way across the ocean."
You're kidding.
"No, I could do it."
Do you think you'll live to be 100?
"I can't think of a single reason why not."
- Garret Mathews' column appears Tuesday through Thursday plus Sunday. You can leave comments for him by calling 464-7527 or by e-mail at mathewsg@courierpress.com | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '0', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.9842315316200256}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '122397', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:BRQCWJK2JFZU3SICH2MM6PBAT6LSCHJE', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:bbc29d89-6f4d-493a-ad41-507985b56a47>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2014, 9, 23, 8, 42, 52), 'WARC-IP-Address': '184.51.126.41', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:UXO6M4BKHUU3H3PGEJ4JVRF4QTJEZMPV', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:972ab6fd-38ae-4b10-adaa-1803790eeab0>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.courierpress.com/news/columnists/daily-bicycle-rides-keep-93-year-old-fit-feeling', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:5ee0d68a-1b92-4fb7-aaa2-cd3d9e1b7dca>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '442', 'url': 'http://www.courierpress.com/news/columnists/daily-bicycle-rides-keep-93-year-old-fit-feeling', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-234-18-248.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2014-41\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for September 2014\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.06639707088470459', 'original_id': '55ab2eff559edef46538faa2af9b9da49a67481beb8895a60d902a1f1d2c1c96'} |
Shawn Oakman | Defensive End
Latest News
Recent News
We are shocked. Oakman has two seasons under his belt of on-field FBS action and was only a full-time starter this season, but many expected him to declare. The Oakmonster is chiseled from stone and put together some tremendous flashes from his left defensive end spot thanks to his combination of burst and power. His motor has been criticized by many, which is common among college defensive linemen thanks to a lack of rotation at that level of football. Oakman likely would have displayed tremendous athleticism at the Combine. Baylor fans should be thrilled about the decision. It also distances Oakman from his off-field issue that led to his transfer from Penn State. The edge rushing class is still tremendously deep for the 2015 draft. Mon, Dec 29, 2014 09:45:00 AM
"Oakman definitely looks the part from a physical perspective," Davis wrote. "He needs more work in school, though. He flashes, but he's still young in the game having sat out the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He's still getting comfortable playing the position and needs to work on adding more pass-rush moves and refining his technique. He'll have plenty of opportunities to improve as a pass rusher playing in the Big 12." Oakman continues to be one of the draft's most divisive prospects. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Tuesday that Oakman had drawn "mixed reviews" in a poll of scouts. "Looks like he's going to be whoop (expletive) and he just isn't," said one scout. "Looks like a pro but he's got a lot of rawness to his game." Oakman (6-foot-8, 275 pounds) has top 10 potential, with a 6-foot-8, 275-pound frame and supreme athleticism, though some wouldn't pull the trigger until Day 2. Thu, Dec 18, 2014 01:59:00 PM
"Oakman, a redshirt junior, hasn’t made any official declarations about his intentions, but he has begun conducting interviews with agents and other professional service providers," wrote the website's Rand Getlin. The 6-foot-8, 275-pound Oakman leads Baylor with 10 sacks. He's also collected 18.5 tackles for loss in 12 games. Oakman is a controversial prospect, but we'd be rather surprised if an organization didn't pull the trigger on his limitless upside at some point in Round 1. Thu, Dec 18, 2014 12:17:00 PM
An AFC South scout gave a tepid assessment of Baylor redshirt junior edge rusher Shawn Oakman to NFL.com.
"He has freakish size, but he's an average athlete and still so raw," the scout said. "He has good strength and violence at the point, but he's an average rusher who wins with length and not speed. I see him as a 4-3 left end who needs a lot of work. I'm not the only scout who feels this way either." Should he declare, Oakman is going to be amongst the draft's most fascinating prospects to monitor throughout the process. Not many players are called a top-10 pick by half, and a mid-rounder by the other half. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Tuesday that Oakman had drawn "mixed reviews" in a poll of scouts. "While players get drafted early on freakish traits and pure projection all the time (see Dion Jordan), the issue for Oakman could be that he doesn't have the desired edge presence and athleticism as a pass rusher," opined NFL.com. "Rush ends are the ones who come off the board the earliest -- not power ends." Wed, Dec 10, 2014 10:44:00 PM | mini_pile | {'original_id': '5a1291694d2f6f31be6e4fd1e77fad103c4e98b3d150087f62bdcca993124f89'} |
Letters / Voices
LETTER: Consider the effects of higher wages
To the editor:
My name is Andrew Barrett and I am a fifth-year student on campus.
I recently read an article from the April 4 issue of Central Michigan Life and was compelled to write my thoughts on the subject. The article that I am referring to is entitled “A new wage,” regarding President Obama’s speech in Ann Arbor.
Lately, I have been seeing more and more news articles about calls for higher wages for employees. Although, in theory, it seems to be a way to diminish poverty, the costs of increased wages seem as if they’d actually reduce the abilities of many businesses and individuals around the country.
Imagine businesses who are already struggling to pay individuals the minimum wage and remain in compliance with the Affordable Care Act. A higher wage would sometimes amount to having to pay individuals approximately 40 percent more in wages.
How would more jobs be created when businesses are struggling as is?
Think of the individuals who have worked hard to get high-paying jobs. Suddenly, those jobs don’t seem so high paying when the increase in wages for everyone else inflates the general cost of the market.
The increase in wages will cause an increase in everything – including transportation costs for goods. It could have a minor effect or, quite possibly, a detrimental effect on our economy as a whole.There are an estimated 900,000 people who the wage increase would benefit, but 500,000 jobs would have to be cut. It will essentially throw those 500,000 people into a worse situation and benefit the 900,000 very marginally. To me, these stakes do not seem worth risking.
Before we say that we want a wage increase, it is our responsibility to consider the effects that will occur based on those decisions.
Personally, I hate having college debt, however, the degree that I’m getting is enabling me to manage my debts and will allow me to live comfortably. Not every job will be able to do this and people should think critically before they go to college. This means acting responsibly and living within our means or finding a way to make our means match the way we want to live.
Not every job is going to be your first choice, but a lot of the things that people view today as “needs” are simply “wants.” Our society has seemed to have lost that understanding somewhere in our history.
Andrew Barrett
Senior, Central Michigan University
1. “The increase in wages will cause an increase in everything – including transportation costs for goods.”
People making above the new minimum wage currently would effectively be given a pay cut as their wages are likely to not increase, but the costs of goods and services are likely to increase.
• Jerry Hilliard says:
The actual data from past increases in minimum wage suggests an increase in minimum pushes all wages in an economy upward. This in turn puts more money into the economy as a whole causing an increase in demand for workers.
• Having lived through past minimum wage hikes I can promise that all pay across the board is not increased. Minimum wage increased, prices went up, my pay did not. Those of us making slightly above minimum wage at the time were suddenly making only minimum wage because of the increase. My buying power was reduced.
2. Another group of people this will be hurt is our senior citizens. They are on fixed incomes and when the cost goods and services increase due to higher wages they will suffer as their income will not increase enough to absorb the higher cost of living. We have to remember that business owners, in an effort to survive, will have to pass the cost on to the consumer.
• Jerry Hilliard says:
If you are referring to senior citizens who have only social security for income, social security is indexed to inflation.
Leave a Reply
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// Copyright 2013 The go-github AUTHORS. All rights reserved.
//
// Use of this source code is governed by BSD-style
// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
package github
import (
"context"
"fmt"
"time"
)
// GistsService handles communication with the Gist related
// methods of the GitHub API.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/
type GistsService service
// Gist represents a GitHub's gist.
type Gist struct {
ID *string `json:"id,omitempty"`
Description *string `json:"description,omitempty"`
Public *bool `json:"public,omitempty"`
Owner *User `json:"owner,omitempty"`
Files map[GistFilename]GistFile `json:"files,omitempty"`
Comments *int `json:"comments,omitempty"`
HTMLURL *string `json:"html_url,omitempty"`
GitPullURL *string `json:"git_pull_url,omitempty"`
GitPushURL *string `json:"git_push_url,omitempty"`
CreatedAt *time.Time `json:"created_at,omitempty"`
UpdatedAt *time.Time `json:"updated_at,omitempty"`
NodeID *string `json:"node_id,omitempty"`
}
func (g Gist) String() string {
return Stringify(g)
}
// GistFilename represents filename on a gist.
type GistFilename string
// GistFile represents a file on a gist.
type GistFile struct {
Size *int `json:"size,omitempty"`
Filename *string `json:"filename,omitempty"`
Language *string `json:"language,omitempty"`
Type *string `json:"type,omitempty"`
RawURL *string `json:"raw_url,omitempty"`
Content *string `json:"content,omitempty"`
}
func (g GistFile) String() string {
return Stringify(g)
}
// GistCommit represents a commit on a gist.
type GistCommit struct {
URL *string `json:"url,omitempty"`
Version *string `json:"version,omitempty"`
User *User `json:"user,omitempty"`
ChangeStatus *CommitStats `json:"change_status,omitempty"`
CommittedAt *Timestamp `json:"committed_at,omitempty"`
NodeID *string `json:"node_id,omitempty"`
}
func (gc GistCommit) String() string {
return Stringify(gc)
}
// GistFork represents a fork of a gist.
type GistFork struct {
URL *string `json:"url,omitempty"`
User *User `json:"user,omitempty"`
ID *string `json:"id,omitempty"`
CreatedAt *Timestamp `json:"created_at,omitempty"`
UpdatedAt *Timestamp `json:"updated_at,omitempty"`
NodeID *string `json:"node_id,omitempty"`
}
func (gf GistFork) String() string {
return Stringify(gf)
}
// GistListOptions specifies the optional parameters to the
// GistsService.List, GistsService.ListAll, and GistsService.ListStarred methods.
type GistListOptions struct {
// Since filters Gists by time.
Since time.Time `url:"since,omitempty"`
ListOptions
}
// List gists for a user. Passing the empty string will list
// all public gists if called anonymously. However, if the call
// is authenticated, it will returns all gists for the authenticated
// user.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#list-gists-for-a-user
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#list-gists-for-the-authenticated-user
func (s *GistsService) List(ctx context.Context, user string, opts *GistListOptions) ([]*Gist, *Response, error) {
var u string
if user != "" {
u = fmt.Sprintf("users/%v/gists", user)
} else {
u = "gists"
}
u, err := addOptions(u, opts)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
var gists []*Gist
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, &gists)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return gists, resp, nil
}
// ListAll lists all public gists.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#list-public-gists
func (s *GistsService) ListAll(ctx context.Context, opts *GistListOptions) ([]*Gist, *Response, error) {
u, err := addOptions("gists/public", opts)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
var gists []*Gist
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, &gists)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return gists, resp, nil
}
// ListStarred lists starred gists of authenticated user.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#list-starred-gists
func (s *GistsService) ListStarred(ctx context.Context, opts *GistListOptions) ([]*Gist, *Response, error) {
u, err := addOptions("gists/starred", opts)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
var gists []*Gist
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, &gists)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return gists, resp, nil
}
// Get a single gist.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#get-a-gist
func (s *GistsService) Get(ctx context.Context, id string) (*Gist, *Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v", id)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
gist := new(Gist)
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, gist)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return gist, resp, nil
}
// GetRevision gets a specific revision of a gist.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#get-a-gist-revision
func (s *GistsService) GetRevision(ctx context.Context, id, sha string) (*Gist, *Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v/%v", id, sha)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
gist := new(Gist)
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, gist)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return gist, resp, nil
}
// Create a gist for authenticated user.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#create-a-gist
func (s *GistsService) Create(ctx context.Context, gist *Gist) (*Gist, *Response, error) {
u := "gists"
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("POST", u, gist)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
g := new(Gist)
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, g)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return g, resp, nil
}
// Edit a gist.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#update-a-gist
func (s *GistsService) Edit(ctx context.Context, id string, gist *Gist) (*Gist, *Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v", id)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("PATCH", u, gist)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
g := new(Gist)
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, g)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return g, resp, nil
}
// ListCommits lists commits of a gist.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#list-gist-commits
func (s *GistsService) ListCommits(ctx context.Context, id string, opts *ListOptions) ([]*GistCommit, *Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v/commits", id)
u, err := addOptions(u, opts)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
var gistCommits []*GistCommit
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, &gistCommits)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return gistCommits, resp, nil
}
// Delete a gist.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#delete-a-gist
func (s *GistsService) Delete(ctx context.Context, id string) (*Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v", id)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("DELETE", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return s.client.Do(ctx, req, nil)
}
// Star a gist on behalf of authenticated user.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#star-a-gist
func (s *GistsService) Star(ctx context.Context, id string) (*Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v/star", id)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("PUT", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return s.client.Do(ctx, req, nil)
}
// Unstar a gist on a behalf of authenticated user.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#unstar-a-gist
func (s *GistsService) Unstar(ctx context.Context, id string) (*Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v/star", id)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("DELETE", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return s.client.Do(ctx, req, nil)
}
// IsStarred checks if a gist is starred by authenticated user.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#check-if-a-gist-is-starred
func (s *GistsService) IsStarred(ctx context.Context, id string) (bool, *Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v/star", id)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return false, nil, err
}
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, nil)
starred, err := parseBoolResponse(err)
return starred, resp, err
}
// Fork a gist.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#fork-a-gist
func (s *GistsService) Fork(ctx context.Context, id string) (*Gist, *Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v/forks", id)
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("POST", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
g := new(Gist)
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, g)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return g, resp, nil
}
// ListForks lists forks of a gist.
//
// GitHub API docs: https://developer.github.com/v3/gists/#list-gist-forks
func (s *GistsService) ListForks(ctx context.Context, id string, opts *ListOptions) ([]*GistFork, *Response, error) {
u := fmt.Sprintf("gists/%v/forks", id)
u, err := addOptions(u, opts)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
var gistForks []*GistFork
resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, &gistForks)
if err != nil {
return nil, resp, err
}
return gistForks, resp, nil
}
| mini_pile | {'original_id': '4363a542ad39248d44054008b61face8123cbb0395c3dde522af0b53ad123e7f'} |
Senate Ways & Means Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Recommendation
This site provides access to all fiscal year 2013 Senate Budget documents. The links below will direct you to the Senate Ways and Means Committee budget recommendations as well as all amendments and floor actions. Thank you for visiting this page and please check back often.
In recent years, we have been tasked with building spending plans that minimize cuts to our neediest constituents while continuing to invest in education, housing, workforce development, and in our communities. As legislators, we have been tirelessly committed to a thorough review of our investments to allow greater transparency and smarter financial planning for the future. Our conscious commitment to the fiscal health of Massachusetts has increased our efficiency and built our reserves, earning us one of the top bond ratings in the nation and translating into monetary savings through lower interest rates.
Fiscal year 2013 will mark the fifth year of unprecedented fiscal challenges. Although our economy has seen modest growth, it is as important now as ever before to continue our fiscal prudence. We will once again rise to this challenge with a balanced approach of creative solutions lowering our dependence on one time revenues and combining ongoing revenue initiatives and spending reductions to close a $1.4 billion budget gap.
This fiscal year we saw a projected revenue increase of 4.47%. Although the number is small, it is still a sign of a slow but steady recovery. This budget heeds to the call of our constituency and does not rely on any tax increases despite increased spending commitments such as retiree benefits, health care, education, and local aid.
In fiscal year 2012, the legislature established an expedited process for cities and towns to realize tens of millions of dollars of savings through municipal health care reform. This year’s spending plan continues our unfaltering commitment to cities, towns, and school districts by proposing a $275 million increase in local aid over fiscal year 2012. An investment in our communities is an investment in programs that improve infrastructure, put people to work, and strengthen our economy. In the face of persistent unemployment and slow job growth, this budget makes an investment in the future of our economy. By investing in ways to better connect our public higher education system to our workforce needs, we aim to meet the demands of the growing job sectors.
The budget we have crafted is balanced, making smart investments while preserving services for the residents most in need. Most importantly, the budget reflects a commitment to the future of Massachusetts, ensuring that the investments we make today will make for a better tomorrow for our children and our grandchildren.
Thank you for your dedication and leadership as we continue to make progress and come out of this recession. Your pledge to reform and support new industries that strengthen and improve our businesses is moving us in the right direction. With the right priorities, we will continue to see improvement.
The Senate Ways and Means fiscal year 2013 budget reflects the changing landscape of how state government functions within the context of our recent economic past. Our budget clearly illustrates two vital lessons that we have learned over the past four difficult years. First, this budget emphasizes fiscal sustainability, understanding that the investments we make today are ineffective if we are unable to protect them in the crisis of tomorrow. Second, this budget prioritizes investments to help understand how we can use available resources in a way that maximizes programmatic efficiency and positive outcomes.
The Committee’s budget applies these lessons in the midst of another challenging fiscal environment. In spite of these difficult times, the Committee budget attempts to minimize painful program cuts and make a number of new investments in education, housing and workforce development. Investments in these three areas have been instrumental in an economic recovery that has outpaced that of other states. More importantly, investments in these areas will largely define our ability to prosper in the future.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee budget closes a $1.4 billion budget gap with a combination of ongoing revenue initiatives, one-time resources and spending reductions. For a second consecutive year, the Committee has been able to close the gap without an overreliance on one-time revenues. In fiscal year 2011, the state required $1.8 billion in these one-time solutions to close the budget. In FY 2012 and FY 2013 combined, the state will use less than $1 billion in one-time revenues. Over that same time period, the state has begun to rebuild its reserves, increasing the balance of the Stabilization Fund from $670 million at the end of FY 2010, to a projected balance of $1.19 billion at the end of FY 2013.
Fiscal Year 2013 Budget – Revenue and Spending
The Senate Ways and Means Committee does not rely on tax increases to balance its budget. As with the Governor’s budget recommendations and the recent House budget, the Committee budget assumes ongoing tax revenues of $21.95 billion – an increase of $940 million over the projected FY 2012 amount. This projected revenue increase of 4.47% is indicative of a steady, albeit slow, economic recovery which enables us to avoid many of the painful spending cuts made in recent years.
All told, the Senate Ways and Means budget includes $32.275 billion in spending; an increase of 3.7% over FY 2012 projected spending. The spending increase is the result of non-discretionary increases in labor, utilities and other costs, as well as new targeted investments. Even with these increases in spending, the Senate Ways and Means budget includes a number of year-to-year spending reductions necessary to live within our means. Of the line items in this budget, 54% have been reduced or level-funded from their FY 2012 GAA level.
The most notable spending increases in the Senate Ways and Means budget are in local aid, education and fixed costs, such as debt service, retiree benefits and health care. Combined, these spending areas increase $1.1 billion over the FY 2012 level. As a result, all other areas of the budget combined increase by less than $50 million. As bleak as those spending numbers seem, they stand in sharp contrast to the previous three budgets that saw year-to-year funding in non-discretionary spending slashed.
In many ways, the revenue assumptions and spending choices made in this budget anticipate FY 2013 to be one of transition. Stronger revenue growth gives us additional resources to avoid spending cuts, while, at the same time, continuing uncertainty requires us to focus not on program expansion, but on beginning to restore the devastation of recent years.
Fiscal Year 2013 Budget – Commitment to Our Communities
The hallmark of the Senate Ways and Means committee budget is the commitment to fulfilling promises to our cities, towns and school districts. This commitment is reflected in major sources of local aid, such as special education, Chapter 70 and Unrestricted General Government Aid, as well as smaller grant programs that give our communities the tools they need to meet their unique challenges.
State Aid
Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), Chapter 70 and Special Education Circuit Breaker are the three largest sources of direct state aid to cities, towns and school districts. In these three program areas alone, the Senate Ways and Means budget proposes $275.4 million in aid over the amount appropriated in the FY 2012 budget.
This budget fully funds anticipated costs of the state’s Special Education Circuit Breaker, estimated at $242.2 million. This reimbursement program is second to none in its importance to our schools and our communities. Each year, our schools ensure that students with special needs are able to receive the education and services they deserve in the setting that best serves them. However, in order to meet the growing cost of this obligation to our children, school districts look to the state to provide reimbursements for those special needs students with the highest cost. The Senate Ways and Means FY 2013 budget meets this shared obligation – an obligation that has not been fully funded since FY 2008.
In Chapter 70, too, this budget meets the state’s obligations to our schools while also taking steps to address structural inequities in the aid distribution formula. The Committee budget provides $145 million in new aid to ensure that each school district receives sufficient aid to meet its Foundation Budget. In addition, this budget targets $21 million to communities that receive a smaller share of their foundation budget from the state than should be the case given their property and income wealth. This budget marks the first time since FY 2008 that funds have been specifically directed to these “below target aid” communities. Finally, this budget proposes an additional $13 million in Chapter 70 aid to ensure that all school districts receive at least an additional $40 per pupil in aid over and above FY 2012.
Finally, the Committee budget provides $900 million in UGGA to municipalities. This funding level builds in both the $834 million appropriated in the FY 2012 GAA as well as the $65 million supplemental local aid payment made through FY 2011 reserves. Building this $65 million into the direct appropriation, and not making it contingent on future revenues, provides municipalities with more certainty for their budgeting processes.
Supporting Local Innovation
While UGGA, Chapter 70 and Special Education Circuit Breaker are essential to supporting local services, many times it is smaller grants that allow our communities to invest in programs that work to keep citizens safe, improve educational outcomes and enhance service delivery.
One of the biggest challenges faced by municipalities in recent years is their ability to improve public safety and address the root causes of crime in the face of diminishing budgets. The Committee budget includes $17 million in total spending for three grant programs specifically designed to help our cities and towns meet this challenge:
$6 million for Shannon Grants. These grants help maintain partnerships at the local level between law enforcement, social services and other municipal officials that coordinate the approach to addressing the root causes of gang violence;
$8 million for the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative. This program, initiated in FY 2012, targets services to youth who have been identified by local law enforcement as those most likely to be criminally involved. Constructively intervening in the lives of these young adults is essential to their own future and that of their neighborhoods; and
$3 million to support municipal police staffing in cities hardest hit by the recession and with the highest crime rates. These funds, first proposed in the Senate’s FY 2012 budget, provide direct assistance to cities that have seen violent crime increase just as police staffing levels have decreased.
The Committee budget also recognizes the unique public education challenges faced by different types of communities. Chapter 70 has directed billions of dollars to school districts over the past two decades, but this budget recognizes the importance of complementing these funds with more grant programs that target specific areas of need in public education:
$4.5 million for grants to Gateway Cities to improve instruction for English Language Learners and to create career academies. Our Gateway Cities, while spread throughout the Commonwealth, share many of the same challenges when it comes to educating children. These grants recognize that the economic and community development goals of the Gateway City program can only be achieved by providing equal focus to public education;
$2 million to support Advanced Placement (AP) courses for underserved populations. This program, which prioritizes AP classes in the STEM fields, has already made great strides in providing rigorous AP coursework to students who would otherwise not have access to AP-level work. Increasing access to this coursework is essential for ensuring that all students are able to put themselves into a position to not only attend college or other post-secondary work, but excel once there; and
$3.5 million for a foundation reserve to help school districts meet funding challenges not addressed in the Chapter 70 formula. Each year, unforeseen events that are not accounted for in the Chapter 70 distribution create funding challenges at the local level. The Foundation Reserve, last funded in FY 2009, can mitigate these issues by allowing districts to apply for one-time support from the state.
Finally, the Committee budget includes $4 million for the Community Innovation Grant Program which provides grants to municipalities to cover the startup costs of initiatives that will improve service delivery, promote regionalization and reduce costs. In FY 2012, 28 municipal projects – ranging from the merger of municipal public safety services to the creation of a smart phone app that will help people access municipal services – have been funded. In FY 2013 this program will not only evaluate and track existing awards, but will support new areas of municipal innovation.
FY 2013 Budget – Commitment to Jobs
The Senate Ways and Means Committee budget includes $10.9 million in new investments to better connect our public higher education system to our workforce needs. Persistent unemployment over this past recession has made all too clear the need to strengthen the link between the skills we provide to our students and the demands of growing job sectors. The state’s community colleges are already our best resource for responding to the needs of regional economies; with the additional resources provided in this budget, they will work even more effectively:
$3 million to fund scholarships for Massachusetts students pursuing professions in fields determined by the state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to be “in-demand.” Giving Labor and Workforce Development the discretion to determine these fields will ensure that these scholarship funds can adapt to the changing needs of the economy;
$3 million for a new Rapid Response workforce program for community colleges. This program is designed to expedite the process by which a community college can create a new workforce training program to respond to a specific request from an employer. The goal is that a new workforce training program can be up and running within three months of the original request; and
$4 million for the creation of a degree auditing and common course numbering system which will allow students in community colleges to easily track the credits they need to transfer to a state university and compare programs across campuses.
FY 2013 Budget – Commitment to those in Need
In spite of the difficult fiscal circumstances and other pressing demands for state resources, the provision of essential services to our most vulnerable residents remains the primary goal of the Committee budget.
In FY 2012, the Senate budget made clear that balancing the budget could not come at the expense of maintaining mental health services in the Commonwealth. In FY 2013, the Committee budget includes strong provisions to ensure that all regions of the state have adequate access to community and inpatient mental health services by ensuring that 45 state-operated inpatient beds remain in Southeastern Massachusetts as an independent commission examines the appropriate level of state mental health services. Maintaining regional coverage, combined with the opening of the new state of the art Worcester State Hospital, will substantially improve both the depth and scope of mental health services in the Commonwealth.
In addition to mental health, the Committee budget continues to prioritize ensuring that those with physical disabilities have access to the services they need. This budget provides additional funding for Independent Living Centers as well as Turning 22 programs for both blind and developmentally delayed clients. While each of these programs serves a distinct population, they share the common theme of providing care and assistance to those of us who face the steepest challenges.
The Senate has also been a leader in expanding services for those with substance abuse issues and their families. The research is clear: proactively using resources to help people overcome substance abuse problems saves lives and families, and is far less costly than waiting for those same substance abusers to develop other chronic medical conditions or enter the criminal justice system. Over the past year, the Senate has provided new resources to the Department of Public Health to develop new treatment programs, changed the process by which substance abusers can be civilly committed to treatment facilities and made it more difficult to illegally obtain prescription narcotics. This budget builds on those efforts by providing:
$76.5 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse and substance abuse service grants. This funding level will meet federal maintenance of effort requirements and continue to provide existing levels of service throughout the state;
$6.3 million for family intervention and step-down services for substance abusers. These programs help get substance abusers into treatment and connected to services that minimize the chance for future relapses; and
$5 million for the continued operation of the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center in Bridgewater.
As has been the case in each of the last four years, the Committee budget is unable to provide the ideal level of support to the myriad of human service programs that assist so many of our residents. However, the continued investments in this budget will maintain essential supports for our neediest citizens and protect services from further cuts.
FY 2013 Budget – Commitment to Results
During the last five years, the Senate has been a leader in improving efficiency and outcomes in government. Whether in transportation, state finance, education or criminal justice, the Senate has addressed major issues facing state government with a focus on data analysis, program integrity and results. The Committee’s FY 2013 budget proposal illustrates the Senate’s commitment to program integrity and performance management throughout a host of policy areas and initiatives.
Program Integrity
The most basic step in using tax dollars wisely is verifying that dollars appropriated are used as intended and that any issues of fraud or over-payment are quickly addressed. Last year’s Senate budget created a number of new programs to improve our existing program integrity process. This year’s Committee budget maintains and expands those efforts:
Direct benefits – over the past year, examples of fraudulent use of direct benefits, such as SNAP and TAFDC, have underlined the importance of carefully investigating the appropriate use of state funds. This budget creates a new Direct Benefit Fraud Unit within the State Police. This new unit will be charged with working with other local, state and federal authorities to systematically investigate and pursue cases where benefits intended to help our neediest families are being misused. In conjunction with a new State Police class, this unit will substantially improve the state’s ability to root out these egregious examples of fraud;
Vendor auditing – last year’s Senate budget created a new Vendor Auditing Unit in state government. Each year the state spends hundreds of millions of dollars to vendors who provide services in a host of human service areas. This unit is tasked with reviewing financial reports from these vendors and conducting field audits in cases that raise red flags. In FY 2013, this unit is projected to recover more than double its operating appropriation in overpayments;
Enhanced agency auditors – last year’s Senate budget created a grant program that provides agencies whose budgets have been cut over the course of the recession with funds to restore auditing capacity in areas with the highest rates of return. In FY 2012, the awards made through this program are expected to return close to five times that amount in foregone cost and payment recoupments;
Medicaid audits - last year’s Senate budget provided a new $1 million investment in MassHealth to fund new auditing capabilities directed at claims processing and payment. In FY 2013, this program is expected to return $3-6 million in the form of savings and recoupments; and
Education audits - similar to the targeted MassHealth audits in last year’s Senate budget, this year’s Committee budget includes $300,000 to rebuild auditing and program integrity capacity in the Department of Early Education and Care and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Each year, these two departments disburse hundreds of millions of dollars in reimbursements, grants and vouchers and yet, due to budget cuts, they have lost capacity to review and audit these payments. The Committee believes that this small investment will have a substantial return.
Program Evaluation
Ensuring that state funds are spent as intended is not sufficient to determine whether or not they are spent wisely. In order to do so, we as a state need to increase our focus on the outcomes of the programs we fund. This year’s Committee budget focuses on rigorous evaluation of programs designed to address some of the fundamental issues our Commonwealth faces:
English Language Learners (ELL) – the Committee budget provides funding for an independent evaluation of the new Gateway City English Language Learner grant program. There is no doubt that helping English language learners gain language proficiency is essential in closing the achievement gap. Where there is doubt, however, is how best to accomplish this goal. By tying this new program to an independent field evaluation, we take an important step in removing some of that doubt. As the evaluation proceeds, we can make more informed policy decisions about how resources are best used to address this important policy goal;
Youth violence prevention – as with the ELL program, the Committee budget funds an independent evaluation of the new Safe and Successful Youth Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to target services to youth already involved in gangs or crime. Keeping these children and young adults from continuing down the path they are on would have enormous benefits – to those receiving the services, their families and their neighborhoods – but a rigorous evaluation must be conducted to know which treatments work and deserve additional resources and which are less effective; and
Teen pregnancy prevention – teen pregnancy has immense societal costs. It is estimated that the reduction in the state’s teen birthrate over the last two decades saves taxpayers more than $200 million a year. However, even with the success the state has enjoyed in reducing the teen birthrates, it is still a major issue in some communities. To help the state’s existing teen pregnancy prevention program better evaluate existing sites and target new areas for focus, the Committee budget includes $150,000 to improve data collection and analysis. To put the cost of teen pregnancy in perspective: a 2% reduction in the state’s teen birthrate would cover the cost of this investment in one year.
Data Collection
While the Committee is proud of investments this budget includes in the area of program integrity and program evaluation, much work needs to be done in giving the Commonwealth the information it needs to make informed decisions. The only way to gather that information is to improve how state entities collect, share and disseminate data. This budget includes several provisions to improve this process:
Special education and early intervention – each year, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on special education. Approximately 30,000 children, aged 0-3, receive Early Intervention services each year that have the potential to substantially reduce future need for special education services. This budget includes an investment for the state’s Early Intervention program to partner with the Executive Office of Education to better understand how children who receive EI services interact with special education in the future. Creating this framework for information sharing, while protecting data privacy, has the potential to transform how the state coordinates care across state agencies to reduce costs and, more importantly, improve outcomes;
Indigent defense – last year, the budget included substantial reforms to indigent defense. The reforms focused on increasing the number of public defenders to increase cost certainty, while maintaining existing levels of quality. After almost a year of implementation, there have been calls to make additional changes and yet, as a state, we lack much of the data we need to know if those changes were implemented effectively. Therefore, this budget includes funding for an independent evaluation of the indigent defense reforms. An experienced evaluator will examine the effectiveness of program implementation, highlight areas for change or improvement and leave the state in a much better position to consider further structural changes to the existing system; and
Caseload forecasting – last year’s Senate budget created a new Office of Caseload Forecasting to improve the analysis, development and evaluation of the process for forecasting caseload for eligibility programs, such as MassHealth and child care. Close to half of the state’s budget is driven by projections of future demand for services. When those projections are off, it can have a disastrous effect on the state’s budget flexibility. This new Office works to ensure that the various forecasts are subject to constant evaluation and that those who develop those forecasts have a forum to learn from each other. During the current fiscal year, the Office has, for the first time, produced a report that presents comprehensive information on the development and accuracy of caseload forecasts in a number of different programs. This year’s Committee budget maintains the investment in this new office.
FY 2013 Budget – Commitment to Fiscal Discipline
The recession of 2008-2011 has forced us as a state to reevaluate our shared priorities and improve our ability to ensure that when the next fiscal crisis comes, we are best positioned to respond to it. The Senate, in conjunction with the House and the Governor, has prioritized changing the way we budget to rebuild our reserves, better control spending and improve our fiscal discipline.
Over the last 2 years, we have implemented new provisions to ensure that volatile revenue sources, such as capital gains revenues over $1 billion and tax settlements, are not built into operating revenues, but instead are deposited directly into the stabilization fund. By the end of FY 2013, these two provisions alone will increase stabilization fund deposits by more than $300 million.
The ability to build our reserves has been complemented by notable successes in controlling health care and other costs. In FY 2012, MassHealth costs are expected to grow just under 2% from FY 2011. In contrast, between FY 2010 and FY 2011 those same costs grew by 10.2%. In addition, the Committee budget, like House 2 and the House budget, rely on greater than anticipated FY 2011 and FY 2012 savings in the Group Insurance Commission and the Health Connector to offset costs in FY 2013. Without these recent successes in limiting health care cost growth, many of the investments included in this budget would be impossible.
The Committee’s FY 2013 budget recommendations reflect an understanding that the work we have done in managing resources and controlling cost growth is only the beginning and must be sustained to continue our recovery. To that end, this budget:
Maintains a Stabilization Fund balance of at least $1.19 billion. While this budget withdraws $290 million from the Stabilization Fund to balance the budget, this figure is offset by a $100 million deposit from above benchmark capital gains revenues. This net $190 million draw is less than the amount used in FY 2011;
Lowers the minimum amount on tax settlements deposited to the stabilization fund from $10 million to $1 million. Under the provisions included in this budget, a maximum of $30 million in settlements between $1-10 million would be directed to the General Fund, while the remainder would go to the Stabilization Fund. Over the last 5 years, this provision would have resulted in more than $175 million in additional deposits into state reserves;
Adopts the MassHealth cost containment measures proposed in House 2. These measures are expected to generate a further $400 million in net savings in the program; and
Uses only $16 million in one-time trust revenues. Between FY 2010 and FY 2012, the state was forced to rely on significant amounts of these trust sweeps to balance the budget. The Committee budget recommendations limit the use of these one-time resources, which contribute to future budget gaps.
Twelve months ago, this Committee grappled with closing a $1.9 billion budget gap in the midst of the loss of $1.5 billion in federal stimulus funds and a stabilization fund balance approaching its lowest level in nine years. Working with our partners in the House and in the Administration, we closed that gap and more than doubled the stabilization fund balance. That work, which resulted in historic highs for the state’s bond rating, serves as a template for how this Committee will approach our budget challenges in FY 2013 and beyond.
The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was committed the House Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year two thousand thirteen for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund and serial bond requirements and for certain permanent improvements (House, No. 4101) reports recommending that the same ought to pass, with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of Senate document numbered 4.
SECTION 1. To provide for the operations of the several departments, boards, commissions and institutions of the commonwealth and other services of the commonwealth, and for certain permanent improvements and to meet certain requirements of law, the sums set forth in sections 2, 2B, 2D, 2E and 3, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in sections 2, 2B, 2D, 2E and 3, are hereby appropriated from the General Fund unless specifically designated otherwise, subject to the provisions of law regulating the disbursement of public funds and the approval thereof for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. All sums appropriated under this act, including supplemental and deficiency budgets, shall be expended in a manner reflecting and encouraging a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for members of minority groups, women and handicapped persons. All officials and employees of an agency, board, department, commission or division receiving monies under this act shall take affirmative steps to ensure equality of opportunity in the internal affairs of state government, as well as in their relations with the public, including those persons and organizations doing business with the commonwealth. Each agency, board, department, commission or division of the commonwealth, in spending appropriated sums and discharging its statutory responsibilities, shall adopt measures to ensure equal opportunity in the areas of hiring, promotion, demotion or transfer, recruitment, layoff or termination, rates of compensation, in-service or apprenticeship training programs and all terms and conditions of employment.
SECTION 1A. In accordance with Articles LXIII and CVII of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth and section 6D of chapter 29 of the General Laws, it is hereby declared that the amounts of revenue set forth in this section by source for the respective funds of the commonwealth for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013 are necessary and sufficient to provide the means to defray the appropriations and expenditures from such funds for said fiscal year as set forth and authorized in sections 2, 2B and 2E. The comptroller shall keep a distinct account of actual receipts from each such source by each such fund to furnish the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means with quarterly statements comparing such receipts with the projected receipts set forth herein and to include a full statement comparing such actual and projected receipts in the annual report for said fiscal year pursuant to section 12 of chapter 7A of the General Laws. The quarterly and annual reports shall also include detailed statements of any other sources of revenue for the budgeted funds in addition to those specified in this section.
Fiscal Year 2013 Revenue by Source and Budgeted Fund (in Millions)
Source
All Budgeted Funds*
General Fund
Commonwealth Transportation Fund
Massachusetts Tourism
Other**
Alcohol. Bev.
$77.10
$77.10
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Cigarettes
$454.40
$454.40
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Corporations
$1,836.50
$1,836.50
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Deeds
$141.10
$141.10
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Estate Inheritance
$246.50
$246.50
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Financial Institutions
$112.70
$112.70
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Income
$12,731.80
$12,731.80
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Insurance
$335.40
$335.40
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Motor Fuels
$678.70
$0.00
$677.80
$0.00
$0.90
Public Utilities
($32.30)
($32.30)
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Room Occupancy
$127.70
$83.00
$0.00
$44.70
$0.00
Sales-Regular
$3,625.60
$3,402.30
$223.30
$0.00
$0.00
Sales-Meals
$894.60
$839.50
$55.10
$0.00
$0.00
Sales-Motor Vehicles
$683.20
$641.10
$42.10
$0.00
$0.00
Miscellaneous
$16.80
$16.80
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
UI Surcharges
$20.20
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$20.20
Total Consensus Tax Revenues:
$21,950.0
$20,885.9
$998.30
$44.70
$21.10
Transfer to School Modernization and Reconstruction Trust (SMART) Fund
($689.40)
($689.40)
Transfer to MBTA State and Local Contribution Fund
($786.80)
($786.80)
Transfer to Pension Reserves Investment Trust Fund
($1,552.00)
($1,552.00)
Transfer to workforce Training Fund
($20.20)
($20.20)
Total Consensus Tax Revenue for Budget:
$18,901.6
$17,857.7
$998.30
$44.70
$0.90
Revenue Changes
Delay of FAS 109
$45.90
$45.90
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Tax Settlement Revenue
$32.00
$32.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Tax Revenue Enhancements
$36.30
$36.30
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Total Taxes Available for Budget:
$19,015.8
$17,971.9
$998.30
$44.70
$0.90
Non-Tax Revenue
Federal Reimbursements
$8,215.30
$8,209.80
$0.00
$0.00
$5.50
Departmental Revenue
$2,979.90
$2,423.00
$536.70
$0.00
$20.20
Consolidated Transfers
$1,770.60
$1,980.30
$0.00
($0.40)
($209.30)
GRAND TOTAL
$31,981.6
$30,585.0
$1,535.00
$44.30
($182.70)
SECTION 1B. The comptroller shall keep a distinct account of actual receipts of non-tax revenues by each department, board, commission or institution to furnish the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means with quarterly statements comparing such receipts with projected receipts set forth herein and to include a full statement comparing such receipts with projected receipts in the annual report for such fiscal year pursuant to section 13 of chapter 7A of the General Laws. The quarterly and annual reports shall also include detailed statements of any other sources of revenue for the budgeted funds in addition to those specified in this section.
Judiciary
Supreme Judicial Court.
For the operation of the supreme judicial court, including salaries of the chief justice and the 6 associate justices
$7,906,476
0320-0010
For the operation of the clerk’s office of the supreme judicial court for Suffolk county
$1,301,283
0321-0001
For the operation of the commission on judicial conduct
$592,597
0321-0100
For the services of the board of bar examiners
$1,062,289
Committee for Public Counsel Services.
0321-1500
For the operation of the committee for public counsel services, as authorized by chapter 211D of the General Laws; provided, that the committee shall maintain a system in which not less than 25 per cent of indigent defendants shall be represented by public defenders; provided further, that to the extent feasible, the committee shall assign public defenders to district and superior courts; provided further, that the committee shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means starting on October 3, 2012 that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the expected surplus or deficiency for fiscal year 2013 of items 0321-1500, 0321-1510 and 0321-1520; (ii) the number of clients assisted by the committee, delineated by public defender and private bar advocate representation, and further delineated by type of case and courthouse; (iii) the average cost for public defender services rendered per client, delineated by type of case and courthouse; (iv) the average cost for private bar advocate services rendered per client, delineated by type of case and courthouse; (v) the average number of hours spent per case by public defenders, delineated by type of case and courthouse; (vi) the average number of hours billed by private bar advocates, delineated by type of case and courthouse; (vii) the billable hours of private bar advocates broken down by travel time, time spent in court and courthouse, including wait time and trial preparation time, including interview time, investigating time and research time; (viii) the total amount of counsel fees paid to the committee by clients for services rendered, delineated by type of case and courthouse; (ix) the total amount of indigent but able to contribute fees paid to the committee by clients for services rendered, delineated by type of case and courthouse; (x) the number and cost of private investigators used, delineated by firm; and (xi) by private bar advocate, the number, cost and cost per hour of psychologists and psychiatrists used, delineated by firm; provided further, that this data shall be provided in a cumulative manner and compared with data from the current quarter to the previous 3 quarters; provided further, that the committee shall provide a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, not later than October 1, 2012, detailing the current status of the plan for public defenders to represent 25 per cent of all indigent defendants, that shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the current percentage of indigent defendants represented by public defenders by division and courthouse; (b) the number of public defenders hired since the start of fiscal year 2012 by division and courthouse; (c) the current number of public defenders and private bar advocates assigned to each courthouse; (d) the number of former private bar advocates that have been hired as public defenders; (e) the total number of cases that have been assigned to all new public defenders, delineated by type of case, division and courthouse; (f) the number of cases that have been assigned to private bar advocates, delineated by type of case, division and courthouse; (g) the total number of support staff, investigators, attorneys in charge and management personnel that have been hired; (h) the caseload of attorneys in charge compared to the caseload of public defender staff attorneys; and (i) the number of public defenders hired over the previous 15 months that have not been assigned to district or superior court and the reason for their division assignments; provided further, that the committee, in conjunction with the division of capital asset management and maintenance, shall provide a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on November 1, 2012 that shall include but not be limited to: (1) the office spaces leased for committee staff and for use by public defenders on June 30, 2011 by address, square footage, cost per square foot and the number of full-time employees; (2) the office spaces leased for committee staff and for use by public defenders on September 14, 2012 by address, square footage, cost per square foot and number of full-time employees; and (3) the projected additional office space needs for committee staff and for use by public defenders; and provided further, that the committee shall provide full cooperation to the evaluator selected through item 1599-1300 and shall make available to the evaluator any information and data needed to assist with the requirements of the item
$44,482,135
0321-1510
For compensation paid to private counsel assigned to criminal and civil cases under subsection (b) of section 6 of chapter 211D of the General Laws, pursuant to section 11 of said chapter 211D; provided, that not more than $2,000,000 of the sum appropriated in this item shall be expended for services rendered before fiscal year 2013
$100,099,544
0321-1518
For the chief counsel for the committee for public counsel services, which may expend an amount not to exceed $8,900,000 from revenues collected from fees charged for attorney representation of indigent clients; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the committee may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$8,900,000
0321-1520
For fees and costs as defined in section 27A of chapter 261 of the General Laws, as ordered by a justice of the appeals court or a justice of a department of the trial court on behalf of an indigent person, as defined in said section 27A of said chapter 261; provided, that not more than $1,000,000 of the sum appropriated in this item may be expended for services rendered before fiscal year 2013
$9,010,351
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.
0321-1600
For the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation to provide legal representation for indigent or otherwise disadvantaged residents of the commonwealth; provided, that the corporation shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than January 30, 2013 that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of persons assisted by the programs funded by the corporation in the prior fiscal year; (ii) any proposed expansion of legal services delineated by type of service, target population and cost; and (iii) the total number of indigent or otherwise disadvantaged residents who received services of the corporation, by type of case and geographic location; provided further, that the corporation may contract with any organization for the purpose of providing representation; and provided further, that notwithstanding the first paragraph of section 9 of chapter 221A of the General Laws, funds shall be expended for the Disability Benefits Project, the Medicare Advocacy Project and the Battered Women’s Legal Assistance Project
$11,000,000
Mental Health Legal Advisors.
0321-2000
For the operation of the mental health legal advisors committee established pursuant to section 34E of chapter 221 of the General Laws and for certain programs for the indigent mentally ill
$837,712
Prisoners’ Legal Services.
0321-2100
For the expenses of Prisoners’ Legal Services
$902,016
Social Law Library.
0321-2205
For the expenses of the social law library located in Suffolk county
$1,000,000
Appeals Court.
0322-0100
For the appeals court, including the salaries, traveling allowances and expenses of the chief justice, recall judges and associate justices
$11,434,229
Trial Court.
0330-0101
For the salaries of the justices of the 7 departments of the trial court
For the court administrator, who may expend for the operation of the trial court an amount not to exceed 34 per cent of all revenues received from fees charged and collected pursuant to section 3 of chapter 90C of the General Laws, section 22 of chapter 218 of the General Laws and sections 2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 39 and 40 of chapter 262 of the General Laws; provided, that if the trial court projects that 34 per cent of these revenues will exceed the amount appropriated in this item, it shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the court administrator may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$23,000,000
0330-3334
For the court administrator, who may expend for the operation of the department an amount not to exceed $22,500,000 from fees charged and collected under section 87A of chapter 276 of the General Laws; provided, that any expenditures or allocations shall be made in accordance with schedules submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than 30 days before the expenditures or allocations are made; provided further, that a schedule detailing the full allotment of said $22,500,000 shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than January 31, 2013; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the court administrator may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$22,500,000
Superior Court Department.
0331-0100
For the operation of the superior court department; provided, that funds shall be expended for medical malpractice tribunals in accordance with section 60B of chapter 231 of the General Laws; and provided further, that the clerk of the court shall have responsibility for the internal administration of his office, including personnel, staff services and record keeping
$25,017,006
District Court Department.
0332-0100
For the operation of the district court department, including a civil conciliation program
$47,102,190
Probate and Family Court Department.
0333-0002
For the operation of the probate and family court department
$22,072,902
Land Court Department.
0334-0001
For the operation of the land court department
$2,712,759
Boston Municipal Court Department.
0335-0001
For the operation of the Boston municipal court department
$8,538,726
Housing Court Department.
0336-0002
For the operation of the housing court department
$5,873,192
Juvenile Court Department.
0337-0002
For the operation of the juvenile court department; provided, that the department may expend funds for CASA programs....
$14,642,982
Office of the Commissioner of Probation.
0339-1001
For the office of the commissioner of probation; provided, that the office shall submit quarterly reports on indigency verification to the joint committee on the judiciary and the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of individuals determined to be indigent; (ii) the number of individuals determined not to be indigent; (iii) the number of individuals found to be misrepresenting assets; (iv) the number of individuals found to no longer qualify for appointment of counsel upon any re-assessment of indigency, as defined in section 2 ½ of chapter 211D of the General Laws; (v) the total number and amount of indigent misrepresentation fees collected; (vi) the total number and amount of indigent counsel fees collected and the total number and amount of indigent counsel fees waived; (vii) the average indigent counsel fee that each court division collects; (viii) the total number and amount of indigent but able to contribute fees collected and waived; (ix) the range of indigent but able to contribute fees collected; and (x) the number of cases in which community service in lieu of indigent counsel fees was performed; provided further, that the information within such report shall be delineated by court division; provided further, that the office shall submit quarterly reports to the joint committee on the judiciary and the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include: (a) the office's definition of supervisory and nonsupervisory cases; (b) a detailed description of what each level of supervision within these classifications entails in terms of responsibilities of the probation officer; (c) the average time commitment for a probation officer for each level of supervision on a monthly basis; (d) the overall number of individuals on probation; (e) the number of individuals added to probation and the number removed from probation for each month within that quarter; and (f) the total number of full-time employees who administer probationary cases; provided further, that these figures shall be delineated by level of supervisory and nonsupervisory probation and further delineated by court division; provided further, that the overall number of individuals on probation and added to probation each month shall be separately delineated by originating court or referral source; and provided further, that the report shall include the number of probationers served by community corrections centers and electronic monitoring including, but not limited to, global positioning systems, and delineated by level of supervisory and nonsupervisory probation
$114,799,578
0339-1003
For the office of community corrections and performance-based contracts for the operation of community corrections centers; provided, that the office shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 26, 2013; and provided further, that the report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the performance standards used to assess the success of community corrections centers; (ii) a description of how each community corrections center rates based on performance and utilization data; (iii) the amount of each contract awarded to community corrections centers on a per client-day basis; (iv) standards for terminating contracts with underperforming community corrections centers; and (v) a plan for increasing use of community corrections centers by the courts, the department of correction and the sheriffs
$20,099,362
0339-2100
For the operation of the office of the jury commissioner pursuant to chapter 234A of the General Laws
$2,442,950
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
Suffolk District Attorney.
0340-0100
For the Suffolk district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program, the domestic violence unit and the children’s advocacy center; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$16,855,414
0340-0198
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Suffolk district attorney’s office
$354,303
Middlesex District Attorney.
0340-0200
For the Middlesex district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$14,374,985
0340-0298
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Middlesex district attorney’s office
$516,485
Eastern District Attorney.
0340-0300
For the Eastern district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$8,832,189
0340-0398
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Eastern district attorney’s office
$504,351
Worcester District Attorney.
0340-0400
For the Worcester district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$9,334,263
0340-0410
For the analysis of narcotic drug synthetic substitutes, poisons, drugs, medicines and chemicals at the University of Massachusetts medical school in order to support the law enforcement efforts of the district attorneys, the state police and municipal police departments
$420,000
0340-0498
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Worcester district attorney’s office
$413,499
Hampden District Attorney.
0340-0500
For the Hampden district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$8,404,444
0340-0598
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Hampden district attorney’s office
$339,899
Hampshire/Franklin District Attorney.
0340-0600
For the Hampshire/Franklin district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$5,232,902
0340-0698
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Hampshire/Franklin district attorney’s office
$294,248
Norfolk District Attorney.
0340-0700
For the Norfolk district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$8,610,626
0340-0798
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Norfolk district attorney’s office
$427,306
Plymouth District Attorney.
0340-0800
For the Plymouth district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$7,468,951
0340-0898
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Plymouth district attorney’s office.......... $429,842
Bristol District Attorney.
0340-0900
For the Bristol district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$7,771,053
0340-0998
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Bristol district attorney’s office
$326,318
Cape and Islands District Attorney.
0340-1000
For the Cape and Islands district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; and provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500
$3,798,541
0340-1098
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Cape and Islands district attorney’s office
$278,735
Berkshire District Attorney.
0340-1100
For the Berkshire district attorney’s office, including the victim and witness assistance program, the child abuse and sexual assault prosecution program, the drug task force and the domestic violence unit; provided, that 50 per cent of the fees payable pursuant to Rules 15(d) and 30(c)(8) of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure for appeals taken by the office shall be paid from this item; provided further, that no assistant district attorney shall be paid an annual salary of less than $37,500; and provided further, that funds shall be expended for the operation and management of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force
$3,698,799
0340-1198
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the Berkshire district attorney’s office
$215,126
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION.
0340-2100
For the operation of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, including the implementation and related expenses of the district attorneys’ offices’ automation and case management and tracking system; provided, that expenses associated with the system may be charged directly to this item; provided further, that the department shall work in conjunction with the disabled persons protection commission and the 11 district attorneys' offices to prepare a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than March 14, 2013 that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of abuse cases that are referred to each district attorney’s office for further investigation; (ii) the number of those referrals resulting in the filing of criminal charges, delineated by type of charge; (iii) the number of cases referred to each district attorney's office that remains open as of the date for submission of the report; and (iv) the number of cases that resulted in criminal prosecution and the disposition of each such prosecution; provided further, that the association shall work in conjunction with the 11 district attorneys' offices to prepare and submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than February 28, 2013 detailing by district for calendar year 2012 the following: (a) the number of criminal cases initiated by arraignment; (b) the number of criminal cases disposed; and (c) the number of criminal cases actively managed during the year; provided further, that the report shall separately identify the number of criminal cases initiated by arraignment, the number of cases disposed and the number of cases under active management where the case includes charges for drug offenses under chapter 94C of the General Laws, motor vehicle charges under chapter 90 of the General Laws or firearm offenses under chapter 140 of the General Laws; provided further, that the association shall submit these reports to the house and senate committees on ways in means in a standard electronic format; provided further, that the association shall work in conjunction with the 11 district attorneys' offices to prepare and submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than February 28, 2013, detailing all district attorneys’ offices’ use of drug forfeiture funds collected pursuant to said chapter 94C; and provided further, that the report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) the amount of the funds deposited into an office's special law enforcement trust fund in fiscal years 2010, 2011 and 2012; (2) how the funds were used in those fiscal years; and (3) the balance in the fund as of January 2, 2013
$1,660,006
0340-8908
For the costs associated with maintaining the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association’s wide area network
$1,317,090
EXECUTIVE.
0411-1000
For the offices of the governor, the lieutenant governor and the governor’s council; provided, that the amount appropriated in this item may be used at the discretion of the governor for the payment of extraordinary expenses not otherwise provided for and for transfer to appropriation accounts if the amounts otherwise available may be insufficient; provided further, that funds may be expended for the governor’s commission on intellectual disability; provided further, that funds may be expended for the governor’s development coordinating council; and provided further, that the advisory council on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, as established in the office of the governor by section 379 of chapter 194 of the acts of 1998 and continued under section 80 of chapter 236 of the acts of 2000, shall continue during fiscal year 2013
$4,993,342
Office Of The Child Advocate.
0411-1005
For the operation of the office of the child advocate
$243,564
SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
0511-0000
For the operation of the office of the secretary; provided, that the secretary may transfer funds between items 0540-0900, 0540-1000, 0540-1100, 0540-1200, 0540-1300, 0540-1400, 0540-1500, 0540-1600, 0540-1700, 0540-1800, 0540-1900, 0540-2000 and 0540-2100 pursuant to an allocation schedule filed with the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 30 days before the transfer; provided further, that each register of deeds using electronic record books shall ensure that all methods of electronically recording instruments conform to the regulations or standards established by the state secretary and the records conservation board; and provided further, that those regulations shall be issued not later than June 28, 2013
$5,912,424
0511-0001
For the state secretary, who may expend revenues not to exceed $15,000 from the sale of merchandise at the state house gift shop for the purpose of replenishing and restocking gift shop inventory
$15,000
0511-0002
For the operation of the corporations division; provided, that the division shall implement a corporate dissolution program which shall have a specific focus on domestic, foreign, profit and non-profit corporations that have failed in their statutory responsibility to file an annual report; and provided further, that the secretary shall file a report with house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 29, 2013 detailing total revenues collected as a result of the corporate dissolution program in fiscal year 2012 and revenues collected to date in fiscal year 2013
$254,213
0511-0200
For the operation of the archives division
$378,121
0511-0230
For the operation of the records center
$36,217
0511-0250
For the operation of the archives facility
$296,521
0511-0260
For the operation of the commonwealth museum
$243,684
0511-0270
For the state secretary, who shall contract with the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute to provide the commonwealth with technical assistance on United States census data and to prepare annual population estimates; provided, that the contract shall be for not less than $325,000
$400,000
0511-0420
For the operation of the address confidentiality program
$130,858
0517-0000
For the printing of public documents
$500,000
0521-0000
For the operation of the elections division, including preparation, printing and distribution of ballots and for other miscellaneous expenses for primary and other elections; provided, that the state secretary may award grants for voter registration and education; and provided further, that the registration and education activities may be conducted by community-based voter registration and education organizations, prior appropriation continued
$8,646,892
0521-0001
For the operation of the central voter registration computer system, prior appropriation continued
$5,691,979
0524-0000
For providing information to voters
$1,873,087
0526-0100
For the operation of the Massachusetts historical commission
$750,000
0527-0100
For the operation of the ballot law commission
$10,545
0528-0100
For the operation of the records conservation board
$34,056
0540-0900
For the registry of deeds in the city of Lawrence
$1,017,334
0540-1000
For the registry of deeds in the city of Salem
$2,703,583
0540-1100
For the registry of deeds in the former county of Franklin
$599,768
0540-1200
For the registry of deeds in the former county of Hampden
$1,643,100
0540-1300
For the registry of deeds in the former county of Hampshire
$471,423
0540-1400
For the registry of deeds in the city of Lowell
$1,113,611
0540-1500
For the registry of deeds in the city of Cambridge
$2,875,012
0540-1600
For the registry of deeds in the town of Adams
$250,700
0540-1700
For the registry of deeds in the city of Pittsfield
$419,400
0540-1800
For the registry of deeds in the town of Great Barrington
$209,483
0540-1900
For the registry of deeds in the former county of Suffolk
$1,734,615
0540-2000
For the registry of deeds in the city of Fitchburg
$655,072
0540-2100
For the registry of deeds in the city of Worcester
$2,161,481
TREASURER & RECEIVER GENERAL.
Office of the Treasurer and Receiver General.
0610-0000
For the office of the treasurer and receiver general; provided, that the treasurer shall provide computer services required by the teachers’ retirement board; provided further, that funds may be expended for the payment of bank fees; provided further, that financial assistance shall be made available to injured firefighters; and provided further, that the treasurer’s office shall pay one-half of the administrative costs of the municipal finance oversight board from this item
$9,181,660
0610-0010
For programs to promote and improve financial literacy of residents of the commonwealth
$85,000
0610-0050
For the administration of the alcoholic beverages control commission in its efforts to regulate and control the conduct and condition of traffic in alcoholic beverages; provided, that the commission shall maintain at least 1 chief investigator and other investigators for the purpose of regulating and controlling the traffic of alcoholic beverages; provided further, that the commission shall work and cooperate with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the United States Department of Justice and other relevant federal agencies to assist in the efforts to regulate and control the traffic of alcoholic beverages; and provided further, that the commission shall seek out matching federal dollars and apply for federal grants that may be available to assist in the enforcement of laws pertaining to the traffic of alcoholic beverages
$2,060,249
0610-0051
For the operations of the alcoholic beverages control commission relative to the prevention of underage drinking and related programs, including but not limited to applying for and obtaining federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms funds, grants and other federal appropriations; provided, that the commission may expend revenues up to $208,862 collected from fees generated by the commission; and provided further, that for the purposes of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenue and related expenditures, the commission may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$208,862
0610-0140
For the purpose of funding administrative, transactional and research expenses associated with maintaining and increasing the interest earnings on the General Fund and the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund investments
$22,482
0610-2000
For payments made to veterans pursuant to section 16 of chapter 130 of the acts of 2005, section 11 of chapter 132 of the acts of 2009 and chapter 646 of the acts of 1968; provided, that the state treasurer may expend not more than $205,000 for costs incurred in the administration of these payments
$2,805,000
0611-1000
For bonus payments to war veterans
$44,500
Lottery Commission.
0640-0000
For the operation of the state lottery commission and the state arts lottery; provided, that no funds shall be expended from this item for costs associated with the promotion or advertising of lottery games; provided further, that positions funded by this item shall not be subject to chapters 30 and 31 of the General Laws; and provided further, that 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be transferred quarterly from the State Lottery Fund to the General Fund
$81,494,026
0640-0005
For the costs associated with monitor games; provided, that any funds expended on promotional activities shall be limited to point-of-sale promotions and agent newsletters; and provided further, that 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be transferred quarterly from the State Lottery Fund to the General Fund
$2,715,484
0640-0010
For the promotional activities associated with the state lottery program; provided, that 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be transferred quarterly from the State Lottery Fund to the General Fund
$5,000,000
0640-0096
For the commonwealth’s fiscal year 2013 contributions to the health and welfare fund established pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement between the state lottery commission and the Service Employees International Union, Local 888, AFL-CIO; provided, that the contributions shall be paid to the fund on such basis as the collective bargaining agreement provides; and provided further, that 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be transferred quarterly from the State Lottery Fund to the General Fund
$373,152
Massachusetts Cultural Council.
0640-0300
For the services and operations of the council, including grants to or contracts with public and nonpublic entities; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the council may expend the amounts appropriated in this item for the purposes of the council as provided in sections 52 to 58, inclusive, of chapter 10 of the General Laws in such amounts and at such times as the council may determine pursuant to section 54 of said chapter 10; provided further, that 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be transferred quarterly from the Arts Lottery Fund to the General Fund; provided further, that any funds expended from this item for the benefit of schoolchildren shall be expended for the benefit of all schoolchildren in the commonwealth and on the same terms and conditions; provided further, that the council shall not expend funds from this item for any grant or contract recipient that, in any program or activity for such schoolchildren, does not apply the same terms and conditions to all such schoolchildren; provided further, that a person employed under this item shall be considered an employee within the meaning of section 1 of chapter 150E of the General Laws and shall be placed in the appropriate bargaining unit; and provided further, that funding provided in this item shall be in addition to $3,000,000 in funding from the Massachusetts Development Finance Authority made available for the Massachusetts cultural council
$6,254,109
Debt Service.
0699-0005
For the state treasurer who may retain and expend an amount not to exceed $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2013 from premiums paid on the sales of revenue anticipation notes and expend such premium payments for the purposes of paying principal and interest on account of the revenue anticipation notes
$20,000,000
0699-0014
For the payment of interest, discount and principal on certain indebtedness incurred under chapter 233 of the acts of 2008 for financing the accelerated bridge program
For the payment of interest, discount and principal on certain bonded debt and the sale of bonds of the commonwealth; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the state treasurer may make payments pursuant to section 38C of chapter 29 of the General Laws from this item and items 0699-9100, 0699-2005 and 0699-0014; provided further, that the payments shall pertain to the bonds, notes or other obligations authorized to be paid from each item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller may transfer the amounts that would otherwise be unexpended on June 30, 2013, from this item to items 0699-9100, 0699-2005 and 0699-0014 or from items 0699-9100, 0699-2005 and 0699-0014 to this item which would otherwise have insufficient amounts to meet debt service obligations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013; provided further, that each amount transferred shall be charged to the funds as specified in the item to which the amount is transferred; provided further, that payments on bonds issued pursuant to section 2O of said chapter 29 shall be paid from this item and shall be charged to the Infrastructure subfund of the Commonwealth Transportation Fund; provided further, that notwithstanding this item or any other general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller may charge the payments authorized in the item to the appropriate budgetary or other fund subject to a plan which the comptroller shall file 10 days in advance with the house and senate committees on ways and means; and provided further, that the comptroller shall transfer from this item to the Government Land Bank Fund an amount equal to the amount by which debt service charged to the fund exceeds revenue deposited to the fund
For the payment of interest, discount and principal on certain bonded debt and the sale of bonds of the commonwealth; provided, that the state treasurer may expend revenues up to $25,000,000 generated from interest earnings in fiscal year 2013 from the state's General Fund and Stabilization Fund for this purpose; provided further, the Treasurer may transfer funds from between this item and item 0699-0015, as necessary, provided that the treasurer shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than September 1, 2013 detailing transfers between this item and item 0699-0015; and provided further, that if interest revenues are not sufficient to meet this appropriation, the projected difference between $25,000,000 and projected interested earnings shall be transferred to this item from the General Fund without further appropriation
For the payment of costs associated with any bonds, notes or other obligations of the commonwealth, including issuance costs, interest on bonds, bond and revenue anticipation notes, commercial paper and other notes pursuant to sections 47 and 49B of chapter 29 of the General Laws and for the payment to the United States pursuant to section 148 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of any rebate amount or yield reduction payment owed with respect to any bonds or notes or other obligations of the commonwealth; provided, that the treasurer shall certify to the comptroller a schedule of the distribution of costs among the various funds of the commonwealth; provided further, that not more than $400,000 shall be expended from this item for the costs of personnel at the debt department of the office of the state treasurer; provided further, that the comptroller shall charge costs to the funds in accordance with the schedule; and provided further, that any deficit in this item at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013 shall be charged to the various funds or to the General Fund or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund debt service reserves
$29,131,247
0699-9101
For the purpose of depositing with the trustee under the trust agreement authorized in section 10B of chapter 11 of the acts of 1997, an amount to be used to pay the interest due on notes of the commonwealth issued pursuant to section 9 of said chapter 11 and secured by the Federal Highway Grant Anticipation Note Trust Fund
STATE AUDITOR.
Office of the State Auditor.
0710-0000
For the office of the state auditor, including the review and monitoring of privatization contracts in accordance with sections 52 to 55, inclusive, of chapter 7 of the General Laws, prior appropriation continued
$13,659,122
0710-0100
For the operation of the division of local mandates
$379,643
0710-0200
For the operation of the bureau of special investigations; provided, that the office shall file quarterly reports with the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the total amount of fraudulently obtained benefits identified by the bureau, the total value of settlement restitution payments, actual monthly collections and any circumstances that produce shortfalls in collections
$2,112,420
0710-0225
For the operation of the Medicaid audit unit within the division of audit operations to prevent and identify fraud and abuse in the MassHealth system; provided, that the federal reimbursement for any expenditure from this item shall not be less than 50 per cent; provided further, that the division shall submit a report not later than March 15, 2013 to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing all findings on activities and payments made through the MassHealth system; provided further, that the report shall include, to the extent available, a review of all post-audit efforts undertaken by MassHealth to recoup payments owed to the commonwealth due to identified fraud and abuse; provided further, that the report shall include the responses of MassHealth to the most recent post-audit review survey, including the status of recoupment efforts; and provided further, that the report shall include the unit’s recommendations to enhance recoupment efforts
$897,829
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Office of the Attorney General.
0810-0000
For the office of the attorney general, including the administration of the local consumer aid fund, the operation of the anti-trust division, all regional offices, a high-tech crime unit and the victim and witness compensation program; provided, that the victim and witness assistance program shall be administered in accordance with chapters 258B and 258C of the General Laws; and provided further, that the attorney general shall submit to the general court and the secretary of administration and finance a report detailing the claims submitted to the state treasurer for payment under item 0810-0004 indicating both the number and cost for each category of claim
$22,251,155
0810-0004
For compensation to victims of violent crimes; provided, that notwithstanding chapter 258C of the General Laws, if a claimant is 60 years of age or older at the time of the crime and is not employed or receiving unemployment compensation, that claimant shall be eligible for compensation in accordance with said chapter 258C even if the claimant has suffered no out-of-pocket loss; provided further, that compensation to such claimant shall be limited to a maximum of $50; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, victims of the crime of rape shall be notified of all available services designed to assist rape victims including, but not limited to, the provisions outlined in section 5 of chapter 258B of the General Laws
$2,188,340
0810-0013
For a false claims program in the office of the attorney general; provided, that the program may expend an amount not to exceed $775,000 from revenues collected from enforcement of sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, of chapter 12 of the General Laws; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$775,000
0810-0014
For the operation of the department of public utilities proceedings unit within the office of the attorney general pursuant to section 11E of chapter 12 of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the amount assessed under said section 11E of said chapter 12 shall equal the amount expended from this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item; and provided further, that funds shall be expended for the expenses of legal and technical personnel and associated administrative and travel expenses relative to participation in regulatory proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on behalf of Massachusetts ratepayers
$2,355,145
0810-0021
For the operation of the Medicaid fraud control unit; provided, that the federal reimbursement for any expenditure from this item shall not be less than 75 per cent of the expenditure; provided further, that funds shall continue to be used specifically for the investigation and prosecution of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and misappropriation based on referrals from the department of public health pursuant to section 72H of chapter 111 of the General Laws; provided further, that the unit shall provide training for all investigators of the department of public health’s division of health care quality responsible for the investigations on a periodic basis pursuant to a comprehensive training program to be developed by the division and the unit; and provided further, that training shall include instruction on techniques for improving the efficiency and quality of investigations of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and misappropriation pursuant to said section 72H of said chapter 111
$4,064,923
0810-0045
For the labor law enforcement program pursuant to subsection (b) of section 1A of chapter 23 of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a non-management position funded by this item shall be considered a job title in a collective bargaining unit as prescribed by the labor relations commission and shall be subject to chapter 150E of the General Laws
$3,072,081
0810-0061
For the purpose of funding existing and future litigation devoted to obtaining significant recoveries for the commonwealth
$1,811,579
0810-0098
For the overtime costs of state police officers assigned to the attorney general; provided, that expenditures shall not be made from this item which would cause the commonwealth’s obligation under this item to exceed the amount appropriated in this item
$340,676
0810-0201
For the costs incurred in administrative or judicial proceedings on insurance as authorized by section 11F of chapter 12 of the General Laws; provided, that funds made available in this item may be used to supplement the automobile insurance fraud unit and the workers’ compensation fraud unit in the office of the attorney general; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the amount assessed for these costs shall be equal to the amount expended from this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item; and provided further, that funds may be expended for costs associated with health insurance rate hearings
$1,539,942
0810-0338
For the investigation and prosecution of automobile insurance fraud; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the amount assessed for these costs shall be equal to the amount appropriated by this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item
$438,506
0810-0399
For the investigation and prosecution of workers’ compensation fraud; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the amount assessed for these costs shall be equal to the amount appropriated by this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item; provided further, that the attorney general shall investigate and prosecute, when appropriate, employers who fail to provide workers’ compensation insurance in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth; and provided further, that the attorney general shall investigate and report on all companies not in compliance with chapter 152 of the General Laws
$284,456
Victim and Witness Assistance Board.
0840-0100
For the operation of the victim and witness assistance board
$475,700
0840-0101
For the salaries and administration of the SAFEPLAN advocacy program, to be administered by the Massachusetts office of victim assistance
$736,667
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION.
0900-0100
For the operation of the state ethics commission
$1,843,193
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
0910-0200
For the operation of the office of the inspector general
$2,231,913
0910-0210
For the office of the inspector general, which may expend revenues collected up to a maximum of $600,000 from the fees charged to participants in the Massachusetts public purchasing official certification program and the certified public manager program for the operation of such programs; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipts of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office of the inspector general may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$600,000
OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN AND POLITICAL FINANCE.
0920-0300
For the operation of the office of campaign and political finance
$1,270,342
MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
0940-0100
For the office of the commission, including the processing and resolution of cases pending before the commission that were filed not later than July 1, 2005; provided, that not later than November 1, 2012, the commission shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means a report on the total number of all currently pending cases and the total number of cases in the investigation, conciliation, post-probable cause and pre-public hearing and post-hearing stages; provided further, that the commission shall file an updated report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 7, 2013; provided further, that the commission shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than November 1, 2012, on the number of cases pending before the commission in which a state agency or state authority is named as a respondent, specifying those cases by agency or state authority; provided further, that the commission shall include in the report the total number of new cases filed in fiscal year 2012 and the total number of cases closed by the commission in fiscal year 2012; provided further, that funds made available in this item shall be in addition to funds available in item 0940-0101; provided further, that all positions, except clerical, shall be exempt from chapter 31 of the General Laws; and provided further, that the commission shall pursue the highest rate of federal reimbursement
$2,590,495
0940-0101
For the Massachusetts commission against discrimination which may expend not more than $2,118,911 from revenues from federal reimbursements received for the purposes of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development fair housing type 1 program and the equal opportunity resolution contract program during fiscal year 2013 and federal reimbursements received for these and other programs in prior fiscal years; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commission may also expend revenues generated through the collection of fees and costs so authorized; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the commission may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,118,911
0940-0102
For the Massachusetts commission against discrimination which may expend not more than $70,000 from revenues collected from fees charged for the training and certification of diversity trainers for the operation of the discrimination prevention certification program
$70,000
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
0950-0000
For the commission on the status of women
$70,000
Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth.
0950-0050
For the commission on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth; provided, that funds shall be used to address issues related to the implementation of chapter 92 of the acts of 2010
$100,000
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER.
1000-0001
For the office of the state comptroller; provided, that the amount of any federal funds and grant receipts credited and expended from this item shall be reported to the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided further, that the comptroller shall maintain a special federal and non-tax revenue unit which shall operate under policies and procedures developed in conjunction with the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that the comptroller shall provide quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means which shall include, for each state agency for which the commonwealth is billing, the eligible state services and the full-year estimate of revenues and revenues collected; provided further, that the comptroller may enter into contracts with private vendors to identify and pursue cost avoidance opportunities for programs of the commonwealth and may enter into interdepartmental service agreements with state agencies, as applicable, for such purpose; provided further, that 60 days before entering into any interdepartmental service agreement the comptroller shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided further, that the notification shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the project, the purpose and intent of the interdepartmental service agreement, a projection of the costs avoided in the current fiscal year, a copy of the contract with the private vendor, including the proposed rate of compensation and any previous agreements related or similar to the new agreement with the above information; provided further, that payments to private vendors on account of such cost avoidance projects shall be made only from such actual cost savings that have been certified in writing to the house and senate committees on ways and means by the comptroller and the budget director as attributable to such cost avoidance projects; provided further, that the comptroller may establish such procedures, in consultation with the budget director and the affected departments, as the comptroller deems appropriate and necessary to accomplish the purposes of this item; provided further, that the comptroller shall submit a report on such projects as a part of the comptroller’s annual report pursuant to section 12 of chapter 7A of the General Laws; and provided further, that funds from this item shall also be used by the comptroller for program integrity purposes which maximize overpayment recoupment, cost avoidance and other cost recoveries
$8,482,378
Disabled Persons Protection Commission.
1107-2501
For the disabled persons protection commission; provided, that the commission shall facilitate compliance by the department of mental health and the department of developmental services with uniform investigative standards; provided further, that the commission shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than the last day of each quarter on the number of claims of abuse by caretakers made by employees or contracted service employees of the department of developmental services, the department of mental health and the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission; provided further, that the report shall include: (i) the number of substantiated claims; (ii) the number of unsubstantiated claims; and (iii) the number of false claims reported as a result of intentional and malicious action; and provided further, that the commission shall ensure that it is capable of recording all calls that are made to the commission’s 24-hour hotline, that all persons who call the hotline shall be immediately informed that calls are routinely recorded and that each person shall be provided with the opportunity to elect that the call not be recorded
$2,252,599
Board of Library Commissioners.
7000-9101
For the operation of the board of library commissioners; provided, that notwithstanding section 19A of chapter 78 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, for the fiscal year 2013 state aid to public libraries program, the board of library commissioners shall consider that Fitchburg has met the standard of minimum hours of service as provided in section 19B of said chapter 78 and defined in 605 CMR 4.01(3) and further defined in board policies for the state aid program; provided further, that the board shall grant temporary certification to Fitchburg by August 31, 2012, upon receipt of a preliminary report showing compliance with the materials expenditure requirement during fiscal year 2012 and showing that the library has met the municipal appropriation requirement, or is likely to qualify for a waiver of said requirement, in the 2013 state aid to public libraries program; and provided further, that in order for Fitchburg to retain this certification and receive a grant award it shall successfully complete the annual certification process of the board in fiscal year 2013
$1,037,793
7000-9401
For state aid to regional public libraries; provided, that the board of library commissioners may provide quarterly advances of funds for purposes authorized by clause (1) of section 19C of chapter 78 of the General Laws, as it considers proper, to regional public library systems throughout each fiscal year in compliance with the office of the comptroller’s regulations on state grants, 815 CMR 2; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in calculating the fiscal year 2013 distribution of funds appropriated in this item, the board of library commissioners shall employ population figures used to calculate the fiscal year 2012 distribution; provided further, that the board shall provide funds for the continued operation of a single regional library system to serve the different geographic regions of the commonwealth and require that physical locations be maintained in both eastern and western Massachusetts to serve the residents of those regions; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the library of the commonwealth shall receive not less than 35.9 cents for each resident of the commonwealth
$9,131,475
7000-9402
For the talking book library at the Worcester public library
$430,628
7000-9406
For the Braille and talking book library at Watertown, including the operation of the machine lending agency
$2,299,384
7000-9501
For state aid to public libraries; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no city or town shall receive funds from this item in any year during which the appropriation of the city or town for free public library services is below an amount equal to 102.5 per cent of the average of the appropriations for free public library service for the 3 years immediately preceding; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the board of library commissioners may grant waivers in excess of the waiver limit set forth in the second paragraph of section 19A of chapter 78 of the General Laws in fiscal year 2013 for not more than 1 year; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, of the amount by which this item exceeds the amount appropriated in chapter 194 of the acts of 1998, funds shall be distributed under the guidelines of the municipal equalization grant program, the library incentive grant program and the nonresident circulation offset program; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any payment made under this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city or town and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the public library of that city or town without appropriation
$6,823,657
7000-9506
For the technology and automated resource sharing networks
$1,929,238
Executive Office for Administration and Finance.
Office of the Secretary of Administration and Finance.
1100-1100
For the office of the secretary; provided, that the secretary shall conduct an ongoing review of affirmative action steps taken by the various agencies, boards, departments, commissions or divisions to determine whether such agencies, boards, departments, commissions or divisions are complying with the commonwealth’s policies of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity; provided further, that whenever noncompliance is determined by the secretary, the secretary shall hold a public hearing on the matter and report the findings and recommendations to the head of the particular agency, board, department, commission or division, to the governor and to the Massachusetts commission against discrimination; provided further, that agencies within the executive office may, with the prior approval of the secretary, streamline administrative operations pursuant to interdepartmental service agreements; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance shall provide biannual reports, the first of which shall be submitted not later than August 1, 2012 and the second not later than February 1, 2013 to the house and senate committees on ways and means, in a format agreed to by the secretary and the committees, detailing by bargaining unit the costs to the commonwealth resulting from collective bargaining agreements with various classified public employees’ unions; provided further, that the report shall include the effective date of any new negotiations or renegotiations, the end date of the contract, the number of employees in the bargaining unit by department, the costs associated with any new negotiations or renegotiations, including salary adjustments, step increases, statutory benefits and other non-salary costs for the current and subsequent fiscal years for the life of the contract; provided further, that the report shall also include the total costs incurred for collective bargaining agreements that have expired in the previous fiscal year; provided further, that the executive office for administration and finance and the office of employee relations shall meet with the house and senate committees on ways and means following the submission of each report to discuss the information therein, including all collective bargaining contracts that are set to expire over the next 12 months and the current status of negotiations; and provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance, in consultation with the state auditor, the operational services division, the inspector general and the comptroller, shall design and implement an effective and transparent process for tracking audit and investigative findings by the auditor and the inspector general, and state agencies’ corresponding corrective actions, other responses and outcomes and shall report in writing to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2012
$2,851,624
1100-1201
For the operation of the office of commonwealth performance, accountability and transparency; provided, that the activities funded from this item shall include, but not be limited to, the operation and maintenance of a performance management program, maximization of federal revenue opportunities and oversight of compliance with federal reporting requirements, including the implementation and oversight of the Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act, the operation and maintenance of the publicly accessible website required by section 14C of chapter 7 of the General Laws and other statewide transparency initiatives to enhance program integrity and ongoing efforts to prevent fraud, waste and abuse in the executive branch; provided further, that funds may be expended for performing enhanced economic forecasting and analysis; provided further, that the unit may develop guidelines and methodologies for agencies to follow in the forecasting of caseloads and revenue; and provided further, that the office shall provide a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 which details the actions of the office over the previous year
$400,000
1100-1700
For the provision of information technology services within the executive office for administration and finance
$25,547,370
1106-0064
For the caseload and economic forecasting office within the office of commonwealth performance, accountability and transparency; provided, that the caseload and economic forecasting office shall forecast: (i) MassHealth enrollment by group; (ii) participation in state subsidized childcare provided through items 3000-3050, 3000-4050 and 3000-4060; (iii) participation in emergency assistance and housing programs provided through items 7004-0101 and 7004-0108; (iv) enrollment, both active member and dependent, in the group insurance commission; (v) recipients of direct benefits provided by the department of transitional assistance through items 4403-2000, 4405-2000 and 4408-1000; and (vi) other related economic forecasts; provided further, that the office shall report its forecasts to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 3, 2012; and provided further, that the office shall submit an updated forecast to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013
$159,415
Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.
1102-3199
For the operation of the office of facilities management, including the cost of utilities and associated contracts for properties managed by the division; provided, that the office shall continue to provide funding for all janitorial services at the same level provided in fiscal year 2012 for all buildings under the jurisdiction of the office
$11,272,903
1102-3205
For the division of capital asset management and maintenance, which may expend for the maintenance and operation of the Massachusetts information technology center, the state transportation building and the Springfield state office building, an amount not to exceed $16,250,000 in revenues collected from rentals, commissions, fees, parking fees and any other sources pertaining to the operations of those facilities; provided, that the division shall work with the committee on public counsel services to ensure that public defenders hired in fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2013 shall have access to adequate office space; provided further, that the division shall identify any office space that may be vacated by the staffing plan implemented pursuant to item 0321-1500 and shall prioritize use for public defenders; provided further, that the division shall provide full cooperation to the evaluator selected through item 1599-1300 and shall make available to the evaluator any information and data needed to assist with the requirements of the item; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$16,250,000
1102-3232
For the division of capital asset management and maintenance; provided, that the division may expend not more than $300,000 received from application fees charged in conjunction with the certification of contractors and subcontractors pursuant to section 44D of chapter 149 of the General Laws; provided further, that only expenses, including staffing, incurred to implement and operate the certification program shall be funded from this item; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$300,000
Bureau of the State House.
1102-1128
For state house accessibility coordination, including communications access to public hearings and meetings; provided, that access shall include interpreter services for the deaf and hard of hearing
$140,021
1102-3309
For the operation of the bureau of the state house; provided, that a superintendent shall be hired to oversee operations of the bureau; and provided further, that the superintendent, director of operations and other employees of the bureau shall work in conjunction with the business manager of the house of representatives and the business manager of the senate relative to the maintenance, repair, purchases and payments for materials and services
$2,000,000
Office on Disability.
1107-2400
For the Massachusetts office on disability
$597,951
Civil Service Commission.
1108-1011
For the civil service commission; provided, that the General Fund shall be reimbursed for the appropriation in this item through a fee charged on a per claim basis; provided further, that the commission shall develop and implement regulations to provide for reimbursement to the General Fund; and provided further, that the civil service commission may assess a fee on the appointing authority when inappropriate action has occurred
$418,240
Group Insurance Commission.
1108-5100
For the administration of the group insurance commission; provided, that the commission shall generate the maximum amounts allowable under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, as amended, and from reimbursements allowed by sections 8, 10B, 10C and 12 of chapter 32A of the General Laws; provided further, that the group insurance commission shall provide the caseload forecasting office with enrollment data and any other information pertinent to caseload forecasting that is requested by the office on a monthly basis; and provided further, that such information shall be provided in a manner that meets all applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements
$2,537,146
1108-5200
For the commonwealth’s share of the group insurance premium and plan costs incurred in fiscal year 2013; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds in this item shall not be available during the accounts-payable period of fiscal year 2013 and any unexpended balance in this item shall revert to the General Fund on June 30, 2013; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance shall charge the division of unemployment assistance and other departments, authorities, agencies and divisions which have federal or other funds allocated to them for this purpose, for that portion of insurance premiums and plan costs as the secretary determines shall be borne by such funds and shall notify the comptroller of the amounts to be transferred, after similar determination, from the several state or other funds and amounts received in payment of all such charges or transfers shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that funds may be expended from this item for the commonwealth’s share of group insurance premium and plan costs provided to employees and retirees in prior fiscal years; provided further, that the group insurance commission shall obtain reimbursement for premium and administrative expenses from other agencies and authorities not funded by state appropriation; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance may charge all agencies for the commonwealth’s share of the health insurance costs incurred on behalf of any employees of those agencies who are on leaves of absence for periods of more than 1 year; provided further, that the amounts received in payment for the charges shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that notwithstanding section 26 of chapter 29 of the General Laws, the commission may negotiate, purchase and execute contracts before July 1 of each year for policies of group insurance as authorized by chapter 32A of the General Laws; provided further, that the rules for determining the commonwealth’s share of the group insurance premiums for retired and active state employees shall be no different from the standards in effect on July 1, 2011; provided further, that the commission shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means by April 1, 2013 of the cost of the commonwealth’s projected share of group insurance premiums for the next fiscal year; provided further, that the commission shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means at least 90 days prior to any changes in coverage or benefits, or the schedule of copayments and deductibles, for plans offered by the group insurance commission; provided further, that the group insurance commission may pay premium and plan costs for municipal employees and retirees who are enrolled in the group insurance commission’s health plans pursuant to the commission’s regulations; and provided further, that the group insurance commission shall report not later than December 3, 2012 to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the average full cost premium equivalent per enrollee and the average actual cost per enrollee for enrollees from participating municipalities, as well as the contribution ratios for each participating municipality, for fiscal year 2011, and, not later than March 31, 2013, for the equivalent information for fiscal year 2012
$1,128,126,679
1108-5201
For the costs incurred by the group insurance commission associated with providing municipal health insurance coverage pursuant to section 19 of chapter 32B of the General Laws; provided, that the commission may expend revenues in an amount not to exceed $2,017,862 from the revenue received from administrative fees associated with providing municipal health insurance coverage pursuant to said section 19 of said chapter 32B; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the commission may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,017,862
1108-5350
For elderly governmental retired employee premium payments
$356,000
1108-5400
For the costs of the retired municipal teachers’ premiums and the audit of such premiums
$68,893,835
1108-5500
For the costs, notwithstanding chapter 32A of the General Laws, of dental and vision benefits for those active employees of the commonwealth, not including employees of authorities or any other political subdivision, who are not otherwise provided those benefits pursuant to a separate appropriation or the terms of a contract or collective bargaining agreement; provided, that the employees shall pay 15 per cent of monthly premiums established by the commission for the benefits
$9,683,370
Division of Administrative Law Appeals.
1110-1000
For the operation of the division of administrative law appeals; provided, that the division shall maintain, to the fullest extent practicable, a complete physical and technological separation from any agency, department, board, commission or program the decisions, determinations or actions of which may be appealed to it; and provided further, that every decision issued by a commissioner or other head of an agency, or a designee, following the issuance of a recommended decision by an administrative law judge of the division, shall be an agency decision subject to judicial review pursuant to chapter 30A of the General Laws
$1,135,991
George Fingold Library.
1120-4005
For the administration of the George Fingold Library
$821,483
Department of Revenue.
1201-0100
For the operation of the department of revenue, including tax collection administration, audits of certain foreign corporations and the division of local services; provided, that the department may allocate funds to the office of the attorney general for the tax prosecution unit; provided further, that the department may charge the expenses for computer services, including the costs of personnel and other support costs provided to the child support enforcement unit, from this item to item 1201-0160, consistent with the costs attributable to the unit; provided further, that notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, seasonal positions funded by this item shall be positions requiring the services of an incumbent, on either a full-time or less than full-time basis, beginning not earlier than December 1 and ending not later than November 30; and provided further, that seasonal positions funded by this account shall not be filled by an incumbent for more than 10 months within a 12-month period
$87,669,838
1201-0130
For the department of revenue, which may expend for the operation of the department not more than $27,940,257 from revenues collected by the additional auditors for an enhanced audit program; provided, that the auditors shall: (i) discover and identify persons who are delinquent either in the filing of a tax return or the payment of a tax due and payable to the commonwealth; (ii) obtain such delinquent returns; and (iii) collect such delinquent taxes for a prior fiscal year; provided further, that the department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 that shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the amount of revenue produced from these additional auditors; and (b) the amount of revenue produced by this item for each of the past three fiscal years; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$27,940,257
1201-0160
For the child support enforcement division; provided, that the division may allocate funds appropriated in this item to the department of state police, the district courts, the probate and family courts, the district attorneys and other state agencies for the performance of certain child support enforcement activities and those agencies may expend the funds for the purposes of this item; provided further, that all such allocations shall be reported to the house and senate committees on ways and means upon the allocation of the funds not later than March 15, 2013; provided further, that the federal receipts associated with the child support computer network shall be drawn down at the highest possible rate of reimbursement and deposited into a revolving account to be expended for the network; provided further, that federal receipts associated with child support enforcement grants shall be deposited into a revolving account to be drawn down at the highest possible rate of reimbursement and to be expended for the grant authority; provided further, that the department shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 detailing the balance, year-to-date and projected receipts and year-to-date and projected expenditures, by subsidiary, of the child support trust fund established in section 9 of chapter 119A of the General Laws; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment the amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system for federal incentives and the network in accounts 1201-0161, 1201-0410 and 1201-0412
$35,380,491
1201-0164
For the child support enforcement division; provided, that the division may expend revenues in an amount not to exceed $6,547,280 from the federal reimbursements awarded for personnel and lower subsidiary related expenditures; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment the amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$6,547,280
1201-0911
For the costs associated with expert witnesses retained by the department of revenue for the purpose of resolving tax disputes; provided that expenditures from this item shall be the lesser of $2,000,000 and the amount certified by the secretary of administration and finance under section 113
$2,000,000
1232-0100
For underground storage tank reimbursements to parties that have remediated spills of petroleum products pursuant to chapter 21J of the General Laws; provided, that in the prioritization of claims, priority for payment of approved claims shall be given to claimants who own or formerly owned not more than 4 dispensing facilities
$13,000,000
1232-0200
For the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Cleanup Fund Administrative Review Board established in section 8 of chapter 21J of the General Laws and for the administration of the underground storage tank program associated with the implementation of said chapter 21J; provided, that notwithstanding section 4 of said chapter 21J or any other general or special law to the contrary, appropriations made in this item shall be sufficient to cover the administrative expenses of the underground storage tank program; provided further, that the board shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 on the status of the underground storage tank program including, but not limited to, the number of municipal grants made for the removal and replacement of underground storage tanks, the reimbursements for remediated petroleum spills and the number of backlog claims; and provided further, that the report shall detail the number of tanks that are out of compliance with said chapter 21J
$2,104,972
1233-2000
For the tax abatement program for certain veterans, widows, blind persons and the elderly; provided, that cities and towns shall be reimbursed for the abatements granted under clauses Seventeenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-second A, Twenty-second B, Twenty-second C, Twenty-second D, Twenty-second E, Thirty-seventh, Thirty-seventh A, Forty-first, Forty-first B, Forty-first C, Forty-first C 1/2 and Fifty-second of section 5 of chapter 59 of the General Laws; provided further, that the commonwealth shall reimburse each city or town that accepts said clause Forty-first B or Forty-first C of said section 5 of said chapter 59 for additional costs incurred in determining eligibility of applicants under said clause Forty-first B or Forty-first C of said section 5 of said chapter 59 in an amount not to exceed $2 per exemption granted; and provided further, that funds in this item shall be available for reimbursements to cities and towns for additional exemptions granted from the motor vehicle excise pursuant to the seventh paragraph of section 1 of chapter 60A of the General Laws
$25,038,075
1233-2350
For the distribution to cities and towns of the balance of the State Lottery Fund in accordance with clause (c) of the second paragraph of section 35 of chapter 10 of the General Laws and additional aid to municipalities as provided for in section 3
$900,000,000
1233-2400
For reimbursements to cities and towns in lieu of taxes on state-owned land pursuant to sections 13 to 17, inclusive, of chapter 58 of the General Laws
$26,270,000
1233-2401
For reimbursements to certain cities and towns for additional educational costs pursuant to chapter 40S of the General Laws; provided, that cities and towns eligible for reimbursements in fiscal year 2011 shall receive funding
$325,000
Appellate Tax Board.
1310-1000
For the operation of the appellate tax board; provided, that the board shall schedule hearings in each county; and provided further, that the board shall make available on its website the number of hearings held at each location
$1,806,028
1310-1001
For the appellate tax board, which may expend revenues up to a maximum of $400,000 from fees collected; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the board may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$400,000
Reserves.
1599-0024
For a reserve to be administered by the office of the comptroller to enhance program integrity and auditing efforts in the commonwealth; provided, that this reserve shall be used to fund a competitive grant program for the funding of auditors or program integrity infrastructure at agencies and departments; provided further, that grants shall be awarded to applicants who best demonstrate the opportunity to maximize overpayment recoupment, savings or other cost recoveries; provided further, that the comptroller shall develop guidelines and an application process and award such grants not later than October 3, 2012; and provided further, that the comptroller shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 which shall include: (i) grants awarded through this item; and (ii) estimated cost savings and cost recoveries achieved by those grants
$625,000
1599-0026
For a reserve for 1-time grants to support municipal improvements; provided, that not less than $4,000,000 shall be expended for a multi-year competitive grant program to provide financial support for 1-time or transition costs related to regionalization and other efficiency initiatives, with allowable applicants to include municipalities, regional schools, school districts considering forming a regional school district or regionalizing services, regional planning agencies and councils of governments; provided further, that funds may be expended by the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for public management at the University of Massachusetts at Boston's McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies to develop and drive a program of performance management, accountability and transparency for local government; provided further, that funds may be expended on programs that received funding from this item in fiscal year 2012 and programs with proven replicable outcomes for municipalities; provided further, that the executive office for administration and finance shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 on: (i) initial results of grants awarded in fiscal year 2012; and (ii) criteria used to measure replicable outcomes for programs; provided further, that $3,000,000 shall be transferred to the executive office of public safety and security for a competitive grant program to be administered by the executive office; provided further, that the grants shall be awarded to communities that: (a) have a population of at least 65,000; and (b) demonstrate that their police departments have an operating budget per capita of less than $200 in 2010; and provided further, that the executive office of public safety and security shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 detailing grants awarded through this item and the criteria used for distribution, prior appropriation continued
For contract assistance to the water pollution abatement trust for debt service obligations of the trust pursuant to sections 6, 6A and 18 of chapter 29C of the General Laws, prior appropriation continued
$61,534,170
1599-1300
For a committee on public counsel services process evaluation reserve; provided, that the inspector general shall select an independent evaluator to assess changes made to the administration of indigent defense services over fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2013; provided further, that the evaluation shall report on the effectiveness of the committee in making changes to the number of public defenders given the goals of increasing cost efficiency and cost certainty and maintaining quality of representation; provided further, that the evaluator shall be selected through a competitive procurement in which the inspector general shall consider social science researchers with experience in: (i) conducting process evaluations across a wide array of criminal justice systems; (ii) cost benefit analysis; (iii) developing logic models; (iv) extracting and analyzing criminal justice data, including judicial systems and indigent defense; and (v) quantitative and qualitative evaluations; provided further, that the inspector general shall select the evaluator not later than September 1, 2012; provided further, that preference shall be given to not for profit research organizations; provided further, that the evaluator shall provide quarterly progress updates to the house and senate committees on ways and means beginning on October 1, 2012; provided further, that the evaluator shall provide a preliminary report on their findings to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013; and provided further, that this item shall not revert and shall be made available for these purposes through June 30, 2014
$150,000
1599-1301
For an independent program evaluation reserve; provided, that the funds appropriated in this item shall be used to evaluate the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, funded through item 4000-0005, and programs for English Language Learners in Gateway Cities, funded through item 7009-6400; provided further, that the independent evaluator for each program shall be selected by each program’s administrators under the guidelines set forth in section 150; and provided further, that the funds appropriated in this item shall not revert and shall be made available for these purposes through June 30, 2014
$500,000
1599-1970
For a reserve for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the purpose of defraying costs of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, or its successor, incurred in fiscal year 2013 pursuant to section 138 of chapter 27 of the acts of 2009
$125,000,000
Commonwealth Transportation Fund ..........100%
1599-1977
For contract assistance and other payments to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency for payment of debt service and related obligations in connection with bonds issued by the agency under chapter 293 of the acts of 2006 and chapter 303 of the acts of 2008
$3,462,325
1599-3234
For the commonwealth’s South Essex sewerage district debt service assessment
$90,100
1599-3384
For a reserve for the payment of certain court judgments, settlements and legal fees, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the comptroller, which were ordered to be paid in the current fiscal year or a prior fiscal year; provided, that the comptroller shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the amounts expended from this item; provided further, that this item shall also fund benefits authorized by section 100A of chapter 32 of the General Laws for public safety employees killed in the line of duty upon certification by the state board of retirement; provided further, that funds from this item shall also fund benefits authorized by section 81 of chapter 48 of the General Laws upon certification by the commissioners on firemen’s relief; and provided further, that the comptroller’s office shall provide immediate written notification to the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means upon the expenditure of funds for the purposes of this item
$5,200,000
1599-3856
For rent and associated costs at the Massachusetts information technology center in the city of Chelsea
$500,000
1599-3857
For capital lease payments from the University of Massachusetts to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency and for annual operations of the advanced technology and manufacturing center in the city of Fall River
$1,581,922
1599-4417
For the Edward J. Collins, Jr. center for public management at the University of Massachusetts
$616,518
1599-4440
For a reserve to meet the fiscal year 2013 costs of salary adjustments and other economic benefits authorized by the collective bargaining agreements referenced in section 112 with the University of Massachusetts
$23,146,641
1599-4441
For a reserve to meet the fiscal year 2013 costs of salary adjustments and other economic benefits authorized by the collective bargaining agreements referenced in section 112 with public institutions of higher education
$23,547,366
1599-4442
For a reserve to meet the fiscal year 2013 costs of salary adjustments and other economic benefits authorized by the collective bargaining agreements referenced in section 112 and clauses (d) and (e) of section 47 of chapter 36 of the acts of 2012 with sheriffs’ offices
$6,272,376
1599-4443
For a reserve to meet the fiscal year 2013 costs of salary adjustments and other economic benefits authorized by the collective bargaining agreements referenced in section 112 with registries of deeds offices
$343,614
1599-4444
For a reserve to meet the fiscal year 2013 costs of salary adjustments and other economic benefits authorized by collective bargaining agreements with the University of Massachusetts, public institutions of higher education, sheriffs and the executive branch that have not yet been ratified by the legislature; provided, that no funds shall be expended from this account prior to ratification of the collective bargaining agreements by the legislature
$5,477,458
1599-7104
For a reserve for the facilities costs associated with the college of visual and performing arts at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth; provided, that funds may be expended for Bristol Community College
$2,700,000
Division of Human Resources.
1750-0100
For the operation of the human resources division and the costs of administration, training and customer support related to the commonwealth’s human resources and compensation management system; provided, that the information technology division shall continue a chargeback system for its bureau of computer services, including the operation of the commonwealth’s human resources and compensation management system, which complies with the requirements of section 2B; provided further, that the division shall be responsible for the administration of examinations for state and municipal civil service titles, establishment of eligible lists, certification of eligible candidates to state and municipal appointing authorities and technical assistance in selection and appointment to state and municipal appointing authorities; provided further, that notwithstanding clause (n) of section 5 of chapter 31 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of administration and finance shall charge a fee of not less than $50 to be collected from each applicant for a civil service examination; provided further, that the division shall administer a program of state employee unemployment management including, but not limited to, agency training and assistance; provided further, that the division shall administer the statewide classification system including, but not limited to, maintaining a classification pay plan for civil service titles in accordance with generally accepted compensation standards and reviewing appeals for reclassification; and provided further, that the office of employee relations shall work with the executive office for administration and finance to provide the house and senate committees on ways and means with information related to recently negotiated and expiring collective bargaining agreements required under item 1100-1100
$2,618,194
1750-0102
For the human resources division, which may expend not more than $2,700,000 from revenues collected from fees charged to applicants for civil service and non-civil service examinations and fees charged for the costs of goods and services rendered in administering training programs; provided, that the division shall collect from participating non-state agencies, political subdivisions and the general public fees sufficient to cover all costs of the programs including, but not limited to, a fee to be collected from each applicant for a civil service examination or non-civil service examination, notwithstanding clause (n) of section 5 of chapter 31 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary; provided further, that the human resources division may also expend revenues collected for implementation of the health and physical fitness standards program established pursuant to section 61A of said chapter 31 and the wellness program established pursuant to section 61B of said chapter 31 and those programs in chapter 32 of the General Laws; provided further, that the personnel administrator shall charge a fee of not less than $50 to be collected from each applicant who participates in the physical ability test; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,700,000
1750-0119
For payment of workers’ compensation benefits to certain former employees of Middlesex and Worcester counties; provided, that the division shall routinely recertify the former employees pursuant to current workers’ compensation procedures
$52,057
1750-0300
For the commonwealth’s contributions in fiscal year 2013 to health and welfare funds established pursuant to certain collective bargaining agreements; provided, that the contributions shall be calculated as provided in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and shall be paid to the health and welfare trust funds on a monthly basis or on such other basis as the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall provide
$27,758,500
Operational Services Division.
1775-0106
For the operation of an enhanced vendor auditing unit within the operational services division; provided, that the unit shall use a risk analysis program to identify vendor areas at high risk of fraud, overbilling or unallowable expenses; provided further, that the risk analysis shall use vendor-filed uniform financial reports, contracts with state entities and MMARS billing records; provided further, that in determining risk, the unit shall consider: (i) failure to file in a timely manner annual uniform financial reports and required private audits; (ii) related-party transactions; (iii) use of management companies; (iv) amounts of billed expenditures on credit cards; (v) expenditures for non-program expenses such as travel, meals and vehicles; and (vi) referrals or complaints from other state agencies, public officials and consumers; provided further, that the unit shall conduct field audits as necessary to determine evidence of fraud, overbilling or unallowable expenses; provided further, that the unit shall develop a recovery plan to recoup all funds received by a vendor due to fraud, overbilling or unallowable expenses and shall be responsible for recovering such funds; provided further, that any recovery plan that provides for less than the full restitution of misspent funds shall not be implemented without the approval of the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that all funds recovered shall be deposited in the General Fund; provided further, that audits which indicate criminal fraud shall be referred to the attorney general for investigation; and provided further, that the unit shall file a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 on the activities of the unit, including the number of audits conducted, the number of vendors audited, the number of vendors demonstrating the risk factors listed in this item, the funds identified for recoupment, the funds recouped, any reasons why identified funds were not recouped and details of recovery plans that required the approval of the secretary of administration and finance
$484,278
1775-0115
For the operational services division; provided, that the division may expend funds to procure, manage and administer statewide contracts in an amount not to exceed $3,500,000 from revenues collected from the statewide contract administrative fee; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system, including the costs of personnel
$3,500,000
1775-0124
For the operational services division; provided, that the division may expend an amount not to exceed $500,000 from revenues collected in the recovery of cost-reimbursement and non-reimbursable overbilling, recoupment for health and human service agencies and as a result of administrative reviews, as determined during the division’s audits and reviews of providers pursuant to section 22N of chapter 7 of the General Laws; provided further, that the division shall only retain revenues collected in excess of $207,350; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$500,000
1775-0200
For the operation and administration of the supplier diversity office; provided, that the office shall provide training and other services to supplier diversity office certified minority-owned and women-owned businesses, which allows those businesses to better compete for state contracts and ensures that equitable practices and policies in the public marketplace are maintained; provided further, that the office shall administer an electronic business certification application which shall be accessible to business applicants through the internet; provided further, that the office shall ensure the integrity and security of personal and financial information transmitted by electronic application; provided further, that the office shall, using all existing available resources, provide certification services to all supplier diversity office qualified applicants, within or outside of the commonwealth, as applicable; and provided further, that the office shall develop and implement measures and procedures to continue to improve the efficiency and the timeliness of the certification process
$558,332
1775-0600
For the operational services division; provided, that the division may expend not more than $750,000 in revenues from the sale of state surplus personal property and the disposal of surplus motor vehicles including, but not limited to, state police vehicles from vehicle accident and damage claims and from manufacturer warranties, rebates and settlements for the payment, expenses and liabilities for the acquisition, warehousing, allocation and distribution of surplus property and the purchase of motor vehicles; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system, including the costs of personnel
$750,000
1775-0700
For the operational services division; provided, that the division may expend not more than $53,000 in revenues collected in addition to the amount authorized in item 1775-1000 of section 2B for printing, photocopying, related graphic art or design work and other reprographic goods and services provided to the general public, including any necessary incidental expenses; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$53,000
1775-0900
For the operational services division; provided, that the division may expend not more than $55,000 in revenues collected under chapter 449 of the acts of 1984 and section 4L of chapter 7 of the General Laws, including the costs of personnel, from the sale of federal surplus property, including the payment, expenses and liabilities for the acquisition, warehousing, allocation and distribution of federal surplus property; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$55,000
Information Technology Division.
1790-0100
For the operation of the information technology division; provided, that the division shall operate the geographic information system pursuant to subsection (d) of section 4B of chapter 21A of the General Laws; provided further, that the division shall continue a chargeback system for its bureau of computer services, including the operation of the commonwealth’s human resources and compensation management system, which complies with the requirements of section 2B; provided further, that the division shall develop a formula to determine the cost to be charged to each agency for its use of the human resources and compensation management system; provided further, that the division shall coordinate with the commonwealth office of performance, accountability and transparency to develop a statewide grant information page on the commonwealth’s official website that shall include all necessary application forms and a grant program reference in a format that is retrievable and printable; provided further, that the comptroller shall establish accounts and procedures as the comptroller deems necessary and appropriate to assist in accomplishing the purposes of this item; provided further, that any planned information technology development project or purchase by any agency under the authority of the governor for which the total projected cost exceeds $200,000, including the cost of any related hardware, software or consulting fees, and regardless of fiscal year or source of funds, shall be reviewed and approved by the chief information officer before the agency may obligate funds for the project or purchase; provided further, that the chief information officer may establish rules and procedures necessary to implement this item; provided further, that the division shall file a report with the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 14, 2012 that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) financial statements detailing savings realized from the consolidation of information technology services within each executive office; (ii) the number of personnel assigned to the information technology services within each executive office; (iii) efficiencies that have been achieved from the sharing of resources; (iv) major accomplishments and business outcomes realized through usage of, and investment in, information technology; and (v) the division's intended strategic direction for information technology
$3,291,458
1790-0151
For the division of information technology, which may expend an amount not to exceed $10,000 from fees charged to entities other than political subdivisions of the commonwealth for the distribution of digital cartographic and other data
$10,000
1790-0300
For the information technology division, which may expend not more than $554,730 from revenues collected from the provision of computer resources and services to the general public for the costs of the bureau of computer services, including the purchase, lease or rental of telecommunication lines, services and equipment; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$554,730
1790-0350
For the operation of the Springfield Data Center
$1,200,000
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS.
Office of the Secretary.
2000-0100
For the operation of the office of the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, including the water resources commission, the hazardous waste facility site safety council, the coastal zone management program, environmental impact reviews conducted pursuant to chapter 30 of the General Laws and the mosquito-borne disease vector control chapter program
$5,856,081
2000-1011
For the office of environmental law enforcement, which may expend revenues in an amount not to exceed $85,000 from the administrative handling charge revenues received from electronic transactions processed through its online licensing and registration systems; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the office of environmental law enforcement may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$85,000
2000-1700
For the operation of information technology services within the executive office of energy and environmental affairs
$8,992,666
2030-1000
For the operation of the office of environmental law enforcement; provided, that environmental police officers shall provide monitoring pursuant to the National Shellfish Sanitation Program; and provided further, that funds from this item shall not be expended for the purposes of item 2030-1004
$9,021,877
2030-1001
For the expense of hiring, equipping and training environmental police recruits for the office of environmental law enforcement
$1,314,759
2030-1004
For environmental police private details; provided, that the office may expend revenues of up to $300,000 collected from the fees charged for private details; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office of environmental law enforcement may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$300,000
Department of Public Utilities.
2100-0012
For the operation of the department of public utilities; provided, that notwithstanding the second sentence of the first paragraph of section 18 of chapter 25 of the General Laws, the assessments levied for fiscal year 2013 under said first paragraph of said section 18 of said chapter 25 shall be made at a rate sufficient to produce the amount expended from this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item
$7,736,332
2100-0013
For the operation of the transportation division; provided, that not less than $300,000 shall be used for the addition of 4 full-time staff members whose responsibilities may include the identification of unlicensed companies now operating within the commonwealth
$687,335
2100-0014
For the department of public utilities, which may expend for the operation of the energy facilities siting board an amount not to exceed $50,000 from application fees collected in fiscal year 2013 and prior fiscal years from utility companies; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$50,000
2100-0015
For the department of public utilities, which may expend for the operation of the transportation division an amount not to exceed $2,300,000 from unified carrier registration fees collected in fiscal year 2013 and prior fiscal years from motor carrier companies; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,300,000
2100-0016
For the department of public utilities to regulate steam distribution companies; provided, that notwithstanding section 18A of chapter 25 of the General Laws, the assessments levied for fiscal year 2013 shall be made at a rate sufficient to produce the amount expended from this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item
$100,000
Department of Environmental Protection.
2200-0100
For the operation of the department of environmental protection, including the environmental strike force, the bureau of policy and planning, the bureau of resource protection, the bureau of waste prevention, the Senator William X. Wall experimental station and a contract with the University of Massachusetts for environmental research; provided, that section 3B of chapter 7 of the General Laws shall not apply to fees established pursuant to section 18 of chapter 21A of the General Laws
$25,603,354
2200-0102
For the department of environmental protection, which may expend an amount not to exceed $650,151 from revenues collected from fees for wetland permits; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$650,151
2200-0107
For technical assistance, grants and support of efforts consistent with the recycling and solid waste master plan and climate protection plan
$275,000
2200-0109
For the department of environmental protection, which may expend an amount not to exceed $2,500,000 collected from permit and compliance fees revenues for the sole purpose of ensuring sufficient staff for timely permit decisions and compliance assurance; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the department shall adopt emergency regulations to increase existing permit or compliance fees adopted under section 18 of chapter 21A and section 3B of chapter 21E of the General Laws to reflect the increase in the consumer price index since 2004; provided further, that such fee increases shall take effect during fiscal year 2013 as soon as emergency regulations are promulgated; provided further, that such increases shall terminate in the event that: (i) this line item is abolished or reduced in fiscal year 2013; or (ii) operational funding for the department falls below the level authorized in the General Appropriations Act of 2013; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,500,000
2210-0105
For the department of environmental protection, which may expend for the administration and implementation of chapter 21I of the General Laws an amount not to exceed $3,120,894 from the revenue collected from fees, penalties, grants and tuition under said chapter 21I; provided, that not less than $1,657,449 from this item shall be made available for the operation of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute program at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell; provided further, that the department shall enter into an interagency service agreement with the University of Massachusetts to make such funding available for this purpose; provided further, that not less than $644,096 from this item shall be made available for toxics use reduction technical assistance and technology in accordance with said chapter 21I; provided further, that the department shall enter into an interagency service agreement with the executive office of energy and environmental affairs to make such funding available for this purpose; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$3,120,894
2220-2220
For the administration and implementation of the federal Clean Air Act, including the operating permit program, the emissions banking program, the auto-related state implementation program, the low emission vehicle program, the non-auto-related state implementation program and the commonwealth’s commitments under the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers Action Plans for reducing acid rain deposition and mercury emissions
$822,437
2220-2221
For the administration and implementation of the operating permit and compliance program required under the federal Clean Air Act
$1,465,603
2250-2000
For the commonwealth’s implementation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act under section 18A of chapter 21A of the General Laws
$1,515,313
2260-8870
For the expenses of the hazardous waste cleanup and underground storage tank programs, notwithstanding section 4 of chapter 21J of the General Laws
$12,804,430
2260-8872
For the brownfields site audit program
$1,178,002
2260-8875
For the development of a wastewater smart map and cost model for the Cape Cod region
$350,000
2260-8881
For the operation of the board of registration of hazardous waste site cleanup professionals, notwithstanding section 19A of chapter 21A of the General Laws
$388,867
Department of Fish and Game.
2300-0100
For the office of the commissioner; provided, that the commissioner’s office shall assess and receive payments from the division of marine fisheries, the division of fisheries and wildlife, the public access board, the division of ecological restoration and riverways program and all other programs under the control of the department of fish and game; provided further, that those assessments shall be used to cover appropriate administrative costs of the department including, but not limited to, payroll, personnel, legal and budgetary costs; and provided further, that the amount and contribution from each division or program shall be determined by the commissioner of fish and game
$699,975
2300-0101
For the division of ecological restoration and riverways protection program, the promotion of public access to rivers and wetland restoration, including grants to public and nonpublic entities; provided, that the positions funded in this item shall not be subject to chapter 31 of the General Laws
$416,974
2310-0200
For the administration of the division of fisheries and wildlife, including expenses of the fisheries and wildlife board, the administration of game farms and wildlife restoration projects, wildlife research and management, the administration of fish hatcheries, the improvement and management of lakes, ponds and rivers, fish and wildlife restoration projects, the commonwealth’s share of certain cooperative fisheries and wildlife programs and for certain programs reimbursable under the federal Aid to Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act; provided, that funds from this item shall be made available to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for fisheries and wildlife research in an amount not less than the amount received in fiscal year 2012 for such research; provided further, that the department may expend the amount necessary to restore anadromous fish in the Connecticut and Merrimack river systems; provided further, that no funds shall be spent on restoration of catadromous fish in the Connecticut and Merrimack river systems unless deemed necessary by the division; and provided further, that expenditures for such programs shall be contingent upon prior approval of the proper federal authorities for reimbursement of at least 75 per cent of the amount so expended
$10,753,821
Inland Fisheries and Game Fund......................................... 100%
2310-0300
For the operation of the natural heritage and endangered species program
$150,000
2310-0306
For the hunter safety training program
$415,937
Inland Fisheries and Game Fund......................................... 100%
2310-0316
For the purchase of land containing wildlife habitat and for the costs of the division of fisheries and wildlife directly related to the administration of the wildlands stamp program pursuant to sections 2A and 2C of chapter 131 of the General Laws
$1,000,000
Inland Fisheries and Game Fund......................................... 100%
2310-0317
For the waterfowl management program established in section 11 of chapter 131 of the General Laws
$65,000
Inland Fisheries and Game Fund......................................... 100%
2320-0100
For the administration of the public access board, including the maintenance, operation and improvement of public access land and water areas; provided, that positions funded in this item shall not be subject to chapter 31 of the General Laws
$468,977
2330-0100
For the operation of the division of marine fisheries, including expenses of the Annisquam river marine research laboratory, marine research programs, a commercial fisheries program, a shellfish management program, including coastal area classification, mapping and technical assistance, the operation of the Newburyport shellfish purification plant and a shellfish classification program; provided, that funds shall be expended on a recreational fisheries program to be reimbursed by federal funds; provided further, that the division shall continue to develop strategies to improve federal regulations governing the commercial fishing industry and to promote sustainable fisheries; provided further, that $400,000 shall be spent for the operation of the Newburyport shellfish purification plant; and provided further, that the division shall offer wet storage and desanding services at the Newburyport shellfish purification plant as laid out in the shellfish purification plant management plan dated March 1, 2012
$4,612,837
2330-0120
For the division of marine fisheries for a program of enhancement and development of marine recreational fishing and related programs and activities, including the cost of equipment, maintenance and staff and the maintenance and updating of data
$581,557
2330-0121
For the division of marine fisheries to utilize reimbursable federal sportfish restoration funds to further develop marine recreational fishing and related programs, including the costs of activities that increase public access for marine recreational fishing, support research on artificial reefs and otherwise provide for the development of marine recreational fishing; provided, that the division of marine fisheries may expend not more than $217,989 in revenues collected from federal sportfish restoration funds and from the sale of materials which promote marine recreational fishing; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$217,989
2330-0150
For the operation and maintenance of the Newburyport shellfish purification plant; provided, that the division of marine fisheries may expend not more than $100,000 from revenue collected from fees generated by operations; provided further, that the division shall submit a report detailing the revenues collected and expended and shellfish volume increase realized from the implementation of the shellfish purification plant management plan dated March 1, 2012 to the executive office of environmental affairs, the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committee on ways and means not later than February 28, 2013; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division of marine fisheries may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$100,000
2330-0300
For the administration and operation of the saltwater fishing permit program pursuant to chapter 161 of the acts of 2009
$801,261
Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund.......... 100%
Department of Agricultural Resources.
2511-0100
For the operation of the department of agricultural resources, including the division of administration, the integrated pest management program, the board of agriculture, the division of animal health, the division of agricultural conservation and technical assistance, the division of crop and pest services, including a program of laboratory services at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the expenses of the pesticide board and agency costs associated with the administration of other boards, commissions and committees chaired by the department; provided, that funds shall be expended for the apiary inspection program; provided further, that funds may be expended to enhance the buy local effort in western, central, northeastern and southern Massachusetts; and provided further, that funds shall be expended for the statewide 4-H program
$4,510,993
2511-0105
For the purchase of supplemental foods for the emergency food assistance program within the Feeding America nationally-certified food bank system in the commonwealth; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall reflect the Feeding America allocation formula in order to benefit the 4 regional food banks in the commonwealth; and provided further, that the department may assess an administrative charge not to exceed 2 per cent of the total appropriation in this item
$11,500,000
2511-3002
For the integrated pest management program
$52,422
Department of Conservation and Recreation.
2800-0100
For the operation of the department of conservation and recreation; provided, that the department shall enter into an interagency service agreement with the department of state police to provide police coverage on department of conservation and recreation properties and parkways; provided further, that the department of state police shall reimburse the department of conservation and recreation for costs incurred by the department of state police including, but not limited to, vehicle maintenance and repairs, the operation of department of state police buildings and other related costs; provided further, that notwithstanding section 3B of chapter 7 of the General Laws, the department shall establish or renegotiate fees, licenses, permits, rents and leases and adjust or develop other revenue sources to fund the maintenance, operation and administration of the department; and provided further, that funds may be expended for the cleanup of Pilayella algae
$4,109,536
2800-0101
For the watershed management program to operate and maintain reservoirs, watershed lands and related infrastructure of the department of conservation and recreation and the office of water resources in the department; provided, that the amount of the payment shall be charged to the General Fund and shall not be included in the amount of the annual determination of fiscal year charges to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority assessed to the authority under the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall continue to make payments pursuant to chapter 616 of the acts of 1957, as amended by section 89 of chapter 801 of the acts of 1963; and provided further, that the department shall continue to make payments pursuant to chapter 307 of the acts of 1987 for the use of certain land
$1,019,261
2800-0401
For a program to provide stormwater management for all properties and roadways under the care, custody and control of the department of conservation and recreation; provided, that the department shall implement a stormwater management program in compliance with federal and state stormwater management requirements; provided further, that the department shall inventory all stormwater infrastructure, assess its stormwater practices, analyze long-term capital and operational needs and develop a stormwater management plan to comply with federal and state regulatory requirements; and provided further, that in order to protect public safety and to protect water resources for water supply, recreational and ecosystem uses, the department shall immediately implement interim stormwater management practices including, but not limited to, street sweeping, inspection and cleaning of catch basins and emergency repairs to roadway drainage
$338,556
2800-0501
For the operation of the beaches, pools and spray pools under the control of the department of conservation and recreation; provided, that the seasonal hires of the department’s parks, beaches, pools and spray pools shall be paid from this item; provided further, that all beaches, pools and spray pools shall remain open and staffed from Memorial Day through Labor Day; provided further, that the beaches, pools and spray pools shall be fully maintained; provided further, that seasonal employees hired before the second Sunday preceding Memorial Day, whose employment continues beyond the Saturday following Labor Day and who received health insurance benefits in fiscal year 2012 shall continue to receive such benefits in fiscal year 2013 during the period of their seasonal employment; provided further, that notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, seasonal positions funded by this item shall be positions requiring the services of an incumbent, on either a full-time or less than full-time basis, beginning not earlier than April 1 and ending not later than November 30, or beginning not earlier than September 1 and ending not later than April 30; and provided further, that notwithstanding said section 1 of said chapter 31, seasonal positions funded by this item shall not be filled by an incumbent for more than 8 months within a 12-month period
$12,381,553
2800-0700
For the office of dam safety; provided, that the department shall, in collaboration with the department of environmental protection and the department of fish and game, establish and maintain a comprehensive inventory of all dams and develop a coordinated permitting and regulatory approach to dam removal for stream restoration and public safety; provided further, that the department shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 14, 2012, that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of dam inspections scheduled for fiscal year 2013; and (ii) the number of dams in need of repair or replacement
$370,705
2810-0100
For the operation of the division of state parks and recreation; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall be used: (i) to operate all of the division’s parkways, boulevards, roadways, bridges and related appurtenances under the care, custody and control of the division, flood control activities of the division, reservations, campgrounds, beaches and pools; (ii) for the oversight of rinks; and (iii) to protect and manage the division’s lands and natural resources, including the forest and parks conservation services and the bureau of forestry development; provided further, that the same properties shall be open in fiscal year 2013 as were open on July 1, 2012; provided further, that the crossing guards located at department of conservation and recreation intersections shall continue to perform the duties where state police previously performed such duties; provided further, that no funds from this item shall be made available for payment to true seasonal employees; provided further, that the rinks under the control of the department shall remain open and staffed for the full rink season; provided further, that the department may issue grants to public and nonpublic entities from this item; provided further, that funds may be expended for the purposes of item 2800-9004 of section 2 of chapter 182 of the acts of 2008; and provided further, that not less than $660,000 shall be expended for the hiring, training and salaries of new full-time district patrolmen and truckmen under the Bureau of Forest Fire Control
For the department of conservation and recreation, which may expend not more than $14,141,673 from revenue collected by the department including, but not limited to, revenues collected from: (i) campsite reservation transactions from the automated campground reservation and registration program; (ii) permits, leases, concessions and all other contracts; (iii) telecommunications system user fees and other charges established by the commissioner of conservation and recreation and as received from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the division of highways, the Central Artery/Ted Williams Tunnel Project, the department of state police and quasi-public and private entities; (iv) skating rink fees and rentals; (v) Ponkapoag golf course fees and rentals; (vi) Leo J. Martin golf course fees and rentals; and (vii) activities authorized pursuant to section 34B of chapter 92 of the General Laws; provided, that the department shall retain and deposit 80 per cent of the aforementioned fees; provided further, that if the department of conservation and recreation projects that total revenues from the fees identified in this item will exceed $17,677,091, the department shall notify the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided further, that funds in this item shall be expended for the following purposes: (a) the operation and expenses of the department; (b) expenses, upkeep and improvements to the parks and recreation system, including the personnel costs of seasonal employees as needed; (c) the operation and maintenance of the telecommunications system; (d) the operation and maintenance of the department’s skating rinks; (e) the operation and maintenance of the Ponkapoag golf course at an amount not less than $1,098,011; and (f) the operation and maintenance of the Leo J. Martin golf course at an amount not less than $824,790; provided further, that nothing in this item shall impair or diminish the rights of access and utilization of all current users of the telecommunications system under agreements previously entered into; provided further, that this item may be reimbursed by political subdivisions of the commonwealth and private entities for direct and indirect costs expended by the department to maintain the telecommunications system; provided further, that when assigning time for the use of its skating rinks, the department shall give priority to general public skating, and then to those which qualify under applicable state and federal law as a nonprofit organization or as a public school; provided further, that the division of state parks and recreation shall only expend revenues collected at the Ponkapoag and Leo J. Martin golf courses for the operation and maintenance of said courses; provided further, that the division may issue grants to public and nonpublic entities from this item; provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system; provided further, that no expenditures made in advance of the receipts shall be permitted to exceed 75 per cent of the amount of revenues projected by the first quarterly statement required by section 1B; and provided further, that the comptroller shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means at the time subsequent quarterly statements are published of the variance between actual and projected receipts in each such quarter and the implications of that variance for expenditures made
$14,141,673
2820-0101
For the costs associated with the department’s park rangers specific to the security of the state house; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall only be expended for the costs of security and park rangers at the state house
$1,411,348
2820-2000
For the operation of street lighting and the expenses of maintaining the parkways of the department of conservation and recreation
$3,000,000
Department of Energy Resources.
7006-1001
For the residential conservation service program under chapter 465 of the acts of 1980 and the commercial and apartment conservation service program pursuant to section 11A of chapter 25A of the General Laws; provided, that the assessments levied for fiscal year 2013 pursuant to said chapter 465 shall be made at a rate sufficient to produce the amount expended from this item as well as the associated fringe benefit costs for personnel paid from this item
$220,256
7006-1003
For the operation of the department of energy resources; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the amount assessed under section 11H of chapter 25A of the General Laws shall be equal to the amount expended from this item and the associated fringe benefit costs for personnel paid from this item
$3,477,696
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
Office of the Secretary.
4000-0005
For youth violence prevention program grants administered by the executive office of health and human services; provided, that the programs shall be targeted at reducing youth violence among young persons at highest risk for being perpetrators of, or victims of, gun violence; provided further, that the application for receipt of grants shall require applicants to: (i) identify the target population for services; (ii) identify a method for identifying youth in the target population; (iii) estimate the total number of youth in the target population; and (iv) propose a method for selecting youths for services if the amount of the grant will not cover all youths in the target population; provided further, that the 20 municipalities with the highest average violent crime rate between 2008 and 2010, as measured by the federal bureau of investigations’ uniform crime reports, shall be eligible to apply for grants under this item; provided further, that in selecting grant recipients, the executive office shall ensure that all programs can be consistently evaluated by a single statewide evaluator and that all programs are committed to providing the data and cooperation necessary for comprehensive program evaluation; provided further, that the independent evaluator selected under section 150 shall, to the extent feasible, advise the office on the development of the request for proposals for the grants and shall assist the office in the review and selection of grant applications; provided further, that the awarding of grants under this item and the selection of an independent evaluator for these grants shall be consistent with section 150; provided further, that the secretary shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, not later than March 1, 2013 detailing (a) successful grant applications, (b) a set of clearly defined goals and benchmarks on which grant recipients will be evaluated, and (c) outside evaluation that will be utilized to measure program implementation and preliminary outcomes; and provided further, that funds may be set aside for the administration of these programs
$8,000,000
4000-0050
For the operation of the personal care attendant quality workforce council established in section 29 of chapter 118G of the General Laws
$235,485
4000-0300
For the operation of the executive office of health and human services, including the operation of the managed care oversight board; provided, that the executive office shall provide technical and administrative assistance to agencies under the purview of the secretariat receiving federal funds; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services and its agencies, when contracting for services on the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, shall take into consideration the increased costs associated with the provision of goods, services and housing on the islands; provided further, that the executive office shall ensure that any collaborative assessments for children receiving services from multiple agencies within the secretariat shall be performed within existing resources; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for administrative and contracted services related to the implementation and operation of programs authorized by chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided further, that in consultation with the division of health care finance and policy, no rate increase shall be provided to existing Medicaid provider rates without taking all measures possible under Title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure that rates of payment to providers do not exceed the rates that are necessary to meet only those costs which must be incurred by efficiently and economically operated providers in order to provide services of adequate quality; provided further, that no expenditures shall be made that are not federally reimbursable, including those related to Titles XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act or the MassHealth demonstration waiver approved under section 1115(a) of said Social Security Act or the community first section 1115 demonstration waiver, whether made by the executive office or another commonwealth entity, except as required for: (i) the equivalent of MassHealth Standard benefits for children under age 21 who are in the care or custody of the department of youth services or the department of children and families; (ii) dental benefits provided to clients of the department of developmental services who are age 21 or over; or (iii) cost containment efforts the purposes and amounts of which have been submitted to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means 30 days prior to making these expenditures; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services may continue to recover provider overpayments made in the current and prior fiscal years through the Medicaid management information system and that these recoveries shall be considered current fiscal year expenditure refunds; provided further, that the executive office may collect directly from a liable third party any amounts paid to contracted providers under said chapter 118E for which the executive office later discovers another third party is liable if no other course of recoupment is possible; provided further, that no funds shall be expended for interpretive services directly or indirectly related to a settlement or resolution agreement with the office of civil rights or any other office, group or entity; provided further, that interpretive services currently provided shall not give rise to legal rights for any party or to an enforceable entitlement to interpretive services; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office shall require the commissioner of mental health to approve any prior authorization or other restriction on medication used to treat mental illness in accordance with written policies, procedures and regulations of the department of mental health; provided further, that any projection of deficiency in item 4000-0430, 4000-0500, 4000-0600, 4000-0700, 4000-0870, 4000-0875, 4000-0880, 4000-0890, 4000-0895, 4000-0950, 4000-0990, 4000-1400 or 4000-1405 shall be reported to the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 90 days before the projected exhaustion of funding; provided further, that the reports shall include an explanation of such deficiencies including, but not limited to, updated utilization and caseload information and initiatives that did not generate expected savings; provided further, that the information shall be provided in a manner that meets all applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements; and provided further, that any unexpended balance in these accounts shall revert to the General Fund on June 30, 2013
$86,171,094
4000-0301
For the costs of MassHealth provider and member audit and utilization review activities including, but not limited to, eligibility verification, disability evaluations, provider financial and clinical audits and initiatives intended to enhance program integrity
$1,740,023
4000-0309
For the expansion of auditing activities in MassHealth including, but not limited to, field audits of high risk services; provided, that no expenditures shall be made from this item that are not federally reimbursable; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the state Medicaid office may conduct a trial to determine the effectiveness of various fraud management tools to identify potential fraud at claims submission and validation in order to reduce Medicaid fraud before payment; provided further, that the state Medicaid office may employ strategies to improve systems for detection and may allow for the use of external data sources; provided further, that any such trial may test innovative technologies to improve Medicaid fraud detection and evaluate the efficacy of a real-time model to identify and investigate potential Medicaid fraud cases prior to payment and other innovations; provided further, that the Medicaid office may use actual claims data, in accordance with federal law, to identify specific suspicious provider billing patterns, document the results of any potential fraud findings and estimate anticipated savings and benefits to the commonwealth associated with such a fraud detection system; provided further, that the executive office shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 detailing total audit findings and recoveries in fiscal year 2012 and estimated recoveries in fiscal year 2013; provided further, that the report shall differentiate audit findings and recoveries by investment or program as well as by line item; provided further, that the report shall also identify any audits and recoveries referred by the office of the state auditor; provided further, that the executive office shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than April 1, 2013 on prepayment audit efforts; and provided further, that the report shall include and be limited to: (i) the original amount of estimated payments prior to prepayment audit; (ii) the actual amount of payments made following prepayment audits
$1,000,000
4000-0320
For the executive office of health and human services which may expend for medical care and assistance rendered in the current year an amount not to exceed $225,000,000 from the monies received from recoveries and collections of any current or prior year expenditures; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the balance of any personal needs accounts collected from nursing and other medical institutions upon a medical assistance member’s death and held by the executive office for more than 3 years may be credited to this item; provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system; and provided further, that no funds from this item shall be used for the purposes of item 4000-0300
$225,000,000
4000-0430
For the CommonHealth program to provide primary and supplemental medical care and assistance to disabled adults and children under sections 9A, 16 and 16A of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to the recipients in prior fiscal years; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services shall maximize federal reimbursement for state expenditures made on behalf of those adults and children; provided further, that children shall be determined eligible for the medical care and assistance if they meet the disability standards as defined by the executive office, which shall be no more restrictive than the standards in effect on July 1, 1996; and provided further, that the executive office shall process CommonHealth applications within 45 days of receipt of a completed application or within 90 days if a determination of disability is required
$73,165,558
4000-0500
For health care services provided to medical assistance recipients under the executive office of health and human service’s primary care clinician, mental health and substance abuse plan or through a health maintenance organization under contract with the executive office and for MassHealth benefits provided to children, adolescents and adults under clauses (a) to (d), inclusive, and clause (h) of subsection (2) of section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws and section 16C of said chapter 118E; provided, that no funds shall be expended from this item for children and adolescents under clause (c) of said subsection (2) of said section 9A of said chapter 118E whose family incomes, as determined by the executive office, exceed 150 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that the executive office shall maintain the fiscal year 2012 overall reimbursement rate for the commonwealth’s only medical respite program for the homeless; provided further, that expenditures from this item shall be made only for the purposes expressly stated in this item; provided further, that the executive office shall maximize federal reimbursements for state expenditures made to these providers; provided further, that not less than $15,000,000 shall be expended from this item or item 4000-0700, if necessary to achieve maximum federal financial participation, to enhance the ability of hospitals that are not eligible for delivery system transformation initiative grants to serve populations in need more efficiently and effectively; provided further, that these funds shall be disbursed not later than April 1, 2013; provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be expended from this item or item 4000-0700, if necessary to achieve maximum federal financial participation, to enhance the ability of community health centers and primary care clinicians to serve populations in need more efficiently and effectively;provided further, that these funds shall be disbursed not later than April 1, 2013; provided further, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to the recipients in prior fiscal years; and provided further, that MassHealth shall, to the extent feasible, contract with payers and providers to provide case management services to high cost and high acuity patients
$4,158,475,376
4000-0600
For health care services provided to MassHealth members who are seniors and for the operation of the senior care options program under section 9D of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to these recipients in prior fiscal years; provided further, that funds shall be expended for the community choices initiative; provided further, that no payment for special provider costs shall be made from this item without the prior written approval of the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that benefits of the community choices initiative shall not be reduced below the services provided in fiscal year 2012; provided further, that the eligibility requirements for this demonstration project shall not be more restrictive than those established in fiscal year 2012; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, not later than December 5, 2012, detailing the projected costs and the number of individuals served by the community choices initiative in fiscal year 2013 delineated by the federal poverty level; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds shall be expended from this item for the purpose of maintaining a personal needs allowance of $72.80 per month for individuals residing in nursing homes and rest homes who are eligible for MassHealth, Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children program or Supplemental Security Income; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for any nursing home or non-acute chronic disease hospital that provides kosher food to its residents, the executive office of elder affairs, in consultation with the division of health care finance and policy, in recognition of the special innovative program status granted by the executive office of health and human services, shall continue to make the standard payment rates established in fiscal year 2006 to reflect the high dietary costs incurred in providing kosher food; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, nursing facility rates effective July 1, 2012 may be developed using the costs of calendar year 2005; provided further, that MassHealth shall continue to provide the same number of nursing home leave of absence days to clients as were provided in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010; provided further, that no nursing home shall be permitted to reassign a patient’s bed during a leave of absence eligible for reimbursement under this clause; and provided further, that MassHealth shall reimburse nursing home leave of absence days at a rate of not less than $30 per day
$2,756,130,662
4000-0640
For nursing facility Medicaid rates; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in fiscal year 2013 the division of health care finance and policy shall establish nursing facility Medicaid rates that cumulatively total $288,500,000 more than the annual payment rates established by the division under the rates in effect as of June 30, 2002; provided further, that an amount for expenses related to the collection and administration of section 25 of chapter 118G of the General Laws shall be transferred to the division of health care finance and policy
$288,500,000
4000-0700
For health care services provided to medical assistance recipients under the executive office’s health care indemnity/third party liability plan, to medical assistance recipients not otherwise covered under the executive office’s managed care or senior care plans and for MassHealth benefits provided to children, adolescents and adults under clauses (a) to (d), inclusive, and clause (h) of subsection (2) of section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws and section 16C of said chapter 118E; provided, that no payments for special provider costs shall be made from this item without the prior written approval of the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for children and adolescents under clause (c) of said subsection (2) of said section 9A of said chapter 118E whose family incomes, as determined by the executive office, exceed 150 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that children who have aged out of the custody of the department of children and families shall be eligible for benefits until they reach age 21; provided further, that funds shall be expended from this item for members who qualify for early intervention services; provided further, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to the recipients in prior fiscal years; provided further, that the executive office shall maximize federal reimbursements for state expenditures made to these providers; provided further, that the executive office shall not, in fiscal year 2013, fund programs relating to case management with the intention of reducing length of stay for neonatal intensive care unit cases; provided further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, funds may be expended from this item for the purchase of third party insurance including, but not limited to, Medicare for any medical assistance recipient; provided further, that the executive office may reduce MassHealth premiums or copayments or offer other incentives to encourage enrollees to comply with wellness goals; and provided further, that funds may be expended from this item for activities relating to disability determinations or utilization management and review, including patient screenings and evaluations, regardless of whether such activities are performed by a state agency, contractor, agent or provider
$1,927,680,126
4000-0870
For health care services provided to adults participating in the medical assistance program pursuant to clause (g) of subsection (2) of section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to recipients in prior fiscal years
$178,759,689
4000-0875
For the provision of benefits to eligible women who require medical treatment for either breast or cervical cancer in accordance with section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XVIII) of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, Public Law 106-354 and section 10D of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, that the executive office shall provide these benefits to women whose income, as determined by the executive office, does not exceed 250 per cent of the federal poverty level, subject to continued federal approval; provided further, that eligibility for benefits shall be extended solely for the duration of the cancerous condition; provided further, that before the provision of any benefits covered by this item, the executive office shall require screening for either breast or cervical cancer through the comprehensive breast and cervical cancer early detection program operated by the department of public health, in accordance with item 4570-1512 of section 2D; and provided further, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to these recipients in prior fiscal years
$5,248,099
4000-0880
For MassHealth benefits under clause (c) of subsection (2) of section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws and section 16C of said chapter 118E for children and adolescents whose family incomes, as determined by the executive office, are above 150 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to those children and adolescents in prior fiscal years
$213,894,591
4000-0890
For the cost of health insurance subsidies paid to employees and employers of small businesses in the insurance reimbursement program pursuant to section 9C of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to those persons in prior fiscal years
$30,481,392
4000-0895
For the healthy start program to provide medical care and assistance to pregnant women and infants residing in the commonwealth pursuant to section 10E of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to these persons in prior fiscal years
$15,850,244
4000-0950
For administrative and program expenses associated with the children’s behavioral health initiative, in accordance with the settlement agreement in the case of Rosie D. et al. v. Romney, United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts civil action No. 01-30199-MAP, to provide comprehensive, community-based behavioral health services to children suffering from severe emotional disturbances; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to these persons in prior fiscal years; provided further, that any unexpended balance in this item shall revert to the General Fund; and provided further, that funds shall not be transferred from this item without notifying the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 30 days before any such transfer
$221,705,516
4000-0990
For the children’s medical security plan to provide primary and preventive health services for uninsured children from birth through age 18; provided, that the executive office shall prescreen enrollees and applicants for Medicaid eligibility; provided further, that no applicant shall be enrolled in the program until the applicant has been denied eligibility for the MassHealth program; provided further, that the MassHealth benefit request shall be used as a joint application to determine the eligibility for both MassHealth and the children’s medical security plan; provided further, that the executive office shall maximize federal reimbursements for state expenditures made on behalf of children; provided further, that the executive office shall expend all necessary funds from this item to ensure the provision of the maximum benefit levels for this program, as authorized by section 10F of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided further, that the maximum benefit levels for this program shall be made available only to those children who have been determined by the executive office to be ineligible for MassHealth benefits; and provided further, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to those persons in prior fiscal years
$13,298,695
4000-1400
For the provision of MassHealth benefits to persons diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus with incomes up to 200 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to those persons in prior fiscal years
$19,744,723
4000-1405
For the operation of a program of preventive and primary care for chronically unemployed persons who are not receiving unemployment insurance benefits and who are not eligible for medical assistance but who are determined by the executive office of health and human services to be long-term unemployed; provided, that such persons shall meet the eligibility requirements of the MassHealth program established in section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided further, that persons eligible under subsection (7) of section 16D of said chapter 118E shall also be eligible to receive benefits under this item; provided further, that the income of such persons shall not exceed 100 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that the eligibility requirements shall not exclude from eligibility persons who are employed intermittently or on a non-regular basis; provided further, that the provision of care to such persons under this program may, taking into account capacity, continuity of care and geographic considerations, be restricted to certain providers; provided further, that the secretary may limit or close enrollment if necessary in order to ensure that expenditures from this item do not exceed the amount appropriated herein; provided further, that no such limitation shall be implemented unless the secretary has given 90 days’ notice to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on health care financing; and provided further, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to recipients in prior fiscal years
$504,848,457
4000-1420
For the purposes of making payment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in compliance with Title XIX of the Social Security Act
$285,153,027
4000-1602
For the costs associated with improving MassHealth field operations; provided, that no expenditures shall be made from this item that are not federally reimbursable; and provided further, that MassHealth shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than April 24, 2013 on the service received by MassHealth clients, including: (i) average wait time before a call is answered; (ii) percentage of issues resolved; and (iii) customer satisfaction survey results
$2,000,000
4000-1604
For MassHealth costs associated with the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and payment reform; provided, that no expenditures shall be made from this item that are not federally reimbursable; and provided further, that MassHealth shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than April 24, 2013 on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and payment reform initiatives
$3,125,000
4000-1700
For the provision of information technology services within the executive office of health and human services
$93,676,495
Office for Refugees and Immigrants.
4003-0122
For a citizenship for new Americans program to assist legal permanent residents of the commonwealth in becoming citizens of the United States; provided, that the office for refugees and immigrants shall administer the program; provided further, that the program funded by this item shall provide assistance to persons who are within 3 years of eligibility to become citizens of the United States; provided further, that services shall be designed to include: ESOL/civics classes, citizenship application assistance, interview preparation and support services including, but not limited to, interpretation and referral services; provided further, that persons who would qualify for benefits under chapter 118A of the General Laws but for their status as legal noncitizens shall be given highest priority for services; and provided further, that persons who currently receive state-funded benefits which could be replaced, in whole or in part, by federally-funded benefits if these persons become citizens, shall be given priority for services
$237,500
Division of Health Care Finance and Policy.
4100-0060
For the operation of the division of health care finance and policy and the administration of the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 36 of chapter 118G of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the assessment to acute hospitals authorized in section 5 of said chapter 118G for the estimated expenses of the division shall include, in fiscal year 2013, the estimated expenses, including indirect costs, of the division and shall be equal to the amount appropriated in this item of the amounts projected to be collected in fiscal year 2013 from: (i) filing fees; (ii) fees and charges generated by the division’s publication or dissemination of reports and information; and (iii) federal financial participation received as reimbursement for the division’s administrative costs; provided further, that the assessed amount shall be no less than 55 per cent of the total expenses appropriated for the division and the health safety net office; provided further, that for the purposes of supporting the division’s expanded role in developing health care policies that benefit government entities, providers, purchasers and consumers, the division shall assess surcharge payors, as defined in section 34 of said chapter 118G, not less than 10 per cent of the total estimated expenses appropriated for the division and the health safety net office, including indirect costs, in fiscal year 2013 of the amounts projected to be collected in fiscal year 2013 from: (a) filing fees; (b) fees and charges generated by the division’s publication or dissemination of reports and information; and (c) federal financial participation received as reimbursement for the division’s administrative costs; provided further, that the assessment on surcharge payors shall be calculated in a manner similar to the assessment authorized in section 38 of said chapter 118G, and shall be collected in a manner consistent with said chapter 118G and deposited in the General Fund; provided further, that the division shall require all hospitals receiving payments from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund to report to the division the number of inpatient admissions and outpatient visits by age category, income category, diagnostic category and average charge per admission; provided further, that the division shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means compiling this data; provided further, that the division, in consultation with the executive office of health and human services, shall not promulgate any increase in Medicaid provider rates without taking all measures possible under Title XIX of the Social Security Act or any successor federal law to ensure that rates of payment to providers do not exceed such rates as are necessary to meet only those costs incurred by efficiently and economically operated providers in order to provide services of adequate quality; provided further, that the division shall meet the reporting requirements of section 25 of chapter 203 of the acts of 1996; provided further, that funds may be expended for a survey and study of the uninsured and underinsured in the commonwealth, including the health insurance needs of the residents of the commonwealth; provided further, that this study shall examine the overall impact of programs administered by the executive office of health and human services on the uninsured and the underinsured and the role of employers in assisting their employees in affording health insurance pursuant to section 23 of said chapter 118G; provided further, that the division shall publish a report on the financial condition of hospitals and other health care providers through the Health Benchmarks project website, in collaboration with the executive office of health and human services, the office of the attorney general and the University of Massachusetts; provided further, that the division shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on health care financing a report detailing utilization of the Health Safety Net Trust Fund not later than December 6, 2013; provided further, that the report shall include: (1) the number of persons whose medical expenses were billed to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund in fiscal year 2013; (2) the total dollar amount billed to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund in fiscal year 2013; (3) the demographics of the population using the Health Safety Net Trust Fund; and (4) the types of services paid for out of the Health Safety Net Trust Fund in fiscal year 2013; provided further, that the division shall include in the report an analysis of hospitals’ responsiveness to enrolling eligible individuals into the MassHealth program upon the date of service rather than charging those individuals to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund; and provided further, that funds shall be expended for the operation of the health care quality and cost council established in section 16K of chapter 6A of the General Laws to promote high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care
$22,029,517
4100-0061
For the division of health care finance and policy, which may expend for the development, operation and maintenance of an all payer claims database an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 from amounts paid to the division for all fees paid for health data information and from any federal financial participation associated with the collection and administration of health care claims data; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate, as reported in the state accounting system
$4,000,000
4100-0082
For the division of health care finance and policy, which may expend for the migration of health safety net claims adjudication to the executive office of health and human services through its MMIS system and for the maintenance of claims adjudication an amount equal to the amount of federal financial participation received by the state for such activities, not to exceed $2,000,000; provided, that such federal revenue shall be deposited into the General Fund and such amount shall be transferred into this account; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses, and the comptroller may certify for payment, amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate, as reported in the state accounting system
$2,000,000
4100-0360
For the health care quality and cost council established in section 16K of chapter 6A of the General Laws; provided, that the council may expend an amount not to exceed $100,000 from the monies received from the sale of data reports
$100,000
OFFICE OF DISABILITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.
4110-0001
For the office of the commissioner and sheltered workforce employee retirement benefits
$1,348,142
4110-1000
For the community services program; provided, that the Massachusetts commission for the blind shall work in collaboration with the Massachusetts commission for the deaf and hard of hearing to provide assistance and services to the deaf-blind community through the deaf-blind community access network
$3,940,941
4110-2000
For the turning 22 program of the commission; provided, that the commission shall work in conjunction with the department of developmental services to secure the maximum amount of federal reimbursements available for the care of turning 22 clients
$11,307,315
4110-3010
For a program of vocational rehabilitation for the blind in cooperation with the federal government; provided, that no funds from federal vocational rehabilitation grants or state appropriations shall be deducted for pensions, group health or life insurance or any other such indirect costs of federally reimbursed state employees
$3,008,118
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.
4120-1000
For the operation of the commission; provided, that the commissioner shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on the number of clients served and the amount expended on each type of service; provided further, that upon the written request of the commissioner of revenue, the commission shall provide lists of individual clients to whom, or on behalf of whom, payments have been made for the purpose of verifying eligibility and detecting and preventing fraud, error and abuse in the programs administered by the commission; provided further, that lists shall include client names and social security numbers and payee names and other identification, if different from a client’s; and provided further, that the commission shall continue to operate and fully staff an office in Sturbridge
$417,444
4120-2000
For vocational rehabilitation services operated in cooperation with the federal government; provided, that no funds from the federal vocational rehabilitation grant or state appropriations shall be deducted for pensions, group health or life insurance or any other such indirect costs of federally-reimbursed state employees; and provided further, that the commissioner, in making referrals to service providers, shall take into account a client’s place of residence and the proximity of the nearest provider
$10,013,228
4120-3000
For employment assistance services; provided, that vocational evaluation and employment services for severely disabled adults may be provided
$2,072,129
4120-4000
For independent living assistance services
$12,655,279
4120-4001
For the housing registry for the disabled
$80,000
4120-4010
For the turning 22 program
$791,208
4120-5000
For homemaking services
$4,337,006
4120-6000
For services for individuals with head injuries; provided, that the commission shall work with the executive office of health and human services to maximize federal reimbursement for clients receiving head injury services
$11,236,019
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
4125-0100
For the operation of, and services provided by, the Massachusetts commission for the deaf and hard of hearing
$5,447,856
Department of Veterans Services.
1410-0010
For the operation of the department of veterans’ services; provided, that the department may fund a housing specialist from this item; and provided further, that the department may expend funds for the Glory 54th Brigade
$2,461,370
1410-0012
For services to veterans, including the maintenance and operation of outreach centers; provided, that in fiscal year 2013 the department shall increase the amount allocated to a program or its successor by no less than 5 per cent over the amount received in fiscal year 2012; provided further, that funds shall not be expended for the Middleboro Veterans’ Outreach Center; provided further, that the Nathan Hale Foundation in the town of Plymouth shall be the successor to the Middleboro Veterans’ Outreach Center; provided further, that the outreach centers shall provide counseling to incarcerated veterans and to Vietnam era veterans who may have been exposed to agent orange and the families of such veterans; and provided further, that the outreach centers shall provide services to veterans who were discharged after September 11, 2001 and the families of such veterans
$2,069,083
1410-0015
For the women veterans’ outreach program
$50,000
1410-0018
For the department of veterans’ services which may expend not more than $565,000 for the maintenance and operation of Agawam and Winchendon veterans’ cemeteries from revenue collected from fees, grants, gifts or other contributions to the cemeteries, prior appropriation continued
$565,000
1410-0075
For the Train Vets to Treat Vets program; provided, that the department shall work in conjunction with the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology to administer a behavioral health career development program for returning veterans
$125,000
1410-0250
For veterans’ homelessness services; provided, that in fiscal year 2013 the department shall increase the amount allocated to a program or its successor by no less than 5 per cent over the amount received in fiscal year 2012
$2,405,949
1410-0251
For the maintenance and operation of homeless shelters and transitional housing for veterans at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans located in the city of Boston
$2,278,543
1410-0300
For the payment of annuities to certain disabled veterans and the parents and un-remarried spouses of certain deceased veterans; provided, that the payments shall be made pursuant to section 6B of chapter 115 of the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall take the necessary steps to terminate payments upon the death of a recipient; and provided further, that the secretary of veterans’ services shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means a report detailing the number of applications received for annuities offered under this program at the end of each fiscal quarter
$21,473,000
1410-0400
For reimbursements to cities and towns for money paid for veterans’ benefits and for payments to certain veterans under section 6 of chapter 115 of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commonwealth shall, upon the approval of the secretary of veterans’ services, reimburse cities and towns within which homeless shelters, transitional housing facilities, the Soldiers’ Home in Massachusetts or the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke are situated for 100 per cent of the amounts of veterans’ benefits paid to eligible recipients residing in such shelters, housing facilities or soldiers’ homes; provided further, that notwithstanding section 9 of said chapter 115, the department shall reimburse cities and towns for the cost of United States flags placed on the graves of veterans on Memorial Day; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of veterans’ services shall continue a training program for veterans’ agents and directors of veterans’ services in cities and towns; provided further, that the department of veterans’ services shall provide such training in several locations; provided further, that training shall be provided annually and on an as needed basis to veterans’ service organizations to provide information and education regarding the benefits available under said chapter 115 and all other benefits to which a veteran or a veterans’ dependents may be entitled; provided further, that any person applying for veterans’ benefits to pay for services available under chapter 118E of the General Laws shall also apply for medical assistance under said chapter 118E to minimize costs to the commonwealth and its municipalities; provided further, that veterans’ agents shall complete applications authorized by the executive office under said chapter 118E for a veteran, surviving spouse or dependent applying for medical assistance under said chapter 115; provided further, that the veterans’ agent shall file the application for the veteran, surviving spouse or dependent for assistance under said chapter 118E; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services shall act on all chapter 118E applications and advise the applicant and the veterans’ agent of the applicant’s eligibility for said chapter 118E healthcare; provided further, that the veterans’ agent shall advise the applicant of the right to assistance for medical benefits under said chapter 115 pending approval of the application for assistance under said chapter 118E by the executive office; provided further, that the secretary may supplement healthcare pursuant to said chapter 118E with healthcare coverage under said chapter 115 if the secretary determines that supplemental coverage is necessary to afford the veteran, surviving spouse or dependent sufficient relief and support; provided further, that payments to, or on behalf of, a veteran, surviving spouse or dependent pursuant to said chapter 115 shall not be considered income for the purposes of determining eligibility under said chapter 118E; and provided further, that benefits awarded pursuant to section 6B of said chapter 115 shall be considered countable income
$44,208,484
1410-0630
For the administration of the veterans’ cemeteries in the towns of Agawam and Winchendon
$1,014,825
1410-1616
For the costs of maintaining war memorials in the commonwealth; provided, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for maintaining the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in the city of Worcester; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended on the USS Massachusetts at Battleship Cove; and provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended on the Korean War Memorial in the city of Charlestown
$65,000
Soldiers’ Home in Massachusetts.
4180-0100
For the maintenance and operation of the Soldiers’ Home in Massachusetts located in the city of Chelsea, including a specialized unit for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease patients; provided, that no fee, assessment or other charge shall be imposed upon or required of any person for any outpatient treatment, admission or hospitalization which exceeds the amount of fees charged in fiscal year 2012
$26,942,840
4180-1100
For the Soldiers’ Home in Massachusetts which may expend not more than $435,480 in revenues for facility maintenance and patient care, including personnel costs; provided, that 60 per cent of all revenues generated pursuant to section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws through the purchase of license plates with the designation VETERAN by eligible veterans, upon compensating the registry of motor vehicles for the cost associated with the license plates, shall be deposited into and expended for the purposes of the retained revenue account of the Soldiers’ Home; provided further, that the Soldiers’ Home may accept gifts, grants, donations and bequests; provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the Soldiers’ Home may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system; and provided further, that if the registrar of motor vehicles projects that total revenues from the purchase of license plates with the designation VETERAN will exceed the amounts appropriated in this item and item 4190-1100 the registrar shall notify the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means, prior appropriation continued
$435,480
Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.
4190-0100
For the maintenance and operation of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, including the adult day care program, the Maguder House and the Chapin Mansion; provided, that no fee, assessment or other charge shall be imposed upon or required of any person for any outpatient treatment, admission or hospitalization which exceeds the amount of fees charged in fiscal year 2012
$19,932,679
4190-0101
For the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke which may expend for its operation an amount not to exceed $5,000 from the licensing of the property for placement of aerial antennas
$5,000
4190-0102
For the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke which may expend for the outpatient pharmacy program an amount not to exceed $110,000 from copayments which it may charge to users of the program; provided, that no copayment shall be imposed or required of any person which exceeds the level of co-payments charged in fiscal year 2012
$110,000
4190-0200
For the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke which may expend not more than $35,000 from fees collected from veterans in its care for the purposes of providing television and telephone services to residents; provided, that fees from the use of telephones and televisions shall only be expended for payments to vendors for services related thereto; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the Soldiers’ Home may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$35,000
4190-0300
For the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke which may expend not more than $678,014 for the operation of 12 additional long-term care beds from revenue generated through the occupancy of these beds; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the Soldiers’ Home may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system, prior appropriation continued
$678,014
4190-1100
For the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke which may expend not more than $290,320 for facility maintenance and patient care, including personnel costs; provided, that 40 per cent of the revenues generated pursuant to section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws through the purchase of license plates with the designation VETERAN by eligible veterans of the commonwealth, upon compensating the registry of motor vehicles for the cost associated with the license plates, shall be deposited into and for the purposes of this retained revenue account of the Soldiers’ Home; provided further, that the Soldiers’ Home may accept gifts, grants, donations and bequests; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the Soldiers’ Home may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system, prior appropriation continued
$290,320
OFFICE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.
Department of Youth Services.
4200-0010
For the administration of the department of youth services; provided, that the department shall continue to collaborate with the department of elementary and secondary education to align curriculum at the department of youth services with the curriculum frameworks and to ease the reintegration of youth from facilities at the department of youth services into regular public school settings; provided further, that the commissioner of youth services may transfer funds between items 4200-0100, 4200-0200 and 4200-0300, as necessary, pursuant to an allocation plan which shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred and which the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means 15 days prior to any such transfer; and provided further, that not more than 6 per cent of any item shall be transferred in fiscal year 2013
$4,066,407
4200-0100
For supervision, counseling and other community-based services provided to committed youths in nonresidential care programs of the department
$22,732,056
4200-0200
For pretrial detention programs, including purchase-of-service and state-operated programs
$21,074,662
4200-0300
For secure facilities, including purchase-of-service and state operated programs incidental to the operations of the facilities; provided, that funds shall be expended to address the needs of the female population; and provided further, that funds shall be expended to address suicide prevention
$101,676,614
4200-0500
For enhanced salaries for teachers at the department of youth services
$2,500,000
4200-0600
For the operation of secure facilities to detain arrested youth prior to arraignment under the alternative lock up program
$2,100,000
Department of Transitional Assistance.
4400-1000
For the central administration of the department of transitional assistance; provided, that all costs associated with verifying disability for all programs of the department shall be paid from this item; provided further, that the department shall submit on a monthly basis to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance a status report on program expenditures, savings and revenues, error rate measurements, public assistance caseloads and benefits; provided further, that the department shall collect all out-of-court settlement restitution payments; provided further, that the restitution payments shall include, but not be limited to, installment and lump sum payments; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary and unless otherwise expressly provided, federal reimbursements received for the purposes of the department, including reimbursements for administrative, fringe and overhead costs for the current fiscal year and prior fiscal years, shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that an application for assistance under chapter 118 of the General Laws shall be deemed an application for assistance under chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided further, that if assistance under said chapter 118 is denied, the application shall be transmitted by the department to the executive office of health and human services for a determination of eligibility under said chapter 118E; provided further, that the department shall, to the extent feasible within the appropriation provided, continue and expand the program of placing workers at community and human service organizations to facilitate supplemental nutrition assistance program applications and redeterminations; provided further, that the department of transitional assistance shall provide the caseload forecasting office with enrollment data and any other information pertinent to caseload forecasting that is requested by the office on a monthly basis; provided further, that such information shall be provided in a manner that meets all applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements; provided further, that notwithstanding sections 9 and 10 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws section 7 of chapter 118A of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, the department shall spend on funeral expenses in items 4403-2000, 4405-2000 and 4408-1000 in fiscal year 2013 no more than the total amount spent in fiscal year 2012; provided further, that in fiscal year 2013, the department shall impose an electronic benefit card replacement fee by reducing the monthly cash benefit of the household receiving the replacement card; and provided further, that after April 1, 2013, the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance may transfer funds for identified deficiencies between items, 4403-2000, 4405-2000 and 4408-1000; and provided further, that the distribution of the funds to be transferred shall be included in an allocation plan, which the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means 15 days prior to any such transfer
$55,493,896
4400-1001
For programs to increase the commonwealth’s participation rate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program and other federal nutrition programs; provided, that funds shall be expended for a grant with Project Bread -The Walk for Hunger, Inc.; provided further, that the work of department employees paid for from this item shall be restricted to processing supplemental nutrition assistance program applications; provided further, that the department shall not require supplemental nutrition assistance program applicants to provide re-verification of eligibility factors previously verified and not subject to change; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department shall require only 1 signature from supplemental nutrition assistance program applicants; provided further, that the department shall fund a system to image and catalogue eligibility documents electronically from this item; provided further, that funds may be expended for supplemental nutrition assistance program outreach; and provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 3, 2012 on the status of these programs
$3,112,972
4400-1025
For domestic violence specialists at local area offices
$798,944
4400-1100
For the payroll of the department’s caseworkers; provided, that only employees of bargaining unit 8 shall be paid from this item
$63,012,441
4401-1000
For employment and training services for recipients of benefits provided under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program; provided, that the young parent program shall receive not less than $3,099,506; provided further, that funds from this item may be expended on former recipients of the program for up to 1 year after termination of their benefits; provided further, that certain parents who have not yet reached the age of 18, including those who are ineligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children and who would qualify for benefits under chapter 118 of the General Laws but for the deeming of the grandparents’ income, shall be eligible to receive services; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be provided for learning disability assessments through the University of Massachusetts; provided further, that not less than $600,000 shall be expended for transportation benefits for recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children; and provided further, that no less than $130,000 shall be expended for programs operated through the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants
$3,904,506
4403-2000
For a program of transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, benefits under the program shall be paid only to citizens of the United States and to noncitizens for whom federal funds may be used to provide benefits; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law or provision of this act to the contrary, no benefit under this item shall be made available to illegal or undocumented aliens; provided further, that the need standard shall be equal to the standard in effect in fiscal year 2012 unless the department determines that a reduction in the monthly payment standard shall be implemented before the end of the fiscal year to keep program expenditures within the amounts appropriated in this item; provided further, that the payment standard shall be equal to the need standard; provided further, that the payment standard for families who do not qualify for an exempt category of assistance under subsection (e) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor law, shall be 2.75 per cent below the otherwise applicable payment standard in fiscal year 2013, pursuant to the state plan required under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and pursuant to said act and notwithstanding section 218 of chapter 149 of the acts of 2004 or any other special or general law to the contrary, the recipients defined in said section 218 whose youngest child of record is of the age at which full-time schooling is mandatory or older shall meet the federal standard of 30 hours per week of work-related activity; provided further, that the department shall notify parents under the age of 20 receiving benefits from the program of the requirements of clause (2) of subsection (i) of said section 110 of said chapter 5 or any successor law; provided further, that a $40 per month rent allowance shall be paid to all households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public housing or subsidized housing; provided further, that a nonrecurring children’s clothing allowance of $150 shall be provided to each child eligible under this program in September 2012; provided further, that the children’s clothing allowance shall be included in the standard of need for the month of September 2012; provided further, that benefits under this program shall not be available to those families in which a child has been removed from the household pursuant to a court order after a care and protection hearing under chapter 119 of the General Laws or to adult recipients otherwise eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children but for the temporary removal of the dependent child or children from the home by the department of children and families in accordance with department procedures; provided further, that notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall render aid to pregnant women with no other eligible dependent children only if it has been medically verified that the child is expected to be born within the month the payments are to be made or within the 3-month period after the month of payment and who, if the child had been born and was living with such woman in the month of payment, would be categorically and financially eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children benefits; provided further, that certain families that suffer a reduction in benefits due to a loss of earned income and participation in retrospective budgeting may receive a supplemental benefit to compensate them for the loss; provided further, that the department shall, to the extent feasible within the existing appropriation and funding from other sources, review its disability standards to determine the extent to which such standards reflect the current medical and vocational criteria; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities 30 days before any changes to the disability standards are proposed; provided further, that no funds from this item shall be expended by the department for child care or transportation services for the employment and training program; provided further, that no funds from this item shall be expended by the department for family reunification benefits or informal child care; provided further, that the department shall provide oral and written notification to all recipients of their child care benefits at the time of application and on a semi-annual basis; provided further, that the notification shall include the full range of child care options available, including center-based child care, family-based child care and in-home relative child care; provided further, that the notification shall detail available child care benefits for current and former recipients, including employment and training benefits and transitional benefits; provided further, that the notice shall further advise recipients of the availability of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding its regulations relative to eligibility for, or levels of, benefits under the program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure from this item so as not to exceed the appropriation; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 30 days before adopting any eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives a detailed and comprehensive report setting forth the text of, basis and reasons for the proposed changes; and provided further, that the report shall state the department’s most accurate assessment of the probable effects of benefit or eligibility changes upon recipient families
$315,351,679
4403-2007
For a nutritional benefit program for low-income workers; provided, that benefits shall be provided only to those for whom receiving these benefits will improve the work participation rate under the federal program of temporary assistance for needy families
$1,200,000
4403-2119
For the provision of structured settings as provided in subsection (i) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor law, for parents under the age of 20 who are receiving benefits under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program
$8,081,401
4405-2000
For the state supplement to the Supplemental Security Income program for the aged and disabled, including a program for emergency needs for Supplemental Security Income recipients; provided, that the expenses of special grant recipients residing in rest homes, as provided in section 7A of chapter 118A of the General Laws, may be paid from this item; provided further, that the department, in collaboration with the executive office of health and human services, may fund an optional supplemental living arrangement category under the Supplemental Security Income program that makes payments to persons living in assisted living residences certified under chapter 19D of the General Laws who meet the income and clinical eligibility criteria established by the department and the executive office; provided further, that the optional category of payments shall only be administered in conjunction with the Medicaid group adult foster care benefit; provided further, that reimbursements to providers for services rendered in prior fiscal years may be expended from this item; and provided further, that benefits provided through item 4110-1010 in section 2 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011 may be paid through this item
$237,230,438
4408-1000
For a program of cash assistance to certain residents, entitled emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children, found by the department to be eligible for aid under chapter 117A of the General Laws and regulations promulgated by the department, subject to the limitations of appropriations for such purpose; provided, that benefits under this item shall only be provided to residents who are citizens of the United States or qualified aliens or non-citizens otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law and shall not be provided to illegal or undocumented aliens; provided further, that the recipient shall not be subject to sponsor income deeming or related restrictions; provided further, that the payment standard shall equal the payment standard in effect under the general relief program in fiscal year 1991; provided further, that the department may provide benefits to persons age 65 or older who have applied for benefits under chapter 118A of the General Laws, to persons suffering from a medically-determinable impairment or combination of impairments, which is expected to last for a period as determined by department regulations and which substantially reduces or eliminates such individuals’ capacity to support themselves and which has been verified by a competent authority, to certain persons caring for a disabled person, to otherwise eligible participants in the vocational rehabilitation program of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission and to dependent children who are ineligible for benefits under both chapter 118 of the General Laws and the separate program established pursuant to section 210 of chapter 43 of the acts of 1997 and to parents or other caretakers of dependent children who are ineligible under said chapter 118 and under the separate program; provided further, that no person incarcerated in a correctional institution shall be eligible for benefits under the program; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for the payment of expenses associated with any medical review team, other disability screening process or costs associated with verifying disability for this program; provided further, that the department shall adopt emergency regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement the changes to the program required by this item promptly and within the appropriation; provided further, that in implementing the program for fiscal year 2013, the department shall include all eligibility categories permitted in this item at the payment standard in effect for the former general relief program in fiscal year 1991; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding its regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits, including the payment standard, medical benefits and any other benefits under this program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure by this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that the department may adopt emergency regulations under said chapter 30A to implement these eligibility or benefit changes, or both; provided further, that nothing in this item shall be construed to create any right accruing to recipients of the former general relief program; provided further, that reimbursements collected from the Social Security Administration on behalf of former clients of the emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children program or unprocessed payments from the program that are returned to the department shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the funds made available in this item shall be the only funds available for the program and the department shall not spend funds for the program in excess of the amount made available in this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 30 days before adopting any eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives a detailed and comprehensive report setting forth the text of and basis and reasons for the proposed changes; and provided further, that the report shall state the department’s most accurate assessment of the probable effects of benefit or eligibility changes upon recipient families
$87,263,877
Department of Public Health.
4510-0020
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $375,000 in revenues collected from fees charged by the food protection program for program costs of the food protection program; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenue and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$375,000
4510-0025
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $889,889 for a school-based sealant program, known as the SEAL Program, from revenues collected from MassHealth and other third party reimbursement for preventive oral health procedures; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$889,889
4510-0040
For the department of public health, which may expend for the regulation of pharmaceutical and medical device companies that market their products in the commonwealth an amount not to exceed $432,188 from fees assessed under chapter 111N of the General Laws; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$432,188
4510-0100
For the administration and operation of the department, including the personnel support of programmatic staff within the department, including the health statistics program, the operation of the registry of vital records and statistics and the Massachusetts cancer registry
$17,191,867
4510-0110
For community health center services
$967,830
4510-0600
For an environmental and community health hazards program, including control of radiation and nuclear hazards, consumer product protection, food and drugs, lead poisoning prevention in accordance with chapter 482 of the acts of 1993, lead-based paint inspections in day care facilities, inspection of radiological facilities, licensing of x-ray technologists and the administration of the bureau of environmental health assessment pursuant to chapter 111F of the General Laws
$3,231,212
4510-0615
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $180,000 from assessments collected under section 5K of chapter 111 of the General Laws for services provided to monitor, survey and inspect nuclear power reactors; provided, that the department may expend not more than$1,588,947from fees collected from licensing and inspecting users of radioactive material within the commonwealth under licenses presently issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; provided further, that the revenues may be used for the costs of both programs, including the compensation of employees; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,768,947
4510-0616
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $1,251,481 for a drug registration and monitoring program from revenues collected from fees charged to registered practitioners, including physicians, dentists, veterinarians, podiatrists and optometrists, for controlled substance registration; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for the costs of personnel; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,251,481
4510-0710
For the operation of the division of health care quality and the office of patient protection; provided, that the division shall be responsible for assuring the quality of patient care provided by the commonwealth’s health care facilities and services and for protecting the health and safety of patients who receive care and services in nursing homes, rest homes, clinical laboratories, clinics, institutions for individuals with intellectual disabilities and the mentally ill and hospitals and infirmaries, including the inspection of ambulance services; provided further, that investigators shall conduct investigations of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and misappropriation; provided further, that all investigators in the division of health care quality responsible for the investigations shall receive training by the Medicaid fraud control unit in the office of the attorney general; provided further, that the division shall continue a comprehensive training, education and outreach program for nursing home administrators and managers and other supervisory personnel in long-term care facilities to improve the quality of care in those facilities; provided further, that the program shall promote the use of best practices, models of quality care giving and the culture of workforce retention within the facilities, and shall focus on systemic ways to reduce deficiencies; and provided further, that services funded through this item shall include, but not be limited to, education, training, intervention, support, surveillance and evaluation
$6,500,000
4510-0712
For the department of public health which may expend not more than $3,349,053 in revenues collected from the licensure of health facilities for program costs of the division of health care quality; provided, that the department may expend not more than $882,028 from revenues collected from individuals applying for emergency medical technician licensure and recertification; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenue and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$4,231,081
4510-0715
For the operation of a center for primary care recruitment and placement to improve access to primary care services
$157,000
4510-0716
For the operation of an evidenced-based outreach and education program designed to provide information and education on the therapeutic and cost-effective utilization of prescription drugs to physicians, pharmacists and other health care professionals authorized to prescribe and dispense prescription drugs; provided, that the department of public health shall work with MassHealth to obtain access to aggregated prescription data by provider on an ongoing basis for the use of the evidence-based outreach and education program; provided further, that not later than October 1, 2012, the department of public health, in conjunction with the executive office of health and human services, shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on data sharing capacity obstacles that are preventing this program from effective outreach; and provided further, that funds shall be set aside from this appropriation for the purposes of program evaluation assessing the effectiveness and cost-savings associated with this program
$500,000
4510-0721
For the operation and administration of the board of registration in nursing
$854,892
4510-0722
For the operation and administration of the board of registration in pharmacy
$234,508
4510-0723
For the operation and administration of the board of registration in medicine and the committee on acupuncture
$1,088,151
4510-0725
For the operation and administration of certain health boards of registration, including the board of registration in dentistry, the board of registration of nursing home administrators, the board of registration of physician assistants, the board of registration of perfusionists, the board of registration of genetic counselors and respiratory therapists
$315,865
4510-0726
For the board of registration in medicine, including the physician profiles program; provided, that the board may expend revenues not to exceed $300,000 from new revenues associated with increased license and renewal fees
$300,000
4510-0790
For regional emergency medical services; provided, that no funds shall be expended in the AA object class; and provided further, that the regional emergency medical services councils, designated under 105 CMR 170.101, and the C-MED medical emergency communications centers that were in existence on January 1, 1992, shall remain the designated councils and C-MED communications centers
$931,959
4510-0810
For a statewide sexual assault nurse examiner program and pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner program for the care of victims of sexual assault; provided, that funds shall be expended to support children’s advocacy centers; and provided further, that the program shall operate under specific statewide protocols and by an on-call system of nurse examiners
$3,160,740
4510-3008
For the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis registry created pursuant to section 25A of chapter 111 of the General Laws
$250,000
4512-0103
For human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome services and programs and related services for persons affected by the associated conditions of viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections; provided, that particular attention shall be paid to direct funding proportionately to each of the demographic groups afflicted by HIV/AIDS and associated conditions; and provided further, that no funds from this item shall be expended for disease research in fiscal year 2013
$32,101,023
4512-0106
For the department of public health, which may expend for the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome drug assistance program an amount not to exceed $7,500,000 from revenues received from pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the section 340B rebate program of the Public Health Service Act, administered by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration and the Office of Pharmacy Affairs
$7,500,000
4512-0200
For the division of substance abuse services, including a program to reimburse driver alcohol education programs for services provided for court adjudicated indigent clients
$76,539,595
4512-0201
For substance abuse step-down recovery services, known as level B beds and services, and other critical recovery services with severely reduced capacity; provided, that no funds shall be expended in the AA object class
$4,800,000
4512-0202
For jail diversion programs primarily for nonviolent offenders with OxyContin or heroin addiction to be procured by the department of public health; provided, that each program shall have at least 60 beds and shall provide clinical assessment services to the respective courts, inpatient treatment for up to 90 days and ongoing case management services for up to 1 year; provided further, that individuals may be diverted to this or other programs by a district attorney in conjunction with the office of the commissioner of probation if: (i) there is reason to believe that the individual being diverted suffers from an addiction to OxyContin or heroin or other substance use disorder; and (ii) the diversion of an individual is clinically appropriate and consistent with established clinical and public safety criteria; provided further, that programs shall be established in separate counties in locations deemed suitable by the department of public health; provided further, that the department of public health shall coordinate operations with the sheriffs, the district attorneys, the office of the commissioner of probation and the department of correction; provided further, that not more than $500,000 shall be used to support the ongoing treatment needs of clients after 90 days for which there is no other payer; and provided further, that not later than August 2, 2012, the department of public health shall provide a report to the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse and the house and senate committees on ways and means as to the outcomes of the program and the cost of operations
$2,000,000
4512-0203
For family intervention and care management services programs, a young adult treatment program and early intervention services for individuals who are dependent on or addicted to alcohol or controlled substances or both alcohol and controlled substances
$1,500,000
4512-0225
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $1,000,000 for a compulsive gamblers’ treatment program from unclaimed prize money held in the State Lottery Fund for more than 1 year from the date of the drawing in which the unclaimed prize money was won and from the proceeds of a multi-jurisdictional lottery game under subsection (e) of section 24A of chapter 10 of the General Laws; provided, that the state comptroller shall transfer the amount to the General Fund; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenue and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,000,000
4512-0500
For dental health services; provided, that funds shall be expended to maintain a program of dental services for the developmentally disabled; and provided further, that funds may be expended for the Forsyth Institute’s Center for Children’s Oral Health
$1,354,924
4513-1000
For the provision of family health services; provided, that funds shall be provided for comprehensive family planning services, including HIV counseling and testing, community-based health education and outreach services provided by agencies certified as comprehensive family planning agencies; and provided further, that funds may be expended for the Massachusetts birth defects monitoring program
$4,666,697
4513-1002
For women, infants and children’s, WIC, nutrition services in addition to funds received under the federal nutrition program; provided, that funds from this item shall supplement federal funds to enable federally eligible women, infants and children to be served through the WIC program
$12,366,617
4513-1012
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $26,355,000 from revenues received from the federal cost-containment initiatives including, but not limited to, infant formula rebates; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$26,355,000
4513-1020
For the early intervention program; provided, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means the total number of units of service purchased and the total expenditures for the units of service paid by the department, the executive office of health and human services and third party payers for early intervention services for the following service categories: home visit; center-based individual, child-focused group; parent-focused group; and screening and assessment; provided further, that the department shall make all reasonable efforts to secure third party and Medicaid reimbursements for the services funded in this item; provided further, that funds from this item shall be expended to provide respite services to families of children enrolled in early intervention programs who have complex care requirements, multiple disabilities and extensive medical and health needs; provided further, that priority shall be given to low and moderate income families; provided further, that no claim for reimbursement made on behalf of an uninsured person shall be paid from this item until the program receives notice of a denial of eligibility for the MassHealth program from the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that MassHealth shall fully reimburse the department of public health for all costs incurred for the transportation of MassHealth members who participate in the early intervention program; provided further, that nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to enforceable legal rights to any such services or an enforceable entitlement to the early intervention services funded in this item; provided further, that the department shall provide written notification to the house and senate committees on ways and means 90 days before any change to its current eligibility criteria; provided further, that these funds may be used to pay for current and prior year claims; provided further, that the department of public health shall report not later than April 2, 2013 on the number of children, by community, receiving early intervention services who, without such services are likely to require special education services; provided further, that the department shall provide services to eligible children through 1 service delivery model and shall not determine eligibility for services based on family insurance status; provided further, that the department shall work with the department of early education and care, the department of elementary and secondary education and the executive office of education on a data sharing pilot program to assign a state assigned student identifier to children participating in early intervention programs with the goal of tracking and evaluating educational and developmental outcomes for those children, improving delivery of services and determining any special education or cost savings associated with the early intervention program; provided further, that the participation of a family in any pilot program shall be contingent upon informed consent; provided further, that the executive office of education and the department of public health, in consultation with the agencies of the executive office of education and executive office of health and human services shall report to the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committee on ways and means and the joint committee on education by October 1, 2012 on the definition of informed consent and the process by which informed consent will be obtained, as agreed upon by the executive office of education and the department of public health; and provided further, that the executive office of education and the department of public health, in consultation with the agencies of the executive office of education and executive office of health and human services shall report to the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committee on ways and means and the joint committee on education by March 15, 2013 on: (i) the progress made on implementation of the pilot program, including but not limited to, the criteria used for selecting sites and preliminary implementation plans for the assignment of state assigned student identifiers to children receiving early intervention services; (ii) a timetable for full implementation of the pilot program including resource needs to meet the proposed timetable; (iii) a plan for obtaining informed consent from families receiving early intervention services; (iv) the number of state assigned student identifiers that have been assigned to date, if applicable; and (v) recommendations on how the department of public health and the agencies of the executive office of education can rigorously evaluate the effect of early intervention services on the future special education needs of program participants
$27,725,263
4513-1023
For the universal newborn hearing screening program; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for the notification of, and follow through with, affected families, primary care providers and early intervention programs upon the department's receipt of data indicative of potential hearing disorders in newborns
$70,193
4513-1026
For the provision of statewide and community-based suicide prevention, intervention, post-intervention and surveillance activities and the implementation of a statewide suicide prevention plan; provided, that funds shall be expended for a program to address elder suicide behavior and attempts with the geriatric mental health services program within the department of elder affairs; provided further, that funds shall be expended for a veterans in crisis hotline; provided further, that the hotline shall be for the use of veterans who seek counseling programs operated by the department of veterans affairs or concerned family members of those veterans so that they may be directed towards the programs and services offered by their local or regional veterans’ office; and provided further, that the hotline shall be staffed by counselors or outreach program personnel contracted by the department and trained in issues of mental health counseling and veterans services
$3,591,950
4513-1111
For the promotion of health and disease prevention which may include: breast cancer prevention; diabetes screening and outreach; ovarian cancer screening; a statewide STOP stroke program and ongoing stroke prevention and education; multiple sclerosis screening, information, education and treatment programs and the Multiple Sclerosis Home Living Navigating Key Services program administered by the Central New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; colorectal cancer prevention; hepatitis C prevention and management; prostate cancer screening, education and treatment with a particular focus on African American males; osteoporosis education; and maintenance of the statewide lupus database; provided, that funds may be expended for the operation of the Betsy Lehman center for patient safety and medical error reduction
$3,150,000
4513-1130
For domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and victim services, including batterers’ intervention and services for immigrants and refugees; provided, that funds shall be expended for rape prevention and victim services, including the statewide Spanish language hotline; provided further, that funds shall be expended for the public health model of community engagement and intervention services for crisis housing for sexual violence and intimate partner violence in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities; and provided further, that funds may be expended for classroom-based domestic violence prevention education programs administered in item 0340-0900 in fiscal year 2009
$5,514,340
4516-0263
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $1,117,101 in revenues from various blood lead testing fees collected from insurers and individuals to conduct such tests; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,117,101
4516-1000
For the administration of the center for laboratory and communicable disease control services, including the division of communicable venereal diseases, the division of tuberculosis control and the state laboratory institute; provided, that funds shall be expended for an eastern encephalitis testing program and for tuberculosis testing and treatment services; and provided further, that no funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for administrative, space or energy expenses of the department not directly related to personnel or programs funded in this item
$11,953,520
4516-1010
For state matching funds required by the federal Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act
$2,209,400
4516-1022
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $250,619 generated by fees collected from insurers for tuberculosis tests performed at the state laboratory institute; provided, that revenues collected may be used to supplement the costs of the laboratory; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$250,619
4518-0200
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $675,000 generated by fees collected from the following services provided at the registry of vital records and statistics: amendments of vital records; requests for vital records not issued in person at the registry; requests for heirloom certificates; and research requests performed by registry staff at the registry; provided, that revenues so collected may be used for all program costs, including the compensation of employees; provided further, that the registrar of vital records and statistics shall exempt from payment of a fee any person requesting a verification of birth for the purpose of establishing eligibility for Medicaid; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$675,000
4530-9000
For teenage pregnancy prevention services; provided, that applications for these funds shall be administered through the department upon receipt and approval of coordinated community service plans to be evaluated in accordance with guidelines issued by the department; provided further, that portions of the grants may be used for state agency purchases of designated services identified by the community service plans; provided further, that funding shall be expended on those communities with the highest teen birth rates according to an annual statistical estimate conducted by the department; provided further, that funds shall be expended on programming directed at children under the care of the department of children and families who are at high risk for teenage pregnancy; provided further, that the department shall collaborate with the department of children and families on this programming; provided further, that the department shall expend not less than $150,000 for a data collection and evaluation pilot; provided further, that the pilot program shall conduct longitudinal tracking of program participants to examine the long-term impact of educational interventions on behaviors; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall provide local school district-level Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance datasets to the department of public health for the purpose of targeting and evaluating intervention strategies; and provided further, that the department shall work with the department of early education and care and the department of elementary and secondary education on a pilot program to issue state assigned student identifiers to youth participating in teen pregnancy programs
$2,536,916
4570-1502
For the implementation of a statewide infection prevention and control program
$265,299
4580-1000
For the operation of the universal immunization program; provided, that no funds in this item shall be expended for administrative or energy expenses of the department not directly related to programs funded in this item; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the costs of purchasing and distributing childhood vaccines for children in this item may be assessed, in an amount equivalent to the department’s projected fiscal year 2013 costs, on surcharge payers under section 38 of chapter 118G of the General Laws and may be collected in a manner consistent with said chapter 118G
$52,879,812
4590-0250
For school health services and school-based health centers in public and nonpublic schools; provided, that services shall include, but not be limited to: (i) strengthening the infrastructure of school health services in the areas of personnel and policy development, programming and interdisciplinary collaboration; (ii) developing linkages between school health services programs and community health providers; (iii) incorporating health education programs, including tobacco prevention and cessation activities, in school curricula and in the provision of school-based health services; and (iv) incorporating obesity prevention programs, including nutrition and wellness programs, in school curricula to address the nutrition and lifestyle habits needed for healthy development; provided further, that the services shall meet standards and eligibility guidelines established by the department in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education; provided further, that funds may be expended to address the recommendations of the permanent commission on gay and lesbian youth, established in section 67 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, for the reduction of health disparities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth; and provided further, that funds shall be expended for the Massachusetts Model of Community Coalitions
$11,597,967
4590-0300
For smoking prevention and cessation programs
$4,151,958
4590-0912
For the department of public health, which may expend an amount not to exceed $16,990,628 from reimbursements collected for Western Massachusetts hospital services, subject to the approval of the commissioner of public health; provided, that such revenues may be expended for hospital-related costs, including personnel, capital expenditures, DD object class chargebacks and motor vehicle replacement; provided further, that all revenues expended shall be pursuant to schedules submitted to the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Western Massachusetts hospital shall be eligible to receive and retain full payment under the medical assistance program administered by the executive office of health and human services under chapter 118E of the General Laws for all goods and services provided by the hospital in accordance with all federal requirements; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Western Massachusetts hospital shall reimburse the General Fund for a portion of employee benefit expenses according to a schedule submitted by the commissioner of public health and approved by the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that such reimbursement shall not exceed 10 per cent of total personnel costs for the hospital; provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system; and provided further, that no funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for administrative, space or energy expenses of the department not directly related to personnel or programs funded in this item
$16,990,628
4590-0913
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $499,827 for payments received for those services provided by the Lemuel Shattuck hospital to inmates of county correctional facilities; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$499,827
4590-0915
For the maintenance and operation of Tewksbury hospital, Massachusetts hospital school, Lemuel Shattuck hospital and the hospital bureau, including the state office of pharmacy services; provided, that no funds in this item shall be expended for administrative, space or energy expenses of the department not directly related to personnel or programs funded in this item; provided further, that reimbursements received for medical services provided at the Lemuel Shattuck hospital to inmates of state sheriff correctional facilities not managed by private health care vendors shall be credited to item 4590-0903 of section 2B; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department shall seek to obtain federal financial participation for care provided to inmates of the department of correction and of county correctional facilities who are treated at the public health hospitals
$142,754,835
4590-0917
For the department of public health, which may expend an amount not to exceed $4,209,388 from payments received from the vendor managing health services for state correctional facilities for inmate medical services provided by the Lemuel Shattuck hospital; provided, that the payments may include capitation payments, fee for service payments, advance payments and other compensation arrangements established by contract between the vendor and the hospital; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$4,209,388
4590-1503
For the pediatric palliative care program established in section 24K of chapter 111 of the General Laws
$796,051
4590-1506
For a competitive grant program to be administered by the department of public health to support the establishment of a comprehensive youth violence prevention program; provided, that eligibility shall be determined by the criteria set forth in item 4590-1506 of section 2 of chapter 182 of the acts of 2008; provided further, that no grants shall be awarded to law enforcement agencies; provided further, that the department of public health shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the executive office for administration and finance not later than November 1, 2012, detailing the grant amount awarded to each recipient and a description of each grant; and provided further, that each grant recipient shall provide the department of public health with a comprehensive list of best practices that have been instituted as a result of these grants
$1,007,431
4590-1507
For matching grants to the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, the YWCA organizations, nonprofit community centers and youth development programs; provided, that the department of public health shall award the full amount of each grant to each organization previously included in the youth-at-risk grants, upon commitment of matching funds from those organizations; and provided further, that the department of public health shall award not less than $800,000 each to the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs and the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, which shall be distributed equally between the respective recipients’ member organizations
$2,500,000
4590-2001
For the department of public health, which may expend not more than $3,437,342 for payments received for services provided by Tewksbury hospital to clients of the department of developmental services including the provision of behavioral health services and the continuation of short-term medical rehabilitation for DDS clients; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of the authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$3,437,342
Department of Children and Families.
4800-0015
For administration and service coordination; provided, that the associated expenses of employees whose AA and DD object class costs are paid from item 4800-1100 shall be paid from this item; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for the compensation of unit 8 employees; provided further, that the department shall not place a child or adolescent referred by, or discharged from, the care of the department of mental health until the department of mental health forwards an assessment and recommendation as to whether the child or adolescent may be appropriately placed in foster care or if, due to severe emotional disturbance, such child or adolescent is more appropriate for congregate care placement; provided further, that the department, in consultation with the department of mental health, shall assist the department of mental health in making such assessments and recommendations; provided further, that if placement of a child with someone other than a parent becomes necessary, the department shall prioritize identifying a family resource within the child’s kinship or family circle and shall provide services and support to partner with the family resource in meeting the child’s needs; provided further, that unless otherwise authorized, all funds, including federal reimbursements received by the department, shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that the department and the department of early education and care shall provide standards for early education and care placements made through the supportive child care program; provided further, that the department of children and families, in collaboration with the department of early education and care, shall maintain a centralized list detailing the number of children eligible for supportive child care services, the number of supportive slots filled and the number of supportive slots available; provided further, that no waiting list for the services shall exist; provided further, that all children eligible for services under item 3000-3050 shall receive such services; provided further, that not later than October 31, 2012, the department shall promulgate and implement regulations which shall ensure that the department shall maintain an independent, timely and fair administrative hearing system; provided further, that beginning on August 15, 2012, the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities on the department’s policy and plan for eliminating its backlog of administrative hearing requests; provided further that each quarterly report shall: (i) include a benchmark for the number of fair hearing requests to be closed in the upcoming quarter; and (ii) shall identify the number of fair hearing request that are pending as of the conclusion of the most recent quarter; provided further, that not later than March 15, 2013 the department shall report on: (a) the number of foster care reviews conducted by the department; (b) the average length of time in which each review is completed; (c) the number of the department’s contracts reviewed by the state auditor; (d) the number of corrective action plans issued; (e) the number of corrective action plans entered into by the department; and (f) the total number of social workers; provided further, that the department shall file a report on the first business day of each quarter to the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children and families on the caseload of the department; provided further, that caseloads provided in this report shall include: residential placements, congregate care, foster care, intensive foster care, adoption, guardianship, 51A reports, substantiated 51A reports, the number of children who die in the care and custody of the department, the number of children currently eligible for supportive child care, the number of children presently receiving supportive child care and the number of medical and psychiatric consultation requests made by the department’s social workers; provided further, that the report shall include the number of approved foster care placements; provided further, that the report shall include the number of children in psychiatric hospitals and community-based acute treatment programs who remain hospitalized beyond their medically-necessary stay while awaiting placement and the number of days each case remains in placement beyond that which is medically-necessary; provided further, that the report shall include the number of children under the department’s care and custody who are being provided medical or psychiatric care through other publicly-funded sources; provided further, that the report shall include the number of children served by supervised visitation centers and the number of those children who are reunified with their families; provided further, that the report shall include information on the total number of children served, their ages, the number of children served in each service plan, the number of children in out-of-home placements and the number of placements each child has had before receiving an out-of-home placement; provided further, that the report shall contain, the number of kinship guardianship subsidies provided in the quarter covered by the report and the number of kinship guardianship subsidies provided in that quarter for which federal reimbursement was received; provided further, that the report shall include, the total spending on services other than case management services provided to families to keep a child with such child’s parents or to reunify the child with such child’s parents, spending by type of service and the unduplicated number of families that receive the services; provided further, that the report shall include, the total number of families residing in shelter paid for by the department, a list of where the families are sheltered, the total cost and average cost per family of those shelters and a description of how the department determines who qualifies, or fails to qualify, for shelter; provided further, that the report shall include, broken down by type of service, the number of requests for voluntary services, whether the request was approved or denied, the number of families denied voluntary services and who are later the subject of a 51A report, the reasons for denying the service and which referrals, if any, were made for services by other agencies or entities; provided further, that the report shall include the number of families receiving multiple 51A reports within a 10-month period, the number of cases reopened within 6 months of being closed and the number of children who return home and then re-enter an out-of-home placement within 6 months; provided further, that not later than November 2, 2012, the department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on children and families that includes any rules, regulations or guidelines established by the department to carry out its duties pursuant to chapter 119 of the General Laws including, but not limited to: (1) criteria used to determine whether a child has been abused or neglected; (2) guidelines for removal of a child from the home; and (3) standards to determine what reasonable efforts are being made to keep a child in the home; provided further, that to the extent feasible within existing appropriations, the department shall maintain existing services for the aging out population; provided further, that the commissioner may transfer funds between items 4800-0030, 4800-0038, 4800-0040 and 4800-0041, as necessary, pursuant to an allocation plan, which shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred; provided further, that the commissioner shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means 15 days in advance of any such transfer; and provided further, that not more than 5 per cent of any item shall be transferred in fiscal year 2013
$69,322,448
4800-0016
For the department of children and families which may expend for the operation of the transitional employment program an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 from revenues collected from various state, county and municipal government entities and state authorities, for the costs related to the provision of services by the participants and the overhead costs and expenses incurred by the not-for-profit managing agent selected by the commissioner for administering the program; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner may enter into a contract with Roca, Inc., a not-for-profit community-based agency, to manage the transitional employment program and to provide services to participants from the aging out population, parolees, probationers, youth service releases or other community residents considered to have employment needs
$2,000,000
4800-0025
For foster care review services
$3,005,350
4800-0030
For the continuation of local and regional administration and coordination of services provided by lead agencies through purchase-of-service contracts including flex services; provided, that funding shall only be expended in the MM object class
$9,300,000
4800-0036
For a sexual abuse intervention network program to be administered in conjunction with the district attorneys
$697,508
4800-0038
For guardianship, foster care, adoption, family preservation and kinship services provided by the department of children and families; provided, that services funded through this item shall include shelter services, substance abuse treatment, young parent programs, parent aides, education and counseling services, foster care, adoption and guardianship subsidies, tiered reimbursements used to promote the foster care placement of children with special medical and social needs, assessment of the appropriateness of adoption for children in the care of the department for more than 12 months, protective services provided by partnership agencies, targeted recruitment and retention of foster families, respite care services, post-adoption services, support services for foster, kinship and adoptive families and juvenile firesetter programs; provided further, that the department may contract with provider agencies for the coordination and management of services including flex; provided further, that the regional offices shall work with the contracted entities for children placed in the intensive foster care system and with the receiving communities of these children to ensure all necessary services are provided; provided further, that funding may be expended on children’s advocacy centers for services for child victims of sexual abuse and assault and community-based support and education programs helping low-income, female-headed families break the cycle of poverty; and provided further, that funds may be expended on programs that received funding in fiscal year 2012
$246,508,481
4800-0040
For family preservation, reunification and service coordination; provided, that services shall include family support and stabilization services provided by the department; and provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for the compensation of administrative employees and associated administrative costs of the department
$44,573,551
4800-0041
For congregate care services; provided, that funds may be expended from this item to provide community-based services, including in-home support and stabilization services, to children who would otherwise be placed in congregate settings; and provided further, that the department shall oversee area review teams that shall evaluate the feasibility of maintaining the child in the community in this manner whenever possible before recommending placement in a congregate care setting
$195,298,990
4800-0091
For the department of children and families which may expend not more than $2,077,119 in federal reimbursements received under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act during fiscal year 2013 to develop a training institute for professional development at the department of children and families with the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Salem State University; provided, that for the purposes of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lesser of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system; and provided further, that notwithstanding section 1 or any other general or special law to the contrary, federal reimbursements received in excess of $2,077,119 shall be credited to the General Fund
$2,077,119
4800-0151
For a program to provide alternative overnight nonsecure placements for status offenders and nonviolent delinquent youths up to the age of 17 to prevent the inappropriate use of juvenile cells in police stations for such offenders, in compliance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974; provided, that the programs which provide the alternative nonsecure placements shall collaborate with the appropriate sheriff’s office to provide referrals of those offenders and delinquent youths to any programs within the sheriff’s office designed to positively influence youths or reduce juvenile crime
$1,004,678
4800-1100
For the costs of the department’s social workers; provided, that funds shall mitigate social worker caseloads in those area offices furthest above the statewide weighted caseload standard and toward achieving a social worker caseload ratio of 18 to 1 statewide; and provided further, that only employees of bargaining unit 8 as identified in the Massachusetts personnel administrative reporting and information system shall be paid from this item
$166,917,450
4800-1400
For shelters and support services for people at risk of domestic violence; provided, that the department shall pursue the establishment of public-private partnership agreements established for family stabilization services funded from sources other than the commonwealth; provided further, that services shall include supervised visitation programs and scattered site transitional housing programs, including programs to assist victims of domestic violence in finding and maintaining permanent housing; provided further, that participants in battered women’s programs shall be provided with information relative to local transitional housing resources; provided further, that funding shall be made available to enhance counseling services for children who have witnessed domestic violence; provided further, that funding shall be made available for emergency shelters for substance abusing battered women; provided further, that funding shall be made available for a statewide domestic violence hotline; provided further, that the department shall continue to provide any match funding required by federal program regulations; and provided further, that domestic violence prevention specialists shall be funded from this item
$21,468,994
Department of Mental Health.
5011-0100
For the operation of the department of mental health;provided, that any unexpended funds in item 5095-0017 of section 2 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011 shall not revert but shall be made available for expenditure in items 5046-0000 and 5095-0015 until June 30, 2014; and provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Stephanie Moulton Safety Symposium established in section 1 of chapter 19 of the General Laws
$27,373,198
5042-5000
For child and adolescent services, including the costs of psychiatric and related services provided to children and adolescents determined to be medically-ready for discharge from acute hospital units or mental health facilities and who are experiencing unnecessary delays in being discharged due to the lack of more appropriate settings; provided, that for the purpose of funding those services, the commissioner of mental health may allocate funds from the amount appropriated in this item to other departments within the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that the department shall not refer or discharge a child or adolescent to the custody or care of the department of children and families until the department of mental health forwards its assessment and recommendation as to whether the child or adolescent is appropriate for foster care or, due to severe emotional disturbance, is more appropriate for group care; and provided further, that funds shall be expended for the Child Psychiatry Access Project
$76,816,757
5046-0000
For adult mental health and support services; provided, that the department shall allocate funds in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 from item 5095-0015 to this item, as necessary, under allocation plans submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means 30 days prior to any such transfer, for residential and day services for clients formerly receiving care at department facilities; and provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the distribution of funds per adult and child planning population and the types of services received in each region for fiscal year 2013, not later than February 1, 2013
$342,427,150
5046-2000
For homelessness services
$20,134,424
5046-4000
For the department of mental health, which may expend not more than $125,000 in revenue collected from occupancy fees charged to the tenants in the creative housing option in community environments, the CHOICE program authorized by chapter 167 of the acts of 1987; provided, that all fees collected under that program shall be expended for the routine maintenance and repair of facilities in the CHOICE program
$125,000
5047-0001
For emergency service programs and acute inpatient mental health care services; provided, that the department shall continue an interagency service agreement with the executive office of health and human services for the purchase of services and for such other services as the agreement may provide; provided further, that the department shall require a performance specification to be developed for safe aftercare options for adults upon release from acute inpatient mental health care services; and provided further, that the emergency service programs shall take all reasonable steps to identify and invoice the third party insurer of all persons serviced by the programs
$35,242,254
5055-0000
For forensic services provided by the department; provided, that funds may be expended for juvenile court clinics
$8,634,856
5095-0015
For the operation of hospital facilities and community-based mental health services; provided, that in order to comply with the decision in Olmstead v. L.E. 527 U.S. 581 and to enhance care for clients served by the department, the department shall discharge clients residing in the inpatient facilities to residential services in the community when the following criteria are met: (i) the client is deemed clinically suited for a more integrated setting; (ii) community residential service capacity and resources available are sufficient to provide each client with an equal or improved level of service; and (iii) the cost to the commonwealth of serving the client in the community is less than or equal to the cost of serving the client in inpatient care; provided further, that any client transferred to another inpatient facility as the result of a facility closure shall receive a level of care that is equal to or greater than the care that had been received at the closed facility; provided further, that the department may allocate funds in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 from this item to item 5046-0000, as necessary, under allocation plans submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means 30 days before any transfer for residential and day services for clients formerly receiving inpatient care at the centers and facilities; provided further, that at least 180 days prior to closing an inpatient mental health facility, the secretary of housing and economic development, or a designee, and the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, or a designee, shall meet jointly with affected municipal officials and produce a plan for the timely demolition of buildings, remediation of hazardous materials and future use of the property, including disposition by the commonwealth for redevelopment or conservation, if appropriate; provided further, that the department shall maintain not less than 626 continuing care inpatient beds in its system in fiscal year 2013; and provided further, that of these 626 beds, 45 beds shall be continuing care inpatient beds on the campus of Taunton State Hospital
$158,488,321
Department of Developmental Services.
5911-1003
For the administration and operation of the department of developmental services; provided, that the department shall not charge user fees for transportation or community day services; and provided further, that the department shall not charge fees for eligibility determination for services provided by the department or for applications of requests for transfer of guardianship
$63,386,703
5911-2000
For transportation costs associated with community-based day and work programs; provided, that the department shall provide transportation on the basis of priority of need as determined by the department
$10,486,611
5920-2000
For vendor-operated, community-based residential adult services, including intensive individual supports; provided, that annualized funding shall be expended for turning 22 clients who began receiving the services in fiscal year 2012 pursuant to item 5920-5000 of section 2 of chapter 131 of the acts of 2010; provided further, that funds from this item shall be used for court monitor costs in compliance with the terms of the Rolland settlement agreement, dated June 16, 2008, Civil Action No. 98-30208-KPN, filed in the United States District Court of Massachusetts in order to provide active services for class members; provided further, that the commissioner of developmental services shall transfer funds from this item to item 5920-2010, as necessary, pursuant to an allocation plan, which shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred; provided further, that the commissioner shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means 30 days in advance of any such transfer; and provided further, that not more than $5,000,000 shall be transferred from this item in fiscal year 2013
$786,339,514
5920-2010
For state-operated, community-based, residential services for adults, including community-based health services; provided, that the department shall maximize federal reimbursement, whenever possible under federal regulation, for the direct and indirect costs of services provided by the employees funded in this item
$179,989,529
5920-2025
For community-based day and work programs for adults
$133,957,044
5920-3000
For respite services and intensive family supports; provided, that the department shall pursue the highest rates of federal reimbursement possible for such services
$41,004,298
5920-3010
For contracted support services for families with autistic children through the autism division at the department of developmental services; provided, that funds shall be expended for the provision of services under the Children’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver; provided further, that the department shall expend not less than $3,000,000 on the Children’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver; provided further, that at a minimum, this waiver shall include children with autism spectrum disorder ages 0 to 8, inclusive, including children with autism spectrum disorder ages 0 to 3, inclusive, receiving services through the department of public health’s early intervention program; provided further, that the department shall take all steps necessary to ensure that the waiver program is fully enrolled and eligible children with autism immediately begin to receive services under said waiver; provided further, that the department shall immediately file any waiver amendments necessary to comply with the requirements of this item with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities on the number of contracted support services provided for families with autistic children under this item and the costs associated with such services not later than January 4, 2013; provided further, that such report shall include, but not be limited to, the services provided by the Children’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver, with information regarding the number of children enrolled in the waiver and receiving services, linguistic and cultural diversity, age, gender and geographic representation of the applicants and the children enrolled in the program and department plans to continue to assess the demand for waiver services, any executive office of health and human services’ plans to expand the waiver for children on the autism spectrum of all ages in the future and any other information determined relevant by the department; and provided further, that the department shall submit copies of any amended waiver to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities upon submission of the amendment
$4,637,858
5920-5000
For services to clients of the department who turn 22 during state fiscal year 2013
$6,000,000
5930-1000
For the operation of facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities; provided, that in order to comply with the decision in Olmstead v. L.E. 527 U.S. 581 and to enhance care for clients served by the department, the department shall discharge clients residing in intermittent care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, in this item called ICF/MRs, to residential services in the community if the following criteria are met: (i) the client is deemed clinically suited for a more integrated setting; (ii) community residential service capacity and resources available are sufficient to provide each client with an equal or improved level of service; and (iii) the cost to the commonwealth of serving the client in the community is less than or equal to the cost of serving the client in ICF/MRs; provided further, that any client transferred to another ICF/MR as the result of a facility closure shall receive a level of care that is equal to or greater than the care that had been received at the closed ICF/MR; provided further, that the department may allocate funds from this item to items 5920-2000, 5920-2010 and 5920-2025, as necessary, under allocation plans submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means 30 days before any transfer for residential and day services for clients formerly receiving inpatient care at ICF/MRs; provided further, that the department shall maximize federal reimbursement, whenever possible under federal regulation, for the direct and indirect costs of services provided by the employees funded in this item;provided further, that at least 6 months prior to closing any ICF/MRs, the secretary of housing and economic development, or a designee, and the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, or a designee, shall meet jointly with affected municipal officials and produce a plan for the timely demolition of buildings, remediation of hazardous materials and future use of the property, including disposition by the commonwealth for redevelopment or conservation, if appropriate; and provided further, that the department shall report on all efforts to comply with the Olmstead decision, the enhancement of care within available resources to clients served by the department and the steps taken to consolidate or close intermittent care facilities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities
$133,442,770
5982-1000
For the department of developmental services, which may expend not more than $150,000 accrued through the sale of milk and other farm-related and forestry products at the Templeton Developmental Center for program costs of the center, including supplies, equipment and maintenance; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$150,000
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Office of the Secretary.
7002-0010
For the operation of the office of the secretary of housing and economic development, including the operation of the Massachusetts permit regulatory office and the operation of the office of the wireless and broadband affairs director; provided, that agencies within the executive office may, with the prior approval of the secretary, streamline and improve administrative operations pursuant to interdepartmental service agreements
$446,520
7002-0017
For the provision of information technology services within the executive office of housing and economic development, including the homeless management information system
$2,976,536
Department of Housing and Community Development.
7004-0001
For the commission on Indian affairs
$107,936
7004-0099
For the operation of the department of housing and community development; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department may make expenditures for the department against federal grants for certain direct and indirect costs under a cost overhead allocation plan approved by the comptroller; provided further, that the comptroller shall maintain an account on the Massachusetts management accounting and reporting system to make these expenditures; provided further, that expenditures made against the account shall not be subject to appropriation and may include the cost of personnel; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the department may conduct annual verifications of household income levels based upon state tax returns for the purposes of administering the state and federal housing subsidy programs funded in items 7004-0108, 7004-9005, 7004-9024, 7004-9030, 7004-9033, 7004-9316 and items 7004-9009, 7004-9014, 7004-9019, 7004-9020 of section 2D; provided further, that as a condition of eligibility or continued occupancy by an applicant or tenant, the department may require disclosure of the social security number of an applicant or tenant and members of the applicant’s or tenant’s household for use in verification of income eligibility; provided further, that the department may deny or terminate participation in subsidy programs for failure by an applicant or tenant to provide a social security number for use in verification of income eligibility; provided further, that the department may consult with the department of revenue, the department of transitional assistance or any other state or federal agency to conduct income verification; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, those state agencies shall consult and cooperate with the department of housing and community development and furnish any information in the possession of the agencies including, but not limited to, tax returns and applications for public assistance or financial aid; provided further, that in conducting income verification, the director shall enter into an interdepartmental service agreement with the commissioner of revenue to utilize the department of revenue’s wage reporting and bank match system to verify the income and eligibility of participants in federally-assisted housing programs and the income and eligibility of members of the participants’ households; provided further, that notwithstanding section 12 of chapter 490 of the acts of 1980, the department may authorize neighborhood housing services corporations to retain, re-assign and re-loan funds received in repayment of loans made under the neighborhood housing services rehabilitation program; provided further, that the department shall, not later than September 1, 2012, promulgate regulations clarifying that a household that otherwise qualifies for any preference or priority for state subsidized housing or rental assistance based on homelessness or at-risk status shall retain that preference or priority notwithstanding receipt of rental assistance that is intended to be temporary including, but not limited to, any temporary or bridge subsidies provided with state or federal funds; provided further, that the department shall provide the caseload forecasting office with enrollment data and any other information pertinent to caseload forecasting that is requested by the office on a monthly basis; and provided further that such information shall be provided in a manner that meets all applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements
$6,914,734
7004-0100
For the operations of the homeless shelter and services unit, including the compensation of caseworkers and support personnel
$5,355,239
7004-0101
For certain expenses of contracted family shelters under the emergency assistance program pursuant to section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws; provided, that eligibility shall be limited to families with incomes at or below 115 per cent of the 2011 or later-issued higher federal poverty level; provided further, that any family whose income exceeds 115 per cent of the federal poverty level while the family is receiving assistance funded by this item shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the 115 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that those families that shall be eligible for assistance through a temporary emergency family shelter shall be: (i) families that are at risk of domestic abuse in their current housing situation; (ii) families that, through no fault of their own, are homeless due to fire, flood or natural disaster; (iii) families that, through no fault of their own, have been subject to eviction from their most recent housing due to foreclosure, condemnation or nonpayment of rent caused by a significant increase in expenses due to a change in household composition or caused by a documented loss of income within the past 12 months directly as a result of loss of a job, reduction in hourly pay rate, employment hours or unemployment benefits, documented medical condition or diagnosed disability; and (iv) families who are in a housing situation where they are not the primary lease holder and there is substantial health and safety risk to the family that is likely to result in significant harm should the family remain in said housing situation; provided further, that said health and safety risk shall be determined by the department of children and families through risk assessments; provided further, that a family who receives emergency housing assistance due to domestic abuse shall be connected to the appropriate social service agency; provided further, that temporary assistance under this item shall be terminated upon the offer of available housing or other assistance sufficient to maintain or stabilize housing; provided further, that a family shall not decline an offer for available housing if the offer adequately accommodates the size and disabilities of the family and the new housing placement would not result in a job loss for the client; provided further, that any family that declines an adequate offer of available housing or other assistance sufficient to maintain or stabilize housing shall become ineligible for assistance from this item; provided further, that families receiving benefits under this item shall have 30 per cent of their income set aside in a savings account; provided further, that the amount saved shall be exempt from otherwise applicable asset limits; provided further, that the family may withdraw the amount placed in savings upon transition to permanent housing or losing eligibility for shelter services; provided further, that families who receive benefits under this item for longer than 32 weeks after July 1, 2012 shall not be eligible for household assistance under item 7004-0108; provided further, that families receiving emergency assistance shall receive housing search assistance that attempts to facilitate a sustainable housing placement within 16 weeks of entry into the emergency assistance shelter or motel; provided further, that families receiving assistance for longer than 32 weeks shall have an executable shelter exit plan that facilitates a housing placement in a new sustainable tenancy or in a safe residence, including, but not limited to, a placement for which the family is not the primary lease holder, as soon as possible; provided further, that benefits under this item shall be provided only to residents of the commonwealth of Massachusetts who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of the law in the United States; provided further, that an eligible household that is approved for shelter placement shall be placed in a shelter as close as possible to the household's home community unless a household requests otherwise; provided further, that if the closest available placement is not within 20 miles of the household's home community, the household shall be transferred to an appropriate shelter within 20 miles of its home community at the earliest possible date unless the household requests otherwise; provided further, that the department shall make every effort to ensure that children receiving services from this item shall continue attending school in the community in which they lived prior to receiving services funded from this item; provided further, that should a family with a child under the age of 3 be placed in a hotel or motel, the department of housing and community development shall ensure that the hotel or motel provides a crib for each such child under the age of 3 that meets all the state and federal safety codes; provided further, that notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall immediately provide shelter for up to 30 days to families who appear to be eligible for such shelter based on statements provided by the family and any other information in the possession of the department, but who need additional time to obtain any third-party verifications reasonably required by the department; provided further, that families receiving such shelter benefits who are found not to be eligible for continuing shelter benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal pursuant to chapter 23B of the General Laws; provided further, that families who have stopped receiving shelter benefits through this item shall not be eligible to receive additional shelter benefits for 12 months from the previous date of exit; provided further, that the previous clause shall not apply to temporary shelter benefits provided for up to 30 days while verifying eligibility; provided further, that the department shall not impose unreasonable requirements for third-party verification and shall accept verifications from a family whenever reasonable; provided further, that the department shall use its best efforts to ensure that a family placed by the emergency assistance program shall be provided with access to refrigeration and basic cooking facilities; provided further, that the department shall provide to the house and senate committees on ways and means a report of the most recently available weekly data on the number of applications for services provided for in this item and in item 7004-0108; provided further, that the report shall include, but not be limited to, caseload data, including applications, admissions and the distribution of benefits from this item and item 7004-0108; provided further, that this item shall be subject to appropriation and, in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated in this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 30 days before promulgating or amending any regulation, administrative practice or policy that would alter eligibility for, or the level of benefits under, this program, other than that which would benefit the clients, the department shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives a report setting forth justification for any such change including, but not limited to, any determination by the secretary of housing and economic development that available appropriations from the program will be insufficient to meet projected need; provided further that, upon the approval of the secretary of administration and finance, any amounts appropriated in this item may be transferred to item 7004-0108 or to item 7004-9316; provided further, that the department shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means 15 days prior to any such transfers; provided further, that any transfer of funds shall not leave this item in a projected deficit; provided further, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing entry and exit statistics as well as the success of diverting and transitioning families from benefits received under this item to permanent housing; provided further, that quarterly reports shall also include the following information from the department of children and families: (a) the number of families assessed in the previous quarter; (b) the number of families determined to be at a substantial health and safety risk; (c) the number of families receiving multiple health and safety assessments within the previous 6 month period; and (d) the standards used to determine a substantial health and safety risk; provided further, that no funds shall be expended for personnel or administrative costs; provided further, that no funds shall be expended for costs associated with the homeless management information system; provided further, that the department shall notify local school departments of the placement of a family in its district within 5 days of placement; and provided further, that the department shall endeavor to convert scattered site shelter units to congregate units and, as allowed by demand, reduce the overall number of shelter beds through the reduction of scattered site units
$96,679,154
7004-0102
For the homelessness program to assist individuals who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, including assistance to organizations which provide shelter, transitional housing and services that help individuals avoid entry into shelters or successfully exit shelters; provided, that no organization providing services to the homeless shall receive less than an average per bed, per night rate of $20; provided further, that the department may allocate funds to other agencies for this program; provided further, that no funds shall be expended for costs associated with the homeless management information system; and provided further, that programs that currently provide shelter may renegotiate how to use such program’s shelter fund, with the agreement of the department and the host municipality, to provide alternative services proven to be effective, including housing first models, transitional housing and diversion away from shelters
$37,963,331
7004-0104
For the home and healthy for good program operated by the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance to reduce the incidence of chronic homelessness; provided, that the alliance shall be responsible for the administration of this program
$1,400,000
7004-0108
For a program of short-term housing assistance to help families in addressing obstacles to maintaining or securing housing for: (i) families eligible for temporary emergency shelter under item 7004-0101; and (ii) families that received rental assistance under this item prior to July 1, 2012; provided, that except for families that receive rental assistance under this item, assistance provided shall not exceed $6,000 in a 12 month period; provided further, that a family shall not be able to receive assistance under this item for 12 months from the last date it received assistance through this item, including housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services; provided further, that families that received rental assistance under this item prior to July 1, 2012 shall remain eligible for assistance greater than $6,000 for use as rental assistance provided that the monthly rent for the housing does not exceed the amount approved by the department of housing and community development; provided further, that families eligible for rental assistance shall pay not more than 35 per cent of household income towards rent and utilities; provided further, that a family's eligibility for rental assistance provided hereunder shall not exceed a period of 24 successive months from the date the family first received rental assistance under this item, not including time spent in temporary accommodations; provided further, that a family that is terminated from the program because it has received 24 successive months of rental assistance shall not be able to receive assistance under item 7004-0101 for 12 months from the last date it received assistance through this program; provided further, that the assistance provided under this item shall include not less than 12 months of housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services for each family receiving benefits hereunder; provided further, that families that have not received services from item 7004-0101 in the previous 12 months shall be eligible for up to $6,000 in assistance over 12 months; provided further, that families receiving services through item 7004-0101 for 32 weeks or fewer from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 shall be eligible for up to $4,000 in assistance over 12 months; provided further, that families receiving services through item 7004-0101 for longer than 32 weeks from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 shall not be eligible for assistance through this item; provided further, that a family who received assistance under item 7004-9316 and who is eligible for assistance hereunder may be eligible for up to an additional $2,000 in the same 12 month period through this item if deemed necessary to maintain or secure housing or otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that a family shall not be deemed ineligible as a result of any single violation of a self-sufficiency plan; provided further, that so long as a family meets the requirements of the family’s housing stabilization plan, a family that, after first receiving benefits through this item, has an income which exceeds 50 per cent of the area median income shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the income level was exceeded; provided further, that a family that was terminated from the program or did not make a good faith effort to follow its housing stabilization plan during the term of its assistance shall be ineligible for benefits pursuant to item 7004-0101 and this item for 24 months from the last date upon which they received assistance hereunder, including housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services; provided further, that a family’s housing stabilization plan must adequately accommodate the age and disabilities of the family members; provided further, that families receiving benefits under this program who are found not to be eligible for continuing benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal pursuant to said chapter 23B; provided further, that families who are denied assistance under this item may appeal pursuant to said chapter 23B, including subsection (F) of said section 30, and regulations adopted to implement said chapter 23B; provided further, that benefits under this item shall be provided only to residents of the commonwealth who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of law in the United States; provided further, that the department, as a condition of continued eligibility for assistance pursuant to this program, may require disclosure of social security numbers by all members of a family receiving assistance hereunder for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments and executive offices; provided further, that any family in which a member of the family fails to provide a social security number for use in verifying the family's income and eligibility shall no longer be eligible to receive benefits from this program; provided further, that the department shall administer this program through the following agencies unless administering agencies are otherwise procured by the department: the Berkshire Housing Development Corporation, the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc., the Community Teamwork, Inc., the Housing Assistance Corporation, the Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Hap, Inc., the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, Inc., the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development, the South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc., the South Shore Housing Development Corporation and RCAP Solutions, Inc; provided further, that the housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services funded by this program shall focus efforts on housing retention and economic self-sufficiency by linking households to supports including job training, education, job search and childcare opportunities; provided further, that the department and the administrating agencies may enter into agreements with other public and private agencies for the provision of such services; provided further, that a stabilization worker shall be assigned to each household; provided further, that all of this item shall be subject to appropriation and, in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated in this item; provided further, that the department shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means, which shall include the number of families served by amount of assistance received, the type of assistance given, the number of families assisted through this program and the average, minimum and maximum costs per family of such assistance; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 30 days before promulgating or amending any regulations, administrative practice or policy that would alter eligibility for, or the level of benefits under, this program, other than that which would benefit the clients, the department shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives a report setting forth justification for said changes; provided further, that upon the approval of the secretary of administration and finance, and not less than 15 days after notifying the house and senate committees on ways and means, any amounts appropriated in this item may be transferred to item 7004-0101 or to item 7004-9316; and provided further, that any transfer of funds shall not leave this item with a projected deficiency
$90,787,766
7004-3036
For housing services and counseling; provided, that funds shall be expended as grants to 9 regional housing consumer education centers operated by the regional nonprofit housing authorities; provided further, that the grants shall be awarded through a competitive application process under criteria established by the department; and provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item in the AA object class for the compensation of state employees
$1,495,996
7004-3045
For a tenancy preservation program for neutral party consultation services in eviction cases before the housing court department of the trial court for individuals with disabilities and for families with individuals with disabilities if the disability is directly related to the reason for eviction
$500,000
7004-4314
For the expenses of a service coordinators program established by the department to assist tenants residing in housing developed pursuant to sections 39 and 40 of chapter 121B of the General Laws to meet tenancy requirements to maintain and enhance the quality of life in that housing
$350,401
7004-9005
For subsidies to housing authorities and nonprofit organizations, including funds for deficiencies caused by certain reduced rentals in housing for the elderly, handicapped, veterans and relocated persons under sections 32 and 40 of chapter 121B of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all housing authorities operating elderly public housing shall offer first preference for elderly public housing units which are vacant on the effective date of this act and, thereafter, to those persons 60 years of age or older as of June 30, 2012 receiving rental assistance from the Massachusetts rental voucher program; provided further, that the department may expend funds appropriated in this item for deficiencies caused by certain reduced rentals which may be anticipated in the operation of housing authorities for the first quarter of the subsequent fiscal year; provided further, that no monies shall be expended from this item to reimburse the debt service reserve included in the budgets of housing authorities; provided further, that the amount appropriated in this item shall be deemed to meet all obligations under said sections 32 and 40 of said chapter 121B; provided further, that any new reduced rental units developed in fiscal year 2013 eligible for subsidies under this item shall not cause any annualization that results in an amount exceeding the amount appropriated in this item; and provided further, that all funds in excess of normal utilities, operation and maintenance costs may be expended for capital repairs
$62,500,000
7004-9024
For a program of rental assistance for low-income families and elderly persons through mobile and project-based vouchers; provided, that rental assistance shall only be paid under a program known as the Massachusetts rental voucher program; provided further, that the income of eligible households first receiving assistance after June 30, 2012 shall not exceed 50 per cent of the area median income; provided further, that the department may award mobile vouchers to eligible households currently occupying project-based units that shall expire due to the nonrenewal of project-based rental assistance contracts; provided further, that the department, as a condition of continued eligibility for vouchers and voucher payments, may require disclosure of social security numbers by participants and members of participants’ households in the Massachusetts rental voucher program for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments and executive offices; provided further, that any household in which a participant or member of a participant’s household fails to provide a social security number for use in verifying the household’s income and eligibility shall no longer be eligible for a voucher or to receive benefits from the voucher program; provided further, that the monthly dollar amount of each voucher shall be the total monthly rent of the unit less the monthly amount paid for rent by the household; provided further, that any household which is proven to have caused intentional damage to its rental unit in an amount exceeding 2 months of rent during any 1-year lease period shall be terminated from the program; provided further, that a mobile voucher whose use is or has been discontinued shall be reassigned within 90 days; provided further, that the department shall pay agencies $32.50 per voucher per month for the costs of administering the program; provided further, that subsidies shall not be reduced due to the cost of inspections; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, each household holding a voucher shall pay at least 30 per cent but not more than 40 per cent of its income as rent; provided further, that the department shall establish the amounts of the mobile vouchers and the project-based vouchers so that the appropriation in this item is not exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the department shall not enter into commitments which shall cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth in this item; provided further, that the department may impose certain obligations for each participant in the Massachusetts rental voucher program through a 12-month contract which shall be executed by the participant and the department; provided further, that such obligations may include, but shall not be limited to, job training, counseling, household budgeting and education, as defined in regulations promulgated by the department and to the extent these programs are available; provided further, that each participant shall be required to undertake and meet these contractually established obligations as a condition for continued eligibility in the program; provided further, that for continued eligibility, each participant shall execute this 12-month contract on or before September 1, 2012, if the participant’s annual eligibility recertification date occurs between June 30, 2012 and September 1, 2012, and otherwise on or before the annual eligibility recertification date; provided further, that any participant who is over the age of 60 years or who is disabled may be exempted from any obligations unsuitable under particular circumstances; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item in the AA object class for the compensation of state employees; provided further, that participating local housing authorities may take all steps necessary to enable them to transfer mobile voucher program participants from the Massachusetts rental voucher program into another housing subsidy program; provided further, that not less than $800,000 shall be available for a program to be known as the Massachusetts rental voucher supportive housing program to serve households with at least 1 child that are determined by the department to be most in need of supportive housing, particularly if said supportive housing will allow the household to exit emergency shelter; provided further, that assistance under the Massachusetts rental voucher supportive housing program shall be project-based and shall include case management services; provided further, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the progress of said supportive housing program, including but not limited to, the number of families served and the number of families entering the program from emergency assistance shelters; and provided further, that the department of housing and community development shall endeavor to avoid a reduction in the value of the Massachusetts rental voucher from its value as of June 30, 2011
$41,000,000
7004-9030
For the transitional rental assistance program established in section 16 of chapter 179 of the acts of 1995; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the transitional rental assistance shall be in the form of mobile vouchers; provided further, that the vouchers shall be in varying dollar amounts set by the department based on considerations including, but not limited to, household size, composition, household income and geographic location; provided further, that any household which is proven to have caused intentional damage to its rental unit in an amount exceeding 2 months’ rent during any 1 year shall be terminated from the program; provided further, that the department shall pay agencies that administer this program an allowance not to exceed $25 per voucher per month for the costs of administration; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be no maximum percentage applicable to the amount of income paid for rent by each household holding a mobile voucher, but each household shall be required to pay not less than 25 per cent of its net income, as defined in regulations promulgated by the department, for units if payment of utilities is not provided by the unit owner, or not less than 30 per cent of its income for units if payment of utilities is provided by the unit owner; provided further, that payments for the transitional rental assistance may be provided in advance; provided further, that the department shall establish the amounts of the mobile vouchers so that the appropriation in this item is not exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the department shall not enter into commitments which will cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth in this item; provided further, that the amount of a rental assistance voucher payment for an eligible household shall not exceed the rent less the household’s minimum rent obligation; provided further, that the word "rent", as used in this item, shall mean payments to the landlord or owner of a dwelling unit under a lease or other agreement for a tenant's occupancy of the dwelling unit, but shall not include payments made by the tenant separately for the cost of heat, cooking fuel and electricity; provided further, that consistent with said chapter 179 of the acts of 1995, the amount appropriated in this item shall not annualize to more than $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2014; and provided further, that the program shall provide funding for not more than 800 mobile vouchers
$3,450,000
7004-9033
For rental subsidies to eligible clients of the department of mental health; provided, that the department shall establish the amounts of such subsidies so that payment thereof and of any other commitments from this item shall not exceed the amount appropriated in this item
$4,000,000
7004-9315
For the department of housing and community development, which may expend for the administration and monitoring of the low-income housing tax credit and local administration programs an amount not to exceed $2,535,003 from revenue collected from fees collected under Executive Order No. 291, pertaining to low-income housing tax credits, for the costs of administering and monitoring the programs, including the costs of personnel, subject to the approval of the director; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,535,003
7004-9316
For a program to provide assistance in addressing obstacles to maintaining or securing housing for families with: (i) a household income not greater than 30 per cent of area median income that are homeless and moving into subsidized or private housing or are at risk of becoming homeless; or (ii) a household income greater than 30 per cent but not more than 50 per cent of area median income that are homeless and moving into subsidized or private housing, or are at risk of becoming homeless due to a significant reduction of income or increase in expenses; provided, that assistance shall be administered by the department through contracts with the regional non-profit housing agencies; provided further, that not less than 90 per cent of the funds shall be provided to households with an income not greater than 30 per cent of area median income, subject to the department’s discretion based on data reflecting program demand and usage; provided further, that in distributing 90 per cent of the funds, the department shall prioritize those families most likely to otherwise require shelter services under item 7004-0101; provided further, that the amount of financial assistance shall not exceed $4,000 in any 12 month period; provided further, that up to an additional $2,000 in the same 12 month period may be provided under item 7004-0108 for families eligible for assistance under that item if deemed necessary to maintain or secure housing or to otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that prior to authorizing a residential assistance payment for a family, the administering agency shall make a finding that the payment will enable the family to retain its current housing, obtain new housing or otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that in making these findings the agency shall, unless the facts of the case warrant otherwise, apply a presumption that the payment will enable a family to retain its housing, obtain new housing or otherwise avoid homelessness if the family is paying less than or equal to 50 per cent of its income for that housing; provided further, that a family that is paying more than 50 per cent of its income for its housing shall be provided a fair opportunity to establish that a residential assistance payment will enable it to retain its housing, obtain new housing or otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that residential assistance payments may be made through direct vendor payments according to standards to be established by the department; provided further, that the agencies shall establish a system for referring families approved for residential assistance payments, if the agencies determine that the family would benefit from these services, to existing community-based programs that provide additional housing stabilization supports, including assistance in obtaining housing subsidies and locating alternative housing that is safe and affordable for those families; provided further, that the program shall be administered under guidelines established by the department; provided further, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing: (a) the number of families applying for assistance; (b) the number of families approved for assistance; (c) the minimum, median and average amount of financial assistance awarded; (d) the total amount of assistance awarded to date, including a breakdown by income category; and (e) the number of families falling into each income category; and provided further, that the department shall track a family’s reason for assistance by the same categories used in 7004-0101
$8,760,000
Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
7006-0000
For the office of the director of consumer affairs and business regulation, including expenses of an administrative services unit
$846,160
7006-0043
For the office of consumer affairs, which may expend for the administration and enforcement of the home improvement contractor program an amount not to exceed $500,000 from the revenue collected from fees for the registration and renewal of home improvement contractor registrations under section 11 of chapter 142A of the General Laws; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$500,000
Division of Banks.
7006-0010
For the operation of the division of banks; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the division shall assess 100 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item upon financial institutions which the division currently regulates under section 2 of chapter 167 of the General Laws
$13,975,451
7006-0011
For the costs incurred by the division of banks associated with licensure of loan originators under chapter 255F of the General Laws; provided, that the division may expend revenues in an amount not to exceed $2,650,000 from the revenue received from administrative fees associated with the licensure fees and from civil administrative penalties under said chapter 255F; provided further, that the division may expend from such revenue an amount to be determined by the commissioner of banks as grants for the operation of a program for best lending practices, first-time homeowner counseling for non-traditional loans and 10 or more foreclosure education centers under section 16 of chapter 206 of the acts of 2007; provided further, that such grants shall be awarded through a competitive application process under criteria established by the division; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,650,000
Division of Insurance.
7006-0020
For the operation of the division of insurance, including the expenses of the board of appeal on motor vehicle policies and bonds, the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item, certain other costs of supervising motor vehicle liability insurance and the expenses of the fraudulent claims board; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 100 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item and the associated fringe costs of personnel paid from this item shall be assessed upon the institutions which the division currently regulates under general or special laws or regulations, except for licensed business entity producers; and provided further, that the assessment shall be in addition to any assessments currently assessed upon said institutions
$12,351,044
7006-0029
For the operation of the health care access bureau in the division of insurance; provided, that under section 7A of chapter 26 of the General Laws, the full amount appropriated in this item, and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item, shall be assessed upon the carriers licensed under chapters 175, 176A, 176B and 176G of the General Laws
$1,100,000
Division of Professional Licensure.
7006-0040
For the operation and administration of the division of professional licensure
$2,474,874
7006-0151
For the division of professional licensure, which may expend not more than $540,123 for the oversight of proprietary schools; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system; and provided further, that no expenditures made in advance of the receipts shall exceed 50 per cent of the amount of revenues projected by the first quarterly statement required by section 1B
$540,123
Division of Standards.
7006-0060
For the operation of the division of standards
$779,493
7006-0066
For the support of the division of standards’ municipal inspection efforts; provided, that up to 15 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item may be expended for administrative costs of the division
$160,372
7006-0067
For the division of standards; provided, that the division may expend for enforcement of weights and measures laws an amount not to exceed $58,751 from revenues received from item pricing violations collected through municipal inspection efforts and from weights and measures’ fees and fines collected from cities and towns; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$58,751
7006-0068
For the division of standards; provided, that the division may expend an amount not to exceed $360,000 from revenue received from license fees assessed to owners of motor vehicle repair shops; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the division may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$360,000
Department of Telecommunications and Cable.
7006-0071
For the operation of the department of telecommunications and cable; provided, that notwithstanding the second sentence of section 7 of chapter 25C of the General Laws, the assessments levied for fiscal year 2013 shall be made at a rate sufficient to produce 100 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item and the associated fringe benefits costs for personnel paid from this item
$2,877,507
Massachusetts Office of Business Development.
7007-0150
For the Massachusetts office of business development for contracts with regional economic development organizations under the program established in sections 3J and 3K of chapter 23A of the General Laws
$650,000
7007-0300
For the operation of the Massachusetts office of business development
$1,717,393
7007-0500
For the operation and maintenance of the Massachusetts biotechnology research institute to promote the commercialization of new, academic-based research and development and to raise the scientific awareness of the communities of the commonwealth
$200,000
7007-0800
For a grant for the state match for the small business development center; provided, that no funds shall be expended from this item until such time as the United States Small Business Administration has made a payment or has executed a contract to pay the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for the operation of the center; provided further, that the funds expended from this item shall not exceed 25 per cent of the gross operating cost of the center; provided further, that not more than $300,000 from this item shall be expended for federal procurement technical assistance services within the center; provided further, that the services shall include, but not be limited to, assisting businesses in securing federal contracts, obtaining contract financing, generating responses to requests-for-proposals, interpreting bid documents, providing educational workshops and seminars and the electronic identification and tracking of federal bid opportunities; provided further, that funds expended for the operating federal procurement technical assistance services within the center shall be subject to the receipt of matching funds from federal or private sources, including the United States Department of Defense; and provided further, that annual expenditure reports shall be filed with the house and senate committees on ways and means
$704,286
7007-0952
For the operation of the commonwealth zoological corporation under chapter 92B of the General Laws; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for the purposes of promoting private fundraising, achieving self-sufficiency and serving as a catalyst for urban economic development and job opportunities for local residents; provided further, that the corporation shall take all steps necessary to increase the amount of private funding available for the operation of the zoos; provided further, that funding in this item may not be transferred through interdepartmental service agreements; and provided further, that the corporation shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 1, 2013, on the status of, and amounts collected from, the private fundraising and enhanced revenue efforts identified in the draft Massachusetts Zoos Business and Operations Plan dated December 1996
Massachusetts Marketing Partnership.
7008-0900
For the operation and administration of the office of travel and tourism; provided, that the office shall be the official and lead agency to facilitate and attract major sports events and championships in the commonwealth; provided further, that the office shall be the official and lead agency to facilitate motion picture production and development within the commonwealth; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item shall also be used for financial assistance to local tourist councils under section 14 of chapter 23A of the General Laws; provided further, that the office shall provide an annual report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013; and provided further, that the report shall provide information on regional tourist activities funded through item 7008-1000
For assistance to regional tourist councils under section 14 of chapter 23A of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, each of the councils may expend an amount not to exceed 20 per cent of the funds appropriated in this item for the cost of administrative services
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
Office of the Secretary.
7003-0100
For the operation of the executive office of labor and workforce development; provided, that the executive office shall expend not less than $150,000 to produce a study of state and regional labor market conditions that shall include but not be limited to producing a list of the industry areas with the greatest numbers of job vacancies and a list of the professions projected to have the greatest number of vacancies over the next 3 years; provided further, that the executive office of labor and workforce development shall make this study publicly available on its website and distribute it to the community colleges not later than December 31, 2012
$884,042
7003-0170
For the provision of information technology services within the executive office of labor and workforce development
$227,297
Department of Career Services.
7002-0012
For a youth-at-risk program targeted at reducing juvenile delinquency in high risk areas; provided, that these funds may be expended for the development and implementation of a year-round employment program for at-risk youth and existing year-round employment programs; provided further, that $500,000 of these funds shall be matched by private organizations; and provided further, that funds shall be available for expenditure through September 1, 2013, prior appropriation continued
$3,000,000
7003-0605
For the operation and maintenance of the Massachusetts manufacturing extension partnership to maintain and promote manufacturing as an integral part of the economy and for programs designed to assist small and mid-sized manufacturing companies
$325,000
7003-0803
For the one-stop career centers, including the administration and oversight to these centers provided by the department of career services
$4,494,467
7003-1206
For the Massachusetts Service Alliance to administer State Service Corps grants and to provide training and support to volunteer and service organizations
$500,000
Department of Labor Standards.
7003-0200
For the operation of the department of labor standards; provided, that a portion of this funding shall be made available for the apprenticeship standards program within the department
$2,128,283
7003-0201
For the department of labor standards; provided, that the department may expend an amount not to exceed $452,850 received from fees authorized in section 3A of chapter 23 of the General Laws and civil fines issued under section 197B of chapter 111 of the General Laws, section 46R of chapter 140 of the General Laws and section 6F1/2 of chapter 149 of the General Laws; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$452,850
Department of Industrial Accidents.
7003-0500
For the operation and administrative expenses of the department of industrial accidents; provided, that the General Fund shall be reimbursed the amount appropriated in this item and for associated indirect and direct fringe benefit costs from assessments levied under section 65 of chapter 152 of the General Laws
$19,114,446
Department of Labor Relations.
7003-0900
For the operation of the department of labor relations
$2,034,605
7003-0901
For the department of labor relations, which may expend for the operation of the department an amount not to exceed $100,000 from fees collected under section 3B of chapter 7 of the General Laws and section 6 of chapter 150 of the General Laws; provided, that the first $100,000 of such fees collected by the department shall be deposited into the General Fund and any fees collected in excess of $200,000 shall be deposited into the General Fund; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$100,000
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
Department of Early Education and Care.
3000-1000
For the administration of the department of early education and care and the costs of field operations and licensing provided through the department; provided, that the department shall report on the first business day of each month to the joint committee on education, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on the unduplicated number of children on waiting lists for state-subsidized early education and care programs and services, including supportive child care services; provided further, that notwithstanding chapter 66A of the General Laws, the department of early education and care, the lead agencies of community partnership councils, the child care resource and referral agencies, the department of elementary and secondary education, the department of transitional assistance, the department of children and families and the department of public health may share with each other personal data regarding the parents and children who receive services provided under early education and care programs administered by the commonwealth for waitlist management, program implementation and evaluation, reporting and policy development purposes; provided further, that the department shall issue monthly reports detailing the number and average cost of voucher and contracted slots funded by the department by category of eligibility, including children who have been the subject of supported 51A cases, children referred by or transitioning from the department of children and families and children of income-eligible families; provided further, that such reports shall include the number of recipients subject to subsection (f) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995; provided further, that the commissioner of early education and care may transfer funds from items 3000-4050 and 3000-4060 into items 3000-3050, 3000-4050 and 3000-4060; provided further, that total transfers from any 1 item shall not exceed 3 per cent of the item’s total funding; provided further, that the commissioner shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means at least 30 days before any such transfer; provided further, that the department shall work with the department of public health, the department of elementary and secondary education and the executive office of education on a pilot program to issue state assigned student identifiers to children receiving early intervention services, for the purposes of tracking and evaluating educational and developmental outcomes for those children, improving delivery of services and determining any special education or cost savings associated with the early intervention program; provided further, that the participation of a family in any pilot program shall be contingent upon informed consent of participating families;provided further, that $150,000 shall be used for enhanced audits which maximize overpayment recoupment, savings or other cost recoveries of department expenditures; provided further, that the department of early education and care shall provide the caseload forecasting office with enrollment data and any other information pertinent to caseload forecasting that is requested by the office on a monthly basis; and provided further, that the information shall be provided in a manner that meets all applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements
$12,503,088
3000-2000
For regional administration and coordination of services provided by child care resource and referral agencies; provided, that funding for activities shall include, but not be limited to: administrative costs of these agencies; program coordination and support; voucher management; outreach to hard-to-reach populations; intake and eligibility services for families seeking financial assistance to enroll in early education and care programs; resource and referral for families with disabilities in child care programs; and walk-in services for homeless families
$5,433,862
3000-2050
For the administration of the Children’s Trust Fund; provided, that the department shall not exercise any supervision or control with respect to the board of the trust fund
$1,097,237
3000-3050
For supportive early education and care services; provided, that funds from this item shall only be expended for early education and care costs of children with active cases at the department of children and families; provided further, that the department of early education and care, in collaboration with the department of children and families, shall maintain a centralized list detailing the number of children eligible for services in this item, the number of supportive slots filled and the number of supportive slots available; provided further, that funds may be used to provide services during a transition period of 6 months for families upon the closure of such families’ cases; provided further, that all children eligible for services under this item shall receive those services; provided further, that if the department determines that available appropriations for this program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses, the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance a report detailing the amount of appropriation needed to address such deficiency; and provided further, that the department shall issue monthly reports detailing the number and average cost of voucher and contracted slots funded from this item
$76,612,276
3000-4050
For financial assistance for families currently involved with or transitioning from transitional aid to families with dependent children to enroll in an early education and care program; provided, that early education and care shall be available to former participants who are working for up to 1 year after termination of their benefits; provided further, that post-transitional early education and care benefits shall be provided to participants who are working for up to 1 year after the transitional period; provided further, that the department shall issue monthly reports detailing the number and average cost of voucher and contracted slots funded from this item; provided further, that the department may provide early education and care benefits to parents who are under 18 years of age who are currently enrolled in a job training program and who would qualify for benefits under chapter 118 of the General Laws but for the deeming of the grandparents’ income; provided further, that all teenagers eligible for year-round, full-time early education and care services shall be participating in school, education, work and training-related activities, or a combination thereof, for at least the minimum number of hours required by regulations; provided further, that recipients shall not be charged fees for care provided under this item; provided further, that early education and care slots funded from this item shall be distributed geographically in a manner that provides fair and adequate access to early education and care for all eligible individuals; provided further, that informal early education and care benefits may be funded from this item; and provided further, that not more than $2 per child per hour shall be paid for the services
$125,495,740
3000-4060
For income-eligible early education and care programs; provided, that teenaged parents at risk of becoming eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children may receive services from this item; provided further, that informal early education and care benefits for families meeting income-eligibility criteria may be funded from this item; provided further, that not more than $2 per child per hour shall be paid for the services; provided further, that early education and care slots funded from this item shall be distributed geographically in a manner that provides fair and adequate access to early education and care for all eligible individuals; provided further, that the department may expend funds from this item on grants to support inclusive learning environments; and provided further, that any payment made under any such grant to a school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town or regional school district and held as a separate account and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without municipal appropriation
$231,370,452
3000-5000
For grants to head start programs; provided, that funds from this item may be expended on early head start programs
$8,000,000
3000-5075
For the Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program; provided, that funds from this item shall be expended on grants to improve the quality of and expanded access to preschool programs and services to children from the age of 2 years and 9 months until such children are kindergarten eligible; provided further, that funds may be used to enhance community-wide capacity building efforts within statewide parameters established by the board; provided further, that any newly-funded programs designated as Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program participants shall have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the National Association of Family Child Care or a Child Development Associate credential or higher; provided further, that programs receiving grant funds may use the funds to enhance teacher and staff quality and compensation, enhance program ability to interpret and use assessment data effectively, enhance developmentally-appropriate practices, incorporate ancillary services into the program, facilitate or provide access to wrap-around services for working families or to increase capacity to expand access to age-eligible children on the centralized waitlist maintained by the department; provided further, that preference shall be given in awarding grants to those programs which demonstrate affordability for middle class and working class parents according to standards to be developed by the department; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any payment made under any such grant with a school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held as a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without municipal appropriation
$7,500,000
3000-6075
For early childhood mental health consultation services in early education and care programs; provided, that preference shall be given to those services designed to limit the number of expulsions and suspensions from such programs; and provided further, that eligible recipients for such grants shall include community partnership councils, municipal school districts, regional school districts, educational collaboratives, head start programs, licensed child care providers, child care resource and referral centers and other qualified entities
$750,000
3000-7000
For statewide neonatal and postnatal home parenting education and home visiting programs for at-risk newborns to be administered by the Children’s Trust Fund; provided, that the department shall collaborate with the Children’s Trust Fund, when appropriate, to coordinate services provided through this item with services provided through item 3000-7050 to ensure that parents receiving services through this item are aware of all opportunities available to them and their children through the department; provided further, that such services shall be made available statewide to parents under the age of 21; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, priority for such services shall be given to low-income parents
$10,463,346
3000-7050
For the coordinated family and community engagement grant program, which shall establish a statewide network of supports for early education; provided, that the department shall distribute the grants not later than August 31, 2012, in order to allow a full year of service for families involved in these programs; provided further, that supports funded through this item shall include, but not be limited to, curriculum development, child assessment systems, activities that encourage providers to obtain associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, payment of fees and direct assistance to programs seeking accreditation by agencies approved by the board and professional development courses; provided further, that eligible recipients for such grants shall include, but not be limited to, community partnership councils, municipal school districts, regional school districts, educational collaboratives, head start programs, school readiness and family support programs, licensed child care providers and child care resource and referral centers; provided further, that supports funded through this item shall be in alignment with the quality requirements of the Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program and the development of the quality rating and improvement system; provided further, that the department shall encourage and support early childhood education and care providers to obtain associate’s and bachelor’s degrees through professional development programs; provided further, that the department shall take steps to streamline activities and programs funded through this item; provided further, that funds shall be expended for grants to programs that improve the early literacy, school readiness and parenting skills of participants in early education and care programs in the commonwealth, including, but not limited to the Parent-Child Home Program and Mass Family Networks; and provided further, that the department may expend funds from this item on grants for supplemental services for children with individualized education plans
$18,186,633
3000-7070
For Reach Out and Read, a research-proven, pediatric literacy intervention program, which trains doctors and nurse practitioners to provide advice to parents on reading aloud to children and books for children living in poverty and in underperforming school districts through programs established in community health centers, medical practices and hospitals; provided, that the funds distributed through Reach Out and Read shall be contingent upon a match of not less than $1 in private or corporate contributions for every $1 in state grant funding; and provided further, that Reach Out and Read shall issue a report to the department, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education not later than February 15, 2013, detailing program success in meeting measurable goals and benchmarks
$800,000
Office of the Secretary of Education.
7009-1700
For the operation of information technology services within the executive office of education
$11,401,901
7009-6379
For the operation of the office of the secretary of education
$726,986
7009-6400
For grants to establish and operate high-quality, intensive and targeted programs that will rapidly increase English language learning for middle and high school students, in school districts serving Gateway Cities; provided, that prior to soliciting applications for grants under this item, the executive office shall ask Gateway Cities to submit a statement of interest for targeted English language learning grant funds; provided further, that the statement of interest shall be submitted not later than September 3, 2012 by the mayor of the Gateway City and the superintendent of the city’s public schools; provided further, that that the statement of interest shall identify their English language learner target population for services and shall demonstrate the capacity of the city to provide data and cooperate with an independent evaluator of the grant program; provided further, that cities submitting eligible statements of interest shall be eligible to apply for grants through this item; provided further, that successful grant applicants shall: (i) define their method for identifying eligible and ineligible students; (ii) estimate the total number of students in their target population; (iii) propose a method for prioritizing students for services if the amount of the grant will not cover all students in the target population; (iv) commit to cooperating with the executive office and the independent evaluator; and (v) provide for after-school enrichment academies to operate during the spring of 2013; provided further, that applications may also provide for acceleration academies to be held during school vacations or Saturday sessions during the spring of 2013; provided further, that in selecting grant recipients, the executive office shall ensure that all programs can be consistently evaluated by a single statewide evaluator and that all programs are committed to providing the data and cooperation necessary for comprehensive program evaluation; provided further, that the independent evaluator selected under section 150 shall, to the extent feasible, advise the office on the development of the request for proposals for the grants and shall assist the office in the review and selection of grant applications; provided further, that the awarding of grants under this item and the selection of an independent evaluator for these grants shall be consistent with section 150 of this act; provided further, that grant awards shall be made within 45 days of the selection of an independent evaluator; provided further, that the executive office of education shall issue a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education not later than March 15, 2013, detailing: (a) successful grant applications; (b) a set of clearly defined goals and benchmarks on which grant recipients will be evaluated; and (c) an outside evaluation that will be utilized to measure program implementation and preliminary outcomes; provided further, that funds may be set aside for the administration of these programs; and provided further, that funds may be expended through August 31, 2013 to allow for summer programming
$3,500,000
7009-6402
For grants to support the establishment of career academies in Gateway Cities, and to build stronger relationships and partnerships among high schools, institutions of higher education, local employers and workforce development entities, in order to create multiple and seamless pathways to employment; provided, that funds shall be used to establish Education and Industry Coordinating Councils (EICCs); provided further, that the EICCs shall be chaired by the district superintendent and chair of the local workforce investment boards, and shall include representatives from district high schools, institutions of higher education, industry partners and local or regional employers; provided further, that funding shall be used to engage in planning to establish career academies or to plan for the establishment of such academies during the following fiscal year; provided further, that grants shall be issued no later than December 14, 2012 to allow for adequate planning time; provided further, that the executive office of education shall issue a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education not later than December 31, 2012, detailing: (i) successful grant applications and (ii) a set of clearly defined goals and benchmarks on which grant recipients will be evaluated; and provided further, that funds may be expended through August 31, 2013 to allow for summer programming
$1,000,000
7009-7000
For costs related to a data sharing pilot program between the department of early education and care, the department of elementary and secondary education, the executive office of education, the department of public health and the executive office of health and human services to assign a state assigned student identifier to children participating in early intervention programs with the goal of tracking and evaluating educational and developmental outcomes for children receiving early intervention services, improving delivery of services and determining cost savings associated with the early intervention program; provided, that any pilot program shall be contingent upon informed consent from participating families; provided further, that the executive office of education and the department of public health, in consultation with the agencies of the executive office of education and executive office of health and human services shall report to the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education by October 1, 2012 on the definition of informed consent and the process by which informed consent shall be obtained, as agreed upon by the executive office of education and the department of public health; provided further, that the executive office of education and the department of public health in consultation with the agencies of the executive office of education and executive office of health and human services shall report to the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education by March 15, 2013 on: (i) the progress made on implementation of the pilot program, including but not limited to, the criteria used for selecting sites and preliminary implementation plans for the assignment of state assigned student identifiers to children receiving early intervention services; (ii) a timetable for full implementation of the pilot program including resources needed to meet the proposed timetable; (iii) a plan for obtaining informed consent from families receiving early intervention services; (iv) the number of state assigned student identifiers that have been assigned to date, if applicable; and (v) recommendations on how the department of public health and the agencies of the executive office of education can rigorously evaluate the effect of early intervention services on the future special education needs of program participants; and provided further, that funds may be transferred from this item to 4513-1020, 7009-1700 and 7009-6379, as necessary, pursuant to an allocation plan, which shall detail by object class the distribution of the funds to be transferred
$505,000
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
7010-0005
For the operation of the department of elementary and secondary education; provided, that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may transfer funds from this item to item 7010-3000 for enhanced oversight of education collaboratives; and provided further, that $150,000 shall be used for enhanced audits which maximize overpayment recoupment, savings or other cost recoveries of department expenditures
$13,444,988
7010-0012
For grants to cities, towns and regional school districts for payments of certain costs and related expenses for the program to eliminate racial imbalance established in section 12A of chapter 76 of the General Laws; provided, that funds shall be made available for payment for services rendered by METCO, Inc. and Springfield public schools
$16,892,582
7010-0020
For the Bay State Reading Institute; provided, that the institute’s program shall be administered under contract with Middlesex Community College in programmatic collaboration with Framingham State University and Fitchburg State University; provided further, that the institute shall provide literacy-based intervention in schools and districts including those at risk of or determined to be underperforming under section 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the General Laws; provided further, that the student evaluations shall be compared to measurable goals and benchmarks that have been developed in consultation with the school-based planning team; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item for this initiative may be expended through June 30, 2014; and provided further, that the institute shall provide to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education a report no later than February 15, 2013, detailing, by school, program success in meeting measurable goals and benchmarks
$400,000
7010-0033
For literacy and early literacy programs; provided, that these programs shall provide ongoing evaluation of outcomes; provided further, that programs receiving funding through this item shall document the outcomes of evaluations; provided further, that evaluations shall be compared to measurable goals and benchmarks that shall be developed by the department; provided further, that programs receiving funds from this item shall provide to the department, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education a report, not later than February 15, 2013, detailing program success in meeting measurable goals and benchmarks; and provided further, that funds may be expended through August 31, 2013 to allow for summer programming
$3,147,940
7010-3000
For administrative costs related to the oversight of education collaboratives; provided, that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may transfer funds from this item to 7010-0005
$250,000
7027-0019
For school-to-career connecting activities; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the board of elementary and secondary education, in cooperation with the department of workforce development and the state workforce investment board, may establish and support a public-private partnership to link high school students with economic and learning opportunities on the job as part of the school-to-work transition program; provided further, that such program may include the award of matching grants to workforce investment boards or other local public-private partnerships involving local community job commitments and work site learning opportunities for students; provided further, that the grants shall require at least a 200 per cent match in wages for the students from private sector participants; provided further, that the program shall include, but not be limited to, a provision that business leaders commit resources to pay salaries, to provide mentoring and instruction on the job and to work closely with teachers; provided further, that public funds shall assume the costs of connecting schools and businesses to ensure that students serve productively on the job; and provided further, that the department shall streamline activities from this item with the activities outlined in 7009-6402 whenever the department deems appropriate
$2,750,000
7027-1004
For English language acquisition professional development to improve the academic performance of English language learners and effectively implement sheltered English immersion as provided in chapter 71A of the General Laws; provided, that funds may be expended through August 31, 2013; and provided further, that the department shall streamline activities from this item with the activities outlined in 7009-6400 whenever the department deems appropriate
$514,937
7028-0031
For the expenses of school age children in institutional schools under section 12 of chapter 71B of the General Laws; provided, that the department may provide special education services to eligible inmates in county houses of correction; and provided further, that the department of youth services shall continue to collaborate with the department of elementary and secondary education in order to align curriculum at the department of youth services with the statewide curriculum frameworks and to ease the reintegration of youths from facilities at the department of youth services into regular public school settings
$7,478,770
7030-1002
For kindergarten expansion grants to provide awards to continue quality enhancement of existing full-day kindergarten classrooms; provided, that the department shall administer a grant program to encourage the voluntary expansion of high quality, full-day kindergarten education; provided further, that grants funded through this appropriation shall not annualize to more than $18,000 per classroom in subsequent fiscal years; provided further, that preference shall be given to grant applicants with high percentages of students scoring in levels 1 or 2 on the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system exam, as determined by the department based on available data; provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held in a separate account and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without further appropriation; provided further, that such program shall supplement and shall not supplant currently funded local, state and federal programs at the school or district; provided further, that not later than January 17, 2013, the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the total number of grants requested and awarded; and provided further, that all kindergarten programs previously funded through community partnership councils at the department of early education and care may receive grants from this item in amounts equal to the amounts they received in fiscal year 2012, reduced in proportion to the overall reduction of this item from fiscal year 2012 to fiscal year 2013
$20,948,947
7030-1005
For Reading Recovery, a 1-to-1, early intervention, individual tutorial literacy program designed as a pre-special education referral and short-term intervention for children who are at risk of failing to read in the first grade; provided, that the program shall provide ongoing documentation and evaluation of results; provided further, that the evaluation shall be compared to measurable goals and benchmarks that shall be developed by the department; and provided further, that Reading Recovery shall provide to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education, not later than February 15, 2013, a report detailing, by recipient, program success in meeting measurable goals and benchmarks
$400,000
7035-0002
For the provision and improvement of adult basic education services, including reading, writing and mathematics; provided, that grants shall be distributed to a diverse network of organizations which have demonstrated effectiveness in the provision of such services and that are selected competitively by the department of elementary and secondary education; provided further, that such grants shall support the successful transition of students from other adult basic education programs to community college certificate and degree-granting programs; provided further, that such grants shall be contingent upon satisfactory levels of performance as defined and determined by the department; provided further, that grants shall not be considered an entitlement to a grant recipient; and provided further, that the department shall consult with the community colleges and other service providers in establishing and implementing content, performance and professional standards for adult basic education programs and services
$30,707,455
7035-0006
For reimbursements to regional school districts for the transportation of pupils; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commonwealth’s obligation shall not exceed the amount appropriated in this item
$43,521,000
7035-0007
For reimbursements to cities, towns, regional vocational or county agricultural school districts, independent vocational schools or collaboratives for certain expenditures for transportation of nonresident pupils to an approved vocational-technical program of a regional or county agricultural school district, city, town, independent school or collaborative under section 8A of chapter 74 of the General Laws; provided, that if the amount appropriated in this item is insufficient to fully fund said section 8A of said chapter 74, initial reimbursements made by the department of elementary and secondary education may be prorated by the department to all eligible cities, towns, regional vocational or county agricultural school districts, independent vocational schools or collaboratives; and provided further, that upon a determination by the department that the funds appropriated in this item are insufficient to meet the commonwealth’s full obligation under said section 8A of said chapter 74, the department shall, within 10 days, notify the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means of the amount needed to fully fund that obligation
$400,000
7035-0035
For implementation of a competitively bid, statewide performance-based, integrated program to increase participation and performance in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, particularly among underserved populations, to prepare students for college and career success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); provided, that these funds shall support all of the following program elements, without exception, for each school: open access to courses, equipment and supplies for new and expanded AP courses, support for the costs of AP exams and support for student study sessions; provided further, that these funds may support up to 9 days of teacher professional development annually, including a College Board endorsed AP Summer institute for math, science and English AP teachers, content coaches, the establishment and support of Lead Teachers for regional clusters of schools and support for 4 vertical team meetings annually across grades 6-12 in each cluster; provided further, that such program shall provide a matching amount of at least $1,000,000 in private funding; provided further, that the program be chosen through a single competitive process and that the funds be dispersed by the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year to cover costs expended between August 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013; provided further, that this program shall work in conjunction with an existing, separately funded statewide pre-AP program; provided further, that the department shall deliver to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education, not later than March 15, 2013, an independent evaluation of these programs and their impact on student achievement, particularly as it relates to closing achievement gaps; and provided further, that funds may be expended through August 31, 2013 to allow for summer programming
$2,000,000
7051-0015
For operating funds to distribute food for the Massachusetts emergency food assistance program
$1,000,000
7053-1909
For reimbursements to cities and towns for partial assistance in the furnishing of lunches to school children, including partial assistance in the furnishing of lunches to school children as authorized by chapter 538 of the acts of 1951 and for supplementing funds allocated for the special milk program; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, payments so authorized in the aggregate for partial assistance in the furnishing of lunches to school children shall not exceed the required state revenue match contained in Public Law 79-396, as amended, cited as the National School Lunch Act and in the regulations implementing the act
$5,426,986
7053-1925
For the school breakfast program for public and nonpublic schools and for grants to improve summer food programs during the summer school vacation period; provided, that funds shall be expended for the summer food service outreach program and the school breakfast outreach program; provided further, that within the summer food program, priority shall be given to extending the programs for the full summer vacation period and promoting increased participation in the programs; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall solicit proposals from returning sponsors and school food authorities in time for implementation of the grant program during the summer of 2013; provided further, that the grants shall only be awarded to sponsors who can demonstrate their intent to offer full summer programs or increase participation; provided further, that the department shall require sufficient reporting from each grantee to measure the success of the grant program; provided further, that the department shall select grantees for the program authorized by this item not later than March 29, 2013; provided further, that funds shall be expended for the universal school breakfast program in which all children in schools receiving funds under the program shall be provided free, nutritious breakfasts; provided further, that subject to regulations of the board that specify time and learning standards, breakfasts shall be served during regular school hours; provided further, that participation shall be limited to those elementary schools mandated to serve breakfast under section 1C of chapter 69 of the General Laws where 60 per cent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federally-funded school meals program; provided further, that the department shall select school sites for programs authorized by this item not later than November 16, 2012; and provided further, that nothing in the universal school breakfast program shall give rise to legal rights in any party or enforceable entitlement to services, prior appropriation continued
$4,121,215
7061-0008
For school aid to cities, towns, regional school districts, counties maintaining agricultural schools, independent vocational schools and independent agricultural and technical schools to be distributed under chapters 70 and 76 of the General Laws and section 3
$4,171,078,492
7061-0011
For a reserve to meet extraordinary increases in the minimum required local contribution of a municipality under the requirements of section 3 of this act; provided, that a municipality seeking funds hereunder shall apply for a waiver from the department of revenue undersection 122;provided further, that the commissioner shall issue a finding concerning such waiver applications within 30 days of the receipt thereof, after consulting with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education regarding the merits of such application; provided further, that funds may be expended to assist school districts whose target aid percentage exceeds that district’s chapter 70 aid as a percentage of foundation by 5 percentage points or greater; and provided further, that no funds distributed from this item shall be considered prior year chapter 70 aid nor shall they be used in the calculation of the minimum required local contribution for fiscal year 2014
$3,500,000
7061-0012
For the reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs under section 5A of chapter 71B of the General Laws; provided, that reimbursements shall be prorated so that expenses of this item do not exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that upon receipt by the department of elementary and secondary education of required special education cost reports from school districts, the department shall reimburse districts based on fiscal year 2012 claims; provided further, that the department may expend funds to continue and expand voluntary residential placement prevention programs between the department of elementary and secondary education and other departments within the executive office of health and human services that develop community-based support services for children and their families; provided further, that the department shall provide not less than $6,500,000 to the department of developmental services for the voluntary residential placement prevention program; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall fully cooperate in providing information and assistance necessary for the department of developmental services to maximize federal reimbursement and to effectively serve students in less restrictive settings; provided further, that the department shall expend funds to provide books in accessible synthetic audio format made available through the federal NIMAS-NIMAC book repository for the outreach and training of teachers and students for the use of NIMAS-NIMAC and human speech audio digital textbooks; provided further, that the department shall expend funds for the costs of borrowing audio textbooks by special education students; provided further, that funds may be expended for the monitoring and follow-up activities of the department’s complaint management system, review and approval of local educational authority applications and local school districts’ compliance with the part B requirements of the federal Special Education Law, known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, in the provision of special education and related services to children with disabilities; provided further, that funds may be expended to administer the reimbursements funded in this item; provided further, that funds may be expended to reimburse districts for extraordinary increases in costs incurred during fiscal year 2013 which would be reimbursable under said section 5A of said chapter 71B; provided further, that reimbursements for current year costs shall be limited to school districts which experience increases of greater than 25 per cent from costs reimbursable under said section 5A of said chapter 71B and incurred during fiscal year 2012 to costs reimbursable under said section 5A of said chapter 71B and incurred during fiscal year 2013 or other cases of extraordinary hardship where special education costs increase in relationship to total district costs as the department may define through regulations or guidelines; provided further, that reimbursements for current year costs shall be allocated as 1-time grants and shall not decrease reimbursements in the following fiscal year; provided further, that the department shall conduct audits of fiscal year 2012 claims; provided further, that if the claims are found to be inaccurate, the department shall recalculate the fiscal year 2013 reimbursement amount and adjust the third and fourth quarter payments to the districts to reflect the new reimbursement amount; provided further, that the department shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 15, 2013, on the results of the audit; and provided further, that not more than $250,000 may be expended for the bureau of special education appeals
$242,182,288
7061-0029
For the office of school and district accountability established in section 55A of chapter 15 of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding said section 55A of said chapter 15, the office shall perform not less than 20 school district audits for fiscal year 2013
$959,028
7061-0033
For a reserve to assist towns negatively impacted by shortfalls in federal impact aid for the education of children in families employed by the federal government on military reservations located within the town’s limits; provided, that funds may be expended on membership dues for the interstate compact on education opportunity for military children
$1,300,000
7061-9010
For fiscal year 2013 reimbursements to certain cities, towns and regional school districts of charter school tuition and the per pupil capital needs component included in the charter school tuition amount for commonwealth charter schools, as calculated under subsections (ff) and (gg) of section 89 of chapter 71 of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding said subsection (ff) of said section 89 of said chapter 71 or any other general or special law to the contrary, the per pupil capital needs component of the commonwealth charter school tuition rate for fiscal year 2013 shall be $893; and provided further, that if the amount appropriated is insufficient to fully fund all reimbursements required by said section 89 of said chapter 71, the department shall fully reimburse the cost of such per pupil capital needs component and shall prorate the tuition reimbursements calculated under said subsection (gg) of said section 89 of said chapter 71
$71,454,914
7061-9200
For the education technology program
$901,178
7061-9400
For student and school assessment, including the administration of the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system exam and for grants to school districts to develop portfolio assessments for use in individual classrooms as an enhancement to student assessment; provided, that as much as is practicable, especially in the case of students whose performance is difficult to assess using conventional methods, such instruments shall include consideration of work samples and projects and shall facilitate authentic and direct gauges of student performance; provided further, that such portfolio assessments shall not replace the statewide standardized assessment based on the curriculum frameworks; provided further, that all school assessments shall center on the academic standards embodied in the curriculum frameworks and shall involve gauges which shall be relevant and meaningful to students, parents, teachers, administrators and taxpayers under the first paragraph of section 1L of chapter 69 of the General Laws; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, assessment of proficiency in English shall be administered in English
$23,903,482
7061-9404
For grants to cities, towns and regional school districts to provide targeted remediation programs for students in the classes of 2003 to 2017, inclusive, scoring in level 1 or 2 on the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system, or MCAS, exam established by the board of elementary and secondary education under sections 1D and 1I of chapter 69 of the General Laws; provided, that the department and districts shall ensure that services are available to students with disabilities; provided further, that the purpose of this program shall be to improve students’ performance on the MCAS exam through replication of services and educational strategies with proven results as determined by the department of elementary and secondary education; provided further, that such programs shall supplement currently funded local, state and federal programs at the school or district; provided further, that funds shall be expended for a competitive grant program to fund academic support and college transition services to be implemented in fiscal year 2013 and operated by public institutions of higher learning or by public-private partnerships for students in the graduating classes of 2003 to 2015, inclusive, who may have completed all other high school requirements but have not yet obtained a competency determination as defined in said section 1D of said chapter 69 as measured by the MCAS assessment instrument authorized in said section 1I of said chapter 69, but who are working to pass the English, math and science, technology and engineering portions of the MCAS tests, obtain a competency determination and earn a high school diploma; provided further, that for the purpose of the programs, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2013 to allow for summer remediation programs; provided further, that funds shall be expended for competitive grants to fund Pathways programs targeting students in the graduating classes of 2003 to 2016, inclusive, instituted by local school districts, public institutions of higher education, qualified public and private educational services organizations and one stop career centers including, but not limited to, school-to-work connecting activities, creating worksite learning experiences for students as an extension of the classroom, outreach programs for students who will need post-twelfth grade remediation to attain the skills necessary to pass MCAS and counseling programs to educate parents and high school students on post-twelfth grade remediation options; provided further, that funds shall be expended for a competitive grant program, guidelines for which shall be developed by the department of elementary and secondary education, for intensive remediation programs in communities with students in the graduating classes of 2003 to 2017, inclusive, who have not obtained a competency determination or have scored in levels 1 or 2 on either the English or math MCAS exams or level 1 on Science, Technology and Engineering MCAS; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education may give preference for such assistance to those districts with a high percentage of high school students scoring in level 1 on the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system exam in English, math and science, technology and engineering; provided further, that eligible applicants shall include individual high schools and those institutions which shall have partnered with a high school or group of high schools; provided further, that no district shall receive a grant from this item until the district submits to the department of elementary and secondary education a comprehensive district plan under said section 1I of said chapter 69, to improve performance of all student populations including, but not limited to, students with disabilities; provided further, that the department shall issue a report not later than February 1, 2013, in collaboration with the department of higher education, describing MCAS support programs for the graduating classes of 2003 to 2017, inclusive, with a special focus on the class of 2003, funded by this item and item 7027-0019, school to work accounts, institutions of public higher education and other sources; provided further, that such report shall include, but not be limited to, the number of students eligible to participate in the programs, the number of students participating in the programs, the number of students who have passed the MCAS assessment and obtained a competency determination through these programs but have not met local graduation requirements and the number of students who have passed the MCAS assessment and obtained a competency determination through these programs and met local graduation requirements; provided further, that the report shall be provided to the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education; and provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item to a city, town or regional school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held in a separate account and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without further appropriation
$9,094,804
7061-9408
For targeted intervention to schools and districts at risk of or determined to be underperforming under sections 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the General Laws and to schools and districts which have been placed in the accountability status of identified for improvement, corrective action or restructuring pursuant to departmental regulations; provided, that no money shall be expended in a school or district that fails to file a comprehensive district plan pursuant to section 1I of said chapter 69; provided further, the department may contract with school support specialists, turnaround partners and such other external assistance as is needed in the opinion of the commissioner, to successfully turn around failing school and district performance; provided further, that no funds shall be expended on targeted intervention unless the department shall have approved, as part of the comprehensive district improvement plan, a professional development plan which addresses the needs of the district as determined by the department; provided further, that eligible professional development activities for purposes of this item shall include, but not be limited to: professional development among teachers of the same grade levels and of the same subject matter, professional development focused on improving the teacher’s content knowledge in the field or subject area in which the teacher is practicing and professional development which provides teachers with research-based strategies for increasing student success; provided further, that preference in the awarding of such funds shall be given to professional development in math and English content skills; provided further, that funds from any targeted intervention grant may be used to partially offset the cost of such professional development and common planning time; provided further, that funds may be expended for the purchase of instructional materials pursuant to section 57 of chapter 15 of the General Laws; provided further, that no funds shall be expended on instructional materials unless the purchase of such materials is part of a comprehensive plan to align the school or district curriculum with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks; provided further, that preference in distributing funds shall be made for proposals which coordinate reform efforts within all schools of a district in order to prevent conflicts between multiple reforms and interventions among the schools; provided further, that the department shall issue a report not later than February 1, 2013, describing and analyzing all intervention and targeted assistance efforts funded by this item; provided further, that such report shall include, but not be limited to: the number of schools and school districts eligible to receive such assistance; the number of students attending school in such districts; the type of intervention activities funded through this item, by school and school district; the number of teachers in professional development funded in part through this item; the number of districts with curricula or professional development systems aligned with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks and the number that are undertaking that effort with grants funded by this item; the number of outside vendors with whom the department has contracted to provide intervention and turnaround services; the amount each vendor has received and the results obtained in each instance; the number of students who have passed the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system exam and obtained a competency determination through these programs before, and during, the period of intervention and turnaround; any other data relative to the successes achieved or challenges faced by the effort to turn around schools; and any legislative or budgetary recommendations for improving the initiative and increasing the success of all intervention efforts; provided further, that the report shall be provided to the secretary of administration and finance, the senate president, the speaker of the house, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education; provided further, that no funds shall be expended on recurring school or school district expenditures unless the department and school or school district have developed a long-term plan to fund such expenditures from the district’s operational budget; provided further, that for the purpose of this item, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2013, to allow for intervention and school or school district improvement planning in the summer months; and provided further, that any funds distributed from this item to a city, town or regional school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held in a separate account and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without further appropriation
$6,849,037
7061-9412
For grants to cities, towns and regional school districts for planning and implementing expanded learning time in the form of longer school days or school years at selected schools; provided, that implementation grants shall only be provided under this item to schools and school districts that submitted qualifying applications which were approved by the department in fiscal year 2012 and include a minimum of an additional 300 hours on a mandatory basis for all children attending that school; provided further, that in approving expanded learning time implementation grant applications, preference shall be given to districts with high poverty rates or a high percentage of students scoring in levels 1 or 2 on the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system, those districts with proposals that have the greatest potential for district-wide impact, those districts that plan to utilize partnerships with community-based organizations and institutions of higher education and those districts with proposals that include a comprehensive restructuring of the entire school day or year to maximize the use of the additional learning time; provided further, that the department shall approve implementation proposals that include an appropriate mix of additional time spent on core academics, additional time spent on enrichment opportunities, such as small group tutoring, homework help, music, arts, sports, physical activity, health and wellness programs, project-based experiential learning and additional time for teacher preparation or professional development; provided further, that the department shall only approve implementation proposals that assume not more than $1,300 per pupil per year in future state appropriations of expanded learning time implementation funds; provided further, that in extraordinary cases, the department may exceed the $1,300 per pupil per year limit; provided further, that the department shall review all qualified proposals and award approved grants not later than August 16, 2012; provided further, that for this item, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2013 to allow for planning and implementation during the summer months; and provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item to a city, town or regional school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held in a separate account and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without further appropriation
$14,042,764
7061-9600
For a discretionary grant program to provide funds to school districts and public institutions of higher education partnering together to offer inclusive concurrent enrollment programs for students with disabilities, as defined in section 1 of chapter 71B of the General Laws, between the ages of 18 and 22, inclusive; provided, that the grant program shall be limited to students who are considered to have severe disabilities and, in the case of students age 18 or 19, shall be limited to students with severe disabilities who have been unable to achieve the competency determination necessary to pass the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system exam; provided further, that such students with disabilities shall be offered enrollment in credit and noncredit courses that include nondisabled students, including enrollment in noncredit courses and credit bearing courses in audit status for students who may not meet course prerequisites and requirements and that the partnering school districts shall provide supports, services and accommodations necessary to facilitate a student’s enrollment; provided further, that the department, in consultation with the department of higher education, shall develop guidelines to ensure that the grant program promotes civic engagement and mentoring of faculty in public institutions of higher education and supports college success, work success, participation in student life of the college community and provision of a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment; provided further, that the department, in consultation with the department of higher education, shall develop strategies and procedures to help sustain and replicate the existing inclusive concurrent enrollment programs initiated through this grant program including, but not limited to: provision of funds to retain employment specialists and assist students in meeting integrated competitive employment and other transition-related goals and adoption of procedures and funding mechanisms to ensure that new partnerships of public institutions of higher education and school districts providing inclusive concurrent enrollment programs fully utilize the models and expertise developed in existing partnerships; provided further, that the department shall develop a mechanism to encourage existing and new partnerships to expand the capacity to respond to individual parents that request an opportunity for their children to participate in the inclusive concurrent enrollment initiative; provided further that, the department may encourage planning and development of a pilot program to include students in the resident life of the college, with accommodations, supports and services necessary to enable inclusive dormitory living; provided further, that tuition for courses shall be waived by the state institutions of higher education for students enrolled through this grant program; provided further, that funds may be distributed to the department of higher education to increase the capacity of public institutions of higher education to include students with severe disabilities in the concurrent enrollment program; provided further, that funds may be allocated to the department of elementary and secondary education to provide training and technical assistance to school districts for program implementation; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the department of higher education, shall report on student outcomes to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the joint committee on higher education on the discretionary grant program not later than February 15, 2013; and provided further, that for the purpose of this item, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2013
$400,000
7061-9601
For the department of elementary and secondary education; provided, that the department shall expend funds not to exceed $1,405,317for teacher preparation and certification from fees relating to such service; provided further, for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller shall certify for payment amounts not to exceed the amount of this appropriation
$1,405,317
7061-9611
For grants or subsidies for after-school and out-of-school programs; provided, that preference shall be given to after-school proposals developed collaboratively by public and nonpublic schools and private community-based programs; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall fund only those applications which contain accountability systems and measurable outcomes, under guidelines to be determined by the department, in consultation with the department of early education and care; provided further, that applicants shall detail funds received from all public sources for existing after-school and out-of-school programs and the types of programs and type of students served by the funds; provided further, that funds shall be expended for services that actively include children with disabilities in after-school programs that also serve nondisabled children and services that include children for whom English is a second language; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall consult the executive office of health and human services and the department of early education and care to maximize the provision of wrap-around services and to coordinate programs and services for children during after-school and out-of-school time programs; provided further, that the department shall select grant recipients not later than September 28, 2012; provided further, that for the purpose of this item, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2013, to allow for implementation of such programs during the summer months; and provided further, funds shall be expended to convene regional networks, to work with the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of early education and care to support the implementation of school-community partnerships
$1,410,000
7061-9614
For the alternative education grant program established in section 1N of chapter 69 of the General Laws; provided, that the commissioner shall allocate funds for subsections (a) and (b) of said section 1N of said chapter 69
$146,140
7061-9619
For the purpose of funding the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology; provided, that the institute shall have access to the Massachusetts education computer system; provided further, that the institute may join the state buying consortium; and provided further, that unexpended funds appropriated shall be made available for this item in fiscal year 2014
$2
7061-9626
For grants and contracts with youth-build programs to provide comprehensive youth-build services
$1,500,000
7061-9634
For a transfer of this item to the Mass Mentoring Partnership, which shall be responsible for administering a competitive statewide grant program for public and private agencies to start or expand youth mentoring programs according to current best practices and for purposes, including advancing academic performance, self-esteem, social competence and workforce development; provided, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall transfer the amount appropriated in this item to the Mass Mentoring Partnership for these grants; provided further, that in order to be eligible to receive funds from this item, each public or private agency shall provide a matching amount equal to $1 for every $1 disbursed from this item; and provided further, that the Mass Mentoring Partnership shall submit a report, no later than February 15, 2013, detailing the impact of grants, expenditure of funds and the amount and source of matching funds raised to the department of elementary and secondary education
$250,000
7061-9804
For teacher content training in math and science; provided, that such training shall include the math specialist and Massachusetts test for educator licensure preparation; provided further, that funds from this item shall be expended on content based professional development in math and science, with a focus on elementary and middle school math and science teachers in districts with a high percentage of students scoring in level 1 or 2 on the math or science Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system exams, or in districts which are at risk of or determined to be underperforming in accordance with sections 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the General Laws; provided further, that such professional development courses shall demonstrate proven, replicable results in improving teacher and student performance and shall demonstrate the use of best practices, as determined by the department, including data comparing pre-training and post-training content knowledge; provided further, that for the purposes of this item, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2013; and provided further, that the department shall deliver to the general court an evaluation of the program and its impact on student achievement, particularly as it relates to closing achievement gaps
$346,162
7061-9810
For regional bonus aid pursuant to subsection (g) of section 16D of chapter 71 of the General Laws
$251,950
Department of Higher Education.
7066-0000
For the operation of the department of higher education; provided, that in order to meet the estimated costs of employee fringe benefits provided by the commonwealth on account of employees of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority and the University of Massachusetts Building Authority, and in order to meet the estimated cost of heat, light, power and other services, if any, to be furnished by the commonwealth to projects of these authorities, the boards of trustees of the community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts shall transfer to the General Fund from the funds received from the operations of the projects such costs, if any, as shall be incurred by the commonwealth for these purposes in the current fiscal year, as determined by the appropriate building authority, verified by the commissioner of higher education and approved by the secretary of administration and finance
$1,843,708
7066-0002
For costs related to the development and implementation of the degree auditing and transfer system; provided, that the department may enter into an interdepartmental service agreement with the executive office of education for the implementation of the degree auditing and transfer system; provided further, that $2,000,000 shall be expended on the adoption of a standard core of course offering and numbering that shall be honored for common credit toward degrees and certificates across the colleges and universities; provided further, that the department of higher education shall allocate these funds to the Massachusetts Community Colleges Executive Office for the development of a standard core of course offering and numbering; and provided further, that the department of higher education shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than January 11, 2013 detailing campuses receiving funds through this item and the criteria used to award funds
$4,000,000
7066-0004
For the office of coordination within the board of higher education
$750,000
7066-0005
For the commonwealth’s share of the cost of the compact for education
$82,620
7066-0009
For the New England Board of Higher Education
$183,750
7066-0015
For the community college workforce training incentive grant program established in section 15F of chapter 15A of the General Laws
$1,000,000
7066-0016
For a program of financial aid to support the matriculation of certain persons at public and private institutions of higher learning; provided, that only persons in the custody of the department of children and families under a care and protection petition upon reaching the age of 18 or persons in the custody of the department matriculating at such an institution at an earlier age shall qualify for such aid; provided further, that no such person shall be required to remain in the custody of the department beyond age 18 to qualify for such aid; provided further, that this aid shall not exceed $6,000 per recipient per year; and provided further, that this aid shall be granted after exhausting all other sources of financial support
$1,075,299
7066-0019
For the department of higher education to support the dual enrollment program allowing qualified high school students to take college courses; provided, that public higher education institutions may offer courses in high schools in addition to courses offered at the institutions or online if the number of students is sufficient
$750,000
7066-0020
For the nursing and allied health workforce development initiative, to develop and support strategies that increase the number of public higher education faculty members and students who participate in programs that support careers in fields related to nursing and allied health; provided, that the amount appropriated in this item shall be transferred to the Massachusetts Nursing and Allied Health Workforce Development Trust Fund established in section 33 of chapter 305 of the acts of 2008; and provided further, that funds shall be transferred to the fund according to an allotment schedule adopted by the executive office for administration and finance
$500,000
7066-0021
For reimbursements to public institutions of higher education for foster and adopted child fee waivers under section 19 of chapter 15A of the General Laws; provided, that no funds shall be distributed from this item prior to certification by the state universities and community colleges and the University of Massachusetts of the actual amount of tuition and fees waived for foster and adopted children attending public institutions of higher education under said section 19 of said chapter 15A that would otherwise have been retained by the campuses, according to procedures and regulations adopted by the board of higher education
$3,235,400
7066-0024
For the school of excellence program at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute; provided, that every effort shall be made to recruit and serve equal numbers of male and female students; provided further, that sending districts of students attending the institute shall not be required to expend any funds for the cost of these students while in attendance at the institute; provided further, that the Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science shall provide professional development activities at the school located at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, including salary and benefits for master teachers and visiting scholars; and provided further, that the academy shall file a report with the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 1, 2013 detailing the professional development activities
$1,300,000
7066-0025
For the Performance Management Set Aside incentive program for the University of Massachusetts, the state universities and the community colleges; provided, that these funds shall be distributed by the commissioner of higher education to public institutions of higher education through a competitive grant process based on priorities determined by the department of higher education in pursuit of operational efficiency and goals articulated in the commonwealth’s Vision Project; and provided further, that the department of higher education shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 15, 2013, detailing campuses receiving funds through this item and the criteria used to award such funds
$2,000,000
7066-0050
For the Rapid Response incentive program for the community colleges; provided, that these funds shall be distributed by the commissioner of higher education to community colleges through a competitive grant process to allow community colleges to establish workforce training programs that begin within 3 months of an employer request, accelerated degree programs or programs scheduled for working adults; and provided further, that the department of higher education shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 15, 2013, detailing campuses receiving funds through this item and the criteria used to award funds
$3,000,000
7070-0065
For a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts students enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education in an approved public or independent college, university, school of nursing or other institution furnishing a program of higher education; provided, that funds from this item may be expended on the administration of the scholarship program; provided further, that the commissioner of higher education, in coordination with the Massachusetts state scholarship office, shall adopt guidelines governing the eligibility and the awarding of financial assistance; and provided further, that the department shall make funds available for early educator scholarships in amounts equal to the amounts made available in fiscal year 2012, reduced in proportion to the overall reduction of this item from fiscal year 2012 to fiscal year 2013
$87,607,756
7070-0066
For a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to students from the commonwealth who are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education in the University of Massachusetts, state universities and community colleges designated by the board of higher education to be a training program for an in-demand profession as defined by the executive office of labor and workforce development’s study on labor market conditions; provided, that funds from this item may be expended on the administration of the scholarship program; and provided further, that the commissioner of higher education, in coordination with the Massachusetts state scholarship office, shall adopt regulations governing the eligibility and the awarding of financial assistance
$3,000,000
7077-0023
For a contract with the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall be expended under a resident veterinary tuition remission plan as approved by the commissioner of higher education for supportive veterinary services provided to the commonwealth; provided further, that prior year costs may be paid from this item; and provided further, that funds appropriated in this item shall support bioterrorism prevention research related to diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, in consultation with Massachusetts emergency authorities
$2,000,000
7520-0424
For a health and welfare reserve for eligible personnel employed at the community colleges and state universities
$5,581,664
University of Massachusetts.
7100-0200
For the operation of the University of Massachusetts; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the university may establish and organize auxiliary organizations, subject to policies, rules and regulations adopted by the board, to provide essential functions which are integral to the educational mission of the university; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the university may enter into leases of real property without prior approval of the division of capital asset management and maintenance; provided further, that the University of Massachusetts shall expend funds for the operation of the Massachusetts office of public collaboration at the University of Massachusetts at Boston and for capital lease payments from the University of Massachusetts to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency; provided further, that the University of Massachusetts shall expend funds for the University of Massachusetts Amherst Cranberry Station; and provided further, that funds may be expended for the operation of the Future of Work Research Initiative at the University of Massachusetts Labor Centers at the Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell campuses
$417,982,753
State Universities.
7109-0100
For Bridgewater State University
$33,860,038
7110-0100
For Fitchburg State University
$23,467,647
7112-0100
For Framingham State University
$21,266,256
7113-0100
For the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
$12,559,859
7114-0100
For Salem State University
$34,614,021
7115-0100
For Westfield State University
$20,139,642
7116-0100
For Worcester State University
$19,941,794
7117-0100
For the Massachusetts College of Art
$13,405,202
7118-0100
For the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
$12,330,691
Community Colleges.
7502-0100
For Berkshire Community College
$7,988,207
7503-0100
For Bristol Community College
$13,885,391
7504-0100
For Cape Cod Community College
$9,823,796
7505-0100
For Greenfield Community College
$7,805,889
7506-0100
For Holyoke Community College
$16,074,594
7507-0100
For Massachusetts Bay Community College
$11,859,106
7508-0100
For Massasoit Community College
$17,376,153
7509-0100
For Mount Wachusett Community College
$11,007,508
7510-0100
For Northern Essex Community College
$16,305,635
7511-0100
For North Shore Community College, including the post-secondary programs of the Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute operated by North Shore Community College
$17,629,906
7512-0100
For Quinsigamond Community College
$12,980,557
7514-0100
For Springfield Technical Community College
$21,070,398
7515-0100
For Roxbury Community College
$9,729,356
7515-0121
For the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College; provided, that the college may expend an amount not to exceed $529,843 received from fees, rentals and facility expenses associated with the running and operation of national track meets, high school track meets, high school dual meets, Roxbury Community College athletic events, other special athletic events, conferences, meetings and programs; and provided further, that only expenses for contracted services associated with these events and for the capital needs of the facility shall be funded from this item
$529,843
7516-0100
For Middlesex Community College
$17,121,183
7518-0100
For Bunker Hill Community College
$17,496,631
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY.
Office of the Secretary.
8000-0038
For the operation of a witness protection program pursuant to chapter 263A of the General Laws
$94,245
8000-0202
For the purchase and distribution of sexual assault evidence collection kits
$86,882
8000-0600
For the office of the secretary, including the administration of the committee on criminal justice and the highway safety bureau to provide matching funds for a federal planning and administration grant pursuant to 23 U.S.C. section 402 and the costs associated with the implementation of chapter 228 of the acts of 2000; provided, that local police departments, sheriff departments, the department of state police, the department of correction and other state agencies, authorities and educational institutions with law enforcement functions as determined by the secretary that receive funds for the cost of replacement of bulletproof vests through the office of the secretary may expend without further appropriation such funds to purchase additional vests in the fiscal year in which they receive the reimbursements
$2,196,720
8000-1700
For the provision of information technology services within the executive office of public safety and security; provided, that the executive office of public safety and security shall transfer $300,000 to the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association for professional consulting services to make recommendations to the association in its selection of the district attorneys’ case management system
$19,396,655
Chief Medical Examiner.
8000-0105
For the operation of the office of the chief medical examiner, established in chapter 38 of the General Laws; provided, that the office shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than January 18, 2013 detailing the caseload of the office, including number of procedures performed and all relevant information regarding turnaround time and backlogs
$7,633,638
8000-0122
For the office of the chief medical examiner, which may expend for its operations an amount not to exceed $2,250,000 in revenues collected from fees for services provided by the chief medical examiner; provided, that for the purposes of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the agency may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,250,000
State Police Crime Laboratory.
8000-0106
For the operation and related costs of the state police crime laboratory, including the analysis of samples used in the prosecution of controlled substance offenses conducted at the former department of public health facilities; provided, that the analysis of narcotic drug synthetic substitutes, poisons, drugs, medicines and chemicals shall be funded in this item in order to support the law enforcement efforts of the district attorneys, the state police and municipal police departments; provided further, that the practices and procedures of the state police crime laboratory shall be informed in accordance with the recommendations of the Forensic Sciences Advisory Board; provided further, that the agency shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public safety and homeland security not later than March 15, 2013 detailing the impact of transferring functions from the department of public health to the state police crime laboratory; and provided further that the report shall compare backlog and wait time information for drug test analysis before and after the transfer
$14,911,250
Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
8000-0110
For the operation of the department of criminal justice information services, including criminal justice information services, criminal offender record information services, firearms support services and victim services; provided, that funds may be expended to enable local housing authorities to have access to criminal offender record information when qualifying applicants for state-assisted housing
$2,000,000
8000-0111
For the operation of the public safety information system and the criminal records review board within the department of criminal justice information services, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 from fees for services provided by the office; provided, that funding from this item may be retained and expended from fees charged and collected under section 172A of chapter 6 of the General Laws; provided further, that funding from this item may be used to provide education and assistance regarding criminal records as specified in said section 172A of said chapter 6, and that the commissioner of the department of criminal justice information services may make funds from this item available for a competitive grant process to provide such training and education; provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenue and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system; and provided further, that any unexpected funds in this item shall not revert but shall be made available for the purpose of this item until June 30, 2014
$3,000,000
Sex Offender Registry.
8000-0125
For the operation of the sex offender registry including, but not limited to, the costs of maintaining a computerized registry system and the classification of persons subject to the registry; provided, that the registration fee paid by convicted sex offenders under section 178Q of chapter 6 of the General Laws shall be retained and expended by the sex offender registry board
$3,984,920
Department of State Police.
8100-0006
For private police details; provided, that the department may expend up to $27,500,000 in revenues collected from fees charged for private police details and for the costs of administering such details; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$27,500,000
8100-0012
For the department of state police, which may expend for the costs of security services provided by state police officers, including overtime and administrative costs, an amount not to exceed $1,050,000 from fees charged for these services; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate therefore as reported in the state accounting system
$1,050,000
8100-0018
For the department of state police which, may expend an amount not to exceed $4,501,501 for certain police activities provided pursuant to agreements authorized in this item; provided, that for fiscal year 2013, the colonel of state police may enter into service agreements with the person in charge of a military reservation of the United States which has property managed by the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency established in chapter 23G of the General Laws and any other service agreements as necessary to enhance the protection of persons, assets and infrastructure from possible external threat or activity; provided further, that such agreements shall establish the responsibilities pertaining to the operation and maintenance of police services including, but not limited to: (i) provisions governing payment to the department for the cost of regular salaries, overtime, retirement and other employee benefits; and (ii) provisions governing payment to the department for the cost of furnishings and equipment necessary to provide such police services; provided further, that the department may charge recipients of police services for the cost of such services, as authorized by this item; provided further, that the department may retain the revenue so received and expend such revenue as necessary pursuant to this item to provide the agreed level of services; provided further, that the colonel may expend from this item costs associated with joint federal and state law enforcement activities from federal reimbursements received; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$4,501,501
8100-0020
For the department of state police, which may expend an amount not to exceed $35,000 in fees charged for the use of the statewide telecommunications system for the maintenance of the system; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$35,000
8100-0101
For the department of state police, which may expend for the Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force an amount not to exceed $108,000 from fees for services performed through the auto etching program and from assessments upon the insurance industry; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$108,000
8100-0111
For a grant program to be known as the Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative to be administered by the executive office of public safety and security to support regional, multidisciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through coordinated programs for prevention and intervention, coordinated law enforcement, including regional gang task forces and regional crime mapping strategies, focused prosecutions and reintegration strategies for ex-convicts; provided, that the secretary of public safety and security shall distribute grant funds through a competitive grant program that gives preference to applications that: (i) demonstrate high levels of youth violence, gang problems and substance abuse in a region; (ii) demonstrate a commitment to regional, multijurisdictional strategies to deal with such community safety issues, including written commitments for municipalities, law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations and government agencies to work together; (iii) clearly outline a comprehensive plan for municipalities to work with law enforcement, community-based organizations and government agencies to address gang activity; (iv) make a written commitment to match grant funds with a 25 per cent match provided by either municipal or private contributions; and (v) identify a local governmental unit to serve as fiscal agent; provided further, that clusters of municipalities, in partnership with nonprofit organizations and other agencies, including district attorney’s offices, may apply for such funds; provided further, that such funds shall be considered one-time grants awarded to public agencies and shall not annualize into fiscal year 2014 or subsequent years; provided further, that administrative costs for successful grant applications shall not exceed 3 per cent of the value of the grant; provided further, that no grants shall be awarded to the department of state police; provided further, that no grant funds shall be expended on food or beverages; provided further, that the executive office of public safety and security shall publish guidelines and an application for the competitive portion of the grant program not later than August 16, 2012; provided further, that awards shall be made to applicants not later than December 13, 2012; and provided further, that the executive office of public safety and security may expend not more than $100,000 of the sum appropriated in this item for its costs in administering the program
$6,000,000
8100-0515
For the expense of hiring, equipping and training 150 state police recruits to maintain the strength of the department of state police
$2,000,000
8100-1001
For the administration and operation of the department of state police; provided, that the department shall expend funds from this item to maximize federal grants for the operation of a counter-terrorism unit and the payment of overtime for state police officers; provided further, that the department shall maintain the division of field services which shall include, but not be limited to, the bureau of metropolitan district operations; provided further, that not fewer than 40 officers shall be provided to the department of conservation and recreation to patrol the watershed property of the department of conservation and recreation; provided further, that the department shall enter into an interagency agreement with the department of conservation and recreation to provide police coverage on department properties and parkways; provided further, that funds shall be expended from this item for the administration and operation of an automated fingerprint identification system and the motor carrier safety assistance program; provided further, that not fewer than 5 officers shall be provided to the disabled persons protection commission to investigate cases of criminal abuse; provided further, that the creation of a new or an expansion of the existing statewide communications network shall include the office of law enforcement in the executive office of energy and environmental affairs at no cost to, or compensation from, that office; and provided further, that the department may expend funds from this item for the administration of budgetary, procurement, fiscal, human resources, payroll and other administrative services of the office of the chief medical examiner, the municipal police training committee and the criminal history systems board
$245,897,499
8100-1004
For the salaries and other costs for a public benefit fraud unit within the department of the state police; provided, that the unit shall investigate fraudulent or illegal use and receipt of direct public benefits, including but not limited to, transitional aid to families with dependent children; and provided further, that in conducting investigations, the unit shall work in cooperation with the office of the state auditor, the office of the attorney general, the department of transitional assistance, other state agencies and federal authorities, as appropriate
$750,000
Municipal Police Training Committee.
8200-0200
For the operation of veteran, reserve and in-service training programs conducted by the municipal police training committee; provided, that no expenditures authorized by this item shall be charged to item 8200-0222
$2,588,874
8200-0222
For the municipal police training committee, which may collect and expend an amount not to exceed $900,000 to provide training to new recruits; provided, that the committee shall charge $2,500 per recruit for the training; provided further, the committee shall charge a fee of $2,500 per person for training programs operated by the committee for all persons who begin training on or after July 1, 2012; provided further, that the fee shall be retained and expended by the committee; provided further, that the trainee or, if the trainee is a recruit, the municipality in which the recruit shall serve, shall provide the fee in full to the committee not later than the first day of orientation for the program in which such trainee or recruit has enrolled; provided further, that no recruit or person shall begin training unless the municipality or the person has provided the fee in full to the committee; provided further, that for recruits of municipalities, upon the completion of the program, the municipality shall deduct the fee from the recruit’s wages in 23 equal monthly installments unless otherwise negotiated between the recruit and the municipality in which the recruit shall serve; provided further, that if a recruit withdraws from the training program before graduation, the committee shall refund the municipality in which the recruit was to have served a portion of the fee according to the following schedule: if a recruit withdraws from the program before the start of week 2, 75 per cent of the payment shall be refunded; if a recruit withdraws from the program after the start of week 2 but before the start of week 3, 50 per cent of the fee shall be refunded; if a recruit withdraws from the program after the start of week 3 but before the start of week 4, 25 per cent of the fee shall be refunded; if a recruit withdraws after the start of week 4, no portion of the fee shall be refunded; provided further, that a recruit who withdraws from the program shall pay the municipality in which the recruit was to have served the difference between the fee and the amount forfeited by the municipality according to the schedule; provided further, that the schedule shall also apply to trainees, other than recruits, who enroll in the program; provided further, that no expenditures shall be charged to this item that are not directly related to new recruit training; provided further, that no expenditures shall be charged to this item that are related to chief, veteran, in-service or reserve training, or any training not directly related to new recruits; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the committee may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payments not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$900,000
Department of Public Safety.
8311-1000
For the administration of the department of public safety, including the division of inspections, the board of building regulations and standards and the architectural access board; provided, that the department may charge fees for permitting the operation of amusement devices and to support the department’s participation in the National Council for Amusement and Recreational Equipment Safety; provided further, that the department may charge fees for amusement operator certification; provided further, that the department shall employ not less than 42 full-time equivalent elevator inspectors, including an additional engineer inspector; and provided further, that the division shall adopt rules or regulations for the granting of hardship fee exemptions to certain owners or persons in control of a building or domicile in which an elevator is operated
$4,610,086
8315-1020
For the department of public safety which may expend not more than $5,996,573 in revenues collected from fees for annual elevator and amusement park ride inspections; provided, that funds shall be expended for the operation of the department and to address the existing elevator inspection backlog; provided further, that funds shall be expended for hiring additional engineering inspectors or engineers; provided further, that funds shall be expended for escalator inspections; provided further, that the department shall make efforts to employ inspectors that will perform overnight and weekend inspections as their regular work shift; provided further, that the department shall provide a full waiver of the inspection fee for an individual who requires a wheelchair lift as a medical necessity and whose annual income does not exceed the maximum allowable federal Supplemental Security Income benefit, or $7,236 a year, whichever is greater; and provided further, for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$5,996,573
8315-1022
For the department of public safety, which may expend an amount not to exceed $1,200,000 in revenues collected from fees for annual issuance of boiler and pressure vessel certificates and inspections; provided, that funds shall be expended for the operation of the department and to address the existing boiler and pressure vessels inspection backlog; provided further, that funds shall be expended for hiring additional engineering inspectors or engineers; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,200,000
8315-1025
For the department of public safety, which may collect and expend an amount not to exceed $95,180 to provide state building code training and courses for instruction; provided, that the agency may charge fees for the classes and educational materials associated with administering training; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$95,180
Department of Fire Services.
8324-0000
For the administration of the department of fire services, including the state fire marshal’s office, the hazardous materials emergency response program, the board of fire prevention regulations established in section 4 of chapter 22D of the General Laws, the expenses of the fire safety commission and the Massachusetts firefighting academy, including the Massachusetts fire training council certification program, municipal and non-municipal fire training and expenses of the council; provided, that the fire training program shall use the split days option; provided further, that the amount allocated for programs providing information about the fire risks caused by smoking, the regional dispatch center, critical incident stress intervention programs and fire department training academies listed in item 8324-0000 of section 2 of chapter 182 of the acts of 2008 shall be allocated to each program in fiscal year 2013; provided further, that the amount allocated for critical incident stress management residential services in item 8000-0000 of said section 2 of said chapter 182 shall be allocated to the program in fiscal year 2013; provided further, that the amount allocated for hazardous material response teams specifically listed in item 8324-0000 of said section 2 of said chapter 182 shall be allocated to each program in fiscal year 2013 and shall not be reduced by more than 57 per cent; provided further, that 100 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item for the administration of the department of fire services, the state fire marshal’s office, critical incident stress programs, the Massachusetts and fire department training academies and the regional dispatch center shall be assessed upon insurance companies writing fire, homeowners’ multiple peril or commercial multiple peril policies on property situated in the commonwealth and paid within 30 days after receipt of notice of such assessment from the commissioner of insurance; provided further, that 100 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item for hazardous materials emergency response shall be assessed upon insurance companies writing commercial multiple peril, non-liability portion policies on property situated in the commonwealth and commercial auto liability policies as referenced in line 5.1 and line 19.4, respectively, in the most recent annual statement on file with the commissioner of insurance; and provided further, that not more than 10 per cent of the amount designated for the arson prevention program shall be expended for the administrative cost of the program
$17,388,773
8324-0304
For the department of fire services; provided, that the department may expend for enforcement and training an amount not to exceed $8,500 from revenue generated under chapter 148A of the General Laws; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$8,500
Military Division.
8700-0001
For the operation of the military division, including the offices of the adjutant general and state quartermaster, the operation of the armories, the Camp Curtis Guild rifle range and certain national guard aviation facilities; provided, that notwithstanding chapter 30 of the General Laws, certain military personnel in the military division may be paid salaries according to military pay grades
$8,133,547
8700-1140
For the military division, which may expend for the costs of national guard missions and division operations an amount not to exceed $1,400,000 from fees charged for the non-military rental or use of armories and from reimbursements generated by national guard missions; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,400,000
8700-1150
For reimbursement of the costs of the Massachusetts National Guard tuition and fee waivers under section 19 of chapter 15A of the General Laws; provided, that no funds shall be distributed from this item prior to certification by the state universities and community colleges and the University of Massachusetts of the actual amount of tuition and fees waived for national guard members attending public institutions of higher education under said section 19 of said chapter 15A that would otherwise have been retained by the campuses, according to procedures and regulations promulgated by the military division of the Massachusetts National Guard; and provided further, that funds from this item may be expended through August 30, 2013 for the reimbursement of the tuition and fees waived for classes taken during the summer months
$3,500,000
8700-1160
For life insurance premiums under section 88B of chapter 33 of the General Laws
$1,040,000
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
8800-0001
For the operations of the Massachusetts emergency management agency; provided, that expenditures from this item shall be contingent upon the prior approval of the proper federal authorities
$1,607,752
8800-0100
For the nuclear safety preparedness program of the Massachusetts emergency management agency; provided, that the costs of the program, including fringe benefits and indirect costs, shall be assessed upon Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensees operating nuclear power generating facilities in the commonwealth; provided further, that the department of public utilities shall develop an equitable method of apportioning such assessments among those licensees; and provided further, that the assessments shall be paid during the current fiscal year as provided by the department
$447,794
8800-0200
For the Radiological Emergency Response Program; provided, that the cost of the program, including associated fringe benefits and indirect costs, shall be assessed on electric companies in the commonwealth which own, in whole or in part, or purchase power from nuclear power plants located outside the commonwealth whose nuclear power plant areas, as defined in section 2B of chapter 639 of the acts of 1950, include communities located within the commonwealth and shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that the department of public utilities shall develop an equitable method of apportioning such assessments among the licensees; provided further, that such assessments shall be paid during the current fiscal year as provided by the department; and provided further, that for the purposes of this item, electric companies shall mean all persons, firms, associations and private corporations which own or operate a distributing plant for the manufacture and sale or distribution and sale of electricity within the commonwealth, but shall not include municipalities or municipal light plants
$299,585
Department of Correction.
8900-0001
For the operation of the department of correction; provided, that the commissioner of correction and the secretary of public safety and security shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public safety and homeland security before January 1 the point score compiled by the department of correction’s objective classification system for all prisoners confined in each prison operated by the department; provided further, that for the purpose of maximizing bed capacity and re-entry capability throughout the commonwealth, the department shall submit quarterly reports, utilizing standardized reporting definitions developed mutually with the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association, on caseload, admissions, classification, releases and recidivism of all pretrial, sentenced and federal inmates; provided further, that the department shall submit these reports on a quarterly basis starting July 1, 2012, due not later than 30 days after the last day of each quarter; provided further, that the department shall also report, in a format developed jointly by the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association and the department, on the fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2012 total costs per inmate by facility and security level not later than October 1, 2012; provided further, that the department shall submit all reports to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public safety and homeland security; provided further, that the department of correction may expend $412,000 for the operation of the Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center; and provided further, that the department of correction may expend $412,000 to transfer male inmates with less than 2 years left on their sentence to the Hampden sheriff’s department
$540,763,132
8900-0002
For the operation of the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center
$5,000,000
8900-0010
For prison industries and farm services; provided, that the commissioner of correction or a designee shall determine the cost of manufacturing motor vehicle registration plates and certify to the comptroller the amounts to be transferred from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund to the department of correction revenue source
$2,897,672
8900-0011
For the prison industries and farm services program, which may expend for the operation of the program an amount not to exceed $3,600,000 from revenues collected from the sale of products, for materials, supplies, equipment, maintenance of facilities and compensation of employees; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$3,600,000
8900-0045
For the department of correction, which may expend for the operation of the department, including personnel-related expenses, an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that $900,000 from these reimbursements shall not be available for expenditure and shall be deposited in the General Fund before the retention by the department of any of these reimbursements; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,000,000
8900-0050
For the department of correction; provided, that the department may expend not more than $4,257,629 in revenues collected from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program; provided further, that the department may expend not more than $5,742,371 in revenues collected from existing assessments; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenue and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lesser of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$10,000,000
8900-1100
For re-entry programs at the department of correction intended to reduce recidivism rates; provided, that such programs shall be in addition to those provided in fiscal year 2006; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than January 21, 2013 on re-entry programming at the department of correction; and provided further, that the report shall include information on the type of programs provided and the recidivism rate of the offenders who successfully complete the programs
$550,139
Parole Board.
8950-0001
For the operation of the parole board
$17,890,782
8950-0002
For the victim and witness assistance program of the parole board under chapter 258B of the General Laws
$218,212
8950-0008
For the operation of the parole board’s sex offender management program and the supervision of high-risk offenders; provided, that the parole board may expend an amount not to exceed $600,000 from revenues collected from fees charged for parolee supervision; provided further, that the parole board shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 1, 2013, which shall include, but not be limited to, the number of parolees participating in the program and the re-incarceration rate of participating parolees; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenue and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lesser of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$600,000
Sheriffs.
Hampden Sheriff’s Office.
8910-0102
For the operation of the Hampden sheriff’s office
$66,442,323
8910-1000
For the prison industries programs at the Hampden sheriff’s office; provided, that the program may expend an amount not to exceed $2,396,673 from revenues collected from the sale of products, for materials, supplies, equipment, maintenance of facilities, reimbursement for community service projects and compensation of employees of the program; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,396,673
8910-1010
For the operations of a regional behavioral evaluation and stabilization unit to provide forensic mental health services within existing physical facilities for incarcerated persons in the care of correctional facilities; provided, that the unit shall be located in Hampden county to serve the needs of incarcerated persons in the care of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties; provided further, that the services of the units shall be made available to incarcerated persons in the care of the department of correction; provided further, that the sheriff, in conjunction with the department of correction and the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, shall prepare a report that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of incarcerated persons in facilities located in counties that were provided services in each unit; (ii) the number of incarcerated persons in department of correction facilities that were provided services in each unit; (iii) the alleviation in caseload at Bridgewater state hospital associated with fewer incarcerated persons in the care of counties being attended to at the hospital; and (iv) the estimated and projected cost-savings in fiscal year 2013 to the sheriffs’ offices and the department of correction associated with the regional units; provided further, that the report shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013; and provided further, that the department of mental health shall maintain monitoring and quality review functions of the unit
$905,441
8910-2222
For the Hampden sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $500,000 from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$500,000
Worcester Sheriff’s Office.
8910-0105
For the operation of the Worcester sheriff’s office
$40,685,159
Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.
8910-0107
For the operation of the Middlesex sheriff’s office
$61,528,013
8910-0160
For a retained revenue account for the Middlesex sheriff’s office for reimbursements from the federal government for costs associated with the incarceration of federal inmates at the Billerica house of correction; provided, that the office may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $850,000 from revenues collected from the incarceration of federal inmates; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$850,000
8910-1100
For the Middlesex sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of a prison industries program an amount not to exceed $75,000 from revenues collected from the sale of products, for materials, supplies, equipment, maintenance of facilities and compensation of employees of the program; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$75,000
8910-1101
For the operation of a regional behavioral evaluation and stabilization unit to provide forensic mental health services within existing physical facilities for incarcerated persons in the care of correctional facilities; provided, that the unit shall be located in Middlesex county to serve the needs of incarcerated persons in the care of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Suffolk counties; provided further, that the services of the unit shall be made available to incarcerated persons in the care of the department of correction; provided further, that the sheriff, in conjunction with the department of correction and the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, shall prepare a report that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of incarcerated persons in facilities located in counties that were provided services in each unit; (ii) the number of incarcerated persons in department of correction facilities that were provided services in each unit; (iii) the alleviation in caseload at Bridgewater state hospital associated with fewer incarcerated persons in the care of counties being attended to at the hospital; and (iv) the estimated and projected cost-savings in fiscal year 2013 to the sheriffs’ offices and the department of correction associated with the regional units; provided further, that the report shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013; and provided further, that the department of mental health shall maintain monitoring and quality review functions of the unit
$905,441
Hampshire Sheriff’s Office.
8910-0110
For the operation of the Hampshire sheriff’s office
$12,056,459
8910-1112
For the Hampshire sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the Hampshire county regional lockup at the Hampshire county jail an amount not to exceed $158,248 in revenue; provided, that the sheriff shall enter into agreements to provide detention services to various law enforcement agencies and municipalities and shall determine and collect fees for those detentions from the law enforcement agencies and municipalities
$158,248
8910-1127
For the Hampshire sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $250,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$250,000
Berkshire Sheriff’s Office.
8910-0145
For the operation of the Berkshire sheriff’s office
$14,400,919
8910-0445
For the Berkshire sheriff’s office, which may expend an amount not to exceed $250,000 from revenues generated from the operation of the Berkshire county communication center’s 911 dispatch operations and other law enforcement related activities, including the Berkshire county sheriff prison industries program; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the sheriff’s office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$250,000
8910-0446
For the Berkshire sheriff’s office, which may expend an amount not to exceed $500,000 from revenues collected from Berkshire County public schools; provided, that funds shall be expended for the operation of the Juvenile Resource Center; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the sheriff’s office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$500,000
Franklin Sheriff’s Office.
8910-0108
For the operation of the Franklin sheriff’s office
$8,964,414
8910-0188
For the Franklin sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $2,450,000 from revenues received from any state or federal inmate reimbursements, including reimbursements for the transportation of any state or federal inmates; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,450,000
Essex Sheriff’s Office.
8910-0619
For the operation of the Essex sheriff’s office
$45,334,769
8910-6619
For the Essex sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that the sheriff may expend from this item costs associated with joint federal and state law enforcement activities from federal reimbursements received; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$2,000,000
Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association.
8910-7100
For the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, which may expend for its operation an amount not to exceed $344,790 in revenue collected from voluntary contributions from all sheriffs; provided, that the sheriffs shall appoint persons to serve as executive director, assistant executive director and research director and other staff positions as necessary to coordinate and standardize services and programs, collect and analyze data related to incarceration and recidivism and generate reports and provide technical assistance and training to ensure standardization in organization, operations and procedures; provided further, that the staff shall not be subject to section 45 of chapter 30 of the General Laws or chapter 31 of the General Laws and shall serve at the will and pleasure of a majority of the sheriffs; provided further, that the association shall post monthly on its website the monthly inmate population by county; provided further, that for the purpose of maximizing bed capacity and re-entry capability, the sheriffs' offices shall submit reports to the association, utilizing standardized reporting definitions developed mutually with the department of correction on caseload, admissions, classification, releases and recidivism of all pretrial, sentenced and federal inmates; provided further, that the office shall submit these reports on a quarterly basis, due not later than 30 days after the last day of each quarter; provided further, that each sheriff's office shall also report, in a format developed jointly by the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association and the department of correction, on the fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2012 total costs per inmate by facility and security level not later than August 1, 2012; provided further, that the association shall submit these reports directly to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public safety and homeland security; provided further, that the executive director of the association shall submit a report that shows the amounts of all grants awarded to each sheriff in fiscal year 2012; and provided further, that the report shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 1, 2013
$344,790
Barnstable Sheriff’s Office.
8910-8200
For the operation of the Barnstable sheriff’s office
$22,757,152
8910-8210
For the Barnstable sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $250,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$250,000
Bristol Sheriff’s Office.
8910-8300
For the operation of the Bristol sheriff’s office
$28,282,004
8910-8310
For the Bristol sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $8,460,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$8,460,000
Dukes Sheriff’s Office.
8910-8400
For the operation of the Dukes sheriff’s office
$2,549,966
Nantucket Sheriff’s Office.
8910-8500
For the operation of the Nantucket sheriff’s office
$747,844
Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.
8910-8600
For the operation of the Norfolk sheriff’s office
$25,693,822
8910-8610
For the Norfolk sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $1,116,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$1,116,000
Plymouth Sheriff’s Office.
8910-8700
For the operation of the Plymouth sheriff’s office
$26,041,172
8910-8710
For the Plymouth sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $16,000,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$16,000,000
Suffolk Sheriff’s Office.
8910-8800
For the operation of the Suffolk sheriff’s office
$91,301,240
8910-8810
For the Suffolk sheriff’s office, which may expend for the operation of the office an amount not to exceed $8,000,000 from revenues received from federal inmate reimbursements; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$8,000,000
Department of Elder Affairs.
9110-0100
For the operation of the executive office of elder affairs and regulation of assisted living facilities; provided, that the executive office of elder affairs shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means the number of assisted living units certified and the total revenues generated from application and certification fees for such units
$1,990,108
9110-1455
For the costs of the drug insurance program authorized in section 39 of chapter 19A of the General Laws; provided, that amounts received by the executive office of elder affairs’ vendor as premium revenue for this program may be retained and expended by the vendor for the purposes of the program; provided further, that funds shall be expended for the operation of the pharmacy outreach program established in section 4C of said chapter 19A; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, prescription drug coverage or benefits payable by the executive office of elder affairs and the entities with which it has contracted for administration of the subsidized catastrophic drug insurance program pursuant to said section 39 of said chapter 19A, shall be the payer of last resort for this program for eligible persons with regard to any other third-party prescription coverage or benefits available to such eligible persons; provided further, that the executive office shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 90 days in advance of any action to limit or cap the number of enrollees in the program; provided further, that notification shall be given to the house and senate committees on ways and means at least 30 days in advance of any coverage or benefits expansions; provided further, that the executive office shall seek to obtain maximum federal funding for discounts on prescription drugs available to the executive office and to prescription advantage enrollees; provided further, that the executive office shall take steps for the coordination of benefits with the Medicare prescription drug benefit created pursuant to the federal Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 to ensure that residents of the commonwealth take advantage of this benefit; provided further, that a person shall also be eligible to enroll in the program at any time within 1 year after reaching age 65; and provided further, that the executive office shall allow those who meet the program eligibility criteria to enroll in the program at any time during the year
$18,500,869
9110-1500
For enhanced home care services, including case management to elders who meet the eligibility requirements of the home care program and need services above the level customarily provided under the program to remain safely at home, including elders previously enrolled in the managed care in housing, enhanced community options and chronic care enhanced services programs; provided, that the secretary shall seek to obtain federal financial participation for all services provided to seniors who qualify for Medicaid benefits under the section 1915C waiver; provided further, that the executive office shall collect income data on persons receiving services provided in this item; provided further, that the executive office shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the population served by this item delineated by both 2012 federal poverty income levels and 2012 social security income standards; and provided further, that the report shall be submitted not later than February 1, 2013
$46,461,487
9110-1604
For the operation of the supportive senior housing program at state or federally-assisted housing sites; provided, that funds shall be expended to fund existing sites
$4,014,802
9110-1630
For the operation of the elder home care program, including contracts with aging service access points or other qualified entities for the home care program, home care, health aides, home health and respite services, geriatric mental health services and other services provided to the elderly; provided, that sliding-scale fees shall be charged to qualified elders; provided further, that the secretary of elder affairs may waive collection of sliding-scale fees in cases of extreme financial hardship; provided further, that not more than $11,500,000 in revenues accrued from sliding-scale fees shall be retained by the individual home care corporations without reallocation by the executive office of elder affairs and shall be expended for the purposes of the home care program, consistent with guidelines to be issued by the executive office; provided further, that no rate increase shall be awarded in fiscal year 2013 which would cause a reduction in client services or the number of clients served; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item to pay for salary increases for direct service workers who provide state-funded homemaker and home health aide services which would cause a reduction in client services; provided further, that funding shall be expended for provider training and outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders and caregivers; and provided further, that the secretary of elder affairs may transfer an amount not to exceed 3 per cent of the funds appropriated in this item to item 9110-1633 for case management services and the administration of the home care program
$97,283,061
9110-1633
For the operation of the elder home care case management program, including contracts with aging service access points or other qualified entities for home care case management services and the administration of the home care corporations funded through items 9110-1630 and 9110-1500; provided, that such contracts shall include the costs of administrative personnel, home care case managers, travel, rent and other costs deemed appropriate by the executive office of elder affairs; provided further, that no funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for the enhancement of management information systems; and provided further, that the secretary of elder affairs may transfer an amount not to exceed 3 per cent of the funds appropriated in this item to item 9110-1630
$35,738,377
9110-1636
For the elder protective services program including, but not limited to, protective services case management, guardianship services, the statewide elder abuse hotline, money management services and the elder-at-risk program
$16,628,729
9110-1660
For congregate and shared housing services and naturally occurring retirement communities for the elderly
$1,824,617
9110-1900
For the elder nutrition program
$6,325,328
9110-2500
For the department of elder affairs which may expend not more than $750,000 from revenues from federal reimbursements received for the operation of the Veterans Independence Plus Initiative, a joint initiative of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Administration on Aging
$750,000
9110-9002
For grants to the councils on aging and for grants to or contracts with nonpublic entities which are consortia or associations of councils on aging; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, all monies appropriated in this item shall be expended in accordance with the distribution schedules for formula and incentive grants established by the secretary of elder affairs; and provided further, that such distribution schedules shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means
$8,433,748
LEGISLATURE.
Senate.
9500-0000
For the operation of the senate
$17,841,227
House of Representatives.
9600-0000
For the operation of the house of representatives
$35,393,116
Joint Legislative Expenses.
9700-0000
For the joint operations of the legislature
$7,968,231
SECTION 2B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the agencies listed in this section may expend the amounts listed in this section for the provision of services to agencies listed in section 2. All expenditures made under this section shall be accompanied by a corresponding transfer of funds from an account listed in section 2 to the Intragovernmental Service Fund, established by section 2Q of chapter 29 of the General Laws. All revenues and other inflows shall be based on rates published by the seller agency that are developed in accordance with cost principles established by the United States Office of Management and Budget Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments. All rates shall be published within 30 days of the enactment of this section. No expenditures shall be made from the Intragovernmental Service Fund which would cause that fund to be in deficit at the close of fiscal year 2013. All authorizations in this section shall be charged to the Intragovernmental Service Fund and shall not be subject to section 5D of chapter 29 of the General Laws. Any balance remaining in that fund at the close of fiscal year 2013 shall be transferred to the General Fund.
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
0511-0003
For the costs of providing electronic and other publications purchased from the state bookstore, for commission fees, notary fees and for direct access to the secretary’s computer library
$16,000
0511-0235
For the costs of obsolete records destruction incurred by the office of the secretary of state; provided, that state agencies, including the judicial branch, may be charged for the destruction of their obsolete records by the records center where appropriate; provided further, that the secretary of state may expend revenues not to exceed $100,000 of the funds received for the costs of the obsolete record destruction; and provided further, that the fees shall be charged on an equitable basis
$100,000
TREASURER AND RECEIVER GENERAL.
0699-0018
For the cost of debt service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013 for the clean energy investment program and other projects or programs for which the agency has committed to fund the associated debt service; provided, that the treasurer may charge other appropriations and federal grants for the cost of the debt service
$6,217,722
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER.
1000-0005
For the cost of the single state audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013; provided, that the comptroller may charge other appropriations and federal grants for the cost of the audit
$1,000,000
1000-0008
For the costs of operating and managing the MMARS accounting system for fiscal year 2013; provided, that any unspent balance at the close of fiscal year 2013 in an amount not to exceed 5 per cent of the amount authorized shall remain in the Intergovernmental Service Fund and is hereby re-authorized for expenditures for such item in fiscal year 2014
$2,985,334
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE.
Office of the Secretary.
1100-1701
For the cost of information technology services provided to agencies of the executive office for administration and finance
$54,958,923
Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.
1102-3224
For the costs for the Leverett Saltonstall building lease and occupancy payments; provided, that the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before the first of each month beginning July 1, 2012 a monthly report on the agencies that currently, or will during fiscal year 2013, occupy space in the Saltonstall building, their rental costs, utility costs, parking space allocation, floor space, lease dates, all services included in the lease and all services that the agencies are obligated to fund beyond the lease payments; and provided further, that the report shall include both estimated payments and prior expenditures
$11,217,734
1102-3226
For the operation and maintenance of state buildings, including the Hurley state office building, occupied by the department of unemployment assistance and the department of career services; provided, that the division may also charge for reimbursement for overtime expenses, materials and contract services purchased in performing renovations and related services for agencies occupying state buildings or for services rendered to approved entities using state facilities
$2,861,648
Reserves.
1599-2040
For the payment of prior year deficiencies based upon schedules provided to the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided, that the comptroller may charge departments’ current fiscal year appropriations and transfer to such items amounts equivalent to the amounts of any prior year deficiency, subject to the conditions stated in this item; provided further, that the comptroller shall only assess chargebacks to those current fiscal year appropriations when the account to which the chargeback is applied is the same account to which the prior year deficiency pertains or, if there is no such account, to the current fiscal year appropriation for the general administration of the department that administered the account to which the prior year deficiency pertains; provided further, that no chargeback shall be made which would cause a deficiency in any current fiscal year item; provided further, that the comptroller shall report with such schedule a detailed reason for the prior year deficiency on all chargebacks assessed that exceed $1,000 including the amount of the chargeback, the item and object class charged; and provided further, that the comptroller shall report on a quarterly basis on all chargebacks assessed, including the amount of the chargeback, the item, object class charged and the reason for the prior year deficiency
$10,000,000
1599-3100
For the cost of the commonwealth’s employer contributions to the Unemployment Compensation Fund and the Medical Security Trust Fund; provided, that the secretary of administration and finance shall authorize the collection, accounting and payment of such contributions; and provided further, that in executing these responsibilities the comptroller may charge, in addition to individual appropriation accounts, certain non-appropriated funds in amounts that are computed on the same basis as the commonwealth’s contributions are determined, including expenses, interest expense or related charges
$34,000,000
Division of Human Resources.
1750-0101
For the cost of goods and services rendered in administering training programs, including the cost of training unit staff; provided, that the division shall charge to other items for the cost of participants enrolled in programs sponsored by the division or to state agencies employing such participants; provided further, that the division may collect from participating state agencies a fee sufficient to cover administrative costs of the commonwealth’s performance recognition programs and to expend such fees for goods and services rendered in the administration of these programs; provided further, that the division may charge and collect from participating state agencies a fee sufficient to cover administrative costs and expend such fees for goods and services rendered in the administration of information technology services related to the human resources compensation management system program; and provided further, that the division may charge and collect from participating state agencies fees sufficient to cover the costs of shared services
$200,000
1750-0105
For the cost of workers’ compensation paid to public employees; provided, that the secretary of administration and finance shall charge other items or state agencies for costs incurred on behalf of these state agencies; provided further, that the secretary may transfer workers‘ compensation-related fringe benefit assessments from federal grants and trust accounts to this item; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item that would cause the item to be deficient; provided further, that the secretary shall provide projected costs of workers’ compensation costs incurred by agencies in fiscal year 2013 to the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than March 1, 2013; provided further, that in accordance with chapter 177 of the acts of 2001, the secretary of administration and finance shall charge state agencies in fiscal year 2013 as provided in this item for workers’ compensation costs, including related administrative expenses incurred on behalf of the employees of the agencies; provided further, that administrative expenses shall be allocated; provided further, that the personnel administrator shall administer the charges on behalf of the secretary, and may establish such rules and procedures as deemed necessary to implement this item; provided further, that the personnel administrator shall: (i) notify agencies regarding the chargeback methodology to be used in fiscal year 2013; (ii) notify agencies of the amount of their estimated workers compensation charges for the fiscal year; and (iii) require agencies to encumber funds in an amount sufficient to meet the estimated charges; provided further, that the estimated charges for each agency in the fiscal year shall be not less than the amount of the actual workers’ compensation costs, including related administrative expenses, incurred by each such agency in fiscal year 2013 and may include such additional amounts as the human resources division finds necessary under regulations adopted under this item; provided further, that the division may adopt a program of incentives for agencies to reduce agencies’ claims; provided further, that for any agency that fails within 30 days of the effective date of this act to encumber funds sufficient to meet the estimated charges, the comptroller shall so encumber funds on behalf of that agency; provided further, that the personnel administrator shall: (a) determine the amount of the actual workers‘ compensation costs incurred by each agency in the preceding month, including related administrative expenses; (b) notify each agency of the amounts; and (c) charge the amounts to each agency’s accounts as estimates of the costs to be incurred in the current month; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any balance remaining in the Intergovernmental Service Fund, at the close of fiscal year 2013 shall be transferred to the General Fund; provided further, that any unspent balance at the close of fiscal year 2013 in an amount not to exceed 5 per cent of the amount authorized shall remain in the Intergovernmental Service Fund and is hereby re-authorized for expenditures for such item in fiscal year 2014; provided further, that the personnel administrator may expend in fiscal year 2013 for hospital, physician, benefit, and other costs related to workers‘ compensation for employees of state agencies, including administrative expenses; and provided further, that such expenditures may include payments for medical services provided to claimants in prior fiscal years, as well as compensation benefits and associated costs for prior fiscal years
$57,543,575
1750-0106
For the workers’ compensation litigation unit, including the costs of personnel
$718,535
1750-0600
For the cost of core human resources administrative processing functions
$3,500,000
1750-0601
The human resources division may, on behalf of the division, the comptroller's office and the information technology division, charge and collect from participating state agencies a fee sufficient to cover administrative costs and expend such fees for goods and services rendered in the administration of the human resources compensation management system program
$6,773,950
Operational Services Division.
1775-0800
For the purchase, operation and repair of certain vehicles and for the cost of operating and maintaining all vehicles that are leased by other agencies, including the costs of personnel
$7,600,000
1775-1000
For printing, photocopying and related graphic art or design work, including all necessary incidental expenses and liabilities; provided, that the secretary of administration and finance shall charge to other items of appropriation within the agencies of the executive branch for such services, including the costs of personnel
$1,000,000
Information Technology Division.
1790-0200
For the cost of computer resources and services provided by the information technology division in accordance with the policies, procedures and rates approved by the secretary of administration and finance, including the purchase, lease or rental of telecommunications lines, services and equipment centrally billed to the commonwealth; provided, that the secretary shall charge other items of appropriation for the cost of the resources and services; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, charges for the cost of computer resources and services provided by the bureau of computer services for the design, development and production of reports and information related to the analysis, development and production of appropriations bills and other legislation shall not be charged to any item of appropriation of the executive office for administration and finance, the house of representatives, the senate or any joint legislative account in fiscal year 2013; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance shall establish regulations, procedures and a schedule of fees including, but not limited to, the development and distribution of forms and instructions, including the costs of personnel; and provided further, that any unspent balance at the close of fiscal year 2013 shall remain in the Intergovernmental Service Fund and may be expended for the item in fiscal year 2014
$68,000,000
1790-0400
For the purchase, delivery, handling of and contracting for supplies, postage and related equipment and other incidental expenses provided pursuant to section 51 of chapter 30 of the General Laws
$2,073,534
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS.
2000-1701
For the cost of information technology services provided to agencies of the executive office of energy and environment
$1,290,571
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
Office of the Secretary
4000-0102
For the cost of transportation services for health and human services clients and the operation of the health and human services transportation office
$7,401,973
4000-0103
For the costs of core administrative functions performed within the executive office of health and human services; provided, that the secretary of health and human services may, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, identify administrative activities and functions common to the separate agencies, departments, offices, divisions, and commissions within the executive office and may designate such functions as core administrative functions in order to improve administrative efficiency and preserve fiscal resources; provided further, that common functions that may be designated core administrative functions include human resources, financial management and leasing and facility management; provided further, that all employees performing functions so designated may be employed by the executive office and the executive office shall charge the agencies, departments, offices, divisions and commissions for such services; provided further, that upon the designation of a function as a core administrative function, the employees of each agency, department, office or commission who perform such core administrative functions may be transferred to the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that such reorganization shall not impair the civil service status of any such transferred employee who immediately before the effective date of this act either holds a permanent appointment in a position classified under chapter 31 of the General Laws or has tenure in a position by reason of section 9A of chapter 30 of the General Laws; and provided further, that nothing in this item shall impair or change an employee’s status, rights or benefits under chapter 150E of the General Laws
$20,680,742
4000-1701
For the cost of information technology services provided to agencies of the executive office of health and human services
$31,441,744
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
4125-0122
For the costs of interpreter services provided by commission staff; provided, that the costs of personnel may be charged to this item; and provided further, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the commission may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate as reported in the state accounting system
$250,000
Department of Public Health.
4510-0108
For the costs of pharmaceutical drugs and services provided by the state office for pharmacy services, in this section called SOPS; provided, that SOPS shall notify in writing all agencies listed below of their obligations under this item by July 15, 2012; provided further, that SOPS shall continue to be the sole provider of pharmacy services for the following agencies currently under SOPS: the department of public health, the department of mental health, the department of developmental services, the department of correction, the department of youth services, the sheriff's departments of Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk and Plymouth and the Soldiers' Homes in the cities of Holyoke and Chelsea; provided further, that SOPS shall become the sole provider of pharmacy services to the following agencies currently not being serviced by SOPS: the sheriff's departments of Worcester, Suffolk and Dukes; provided further, that SOPS shall be the sole provider of pharmacy services for all said agencies and all costs for pharmacy services shall be charged by this item; provided further, that these agencies shall not charge or contract with any other alternative vendor for pharmacy services other than SOPS; provided further, that SOPS shall develop an implementation plan to transition the following agencies within the current fiscal year: the sheriff's departments of Worcester, Suffolk and Dukes; provided further, that SOPS shall validate previously-submitted pharmacy expenditures including HIV Drug Assistance Program drug reimbursements during fiscal year 2013; and provided further, that SOPS shall continue to work to reduce medication costs, provide standardized policies and procedures in a clinically responsible manner, provide comprehensive data analysis and improve the quality of clinical services
$47,865,393
4590-0901
For the costs of medical services provided at department of public health hospitals
$150,000
4590-0903
For the costs of medical services provided at the department of public health Lemuel Shattuck hospital to inmates of county correctional facilities; provided, that those costs shall be charged to items 8910-0001, 8910-0102, 8910-0105, 8910-0107, 8910-0108, 8910-0110, 8910-0145, 8910-8200, 8910-8300, 8910-8400, 8910-8500, 8910-8600, 8910-8700, 8910-8800, and 8910-0619
$3,800,000
Department of Developmental Services.
5948-0012
For the operation of a program providing alternatives to residential placements for children with intellectual disabilities, including the costs of intensive home-based supports provided for the purposes of item 7061-0012 in section 2
$6,500,000
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Office of the Secretary.
7002-0018
For the cost of information technology services provided to agencies of the executive office of housing and economic development
$2,461,948
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
Office of the Secretary.
7003-0171
For the cost of information technology services provided to agencies of the executive office of labor and workforce development
$19,041,430
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
Office of the Secretary.
7009-1701
For the cost of information technology services provided to agencies of the executive office of education
$1,837,477
Executive Office of Public Safety
Office of the Secretary.
8000-1701
For the cost of information technology services provided to agencies of the executive office of public safety and security
$11,462,348
Department of State Police.
8100-0002
For the costs of overtime associated with requested police details; provided, that for the purpose of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate thereof as reported in the state accounting system
$33,601,884
8100-0003
For the costs associated with the use of the statewide telecommunications system for the maintenance of the system
$156,375
Military Division.
8700-1145
For the costs of utilities and maintenance and for the implementation of energy conservation measures with regard to the state armories
$300,000
Department of Correction.
8900-0021
For the costs of products produced by the prison industries and farm program and for the cost of services provided by inmates, including the costs of moving, auto repair, culinary and renovation and construction services; provided, that the costs for renovation and construction services shall not exceed the amount established by the operational services division; and provided further, that such revenues may also be expended for materials, supplies, equipment, maintenance of facilities and compensation of employees and for the inmate employment and training program
$8,050,000
SECTION 2D. The amounts set forth in this section are hereby appropriated from the General Federal Grants Fund. Federal funds received in excess of the amount appropriated in this section shall be expended only in accordance with section 6B of chapter 29 of the General Laws. The amount of any unexpended balance of federal grant funds received prior to June 30, 2012, and not included as part of an appropriation item in this section, is hereby made available for expenditure during fiscal year 2013, in addition to any amount appropriated in this section.
JUDICIARY.
Supreme Judicial Court.
0320-1700
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, State Court Improvement
$230,000
0320-1701
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, State Court Improvement Program Data Sharing
$190,000
0320-1703
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, State Court Improvement Training Program
$190,000
Committee for Public Counsel Services.
0320-1800
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Wrongful Conviction Unit Program
$150,000
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
Middle District Attorney.
0340-0465
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Child Sexual Predator Program
$250,000
8000-4611
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Justice Assistance Grant
$39,860
8000-4620
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Stop Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program
$32,893
Hampden District Attorney.
0340-0590
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Community Oriented Policing Services
$10,000
0840-0110
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Stop Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program
$36,148
Plymouth District Attorney.
0340-0824
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Justice Assistance Grant
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Justice Assistance Grant
$123,043
0340-0827
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Justice Assistance Grant
$114,228
District Attorneys’ Association.
8000-4620
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Stop Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program
$37,500
8000-4804
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Highway Safety Division
$33,554
SECRETARY OF STATE.
0521-0800
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Election Assistance for Disabled Individuals
$1,107,219
0526-0114
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Historic Preservation Survey and Planning
$917,000
0526-0116
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Preserve America
$150,000
TREASURER AND RECEIVER-GENERAL.
Massachusetts Cultural Council.
0640-9716
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Traditional Arts
$30,000
0640-9717
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Basic State Plan
$599,900
0640-9718
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Arts in Education
$74,300
0640-9724
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Arts in Underserved Communities
$184,900
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
0810-0026
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Crime Victim Compensation
$1,000,000
0810-0009
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, EDI HUD Special Project Grant
$160,000
Victim and Witness Assistance Board.
0840-0109
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Victim of Crimes Assistance Program
$41,568
0840-0110
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Victims of Crime Assistance Programs
$8,606,989
0840-4611
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Byrne Federal Grant
$260,000
0840-4620
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, VAWA Federal Grant
$273,000
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
1100-1703
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Implementation of Federal Development Disabilities Act; provided, that in order to qualify for said grant, this acount shall be exempt from the first $290,000 of fringe benefits and indirect cost charges pursuant to section 6B of chapter 29 of the General Laws
$1,840,016
1100-1704
For the purposes of federally funded grant entitled, Further Development of Developmental Disabilities Suite; provided, that in order to qualify for the grant, this account shall be exempt from the first $86,000 of fringe benefit and indirect cost charges pursuant to section 6B of chapter 29 of the General Laws
$183,949
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE.
Massachusetts Office on Disability.
1107-2450
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Client Assistance Program
$227,113
Department of Revenue.
1201-0109
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Access and Visitation - Parent Education Program
$222,169
1201-0126
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Family Centered Services for Unwed Parents in the IVD Caseload
$102,208
1201-0412
For the purposes of federally funded grants entitled, Child Support Enforcement Grants and Child Support IVD Companion account to CSE Demonstration Grants
$232,008
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS.
Office of the Secretary.
2000-0141
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Coastal Zone Management and Development
$2,596,208
2000-0142
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, CZ Coastal Hazards
$2,000
2000-0186
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan
$72,648
2000-0248
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, National Estuary Program - Operation
$624,375
2000-9701
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Outdoor Recreation Projects - Political Subdivisions
$800,000
2000-9735
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Buzzards Bay Estuary Program
$726,176
2030-0013
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Fisheries Enforcement
$909,257
2030-0122
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Ready Response Equipment for Ports of New Bedford, Cape Cod & Islands
$50,000
2030-0124
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Ready Response Equipment for the Port of Fall River
$72,000
2030-9701
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Safe Boating Program
$1,200,000
Department of Public Utilities.
7006-9002
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Pipeline Security
$1,015,052
Department of Environmental Protection.
2200-9706
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Water Quality Management Planning
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled Massachusetts Wilson/Fish Program(MWFP)
$3,426,406
4003-0817 ..... For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Refugee Independence Through Service Enhancement
$200,000
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.
4110-3020
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Vocational Rehabilitation; provided, that no funds shall be deducted for pensions, group health and life insurance or any other such indirect cost of federally reimbursed state employees
$50,000
4110-3021
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Basic Support Grant
$9,500,000
4110-3023
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Independent Living - Adaptive Housing
$90,000
4110-3026
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Independent Living - Services to Older Blind Americans
$700,000
4110-3027
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Rehabilitation Training
$30,000
4110-3028
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Supported Employment for the Blind
$128,000
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.
4120-0020
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Vocational Rehabilitation; provided, that no funds shall be deducted for pensions, group health and life insurance or any other such indirect cost of federally reimbursed state employees
$45,064,653
4120-0021
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, ARRA - Basic Vocational Rehabilitation Support
$25,000
4120-0040
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Vocational Rehabilitation and Comprehensive Systems of Personnel Development Training
$92,700
4120-0187
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Supported Employment Program Federal Funds
$465,342
4120-0191
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Informed Members Planning and Assessing Choices Together
$168,715
4120-0511
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Disability Services - Determination
$46,887,874
4120-0603
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Innovation Strategies for Transition Youth with Disabilities
Department of Public Health
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure
$1,650,822
4500-1030
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure
$993,662
4500-1050
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Rape Prevention and Education
$460,978
4500-1054
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Sexual Assault Services Program
$198,201
4500-1060
For the purposes of a federal funded grant entitled, MA EMPOWER II
$5,000
4500-1066
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, 2010 OMH State Partnership Grant Program
$140,000
4500-2000
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant
$12,087,710
4502-1012
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Cooperative Health Statistics System
$732,392
4510-0107
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts State Loan Repayment Program
$300,000
4510-0109
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, State Loan Repayment Program
$350,000
4510-0113
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Office of Rural Health
$179,999
4510-0115
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, ARRA - State Primary Care Offices
$150,000
4510-0116
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, State Primary Care Cooperative Agreement
$34,664
4510-0118
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Primary Care Cooperative Agreement
$158,000
4510-0119
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
$308,104
4510-0219
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant
$83,936
4510-0222
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Oral Health Workforce in New Sites II
$34,664
4510-0400
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Medicare and Medicaid Survey and Certification
$9,502,552
4510-0404
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Bio-terrorism Hospital Preparedness (HPP)
$7,242,636
4510-0408
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Medical Malpractice and Patient Safety
$1,096,281
4510-0409
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Electronic System For Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP), also known as MSAR, the Massachusetts System of Advanced Registration
$200,000
4510-0500
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Weatherization Assistance for Low Income Persons; provided, that consistent with applicable federal regulations and the state plan, the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$3,500,000
7004-2033
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; provided, that consistent with applicable federal regulations and the state plan, the department of housing and community development shall provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$75,000,000
7004-2034
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Community Services Block Grant; provided, that consistent with applicable federal regulations and the state plan, the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Section 8 Administrative Fee New Construction
$405,000
7004-3037
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program; provided, that consistent with applicable federal regulations and the state plan, the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$27,000,000
7004-3038
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Neighborhood Stabilization
$10,000,000
7004-3041
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, ARRA - Community Development Block Grant
$500,000
7004-3051
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, ARRA Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program
$17,000
7004-9009
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Section 8 Substantial Rehabilitation Program; provided, that the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$9,622,242
7004-9014
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Federal Housing Voucher Program; provided, that the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$236,900,000
7004-9019
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program; provided, that the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$10,100,000
7004-9020
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Section 8 New Construction Program; provided, that the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$6,690,959
7004-9028
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Home Investment Partnerships; provided, that, consistent with applicable federal regulations and the state plan, the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$16,500,000
7004-9039
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Home Technical Assistance
$40,040
7004-9051
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Shelter Plus Care; provided, that, consistent with applicable federal regulations and the state plan, the department of housing and community development may provide monthly payments in advance to participating agencies
$62,000
Executive office of public safety and security.
Office of the Secretary.
8800-0085
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Highway Safety Trust
$30,000
8000-0088
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Bulletproof Vest Federal Receipt
$300,000
8000-2015
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, ARRA Justice Assistant Grant
$644,000
8000-4603
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Act
$708,000
8000-4610
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Statistical Analysis Center
$60,000
8000-4611
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Byrne Justice Assistance
$4,600,000
8000-4619
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Title V
$71,000
8000-4620
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Stop Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program
$3,100,000
8000-4623
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Criminal History Improvement
$300,000
8000-4624
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Prisoner Substance Abuse Treatment
$150,000
8000-4639
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Justice Loan Repayment Grant
$130,000
8000-4640
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Hampden Re-Entry Grant
$50,000
8000-4692
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, State Homeland Security Program
$26,250,000
8000-4693
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Project Safe Neighborhood
$150,000
8000-4694
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Homeland Urban Areas
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Standards Care for People with Alzheimer’s in Home Care Program
$350,000
9110-3031
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, ADRC Strategic Planning
$267,058
9110-3037
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Community Living Program
$250,000
9110-3100
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Nursing Home Diversion Modernization
$361,093
SECTION 2E. The sums set forth in this section are hereby appropriated for transfer from the General Fund to the trust funds named within each item unless specifically designated otherwise in this section, for the purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this section and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Items in this section shall not be subject to allotment under section 9B of chapter 29 of the General Laws or reduction under section 9C of said chapter 29, without express authorization from the general court. Notwithstanding section 19A of said chapter 29, any transfer under this section shall be made by the comptroller in accordance with a transfer schedule to be developed for each item by the comptroller, after consulting with the appropriate agency secretary, the secretary of administration and finance and the state treasurer. The schedule for each appropriation shall provide for transfers in increments considered appropriate to meet the cash flow needs of each fund and all transfers under the schedule shall be completed not later than June 30, 2013. Not later than 7 days after the schedules receive final approval by the comptroller, they shall be reported to the house and senate committees on ways and means
Executive Office of Administration and Finance
1599-6152
For an operating transfer to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund, established pursuant to section 24 of chapter 32A of the General Laws
$415,042,237
Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
1595-1067
For an operating transfer to the Delivery System Transformation Initiatives Trust Fund established in section 35WW of chapter 10 of the General Laws; provided, that these funds shall be expended pursuant to the Delivery System Transformation Initiative Master Plan and hospital-specific plans approved in the MassHealth section 1115 demonstration waiver for fiscal year 2013; provided further, that all payments from the Delivery System Transformation Initiatives Trust Fund shall be subject to the availability of federal financial participation, shall be made only in accordance with federally-approved payment methods, shall be consistent with federal funding requirements and all federal payment limits as determined by the secretary of health and human services and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of an agreement with the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that the secretary of health and human services shall make payments of up to $44,853,333 from the Delivery System Transformation Initiatives Trust Fund to the Cambridge Public Health Commission for fiscal year 2013 only after the Cambridge Public Health Commission transfers up to $22,426,667 of its funds to the Delivery System Transformation Initiatives Trust Fund using a federally-permissible source of funds which shall fully satisfy the non-federal share of such payment; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 15, 2013 on: (i) the payments made to each hospital; (ii) the investments each hospital has made with this funding; and (iii) the hospital’s performance on the quality measures assessed under the Delivery System Transformation Initiatives program; and provided further, that the executive office of health and human services shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means 15 days in advance of any changes in payments made to these hospitals
$186,907,667
1595-1068
For an operating transfer to the MassHealth provider payment account in the Medical Assistance Trust Fund established in section 2QQQ of chapter 29 of the General Laws; provided, that these funds shall be expended only for services provided during state or federal fiscal year 2013, and no amounts previously or subsequently transferred into the Medical Assistance Trust Fund shall be expended on payments described in the section 1115 demonstration waiver for services provided during state fiscal year 2013, or payments described in the state plan for services provided during federal fiscal year 2013; provided further, that all payments from the Medical Assistance Trust Fund shall be subject to the availability of federal financial participation, shall be made only in accordance with federally-approved payment methods, shall be consistent with federal funding requirements and all federal payment limits as determined by the secretary of health and human services and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of an agreement with the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that any increase in payment made from the trust fund totaling an amount greater than $251,000,000 in fiscal year 2013 shall be made only after the secretary of health and human services certifies that any increase in payments from the trust fund shall not exceed the negotiated limit for section 1115 waiver spending; provided further, that the secretary of health and human services shall notify, in writing, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on health care financing of any increases in payments within 15 days; and provided further, that the secretary of health and human services shall make a payment of up to $308,050,000 from the Medical Assistance Trust Fund to the Cambridge Public Health Commission for dates of service in state and federal fiscal year 2013 only after the Cambridge Public Health Commission transfers up to $154,025,000 of its funds to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund using a federally-permissible source of funds which shall fully satisfy the nonfederal share of such payment
$394,025,000
1595-5819
For an operating transfer to the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund, established under section 2OOO of chapter 29 of the General Laws; provided, that up to $30,000,000 shall be transferred from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, established under section 36 of chapter 118G of the General Laws; provided further, that the hospital fiscal year 2013 payment amount to each hospital shall be funded by the Health Safety Net Trust Fund; provided further, that payments may be made either as safety net care payments under the commonwealth’s section 1115 waiver, or as an adjustment to Title XIX service rate payments, or a combination thereof; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services and the health safety net office may use other federally permissible funding mechanisms available for public service hospitals, as defined in 114.1 CMR 36.02, to reimburse up to $70,000,000 of uncompensated care at the hospitals using sources distinct from the funding made available to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services and the executive director of the commonwealth health insurance connector authority, shall on a quarterly basis evaluate the revenue needs of the health safety net program funded by the Health Safety Net Trust Fund and the Commonwealth Care subsidized health insurance program funded by the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund, and if necessary, transfer monies between these funds for the purpose of ensuring that sufficient revenues are available to support projected program expenditures; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance shall report any transfers made between the Health Safety Net Trust Fund and the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on health care financing within 30 days of the proposed transfer; provided further, that notwithstanding section 7A of chapter 176Q of the General Laws, for fiscal year 2013, the connector may provide an annual health insurance wellness subsidy not to exceed 15 per cent of eligible employer health care costs as calculated by the employer for credit by the federal government under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and provided further, that notwithstanding the language in Chapter 68 of the Act of 2011, or any general or special law to the contrary, any amounts that would otherwise revert within the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund that are not needed to support the costs of the Commonwealth Care and Commonwealth Care Bridge subsidized health insurance programs in fiscal year 2012 shall be made available to support the costs of these programs until June 30, 2013
$739,622,286
TRANSPORTATION.
Department of Transportation.
1595-6368
For an operating transfer to the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund, established under section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws
For an operating transfer to the regional transit authorities organized under chapter 161B of the General Laws or predecessor statutes pursuant to clause (2) of subsection (d) of section 2ZZZ of chapter 29 of the General Laws; provided, that the Massachusetts department of transportation shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means 60 days prior to the implementation of any changes to the methodology of distributing state contract assistance to regional transit authorities
For the operation of the motor vehicle insurance merit rating board, including the rent, related parking and utility expenses of the board; provided, that the amount appropriated in this item, and the associated fringe benefits, shall be borne by insurance companies doing motor vehicle insurance business within the commonwealth, under section 57A of chapter 6C of the General Laws; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no safe driver insurance plan shall require the payment of an unsafe driver point surcharge for the first offense for non-criminal motor vehicle traffic violations as described in chapter 90C of the General Laws
Department of Higher Education.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013 the distribution to cities and towns of the balance of the State Lottery Fund, as paid from the General Fund in accordance with clause (c) of the second paragraph of section 35 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, and additional funds from the General Fund shall be $900,000,000 and shall be apportioned to the cities and towns in accordance with this section.Notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, except for section 12B of chapter 76 and section 89 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, for fiscal year 2013 the total amounts to be distributed and paid to each city and town from item 7061-0008 of section 2 shall be as set forth in the following lists. The specified amounts to be distributed from said item 7061-0008 of said section 2 shall be in full satisfaction of the amounts due under chapter 70 of the General Laws.For fiscal year 2013, the foundation budget categories for each district shall be calculated in the same manner as in fiscal year 2012. The target local share shall be calculated using the same methodology used in fiscal year 2012. Preliminary local contribution shall be the municipality's fiscal year 2012 minimum required local contribution, increased or decreased by the municipal revenue growth factor; provided, that if a municipality's preliminary contribution as a percentage of its foundation budget is more than 5 percentage points lower than the target local share, the preliminary contribution shall be recalculated using the municipality's revenue growth factor plus 1 percentage point; and if a municipality's preliminary contribution as a percentage of its foundation budget is more than 10 percentage points lower than the target local share, the preliminary contribution shall be recalculated using the municipality's revenue growth factor plus 2 percentage points. Minimum required local contribution for fiscal year 2013 shall be, for any municipality with a fiscal year 2013 preliminary contribution greater than its fiscal year 2013 target contribution, the preliminary local contribution reduced by 15 per cent of the gap between the preliminary local contribution and the target local contribution. Required local contribution shall be allocated among the districts to which a municipality belongs in direct proportion to the foundation budgets for the municipality's pupils at each of those districts. For fiscal year 2013, "prior year aid" shall be fiscal year 2012 state-appropriated chapter 70 aid. For fiscal year 2013, the "foundation aid increment" shall be the difference between: (1) the positive difference between a district's foundation budget and its required district contribution; and (2) prior year aid. For fiscal year 2013, chapter 70 aid shall be: (a) for any district that: (i) has a target aid percentage greater than the sum of a district’s prior year aid and foundation aid increment as a percentage of foundation budget; and (ii) has a combined effort yield as a percentage of foundation budget of not more than 107.5 per cent; the sum of prior year aid and 25 per cent of the difference between the district’s target aid amount and the sum of prior year aid and the district’s foundation aid increment; (b) for any district with a positive foundation aid increment not included in (a), the sum of the district’s prior year aid plus the district’s foundation aid increment; and (c) for all other districts: the sum of foundation enrollment multiplied by 40 plus prior year aid. Combined effort yield as a percentage of foundation for districts shall be determined by dividing the district’s combined effort yield by the district’s total foundation budget. Combined effort yield as a percentage of foundation for regional school districts shall be determined by allocating a member municipality’s combined effort yield among the districts to which said municipality belongs in direct proportion to the foundation budgets for the municipality’s pupils at each of those districts. No non-operating district shall receive chapter 70 aid in an amount greater than the district's foundation budget. If there is a conflict between the language of this section and the distribution listed below, the distribution below shall control.
The department of elementary and secondary education shall not consider health care costs for retired teachers to be part of net school spending for any district in which such costs were not considered part of net school spending in fiscal year 1994. No payments to cities, towns or counties maintaining an agricultural school pursuant to this section shall be made after November 30 of the fiscal year until the commissioner of revenue certifies acceptance of the prior fiscal year's annual financial reports submitted pursuant to section 43 of chapter 44 of the General Laws. Advance payments shall be made for some or all of periodic local reimbursement or assistance programs to any city, town, regional school district or independent agricultural and technical school that demonstrates an emergency cash shortfall, as certified by the commissioner of revenue and approved by the secretary of the executive office for administration and finance, pursuant to guidelines established by the secretary.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 4. Section 41 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 14, the words “state office buildings” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the state house.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 5. Section 19 of chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 6. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by striking out section 20, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 20. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-“Historical artifact”, an object commemorating, representing or having specific ties to a significant historical event or era in the history of the commonwealth; provided, however, that ”historical artifact” shall not include flags under the care of the superintendent of the state house under section 17A of chapter 8. “Work of art”, (i) a portrait or other memorial procured under section 19 or 19A of chapter 8; and (ii) a painting, portrait, mural decoration, stained glass, statue, bas-relief, ornament, fountain or other article or structure of a permanent character intended for decoration or commemoration. (b) There shall be an art commission for the state house consisting of 7 members, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. All of the members shall be residents of the commonwealth qualified by training and experience in public art, museum collections or historic preservation. Commission members shall serve for 5-year terms without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses necessary for the performance of their duties, as approved by the superintendent of the state house and paid for from the State House Special Event Fund established in section 35P of chapter 10. The commission may adopt its own rules and elect such officers from its own members as may be considered proper.(c) The governor shall appoint a state house curator from among candidates recommended by the commission. The curator shall be qualified by training and experience in historic preservation and art collections management, care and conservation. The curator shall report to the superintendent of the state house and the commission and shall be responsible for the curatorial, registrarial and administrative duties associated with both the day-to-day oversight of the state house art and artifact collection and the historic preservation of the state house. The curator shall be paid from the State House Special Event Fund. (d) The commission shall have the custody and care of all works of art and historical artifacts in the state house art collection, including those inside the state house, on its grounds, on display and in storage. The commission shall oversee the care of such works of art and historical artifacts according to the codes of ethics and standards for practice established by the American Association of Museums and the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.The commission shall oversee the handling and display of works of art and historical artifacts in public areas and private offices; provided, however, that the commission shall not place in or remove from any space in the state house assigned to the general court any such works of art or historical artifacts without the approval of the committees on rules of the 2 branches, acting concurrently. (e) The commission shall serve as an advisor to the governor and legislature on all artistic matters at the state house, including the historic preservation of the building. (f) The commission shall direct the process of acquisitions to the state house art collection, from review of all plans to the final approval of completed art works. The art commission shall be advised of any proposal relative to the permanent addition of works of art or historical artifacts to the state house art collection and shall submit its opinion regarding the appropriateness of proposed art work prior to the approval required under section 21 of chapter 8. (g) The commission shall review and approve any plan or design relative to the creation, acquisition, construction, erection or remodeling of any work of art in the state house. The commission may consult with sponsors and donors to revise and refine such plans and designs. The commission shall give its final approval upon the arrival of the work of art to the state house. The commission shall file with the governor, within 30 days after submission of a plan or design, its opinion of such proposed work of art together with such suggestions and recommendations as it may consider proper. (h) The commission may receive grants, gifts, bequests and other contributions for the maintenance, restoration and acquisition of works of art and historical artifacts. Such funds shall be received by the state treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth and deposited in a special trust account for the commission and may be expended, without further appropriation, under the direction of the commissioners. Such special trust account shall be subject to an annual audit by the state auditor.
Tercentenary Sign Repair
SECTION 7. Chapter 6C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 74. The department shall require that a contract for the construction, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, improvement or rehabilitation of the metropolitan highway system, the state highway system or the turnpike shall include the repair or rehabilitation of any sign or marker erected pursuant to chapter 10 of the resolves of 1930 that is abutting such project. Bureau of the State House
SECTION 8. Section 40C of chapter 7 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 42, the words “and the bureau of state office buildings”.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 9. Section 43H of said chapter 7, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 and 7, the words “state superintendent of state office buildings” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- superintendent of the state house. Bureau of the State House
SECTION 10. Chapter 8 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 1, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 1. There shall be within the executive office for administration and finance a bureau of the state house, headed by a superintendent of the state house. The bureau of the state house shall be located in the state house. The superintendent shall be appointed by the secretary of administration and finance and may be removed in a like manner. The superintendent shall be a person of ability and experience with a background in finance and operations and may have a background in engineering. The full time of the superintendent shall be devoted to the duties of the office. The office shall not be classified under chapter 31.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 11. Section 4 of said chapter 8, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 and 2, the words “state office buildings may, with the approval of the commissioner of administration,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the state house may.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 12. Said chapter 8 is hereby further amended by striking out section 6, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sections:-
Section 6. The superintendent of the state house shall direct the making of all repairs and improvements in the state house, on the grounds of the state house and to any buildings thereof and all tenants, offices or occupants located in the state house shall make requisition upon the superintendent for any such repairs or improvements.
Section 6A. Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the superintendent, or employees designated by the superintendent, may make purchases where the amount involved will not exceed $1,000.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 13. Said chapter 8 is hereby further amended by striking out section 9, as amended by section 20 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 9. The superintendent shall have charge of the operation and maintenance of the state house, subject to such rules as the committee on rules of the 2 branches, acting concurrently, may adopt and all state parking areas related thereto. The superintendent shall see that the chambers and lobbies of the general court and its committees are kept clean and in good order, shall superintend all ordinary repairs thereof and shall have charge of the current expenses for the care and preservation of the state house and for the ordinary repairs of the furniture and fixtures therein. The superintendent shall take proper precautions against damage thereto or to the furniture, fixtures or other public property therein; provided, however, that security in the state house shall be the responsibility of the commissioner of conservation and recreation in consultation and coordination with the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate. The commissioner of conservation and recreation shall utilize the members of the urban park rangers program, established under section 34B of chapter 92, to maintain security; provided, however, that the commissioner shall carry out the responsibility subject to such rules as the committee on rules of the 2 branches, acting concurrently, may adopt and shall not be subject to the authority of the superintendent. There shall be maintained an adequate passageway for foot passengers from north to south through the east wing or extension of the state house, to be kept open during such hours as the superintendent shall fix. The state house and most facilities used by the public, including hearing rooms, shall be accessible to, functional for and safe for use by persons with physical disabilities; provided further, that the commonwealth shall make available a certain number of designated handicapped parking spaces for the general public. The superintendent may adopt rules, regulations and orders necessary for the operation and maintenance of the state house.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 14. Said chapter 8 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out section 9A, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 9A. The superintendent of the state house shall establish and charge a fee or service charge to nongovernmental individuals, entities and groups using the state house for meetings, receptions or exhibits, which may be reduced at the discretion of the superintendent. The superintendent or a designee shall establish such fee or charge based upon the actual cost of use, including personnel, requests for security, preparation, equipment replacement, cleanup, utilities used and compensation for wear on the building. The superintendent, or a designee may, in the superintendent’s discretion, require a nongovernment entity to enter into a written agreement indemnifying the commonwealth against any claims for casualty liability and may require the posting of an insurance bond. All monies received by the superintendent under this section shall be by check made payable to and deposited in the State House Special Event Fund, as established in section 35P of chapter 10; provided, however, that the superintendent may retain funds to be expended after consultation with the committee on rules of the 2 branches, acting concurrently, for restoration, equipment repair and replacement and educational and cultural programs at the state house.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 15. Section 14 of said chapter 8, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 and 2, the words “fifteen hundred dollars” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- $10,000 from the State House Special Event Fund established in section 35P of chapter 10.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 16. Section 16A of said chapter 8, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 and 7, the words “Room numbered twenty-seven in the state house, formerly used by the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Massachusetts,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- A room in the state house.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 17. Section 17 of said chapter 8, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “Inc.”, in line 17, the second time it appears, the following words:- , groups established to represent all recent and future wars.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 18. Section 35P of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the words “state superintendent of state office buildings” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- superintendent of the state house.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 19. Said section 35P of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the fifth sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- All monies received by the superintendent under this section shall be by check made payable to and deposited in the fund; provided, however, that the superintendent may retain funds to be expended after consultation with the committee on rules of the 2 branches, acting concurrently, for restoration, equipment repair and replacement and educational and cultural programs at the state house; provided further, that funds shall be used to pay the salary of the state house curator and to reimburse the art commission for travel and other expenses under section 20 of chapter 6; and provided further, that funds shall be used for the maintenance of the military history museum under section 14 of chapter 8.
SECTION 20. Said chapter 10 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 35SS the following 2 sections:-
Section 35TT. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Grant Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the secretary of health and human services. Amounts from the fund shall be used for expenses that primarily benefit individuals with a disability or long-term illness or who are elders. The comptroller shall credit to the fund an amount equal to the amount of money follows the person - enhanced federal financial participation received by the commonwealth on money follows the person qualified, demonstration or supplemental services under the terms and conditions of the money follows the person rebalancing demonstration as determined by a federally approved list of home and community-based long-term services and supports and federally approved allocation methodologies for home and community-based long-term services and supports purchased through capitated arrangements. The funds shall be used to fund slots for money follows the person participants in the 2 money follows the person home and community-based waiver programs established to support the commonwealth's rebalancing initiative. The secretary may authorize expenditures of amounts from the fund without further appropriation. The comptroller shall transfer to the fund not later than the tenth business day of each quarter, an amount equal to the amount of enhanced federal financial participation collected from the previous quarter. The secretary may certify for payment amounts in anticipation of federal revenues collected for the corresponding quarter during the previous fiscal year. To accommodate timing discrepancies between the receipt of revenues and related expenditures, the secretary may incur expenses, after written approval from the secretary of administration and finance, and the comptroller shall certify for payment, amounts not to exceed the most recent revenue estimate as certified by the MassHealth director, as reported in the state accounting system.
Section 35UU. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Delivery System Transformation Initiatives Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the secretary of health and human services. Monies from the fund may be expended for delivery system transformation initiatives payments to qualifying providers under an approved federal waiver. Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation.
False Claims Act
SECTION 21. Chapter 12 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out sections 5A and 5B, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sections:-
Section 5A. As used in sections 5A to 5O, inclusive, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-“Claim”, a request or demand, whether pursuant to a contract or otherwise, for money or property, whether or not the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof has title to the money or property, that: (1) is presented to an officer, employee, agent or other representative of the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof; or (2) is made to a contractor, subcontractor, grantee or other person, if the money or property is to be spent or used on behalf of or to advance a program or interest of the commonwealth or political subdivision thereof and if the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof: (i) provides or has provided any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded; or (ii) will reimburse directly or indirectly such contractor, subcontractor, grantee or other person for any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded. A claim shall not include requests or demands for money or property that the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof has paid to an individual as compensation for employment with the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on that individual’s use of the money or property. “False claims action”, an action filed by the office of the attorney general or a relator under sections 5A to 5O, inclusive.“False claims law”, sections 5A to 5O, inclusive.“Knowing and knowingly”, possessing actual knowledge of relevant information, acting with deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information or acting in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information; provided, however, that no proof of specific intent to defraud shall be required.“Material”, having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property.“Obligation”, an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee or licensor-licensee relationship, from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation or from the retention of any overpayment after the deadline for reporting and returning the overpayment under paragraph (10) of section 5B. “Original source”, an individual who: (1) prior to a public disclosure under paragraph (3) of section 5G, has voluntarily disclosed to the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof the information on which allegations or transactions in a claim are based; or (2) has knowledge that is independent of and materially adds to the publicly-disclosed allegations or transactions, and who has voluntarily provided the information to the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof before filing a false claims action. “Overpayment”, any funds that a person receives or retains, including funds received or retained under Title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act, to which the person, after applicable reconciliation, is not entitled.“Person”, a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other business or legal entity.“Political subdivision”, a city, town, county or other governmental entity authorized or created by law, including public corporations and authorities.“Relator”, an individual who brings an action under paragraph (2) of section 5C.
Section 5B. (a) Any person who: (1) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval; (2) knowingly makes, uses or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim; (3) conspires to commit a violation of this subsection; (4) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a claim that includes items or services resulting from a violation of section 1128B of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b, or section 41 of chapter 118E; (5) has possession, custody or control of property or money used, or to be used, by the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof and knowingly delivers, or causes to be delivered, to the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof less than all of that property or money; (6) is authorized to make or deliver a document certifying receipt of property used, or to be used, by the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof and, with the intent of defrauding the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, makes or delivers the receipt without completely knowing that the information on the receipt is true; (7) knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from an officer or employee of the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, who may not lawfully sell or pledge such property; (8) enters into an agreement, contract or understanding with an official of the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof knowing the information contained therein is false; (9) knowingly makes, uses or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or to transmit money or property to the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof; or (10) is a beneficiary of an inadvertent submission of a false claim to the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, or is a beneficiary of an overpayment from the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, and who subsequently discovers the falsity of the claim or the receipt of overpayment and fails to disclose the false claim or receipt of overpayment to the commonwealth or a political subdivision by the later of: (i) the date which is 60 days after the date on which the false claim or receipt of overpayment was identified; or (ii) the date any corresponding cost report is due, if applicable, shall be liable to the commonwealth or political subdivision for a civil penalty of not less than $5,500 and not more than $11,000 per violation, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-410 section 5, 104 Stat. 891, note following 28 U.S.C. section 2461, plus 3 times the amount of damages, including consequential damages, that the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof sustains because of such violation. A person violating sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, shall also be liable to the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof for the expenses of the civil action brought to recover any such penalty or damages including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, reasonable expert fees and the costs of investigation, as set forth below. Costs recoverable under said sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, shall also include the costs of any review or investigation undertaken by the attorney general, or by the state auditor or the inspector general in cooperation with the attorney general.(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), if the court finds that: (1) the person committing the violation of subsection (a) furnished an official of the office of the attorney general investigating a false claims law violation with all the information known to such person about the violation within 30 days after the date on which the person first obtained the information; (2) such person fully cooperated with any commonwealth investigation of such violation; and (3) at the time such person furnished the commonwealth with the information about the violation, no civil action or administrative action had commenced under sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, or no criminal prosecution had commenced with respect to such violation, and such person did not have actual knowledge of the existence of an investigation into such violation, the court may assess not less than 2 times the amount of damages, including consequential damages, that the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof sustained because of the act of that person.(c) A corporation, partnership or other person shall be liable to the commonwealth under sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, for the acts of its agent where the agent acted with apparent authority, regardless of whether the agent acted, in whole or in part, to benefit the principal and regardless of whether the principal adopted or ratified the agent's claims, representation, statement or other action or conduct.(d) Sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, shall not apply to claims, records or statements made or presented to establish, limit, reduce or evade liability for the payment of tax to the commonwealth or other governmental authority.(e) A person who has engaged in conduct described in subsection (a) prior to payment shall only be entitled to payment from the commonwealth of the actual amount due less the excess amount falsely or fraudulently claimed.
False Claims Act
SECTION 22. Section 5C of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (3) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-(3) When a relator brings an action under said sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, a copy of the complaint and written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information the relator possesses shall be served on the attorney general pursuant to Rule 4(d)(3) of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure. The complaint shall be filed under seal and shall remain so for 120 days after service upon the attorney general. Notwithstanding any other general or special law or procedural rule to the contrary, service on the defendant shall not be required until the period provided in paragraph (5). The attorney general may, for good cause shown, ask the court for extensions during which the complaint shall remain under seal. Any such motions may be supported by affidavits or other submissions under seal. The attorney general may elect to intervene and proceed with the action on behalf of the commonwealth or political subdivision within the 120-day period or during any extension, after the attorney general receives both the complaint and the material evidence and information. Any information or documents furnished by the relator to the attorney general in connection with an action or investigation under said sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, shall be exempt from disclosure under section 10 of chapter 66.
False Claims Act
SECTION 23. Said section 5C of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 38, the words “90 day”.
False Claims Act
SECTION 24. Said section 5C of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-(7) With respect to a federal, state or local government that is named as a co-plaintiff with the commonwealth in an action brought pursuant to sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, a seal on the action ordered by the court under paragraph (3) shall not preclude the commonwealth or the relator from serving the complaint, any other pleadings or the written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information possessed by the relator on the law enforcement authorities that are authorized under the law of that federal, state or local government to investigate and prosecute such actions on behalf of such governments, except that such seal shall apply to the law enforcement authorities so served to the same extent as the seal applies to other parties in the action.
False Claims Act
SECTION 25. Section 5F of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “expenses,”, in lines 20 and 21, the following words:- fees and costs.
False Claims Act
SECTION 26. Said section 5F of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “expenses”, in line 31, the following words:- , fees and costs.
False Claims Act
SECTION 27. Paragraph (5) of said section 5F of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Whether or not the attorney general proceeds with the action, if the court finds that the action was brought by a relator who planned and initiated the violation of sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, upon which the action was brought, then the court may, to the extent the court considers appropriate, reduce or eliminate the share of the proceeds of the action which the relator would otherwise receive pursuant to this section, taking into account the role of the relator in advancing the case to litigation and any relevant circumstances pertaining to the violation.
False Claims Act
SECTION 28. Said chapter 12 is hereby amended by striking out section 5G, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 5G. (a) No court shall have jurisdiction over an action brought pursuant to section 5C against the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the treasurer, the secretary of state, the auditor, a member of the general court, the inspector general or a member of the judiciary if the action is based on evidence or information known to the commonwealth when the action was brought.(b) An individual shall not bring an action pursuant to paragraph (2) of section 5C that is based upon allegations or transactions which are the subject of a civil suit or an administrative proceeding in which the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof is already a party.(c) The court shall dismiss an action pursuant to sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, unless opposed by the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed: (i) in a Massachusetts criminal, civil or administrative hearing in which the commonwealth is a party; (ii) in a Massachusetts legislative, administrative, auditor's or inspector general's report, hearing, audit or investigation; or (iii) from the news media, unless the action is brought by the attorney general or unless the relator is an original source of the information.
False Claims Act
SECTION 29. Paragraph (1) of section 5I of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence.
False Claims Act
SECTION 30. Said chapter 12 is hereby further amended by striking out section 5J, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 5J. (1) No employer shall make, adopt or enforce any rule, regulation or policy preventing an employee, contractor or agent from disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency or from acting to further efforts to stop 1 or more violations of sections 5B to 5O, inclusive. No employer shall require as a condition of employment, during the term of employment or at the termination of employment that an employee, contractor or agent agree to, accept or sign an agreement that limits or denies the rights of such employee, contractor or agent to bring an action or provide information to a government or law enforcement agency pursuant to said sections 5B to 5O, inclusive. Any such agreement shall be void.(2) An employee, contractor or agent shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make that employee, contractor or agent whole if that employee, contractor or agent is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent or a person associated with the employee, contractor or agent in furtherance of an action under sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, or other efforts to stop a violation of said sections 5B to 5O, inclusive. (3) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, relief under paragraph (2) shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status the employee, contractor or agent would have had but for the discrimination, twice the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination. In addition, the defendant shall be required to pay litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. An employee, contractor or agent may bring an action in the appropriate superior court, the superior court of the county of Suffolk or any other appropriate court for the relief provided in this section.(4) A civil action under this section may not be brought more than 3 years after the date when the retaliation occurred. False Claims Act
SECTION 31. Section 5K of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (2) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-(2) If the attorney general elects to intervene and proceed with an action brought pursuant to sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, for a violation of section 5B, the attorney general may file a complaint or amend the complaint of a person who has brought an action pursuant to sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, to clarify or add detail to the claims in which the attorney general is intervening and to add any additional claims with respect to which the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof contends it is entitled to relief. For statute of limitations purposes, any such pleading shall relate back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action to the extent that the claim of the attorney general arises out of the conduct, transactions or occurrences set forth or attempted to be set forth in the prior complaint of that person.(3) Notwithstanding any other general or special law, rule of procedure or rule of evidence to the contrary, a final judgment rendered in favor of the commonwealth in a criminal proceeding charging fraud or false statements, whether upon a verdict after trial or upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, shall bar the defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action which involves the same act, transaction or occurrence as in the criminal proceedings and which is brought under section 5B.
False Claims Act
SECTION 32. Section 5N of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-(1) Notwithstanding any general or special law, procedural rule or regulation to the contrary, whenever the attorney general or a designee has reason to believe that a person may be in possession, custody or control of documentary material or information relevant to a false claims law investigation, the attorney general or a designee may, before commencing a civil action under paragraph (1) of section 5C or other false claims law, or making an election to intervene under paragraph (3) of said section 5C, issue in writing and cause to be served upon such person, a civil investigative demand requiring such person to: (i) produce such documentary material for inspection and copying; (ii) answer written interrogatories, in writing and under oath; (iii) give oral testimony under oath; or (iv) furnish any combination of such material, answers or testimony. The attorney general may delegate to an assistant attorney general the authority to issue civil investigative demands under this section. (2) Service of a demand pursuant to paragraph (1) may be made by: (i) delivering a copy thereof to the person to be served or to a partner or to any officer or agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process on behalf of such person; (ii) delivering a copy thereof to the principal place of business or the last and usual place of abode in the commonwealth of the person to be served; or (iii) mailing by registered or certified mail a copy thereof addressed to the person to be served at the person’s last and usual place of abode in the commonwealth, the principal place of business in the commonwealth or, if said person has no place of business in the commonwealth, to the person’s principal office.
False Claims Act
SECTION 33. Said section 5N of said chapter 12, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out paragraph (8) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-(8) Any documentary material or other information produced by a person pursuant to sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, shall not, unless otherwise ordered by a justice of the superior court for good cause shown, be disclosed to any other person other than the authorized agent or representative of the attorney general and any officer or employee of the commonwealth who is working under their direct supervision with respect to the false claims law investigation, unless with the consent of the person producing the same, except that any information obtained by the attorney general under this section may be shared with any qui tam relator if the attorney general determines it is necessary as part of a false claims act investigation. Such documentary material or information may be disclosed by the attorney general in court proceedings or in papers filed in court. Nothing in this section shall preclude the attorney general from disclosing information and evidence secured pursuant to sections 5B to 5O, inclusive, to officials of the United States, other states, the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof charged with the responsibility for enforcement of federal, state or local laws respecting fraud or false claims upon federal, state or local governments. Prior to any such disclosure, the attorney general shall obtain a written agreement from such officials to abide by the restrictions of this section.
Community College Reform
SECTION 34. Section 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 37 and 39, and in lines 48 and 49, the words “five year” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- 3-year.
State University Tuition Retention and Community College Reform
SECTION 35. The first paragraph of said section 9 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clause (i) and inserting in place thereof the following clause:- (i) develop a rational and equitable statewide tuition and fee plan for community colleges, which plan shall take into account the per student maintenance costs and total mandated costs per student; provided, however, that the total mandated costs per student shall include the state appropriation, retained revenue, fringe benefits and ongoing maintenance; provided further, that the tuition and fee plan shall include direct and indirect elements of the per student maintenance costs including, but not limited to, faculty and administrators that support an institution’s primary mission of instruction, student admission services and ongoing maintenance for classrooms, administrative buildings, libraries and laboratories; provided further, that the tuition and fee plan shall include revised retention expenditure regulations which shall take into account the needs of the institutions with regard to personnel and utility costs; provided further, that the tuition and fee plan shall further take into account the need to maximize student access to higher education regardless of a student’s financial circumstances; provided further, that the council shall issue regulations governing the implementation of such tuition and fee plan by the community colleges; provided further, that the tuition rates shall be subject to the approval of the council; provided further, that the council shall establish final tuition rates for the subsequent academic years not later than 15 days prior to the deadline for submission of state or federal financial aid applications by students attending the institutions of higher education set forth in section 5; provided further, that the council shall establish guidelines to be followed by each community college relative to student charges and whether the charges should be classified as tuition or as fees; provided further, that the guidelines shall be based upon a study of tuition and fees which shall be conducted by the council and which shall be authorized by law; provided further, that fees as defined by the guidelines shall not exceed 25 per cent of total student charges for the community colleges; and provided further, that in the case of the state universities, the council shall review and approve student charges under section 42.
Community College Reform
SECTION 36. Said section 9 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 91, the figure “5” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3.
Transfer and Degree Auditing System
SECTION 37. Said section 9 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “institutions”, in line 119, the following words:- ; provided, however, that the council shall also engage in coordinated and collaborative research projects with other state entities including, but not limited to, the department of early education and care, the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of workforce development to support the development of policies that enhance successful transitions from early childhood through entry into the workforce.
Transfer and Degree Auditing System
SECTION 38. Said section 9 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “education”, in line 229, the following words:- ; and (hh) to build and maintain a centrally administered computer-based transfer and degree auditing system providing individual students with clear and consistent information on the student’s progress toward fulfilling degree requirements in any undergraduate program at any public institution of higher education; provided, however, that the system shall include course-to-course equivalencies across institutions enabling students access to information necessary for understanding how credits will transfer to another public institution of higher education; provided further, that the council shall coordinate the implementation of the system and shall ensure all public higher education institutions utilize the system for all undergraduate programs and course offerings including, but not limited to, courses offered through continuing education programs, online courses and courses supported by the commonwealth; provided further, that the council shall determine the form in which all data and course equivalencies shall be submitted by the public institutions of higher education; provided further, that the council shall also utilize the data in the system to produce an annual report that highlights the number and type of transfers within the system of public higher education, the number of students accessing the system, the progress of students statewide towards degree completion and other relevant research assessments as the council may determine relevant to the careful and responsible discharge of its purposes; and provided further, that the annual report shall be submitted to the secretary of education, the joint committee on higher education and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than October 1.
Adopted Students’ Tuition and Fee Waiver Cap
SECTION 39. Section 19 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “division”, in line 50, the following words:- ; provided, however, that if sufficient funds are not appropriated to cover full tuition and fee waivers, the council may adopt guidelines that give preference to qualifying students whose expected family contribution, as determined by the free application for federal student aid, is less than $10,000.
Community College Reform
SECTION 40. Section 21 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-There shall be a board of trustees consisting of 11 voting members for each of the institutions named in section 5, other than the University of Massachusetts. Each board of trustees shall elect a chairperson; provided, however, that in the case of community colleges, the board of trustees shall recommend to the governor 3 nominees for the position of chairperson who shall reside within the geographic region of the community college and the governor shall appoint 1 of those nominees as chairperson. Each community college board of trustees shall include at least 1 representative from 1 of the 3 industries with the greatest projected number of job vacancies as determined by the executive office of labor and workforce development’s study on labor market conditions, to serve as a nonvoting member and a vocational-technical school district trustee under section 4 of chapter 74, representing each vocational-technical school in the geographic region, to serve as a nonvoting member.
Public Institutions of Higher Education Boards of Trustees Correction
SECTION 41. Said section 21 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 36, the word “No” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Except as otherwise provided in section 4, no.
Community College Reform
SECTION 42. Said section 21 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “institution”, in line 57, the following words:- ; provided, however, that in the case of a community college, the board of trustees of the community college or the council shall initiate the removal of the chief executive officer of the community college; and provided further, that the removal shall be approved by a 2/3 vote of the council and the board of trustees of the community college.
State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 43. The first paragraph of section 22 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clause (b) and inserting in place thereof the following clause:- (b) establish all fees at community colleges subject to guidelines established by the council; provided, however, that such community college fees shall include fines and penalties collected pursuant to the enforcement of traffic and parking rules and regulations; provided further, that the rules and regulations shall be enforced by persons in the employ of the community college who, throughout the property of the institution, shall have the powers of police officers, except as to the service of civil process; provided further, that the community college fees established under this section shall be retained by the board of trustees in a revolving fund and shall be expended as the board of the community college may direct; provided further, that the foregoing shall not authorize any action in contravention of the requirements of Section 1 of Article LXIII of the Amendments to the Constitution; provided further, that such fund shall be subject to annual audit by the state auditor; provided further, that each board of trustees of a state university shall establish all student charges of the state university under the process set forth in section 42, as applicable; provided further, that the student charges of the state university shall include fines and penalties collected pursuant to the enforcement of traffic and parking rules and regulations; provided further, that the rules and regulations shall be enforced by persons in the employ of the state university who, throughout the property of the institution, shall have the powers of police officers, except as to the service of civil process; and provided further, that the foregoing shall not authorize any action in contravention of the requirements of Section 1 of Article LXIII of the Amendments to the Constitution.
Community College Reform
SECTION 44. Said section 22 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 40, the figure “5” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 3.
Community College Reform
SECTION 45. Said section 22 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “mission”, in line 71, the following words:- ; provided, however, that the assessment report shall also include recommendations for future collaboration, analysis of the collaboration between the community college and vocational-technical schools and the training and job development programs implemented by the community college and vocational-technical schools.
State University Tuition Retention and Community College Reform
SECTION 46. Said chapter 15A is hereby further amended by adding the following 2 sections:-Section 42. (a) The board of trustees of each state university shall, for each academic year, fix and establish student charges for each such state university, subject to the requirements of this section. In-state student charges shall preserve affordability for residents of the commonwealth. Out-of-state student charges shall appropriately balance the financial needs of the college with the need to be competitive with peer institutions regionally. In setting student charges, each state university shall consider factors including, but not limited to, actual appropriations received, the Consumer Price Index, the Higher Education Price Index, tuition and fee rates at peer institutions, collective bargaining costs, funding from the commonwealth measured with reference to the funding formula established in section 15B and making progress towards ensuring that fees constitute not more than 25 per cent of student charges. To the extent practicable, final student charges shall be established for each academic year not later than March 1 of the calendar year in which the rates shall take effect.For the purposes of this section, “student charges” shall include tuition and fees that are charged to students generally for attendance at a state university, but shall not include any fee or other charge established by such state university that is specific to a particular course, program or activity, and shall not include any rates, rents, charges or fees set by the Massachusetts State College Building Authority. (b) Each state university shall submit a 3-year student charges plan to the board of higher education for the board’s approval. The plan shall contain the annual student charges that the state university expects to approve for the state university’s state-supported programs under subsection (a) for a period of not fewer than 3 academic years. The plan shall also include, but not be limited to, budget and enrollment projections for each year, projections for in-state and out-of-state enrollments for each year, consideration of segmental missions and plans to ensure continuing access to the institution by residents of the commonwealth and to maintain and increase access for underrepresented student groups. The board of higher education, in considering whether to approve a plan, shall consider, but not be limited to considering, the same factors the campuses are required to consider in setting student charges under this section. For the first 3 years, the board may also consider, to the extent practicable, any steps taken in the plan to ensure that fees constitute not more than 25 per cent of student charges. For the second 3 years and for each plan submitted thereafter, the board shall consider the progress made toward ensuring that fees constitute not more than 25 per cent of student charges. Within 120 days after submission of a plan, the board of higher education shall either approve the plan or return it to the state university with suggested changes. The approval shall require a 2/3 vote of the board of higher education. If the board of higher education does not vote on a plan within 120 days after its submission, the plan shall be considered approved. A copy of the plan shall be provided to the joint committee on higher education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of education at the time the plan is submitted to the board of higher education. (c) If following the approval of a state university’s plan under subsection (b) the board of trustees of such state university approves, for any academic year, student charges that are greater than 105 per cent of the student charges approved in such university’s plan, the state university shall submit such greater rate to the board of higher education for its approval as part of an amended student charges plan. The amended plan shall describe in detail the reasons why the state university’s student charges are greater than the expected student charges and shall provide revised or updated information on budget and enrollment projections for each year, projections for in-state and out-of-state enrollments for each year, consideration of segmental missions and plans to ensure continuing access to the institution by residents of the commonwealth and to maintain and increase access for underrepresented student groups, as necessary. Within 60 days after the submission of a revised plan, the board of higher education shall either approve the plan or return it to the state university with suggested changes. The approval shall require a 2/3 vote of the board of higher education. If the board of higher education does not vote on a plan within 60 days after its submission, the plan shall be considered approved. A copy of the revised plan shall be provided to the joint committee on higher education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of education at the time the plan is submitted to the board of higher education. (d) A state university or the board of higher education may, at its discretion, request that a plan approved under subsection (b) or (c) be re-examined and modified in accordance with procedures established by the board of higher education. Any resulting modification shall be concurred with by the board of trustees of the affected state university and by a 2/3 vote of the board of higher education. (e) All student charges received by the board of trustees of a state university under this section shall be retained by the board of trustees of that institution in a revolving trust fund and shall be expended as the board of trustees may direct for the operation and support of the institution. Any balance in a trust fund at the end of a fiscal year shall continue to be held in the trust fund, shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years and shall not revert to the General Fund. All such trust funds shall be subject to audit by the state auditor. Section 43. The commissioner shall establish in the department of higher education, an office of coordination. The commissioner shall appoint a director to operate and administer the office who shall have experience with workforce development in the public or private sector. The director shall work to establish a clearinghouse for all training opportunities provided by public higher educational institutions. The University of Massachusetts, state universities and community colleges shall report to this office every workforce training opportunity they provide and all workforce training requests they received but were not able to meet. The director shall maintain a public website listing all such training opportunities offered and shall provide support for employers with workforce training needs. The director shall provide information to public institutions of higher education to help the institutions provide workforce development services in the most efficient manner possible and eliminate redundancies in the commonwealth’s workforce development offerings. The director shall establish a program for employers newly opened in or relocated to the commonwealth to apprise these employers of workforce training programs and provide assistance in securing workforce development grants. The director shall prepare an annual report for publication on progress to improve the effectiveness of the commonwealth’s workforce development efforts and shall report regularly to the public on the progress the office is making towards achieving the stated goals. The annual report, which shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a commissioner-approved plan for the year, including the goals set for the year and the performance measurements by which to evaluate those goals and programs or initiatives to meet those goals; (ii) the number, nature and amount of trainings facilitated and grants awarded to employers assisted by the office; and (iii) a description of technical assistance that the office provided. The annual report of the office shall be made available to the public on the commonwealth’s website not later than December 31 and shall be filed with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means.
Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards
SECTION 47. Paragraph (B) of section 2 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clause (i) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 clauses:-(i) charge a fee up to the maximum amount permissible under federal law for any identification card it issues as a replacement for an identification card that has been lost, mutilated, stolen or destroyed, except if such loss or destruction occurs during the mailing of an original identification card to a recipient, if the card ceases to work through no fault of the recipient or if the department issues replacement cards on its own initiative to classes of recipients; provided that all fees for replacement cards shall be deducted directly from the recipient’s cash assistance benefits.(j) send a notice to any benefit recipient who requests more than 3 replacement electronic benefit transfer cards in a calendar year and monitor future requests for replacement cards; provided that the notice shall state that the department has noted an unusual number of requests for replacement electronic benefits cards and will be monitoring all future requests for replacement cards.
Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards
SECTION 48. Said chapter 18 is hereby further amended by striking out section 5I, inserted by chapter 84 of the acts of 2011, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-Section 5I. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, an eligible recipient of direct cash assistance shall not use direct cash assistance funds for the purchase of alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets, tobacco products, visual material or performances intended to create or simulate sexual conduct or sexual excitement as those terms are defined in section 31 of chapter 272, firearms, tattoos or body piercings, for gambling as defined in section 2 of chapter 23K or for the payment to the commonwealth of or any political subdivision thereof of any fees, fines, bail or bail bonds ordered by a court. An eligible recipient of direct cash assistance who makes a purchase or payment or uses direct cash assistance for gambling in violation of this section shall reimburse the department for the cost of such purchase, payment or gambling.
Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards
SECTION 49. Section 5J of said chapter 18, as so inserted, is hereby amended by striking out the words “or tobacco products. An individual” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- , tobacco products, visual material or performances intended to create or simulate sexual conduct or sexual excitement as those terms are defined in section 31 of chapter 272, firearms, tattoos or body piercings and no gaming employee as defined in section 2 of chapter 23K shall accept direct cash assistance funds held on electronic benefit transfer cards for gambling and no individual shall accept direct cash assistance funds held on electronic benefit transfer cards for the payment to the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof of any fees, fines, bail or bail bonds ordered by a court. An individual, gaming employee. Food Stamp Trafficking and Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards
SECTION 50. Said chapter 18 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 5K the following 3 sections:-
Section 5L. (a) As used this section and section 5M, “food stamp benefits” shall mean benefits issued pursuant to the federal Food Stamp Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2011 to 2029, inclusive, as amended, including such benefits contained on an electronic benefit transfer card. (b) An individual who obtains, uses, transfers or disposes of food stamp benefits in the manner specified in clause (1) or (2) shall be guilty of food stamp benefits trafficking. An individual traffics food stamp benefits if, with the intent to defraud, the individual:(1) presents for payment or redemption or transfers food stamp benefits in any form, including transfers to another, who does not, or does not intend to, use the food stamp benefits for the benefit of the household for whom the benefits were intended, as defined in the regulations of the department; or(2) possesses, buys, sells, uses, alters, accepts or transfers food stamp benefits in any manner not authorized by the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. § 2011, as amended.(c) An individual who traffics food stamp benefits, as described in subsection (b), shall: (1) if the food stamp benefits are of a value of less than $250 or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered or possessed has a value of less than $250, be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both such fine and imprisonment; or(2) if the food stamp benefits are of a value of $250 or more or the item used, transferred, acquired, altered or possessed has a value of $250 or more, be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 years or by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both fine and imprisonment.(d) If a person is alleged to have committed the offense of trafficking in food stamp benefits 2 or more times within a 6-month period, those offenses may be aggregated and charged in a single count and the offenses so aggregated and charged shall constitute a single offense; provided, however, that, if the aggregate value of the food stamp benefits alleged to be trafficked is $250 or more, the person shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in clause (2) of subsection (c).
Section 5M. (a) As used in this section, “organization” shall mean a corporation for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association, estate, trust or other commercial or legal entity; provided, however, that “organization” shall not include an entity organized as or by a governmental agency for the execution of a governmental program.(b) An organization that obtains, uses, transfers or disposes of food stamp benefits in the manner specified in subsection (c) shall be guilty of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking.(c) An owner or manager of an organization who, with the intent to defraud, either directly or indirectly, uses, sells, transfers, acquires, alters or possesses food stamp benefits or electronic benefit transfer cards in any manner not authorized by the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. § 2011, as amended, or the regulations of the department, or who presents for payment or redemption food stamp benefits that have been received, transferred, altered or used in violation of this section shall be guilty of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking.(d) If an organization is alleged to have committed the offense of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking 2 or more times within a 6-month period, any of those offenses may be aggregated and charged in a single count and the offenses so aggregated and charged shall constitute a single offense.(e) An organization that commits food stamp benefits trafficking as described in subsection (c) shall:(1) if it is the organization’s first offense under this section, be punished by a fine of not less than $5,000;(2) if it is the organization’s second offense under this section, be punished by a fine of not less than $10,000; or(3) if it is the organization’s third or subsequent offense under this section, be punished by a fine of not less than $50,000.(f) A retail or wholesale organization owner who is convicted of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking and who also possesses a license to sell alcoholic beverages under section 12 of chapter 138 shall be referred to the appropriate licensing authority for possible disciplinary action pursuant to section 64 of said chapter 138.(g) A retail or wholesale organization owner who is convicted of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking and who also possesses a license to sell lottery tickets under sections 26 and 27 of chapter 10 shall be referred to the director of the state lottery for possible disciplinary action.
Section 5N. The department shall develop and make available on its website a sign specifying the phone number to report suspected electronic benefit transfer card fraud or misuse under sections 5I to 5K, inclusive or suspected food stamp benefits fraud or misuse or food stamp benefits trafficking under sections 5L or 5M. Business associations may also maintain a downloadable form of the sign on their websites. Such sign shall be posted in any business accepting electronic benefits transfer cards as a form of payment. Department of Mental Health Worker-Safety Symposium
SECTION 51. Section 1 of chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-The department shall, on an annual basis, conduct a safety symposium for its employees known as the Stephanie Moulton Safety Symposium, which shall be a forum to discuss topics including, but not limited to, best safety practices and policies and risk management. Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 52. Chapter 22C of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 39, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following 3 sections:-
Section 39. (a) The department or the University of Massachusetts medical school shall make, free of charge, a chemical analysis of any narcotic drug, or any synthetic substitute for the same, or any preparation containing the same, or any salt or compound thereof, and of any poison, drug, medicine or chemical when submitted to it by police authorities, as the department shall approve for this purpose, if the department is satisfied that the analysis is to be used for the enforcement of law. (b) A certificate by a chemist or analyst or other designated employee of the department or of the University of Massachusetts medical school of the result of the chemist's or analyst's or other designated employee's analysis, signed and sworn to by that chemist or analyst or other designated employee, shall be prima facie evidence of the composition, quality and, when appropriate, net weight of the substance or any mixture containing the substance. (c) A signed certificate of drug analysis furnished by an analyst, assistant analyst or other designated employee of the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States Department of Justice which conforms with the requirements of this section shall be prima facie evidence of the composition, quality and, when appropriate, net weight of the substance or any mixture containing the substance.
Section 39A. The department shall analyze, in accordance with sections 36 to 39, inclusive, of chapter 138, all samples of alcoholic beverages, as defined in section 1 of said chapter 138, submitted to it for that purpose by police authorities as provided in said section 36 if satisfied that the analysis is to be used in enforcing the laws.
Section 39B. The director of the crime laboratory within the department shall establish procedural rules and policies governing the testing and analysis of drug samples and shall establish a quality assurance program, which shall include proficiency standards for laboratories and analysts responsible for performing drug testing and analysis. The procedural rules and quality assurance program shall be compatible with the laboratory's accreditation procedural rules and shall establish compatible laboratory techniques, laboratory equipment, supplies, computer software and acceptance criteria for laboratory accreditation.
Cultural Facilities Grants
SECTION 53. Section 42 of chapter 23G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "facility", in line 27, the following words:- ; provided, however, that if such building, structure or site is 125 years old or older and is significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of the nation, the commonwealth or the community in which it is located, it may be of any size.
Tax Settlement Revenue
SECTION 54. Section 2H of chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph, added by section 37 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011, and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-Upon receiving a written joint certification from the commissioner of revenue and the attorney general that the department of revenue is in receipt of a 1-time tax settlement or judgment for the commonwealth, of which the net value to the commonwealth of the proceeds of that settlement or judgment, after all restitution or other remedial payments are made pursuant to the tax settlement or judgment, exceeds $1,000,000 in any 1 fiscal year, the comptroller shall transfer the proceeds from the General Fund to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund.In each fiscal year, prior to complying with clause (a) of section 5C, the comptroller shall transfer from the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund to the General Fund the lesser of: (a) one-half of the lowest aggregate amount collected in any 1 of the previous 3 fiscal years from 1-time tax settlements or judgments collected by the department of revenue for the commonwealth with a net value that exceeds $1,000,000; or (b) $30,000,000.
Public Safety Training Fund
SECTION 55. Said chapter 29 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 2EEEE the following section:-
Section 2FFFF. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Public Safety Training Fund. The fund shall be used for the instruction of public safety personnel including, but not limited to, the recruitment of additional state police classes and for the municipal police training committee under section 116 of chapter 6, as necessary, to preserve and promote the public safety. The fund shall be credited with all revenues collected from the surcharge imposed by section 12 of chapter 89 and the seventh paragraph of section 20 of chapter 90. The fund shall not be subject to section 5C of chapter 29 and shall be subject to appropriation.
Unclaimed Check Fund
SECTION 56. Section 32 of said chapter 29 is hereby amended by inserting after the second sentence, as appearing in section 6 of chapter 142 of the acts of 2011, the following sentence:- Annually, on June 30, the comptroller shall transfer to the Unclaimed Property Fund, established in section 9 of chapter 200A, all funds that are identified by the state treasurer as funds of the commonwealth that have remained in the unclaimed check fund for not less than 1 year.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 57. Section 2 of chapter 44B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Annual income” the following definition:- “Capital improvement”, reconstruction or alteration of real property that: (1) materially adds to the value of the real property or appreciably prolongs the useful life of the real property; (2) becomes part of the real property or is permanently affixed to the real property so that removal would cause material damage to the property or article itself; and (3) is intended to become a permanent installation or is intended to remain there for an indefinite period of time. Community Preservation Act
SECTION 58. Said section 2 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 24, the words “or eligible for listing”.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 59. Said section 2 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the definition of “Maintenance” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:- “Maintenance”, incidental repairs which neither materially add to the value of the property nor appreciably prolong the property’s life, but keep the property in a condition of fitness, efficiency or readiness.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 60. Said section 2 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 54, the words “, but not including maintenance”.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 61. Said section 2 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the definition of “Rehabilitation” and inserting in place thereof the following 2 definitions:-“Rehabilitation”, capital improvements, or the making of extraordinary repairs, to historic resources, open spaces, lands for recreational use and community housing for the purpose of making such historic resources, open spaces, lands for recreational use and community housing functional for their intended uses including, but not limited to, improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal, state or local building or access codes; provided, however, that with respect to historic resources, “rehabilitation” shall comply with the Standards for Rehabilitation stated in the United States Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties codified in 36 C.F.R. Part 68; and provided further, that with respect to land for recreational use, “rehabilitation” shall include the replacement of playground equipment and other capital improvements to the land or the facilities thereon which make the land or the related facilities more functional for the intended recreational use.“Support of community housing”, shall include, but not be limited to, programs that provide grants, loans, rental assistance, security deposits, interest-rate write downs or other forms of assistance directly to individuals and families who are eligible for community housing or to an entity that owns such housing, for the purpose of making housing affordable.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 62. Section 3 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following subsection:-(b½) Notwithstanding chapter 59 or any other general or special law to the contrary, as an alternative to subsection (b), the legislative body may vote to accept sections 3 to 7, inclusive, by approving a surcharge on real property of not less than 1 per cent of the real estate tax levy against real property and making an additional commitment of funds by dedicating revenue not greater than 2 per cent of the real estate tax levy against real property; provided, however, that additional funds so committed shall come from other sources of municipal revenue including, but not limited to, hotel excises pursuant to chapter 64G, linkage fees and inclusionary zoning payments, however authorized, the sale of municipal property pursuant to section 3 of chapter 40, parking fines and surcharges pursuant to sections 20, 20A and 20A1/2 of chapter 90, existing dedicated housing, open space and historic preservation funds, however authorized, and gifts received from private sources for community preservation purposes; and provided further, that additional funds so committed shall not include any federal or state funds. The total funds committed to purposes authorized under this chapter by means of this subsection shall not exceed 3 per cent of the real estate tax levy against real property, less exemptions, adopted. In the event that the municipality shall no longer dedicate all or part of the additional funds to community preservation, the surcharge of not less than 1 per cent shall remain in effect, but may be reduced pursuant to section 16.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 63. Said section 3 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 28 to 30, inclusive, the words “or (3) for $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-(3) for $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property; or (4) for $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of class three, commercial property, and class four, industrial property as defined in section 2A of said chapter 59.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 64. Section 5 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “preservation”, in lines 23 and 24, the following words:- , including the consideration of regional projects for community preservation.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 65. Subsection (b) of said section 5 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (2) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-(2) The community preservation committee shall make recommendations to the legislative body for the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space; for the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources; for the acquisition, creation, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; for the acquisition, creation, preservation and support of community housing; and for the rehabilitation or restoration of open space and community housing that is acquired or created as provided in this section; provided, however, that funds expended pursuant to this chapter may not be used for maintenance. With respect to community housing, the community preservation committee shall recommend, whenever possible, the reuse of existing buildings or construction of new buildings on previously developed sites. With respect to recreational use, the acquisition of artificial turf for athletic fields shall be prohibited.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 66. Said section 5 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is further amended by striking out subsection (d) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-(d) After receiving recommendations from the community preservation committee, the legislative body shall take such action and approve such appropriations from the Community Preservation Fund as set forth in section 7, and such additional non-Community Preservation Fund appropriations as it deems appropriate to carry out the recommendations of the community preservation committee. In the case of a city, the ordinance shall provide for the mechanisms under which the legislative body may approve or veto appropriations made pursuant to this chapter, in accordance with the city charter.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 67. Said chapter 44B is hereby amended by striking out section 6, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 6. In each fiscal year and upon the recommendation of the community preservation committee, the legislative body shall spend, or set aside for later spending, not less than 10 per cent of the annual revenues in the Community Preservation Fund for open space, not less than 10 per cent of the annual revenues for historic resources and not less than 10 per cent of the annual revenues for community housing. In each fiscal year, the legislative body shall make appropriations from the Community Preservation Fund as it deems necessary for the administrative and operating expenses of the community preservation committee and such appropriations shall not exceed 5 per cent of the annual revenues in the Community Preservation Fund. The legislative body may also make appropriations from the Community Preservation Fund as it deems necessary for costs associated with tax billing software and outside vendors necessary to integrate such software for the first year that a city or town implements the this chapter; provided, however, that the total of any administrative and operating expenses of the community preservation committee and the first year implementation expenses shall not exceed 5 per cent of the annual revenues in the Community Preservation Fund.Funds that are set aside shall be held in the Community Preservation Fund and spent in that year or later years; provided, however, that funds set aside for a specific purpose shall be spent only for the specific purpose. Any funds set aside may be expended in a city or town. The community preservation funds shall not replace, but shall augment, existing operating funds.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 68. The second paragraph of section 7 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The following monies shall be deposited in the fund: (i) all funds collected from the real property surcharge or bond proceeds in anticipation of revenue pursuant to sections 4 and 11; (ii) additional funds appropriated or dedicated from allowable municipal sources pursuant to subsection (b½) of section 3, if applicable; (iii) all funds received from the commonwealth or any other source for such purposes; and (iv) proceeds from the disposal of real property acquired with funds from the Community Preservation Fund.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 69. Said chapter 44B is hereby further amended by striking out section 10, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 10. (a) The commissioner of revenue shall annually on or before November 15 disburse monies from the fund established in section 9 to a city or town that has accepted sections 3 to 7, inclusive, and notified the commissioner of its acceptance. The community shall notify the commissioner of the date and terms on which the voters accepted said sections 3 to 7, inclusive. The municipal tax collecting authority shall certify to the commissioner the amount the city or town has raised through June 30 by imposing a surcharge on its real property levy and shall certify the percentage of the surcharge applied. In the event a city or town accepts said sections 3 to 7, inclusive, pursuant to subsection (b½) of section 3 the municipal tax collecting authority shall certify to the commissioner by October 30, the maximum additional funds the city or town intends to transfer to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund from allowable municipal sources for the following fiscal year. Once certified, the city or town may choose to transfer less than the certified amount during the following fiscal year.(b) The commissioner shall multiply the amount remaining in the fund after any disbursements for operating and administrative expenses pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9 by 80 per cent. This amount distributed in the first round distribution shall be known as the match distribution. The first round total shall be distributed to each city or town accepting said sections 3 to 7, inclusive, in an amount not less than 5 per cent but not greater than 100 per cent of the total amount raised by the additional surcharge on real property by each city or town and, if applicable, the additional funds committed from allowable municipal sources pursuant to subsection (b½) of section 3. The percentage shall be the same for each city and town and shall be determined by the commissioner annually in a manner that distributes the maximum amount available to each participating city or town.(c) The commissioner shall further divide the remaining 20 per cent of the fund in a second round distribution, known as the equity distribution. The commissioner shall determine the equity distribution in several steps. The first step shall be to divide the remaining 20 per cent of the fund by the number of cities and towns that have accepted said sections 3 to 7, inclusive. This dividend shall be known as the base figure for equity distribution. This base figure shall be determined solely for purposes of performing the calculation for equity distribution and shall not be added to the amount received by a participant.(d) Each city and town in the commonwealth shall be assigned a community preservation rank for purposes of the equity distribution. The commissioner shall determine each community's rank by first determining the city or town’s equalized property valuation per capita ranking, ranking cities and towns from highest to lowest valuation. The commissioner shall also determine the population of each city or town and rank each from largest to smallest in population. The commissioner shall add each equalized property valuation rank and population rank, and divide the sum by 2. The dividend shall be the community preservation raw score for that city or town.(e) The commissioner shall then order each city or town by community preservation raw score, from the lowest raw score to the highest raw score. This order shall be the community preservation rank for each city or town. If more than 1 city or town has the same community preservation raw score, the city or town with the higher equalized valuation rank shall receive the higher community preservation rank.(f) After determining the community preservation rank for each city and town, the commissioner shall divide all cities or towns into deciles according to their community preservation ranking, with approximately the same number of cities and towns in each decile, and the cities or towns with the highest community preservation rank shall be placed in the lowest decile category, starting with decile 10. Percentages shall be assigned to each decile as follows:decile 1 140 per cent of the base figuredecile 2 130 per cent of the base figuredecile 3 120 per cent of the base figuredecile 4 110 per cent of the base figuredecile 5 100 per cent of the base figuredecile 6 90 per cent of the base figuredecile 7 80 per cent of the base figuredecile 8 70 per cent of the base figuredecile 9 60 per cent of the base figuredecile 10 50 per cent of the base figureAfter assigning each city and town to a decile according to their community preservation rank, the commissioner shall multiply the percentage assigned to that decile by the base figure to determine the second round equity distribution for each participant.(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the total state contribution for each city and town shall not exceed the actual amount raised by the city or town’s surcharge on its real property levy and, if applicable, additional funds committed from allowable municipal sources pursuant to subsection (b1/2) of section 3.(h) When there are monies remaining in the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund after the first and second round distributions and any necessary administrative expenses have been paid in accordance with section 9, the commissioner may conduct a third round surplus distribution. Any remaining surplus in the fund may be distributed by dividing the amount of the surplus by the number of cities and towns that have accepted sections 3 to 7, inclusive. The resulting dividend shall be the surplus base figure. The commissioner shall then use the decile categories and percentages as defined in this section to determine a surplus equity distribution for each participant.(i) The commissioner shall determine each participant's total state grant by adding the amount received in the first round distribution with the amounts received in any later round of distributions, with the exception of a city or town that has already received a grant equal to 100 per cent of the amount the community raised by its surcharge on its real property levy.(1) Only those cities and towns that adopt the maximum surcharge pursuant to subsection (b) of section 3 and those cities and towns that adopt the maximum surcharge and additional funds committed from allowable municipal sources such that the total funds are the equivalent of 3 per cent of the real estate tax levy against real property pursuant to subsection (b½) of said section 3 shall be eligible to receive additional state monies through the equity and surplus distributions.(2) If less than 10 per cent of the cities and towns have accepted sections 3 to 7, inclusive, and imposed and collected a surcharge on their real property levy, the commissioner may calculate the state grant with only 1 round of distributions or in any other equitable manner.(j) After distributing the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund in accordance with this section, the commissioner shall keep any remaining funds in the trust for distribution in the following year.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 70. Section 12 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- (a) A real property interest that is acquired with monies from the Community Preservation Fund shall be bound by a permanent restriction, recorded as a separate instrument, that meets the requirements of sections 31 to 33, inclusive, of chapter 184 limiting the use of the interest to the purpose for which it was acquired. The permanent restriction shall run with the land and shall be enforceable by the city or town or the commonwealth. The permanent restriction may also run to the benefit of a nonprofit organization, charitable corporation or foundation selected by the city or town with the right to enforce the restriction. The legislative body may appropriate monies from the Community Preservation Fund to pay a nonprofit organization created pursuant to chapter 180 to hold, monitor and enforce the deed restriction on the property.
Community Preservation Act
SECTION 71. Section 16 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “chapter”, in line 5, the following words:- , including reducing the surcharge to 1 per cent and committing additional municipal funds pursuant to subsection (b ½) of section 3. Community College Reform
SECTION 72. Section 4 of chapter 74 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following 2 sentences:- Pursuant to section 21 of chapter 15A, 1 member of the board shall be designated by the district trustees to serve as a nonvoting member of the board of trustees for any community college that shares the same geographic region as the independent vocational-technical school.
Out-of-District Vocational Technical School Tuition Payments
SECTION 73. Section 7C of said chapter 74, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-Notwithstanding section 27C of chapter 29 or any other general or special law to the contrary, for each nonresident student admitted to and attending an approved vocational school under section 7, the student’s town of residence shall pay to the vocational school a tuition fee as determined by the commissioner; provided, however, that if the student’s town of residence is a member of a regional vocational school district, the tuition fee shall be paid by the district. If the town or district defaults on payment, the town or district shall be liable therefor in contract to the vocational school. For the purposes of this section, no town or district shall be required to pay any portion of the tuition for a student enrolled in a post-secondary vocational program.
Community College Reform
SECTION 74. Section 1A of chapter 75 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 95, the figure “5” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:-3.
University of Massachusetts Tuition Retention
SECTION 75. Said chapter 75 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 8 the following section:-
Section 8A. (a) The board of trustees shall fix and establish student charges for the university. In-state tuition and mandatory student charges shall preserve affordability for residents of the commonwealth. Out-of-state student charges shall appropriately balance the financial needs of the university with the need to be competitive with peer institutions regionally. In establishing student charges the board shall consider factors including, but not limited to, actual appropriations received, the Consumer Price Index, the Higher Education Price Index, tuition and fee rates at peer institutions, collective bargaining costs, funding from the commonwealth measured with reference to the funding formula established in section 15B of chapter 15A and making progress toward ensuring that fees constitute no more than 25 per cent of student charges. To the extent practicable, final student charges shall be established for each academic year not later than March 1 of the calendar year in which the rates shall take effect. For the purposes of this section, “student charges” shall mean tuition and fees that are charged to students generally for attendance at the university, but shall not include any fee or other charge established by the university that is specific to a particular course, program or activity, and shall not include any charges for room or board. (b) The university shall submit a 3-year student charges plan to the board of higher education for the board’s information consistent with this section. The plan shall contain the annual student charges that the university expects to approve for the university’s state-supported programs under the process in subsection (a) for a period of not less than 3 academic years, which shall be the period of the plan. The plan shall also include, but not be limited to, budget and enrollment projections for each year, projections for in-state and out-of-state enrollments for each year, consideration of the mission of each university campus and plans to ensure continuing access to the institution by residents of the commonwealth and to maintain and increase access for underrepresented student groups. A copy of the plan shall be provided to the joint committee on higher education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of education at the time the plan is submitted to the board of higher education. Notwithstanding the university’s obligation to update the plan every 3 years, the university may, from time-to-time, provide a modified plan, under the process provided in subsection (a). If the board of trustees determines that a modification of the 3-year plan is necessary, the trustees shall submit the modified plan to the board of higher education, the joint committee on higher education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of education, with an explanation for the rationale behind any modifications.(c) All student charges received by the board of trustees under this section shall be retained by the university in a revolving trust fund and shall be expended as the board of trustees may direct for the operation and support of the institution. Any balance in a trust fund at the end of a fiscal year shall continue to be held in the trust fund, shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years and shall not revert to the General Fund. All such trust funds shall be subject to audit by the state auditor.
School Choice
SECTION 76. Section 12B of chapter 76 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 89 to 92, inclusive, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, the words “Said tuition amount shall be equal to seventy-five percent of the actual per pupil spending amount in the receiving district for such education as is required by such non-resident student, but not more than five thousand dollars” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- That tuition amount shall be $5,000.
Public Safety Training Fund
SECTION 77. Chapter 89 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 12. There shall be a surcharge of $5 on a fine assessed against a person convicted of or found responsible for a motor vehicle violation under this chapter or under a special regulation made under the authority of this chapter. The surcharge shall be transferred by the registrar of motor vehicles to the state treasurer for deposit into the Public Safety Training Fund established in section 2FFFF of chapter 29.
Public Safety Training Fund
SECTION 78. Section 20 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-There shall be a surcharge of $5 on a fine assessed against a person convicted of or found responsible for a motor vehicle violation under this chapter or under a special regulation made under the authority of this chapter. The surcharge shall be transferred by the registrar to the state treasurer for deposit into the Public Safety Training Fund established in section 2FFFF of chapter 29.
Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 79. Section 47A of chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 10, the words “the department of public health or”. Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 80. Said section 47A of said chapter 94C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 37 and 38, the words “or by an analyst of the department of public health”. Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 81. Said section 47A of said chapter 94C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “department”, in lines 45, 53 and 54, 60 and 74, each time it appears, the following words:- of state police. Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 82. Said section 47A of said chapter 94C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the seventh paragraph. Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 83. Sections 11 to 13, inclusive, of chapter 111 of the General Laws are hereby repealed. Hospice Care
SECTION 84. Section 53 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- To the extent permitted by the demonstration program approved under 42 U.S.C. 1315(a), covered services in the MassHealth Basic and MassHealth Essential programs shall include hospice services to the extent such services are covered in the MassHealth Standard program. Childhood Vaccine Program
SECTION 85. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 118H the following chapter:-
Chapter 118IChildhood Vaccine Program
Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:“Child or children”, an individual or individuals less than 19 years of age.“Clinician”, a health care professional licensed under chapter 112.“Estimated vaccine cost”, the estimated cost over the course of a fiscal year for the purchase, storage and distribution of vaccines for all children in the commonwealth.“Facility”, a hospital, clinic or nursing home licensed under chapter 111 or a home health agency.“Health care provider”, a clinician, a facility or a physician group practice. “Insured”, an enrollee, covered person, member, policyholder, subscriber or beneficiary of a surcharge payor.“Participating provider”, a provider who, under a contract with a surcharge payor or with its contractor or subcontractor, has agreed to provide health care services to insureds with an expectation of receiving payment, other than coinsurance, copayments or deductibles, directly or indirectly, from the carrier. “Physician group practice”, 2 or more physicians who deliver patient care, make joint use of equipment and personnel and by agreement divide income earned by the physicians in the group. “Routine childhood immunizations”, immunizations for children until their nineteenth birthday including, but not limited to: (1) the immunizations recommended by the federal Vaccines for Children Program; and (2) any immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.“Surcharge payors”, those entities defined as surcharge payors under section 34 of chapter 118G, whose assessment may be collected in a manner consistent with said chapter 118G.“Total non-federal program cost”, the estimated annual cost of vaccines needed for routine childhood immunizations for children covered by surcharge payors in the commonwealth less the amount of federal revenue available to the commonwealth for purchase, storage, distribution and administration of such vaccines.“Vaccine Purchase Trust Fund”, a fund to support a universal purchase system for childhood vaccines in the commonwealth.
Section 2. There shall be established in the commonwealth a separate trust fund to be known as the Vaccine Purchase Trust Fund to support a universal purchase system for childhood vaccines in the commonwealth. The specific purpose of the fund shall be to cover the costs to purchase, store and distribute vaccines for routine childhood immunizations and to administer the fund and the Massachusetts immunization registry, established under section 24M of chapter 111. The fund shall consist of all monies paid to the commonwealth under section 4 and any interest earnings on such monies. The fund shall be maintained by the commissioner of health care finance and policy or a designee. The monies shall be expended under the direction of the department of public health, without prior appropriation, solely for the purposes of covering total non-federal program costs; provided, however, that the amount to be expended for storing and distributing vaccines for routine childhood immunizations, if such costs are not covered by federal contribution, and for the costs of administering the Massachusetts immunization registry, shall not exceed 10 per cent of the total amount of the fund expended for the purchase of vaccines needed for routine childhood immunizations for all children in the commonwealth. Any balance in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall be available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years and shall not be transferred to any other fund or revert to the General Fund. The commissioner of health care finance and policy or a designee shall report annually to the house and senate committees on ways and means the amount of funds collected and any expenditures made from the fund.
Section 3. There shall be established a vaccine purchase advisory council consisting of the commissioner of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the medical director of the Massachusetts immunization program of the department of public health; the commissioner of health care finance and policy or a designee; the executive director of the commonwealth health insurance connector authority or a designee; 3 persons to be appointed by the commissioner of insurance, each of whom shall be a representative of 1 of the 3 health insurance companies having the most insured lives in the commonwealth; and 8 persons to be appointed by the commissioner of public health, 1 of whom shall be a representative of an employer that self-insures for health coverage who shall be appointed from lists of nominees submitted by statewide associations of employers, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry with expertise in researching, developing and manufacturing vaccines, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians, and 3 of whom shall be physicians licensed to practice in the commonwealth and who shall have expertise in the area of childhood vaccines. The council shall recommend the types of vaccines to be purchased based on a list of routine childhood immunizations and shall take into account provider preference, cost, availability and other factors as determined by the council. The council shall recommend the amount of funding needed each fiscal year by calculating the total non-federal program cost. The commissioner of public health shall determine the final vaccines to be purchased.
Section 4. The commissioner of health care finance and policy shall determine the final amount required to be included in the Vaccine Purchase Trust Fund for the next fiscal year to cover the estimated vaccine cost pursuant to this chapter and shall annually provide surcharge payors notice of the assessment amount for the trust fund year not later than January 1.Under regulations adopted by the commissioner of health care finance and policy, each surcharge payor in the commonwealth shall pay to the commissioner of health care finance and policy, for deposit in the Vaccine Purchase Trust Fund, a routine childhood immunizations surcharge assessed by the commissioner; provided, however, that the amount of the routine childhood immunizations surcharge assessed to cover the costs for storing and distributing such vaccines, if such costs are not covered by federal contribution, and for the costs of administering the Massachusetts immunization registry, shall not exceed 10 per cent of the amount of the routine childhood immunizations surcharge assessed to cover the purchase of vaccines needed for routine childhood immunizations for all children in the commonwealth. The regulations shall establish dates for assessing and payment of such surcharge and shall permit and enable expenditure of funds by the department of public health. The annual contribution into the trust fund shall be deposited annually by July 1. Such surcharge shall be a percentage of the final amount determined by the commissioner of health care finance and policy pursuant to this section.
Section 5. The department of public health may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement the universal purchase and distribution system in accordance with this chapter and other applicable state and federal laws. The rules and regulations shall establish the system by which vaccines are distributed for children in the commonwealth.
Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 86. Section 36 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the words “public health” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- state police. Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 87. Section 37 of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2 and 9, the words "public health" and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- state police. Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 88. Section 38 of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the words “public health” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- state police.
Bone Marrow Donors
SECTION 89. Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 33E the following section:-
Section 33F. (a) An employee of the commonwealth or an employee of a county, city or town that accepts this section may take a leave of absence, without loss of pay, of not more than 5 days to undergo the medical procedure and associated physical recovery time due to participation in a bone marrow donor program.(b) If the necessity for leave under this section is foreseeable, the employee shall provide the employer with not less than 7 days’ notice before the leave is to begin. If the necessity for leave is not foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable.(c) An employer may require that a request for leave under this section be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the attorney general may by regulation require.(d) The attorney general shall enforce this section, and may obtain injunctive or declaratory relief for this purpose. Violation of this shall be subject to the second paragraph of section 150 and to section 180. Bone Marrow Donors
SECTION 90. Section 150 of said chapter 149, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the figure “33E”, in line 20, the following figure:- , 33F. Criminal Defendant Indigency Verification
SECTION 91. The third sentence of subsection (c) of section 2A of chapter 211D of the General Laws, as appearing in section 112 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011, is hereby amended by striking out the word “may” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- shall. Chief Probation Officer Designee
SECTION 92. The fifth sentence of said subsection (c) of said section 2A of said chapter 211D, as appearing in said section 112 of said chapter 68, is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “chief probation officer” the following words:- or the officer’s designee. Chief Probation Officer Designee
SECTION 93. The third sentence of subsection (d) of said section 2A of said chapter 211D, as appearing in said section 112 of said chapter 68, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “chief probation officer” the following words:- or the officer’s designee. Probate and Family Court Fees
SECTION 94. Chapter 262 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 40, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting the place thereof the following section:-
Section 40. The fees of the registers of the probate and family court shall be as follows:for the filing of an amended or substituted account, for a petition for the allowance of an account, $75;for the filing of an account, including a common trust fund account, if the gross value accounted for in Schedule A of the account is $1,000 or less, no fee; if the gross value is more than $1,000 but not more than $10,000, $75; provided, however, that the fees shall not exceed $170 regardless of the time covered by the account; if the gross value is $10,000 or more but not more than $100,000, $100 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account; if the gross value is more than $100,000 but not more than $500,000, $150 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account; if the gross value is more than $500,000 but not more than $1,000,000, $200 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account; if the gross value is more than $1,000,000 but not more than $2,000,000, $400 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account; if the gross value is more than $2,000,000 but not more than $5,000,000, $750 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account; if the gross value is more than $5,000,000 but not more than $7,500,000, $1500 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account; if the gross value is more than $7,500,000 but not more than $10,000,000, $2500 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account; if the gross value is more than $10,000,000, $3500 for each year or fraction thereof covered by the account;for the filing of a subsequent bond, demand for sureties, for the filing of a petition for new bond, discharge of surety, modification of bond, reduction of bond, $75;for the filing of a motion for change of name, in divorce actions during nisi period, $100; for the filing of a petition for change of name, $150;for the filing of a foreign conservator sworn statement, $75;for the removal of a fiduciary, $100;for the filing of a petition to expand, modify or limit the powers of a conservator, $150;for the filing of a petition for the appointment of a conservator or for single transaction, $240;for the issuance of a contempt summons, $5;for the entry of an action seeking the post-judgment removal of a child from the commonwealth, $50;for the filing of a complaint for alimony, enforcement of foreign alimony decree, separate support, $100;for the filing of an action to convey land as if sole, $150;for marriage of a minor and marriage without delay, $180;for the filing of a complaint for affirmation of marriage, annulment, divorce, $200;for the filing of an action for modification relative to child support, custody and visitation, except for those actions filed by the IV-D agency for which there is no filing fee, $50; for the filing of a complaint to establish paternity or for custody-support-visitation, except for those actions filed by the IV-D agency for which there is no filing fee, $100;for the filing of a complaint to modify a foreign custody or support decree pursuant to section 29 of chapter 208, except for those complaints filed by the IV-D agency for which there is no filing fee, $100; for the filing of an action for the modification of a judgment relative to all non-child related issues, $150;for the issuance of an injunction or temporary restraining order, $100;for the filing of a complaint in equity related to separate support or the custody or support of minors, $100;for the filing of a complaint in equity, except such as relates to separate support or the custody or support of minors, $240;for the filing of a petition to partition, to terminate a trust, for specific performance, for filing a complaint to correct birth record, to restrain a personal representative, to terminate a trust, $240;for the issuance of a subsequent letter, $25;for care of a burial lot, erection of monument, $60;for the filing of a petition to render an inventory or account, petition for approval of a compromise, determination of value, order of complete settlement, for the filing of a closing statement, foreign personal representative sworn statement, small estate closing statement, $75;for the filing of a will for safekeeping, $75; provided, however, that no additional fee shall be charged for filing a will in substitution of a will previously filed and withdrawn; for the filing of a petition for public administration, for formal removal of personal representative, for the filing of a statement of voluntary administration, $100;for the filing of a petition for counsel fees, to vacate a formal order, for a general probate petition, for a general petition, except such as relates to custody or support of minors, for a representation of insolvency, $150; for the filing of a petition to appoint a receiver of the estate of an absentee, for leave to deposit certain funds, $200;for the filing of a declaration of common trust fund, $400;for the filing of a petition to appoint a special personal representative, to appoint a trustee, for a general trust petition, for a formal probate of will, adjudication of intestacy and appointment of personal representative, for formal appointment of successor personal representative, for supervised administration, for an informal probate of will or appointment of personal representative, for informal appointment of successor personal representative, $400; for the filing of a petition for leave to lease real estate, for leave to mortgage real estate, $75;for the filing of a petition or application for sale of real or personal estate by any fiduciary if the gross value accounted for is $100,000 or less, $100; if the gross value is more than $100,000 but not more than $250,000, $250; if the gross value is more than $250,000 but not more than $500,000, $500; if the gross value is more than $500,000 but not more than $1,000,000, $750; if the gross value is more than $1,000,000, $1000; andfor the amendment of record except such as relates to separate support, adoption or the custody or support of minors, $60;Notwithstanding this section, no fee shall be charged for the issuance of a temporary restraining order against a spouse related to a complaint for divorce or separate support, for the filing of a complaint for support of a spouse or child pursuant to section 32F of chapter 209, for the filing of a complaint for abuse protection, for the filing of a petition for disabled abuse, elderly abuse, dispense with consent to adoption, the appointment of a guardian, the resignation or termination of a guardian or conservator, the resignation of any fiduciary, to expand, modify or limit the powers of a guardian, grandparent visitation, payment of deposits, for leave to bring suit on a bond or for registration of foreign custody decree.
Postponement of FAS 109 Deduction
SECTION 95. Subsection (2) of section 95 of chapter 173 of the acts of 2008 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2013”, inserted by section 136 of said chapter 68, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2014.
Regional Transit Authority Toll Credits
SECTION 96. Subsection (b) of section 75 of chapter 303 of the acts of 2008 shall not apply in fiscal year 2013.
Extend Authority to Terminate and Renegotiate Leases
SECTION 97. Section 23 of chapter 5 of the acts of 2009 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2012”, inserted by section 137 of said chapter 68, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2013.
Postpone Regional Transit Authority Forward Funding
SECTION 98. The first sentence of section 152 of chapter 25 of the acts of 2009 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2013”, inserted by section 138 of said chapter 68, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2014.
Extend Authority to Terminate and Renegotiate Leases
SECTION 99. Section 195 of chapter 131 of the acts of 2010 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2012”, inserted by section 144 of said chapter 68, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2013.Allow Medical Security Trust Fund Deficit for Fiscal Year 2013
SECTION 100. Section 124 of chapter 359 of the acts of 2010 is hereby amended by striking out the words "and June 30, 2012", inserted by section 145 of said chapter 68, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- , June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Extend Leasing Authority for Committee for Public Counsel Services
SECTION 101. The second sentence of section 174 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011 is hereby amended by striking out the words “shall be responsible for negotiating” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- may negotiate.
Criminal Justice Commission Extension
SECTION 102. Section 189 of said chapter 68 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2012” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2013.
Extend Leasing Authority for Committee for Public Counsel Services
SECTION 103. Section 220 of said chapter 68 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2012” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2013.
Substance Abuse Services Fund
SECTION 104. Section 94 of chapter 142 of the acts of 2011 is hereby amended by striking out the fourth sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- On July 1, 2012, the comptroller shall transfer $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the Substance Abuse Services Fund to expand inpatient treatment facilities and for ongoing case management for individuals civilly committed under said section 35 of said chapter 123; provided, however, that not later than July 15, 2012, the commissioner shall submit a spending plan for the Substance Abuse Services Fund to the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate; and provided further, that upon receipt of the spending plan the comptroller shall transfer $8,000,000 from the General Fund to the Substance Abuse Services Fund. Suspend Transfer of Tobacco Settlement to OPEB
SECTION 105. The transfer of funds into the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund required by section 152 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011 shall not occur in fiscal year 2013.
Stabilization Fund Transfer
SECTION 106. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall, on or before June 30, 2013, transfer $290,000,000 to the General Fund from the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund; provided, however, the comptroller shall instead transfer a lesser amount if the secretary of administration and finance so requests in writing. The comptroller, in consultation with the secretary of administration and finance, may take the overall cash flow needs of the commonwealth into consideration in determining the timing of any transfer of funds. The comptroller shall provide a schedule of transfers to the secretary of administration and finance and to the house and senate committees on ways and means.(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) of section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, during fiscal year 2013 the comptroller shall not transfer 0.5 per cent of the total revenue from taxes in the preceding fiscal year to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, as required by said clause (a). However, upon written certification by the secretary of administration and finance that there are sufficient funds to make some or all of the transfer required under said clause (a), the comptroller shall so transfer the amount certified. The comptroller, in consultation with the secretary of administration and finance, may take the overall cash flow needs of the commonwealth into consideration in determining the timing of any transfer of funds under this subsection. The comptroller shall provide a schedule of transfers to the secretary of administration and finance and to the house and senate committees on ways and means.(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall, on or before June 30, 2013, transfer the interest earned from the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund during fiscal year 2013 to the General Fund.
Consolidated Net Surplus Transfers
SECTION 107. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, after complying with clause (a) of section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws, the comptroller shall dispose of the consolidated net surplus in the budgetary funds for fiscal year 2012 as follows: (i) transfer $15,000,000 from the General Fund to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Investment Fund established by section 6 of chapter 23I of the General Laws; and (ii) transfer the remaining balance from the General Fund to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund.(b) All transfers pursuant to this section shall be made from the undesignated fund balances in the budgetary funds proportionally from the undesignated fund balances; provided, however, that no such transfer shall cause a deficit in any of the funds.
Authorization to Transfer Trust Fund Balances
SECTION 108. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, upon receiving a written request from the secretary of administration and finance, the comptroller shall transfer to the General Fund the unexpended balance of a fund, trust fund or other separate account, in existence on April 1, 2012, whether established administratively or by law, including a separate account established under section 6 of chapter 6A of the General Laws or section 4F of chapter 7 of the General Laws. The request shall certify that the secretary, in consultation with the comptroller, has determined this balance not to be necessary for the purposes for which it was made available. The secretary and comptroller shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means 45 days prior to any such transfer; provided, however, that the comptroller may submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than October 1, 2012 an alternative plan to further maximize revenue generation from additional trust fund balance transfers to the General Fund.
Distribution of the Statutory Carry Forward
SECTION 109. Notwithstanding section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, amounts made available to be used as revenue in fiscal year 2013 in accordance with clause (a) of said section 5C of said chapter 29 shall be made available in the General Fund. To the extent balances in the General Fund are insufficient to carry out said clause (a) of said section 5C of said chapter 29, the amount necessary to meet the requirements of said clause (a) of said section 5C of said chapter 29 shall be made available proportionally from the other budgetary funds. Suspension of the Statutory Carry Forward
SECTION 110. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, when the comptroller disposes of the consolidated net surplus for fiscal year 2013 under subsection (a) of section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws, the comptroller shall not carry forward 0.5 per cent of the total revenue from taxes in fiscal year 2013.
Validation of Collective Bargaining Agreements
SECTION 111. The salary adjustments and other cost items authorized by the 2011 amendments to the following collective bargaining agreements, for the period from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014, inclusive, shall be effective for the purposes of section 7 of chapter 150E of the General Laws:(a) between the commonwealth and the Coalition for Public Safety, Unit 5, at the alcoholic beverages control commission;(b) between the commonwealth and the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists, Unit 9; and(c) between the commonwealth and Lottery - SEIU Local 888 (Unit LT1).
Validation of Collective Bargaining Agreements
SECTION 112. The salary adjustments and other cost items authorized by the 2011 amendments to the following collective bargaining agreements, for the period from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014, inclusive, shall be effective for the purposes of section 7 of chapter 150E of the General Laws:(a) between the Essex sheriff and the International Brotherhood of Correction Officers, for Local R1-27 (Unit SE3);(b) between the Barnstable sheriff and the National Association of Government Employees, for Local 220 (Unit S5B);(c) between the Barnstable sheriff and the AFL-CIO Council 93, for Local 1462C (Unit S2B);(d) between the Barnstable sheriff and the Barnstable Correctional Officers Union (Unit S1B);(e) between the Barnstable sheriff and the International Brotherhood of Correction Officers, for Local 217 (Unit S3B);(f) between the Barnstable sheriff and the National Association for Government Employees, for Local 58 (Unit S4B);(g) between the Dukes sheriff and Massachusetts Correctional Officers Federated Union (Unit SD1);(h) between the Suffolk sheriff and the and American Federation of State Council and Municipal Employees, for Council 3967 and 3642, Suffolk Captains (Unit SS6 and SS5);(i) between the Essex sheriff and the Essex correction officers (Unit SE2);(j) between the board of higher education and the Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 93, Local 1067 (Unit 106);(k) between the Berkshire sheriff and the International Brotherhood of Correction Officers/AFL-CIO, Local RI-297 (Unit SB1);(l) between the Berkshire sheriff and the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers - Communications Workers of America (Unit SB2);(m) between the Berkshire sheriff’s department and the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office Employees Association (Unit SB3);(n) between the Suffolk sheriff and the National Association of Government Employees, Local 298 (Unit SS2);(o) between the Middlesex sheriff and the New England Police Benevolent Association/AFL-CIO, Local 500 (Unit SM5);(p) between the Norfolk sheriff and the National Association of Government Employees, RI-202 (Unit SN1);(q) between the Suffolk sheriff and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees/AFL-CIO, Council 93, Local RN (Unit SS3);(r) between the Plymouth county sheriff and the Massachusetts Correctional Officers Federated Union, Emergency Communications Center Unit (Unit SP5);(s) between the University of Massachusetts and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (Unit D84), for the Dartmouth campus;(t) between the University of Massachusetts and the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1895, AFL-CIO, Educational Services Unit (Unit D85), for the Dartmouth campus;(u) between the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Society of Professors/Faculty Staff Union/MTA/NEA (Units A50 and B40);(v) between the University of Massachusetts and the University Staff Association/MTA/NEA (Unit A08), for the Amherst campus;(w) between the University of Massachusetts and the Non-Exempt Supervisors Unit, Unit B/MTA/NEA (Unit A15), for the Amherst campus;(x) between the University of Massachusetts and the Professional Staff Union/MTA/NEA (Units A52 and B42), for the Amherst and Boston campuses;(y) between the University of Massachusetts and the Classified Staff Union/MTA/NEA (Units B31 and B32), for the Boston campus;(z) between the University of Massachusetts and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 507, AFL-CIO (Unit D82), for the Dartmouth campus;(aa) between the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Society of Professors/Lowell/MTA/NEA (Unit L90);(bb) between the University of Massachusetts and the MTA/NEA Clerical/Technical Unit (Unit L92), for the Lowell campus;(cc) between the University of Massachusetts and the MTA/NEA Maintenance/Trades Unit (Unit L93), for the Lowell campus;(dd) between the board of higher education and the Massachusetts Teachers Association/National Education Association Associated Professional Administrators (Unit APA);(ee) between the board of higher education and the Massachusetts Teachers Association/National Education Association State College Faculty (Unit MSC);(ff) between the board of higher education and the Massachusetts Teachers Association/National Education Association Associated Massachusetts Community Colleges Council (Unit MCC);(gg) between the commonwealth and the registry of deeds (Unit SC1-6);(hh) between the University of Massachusetts and the Amherst Council 93, Local 1776, AFL-CIOs (Unit A01), for the Amherst campus; (ii) between the University of Massachusetts and the Service Employees International Union, Local 888 (Unit L95), for the Lowell campus; and(jj) between the Suffolk sheriff and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees for Council 93, Local 419 (Unit SS0). DOR Tax Judgment and Settlement Expenses
SECTION 113. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of revenue may retain and expend an amount equal to the expenses including, but not limited to, expert witness fees, incurred by the department in pursuing litigation or negotiation of potential 1-time tax settlements or judgments for the commonwealth from the amount received from such 1-time tax settlements or judgments with a net value over $1,000,000; provided, however, that the amount retained in each fiscal year shall not exceed $2,000,000. Beginning in calendar year 2013, the amount retained and expended by the department in the previous fiscal year shall be certified by the secretary of administration and finance and submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means annually not later than July 15.
Procurement Savings
SECTION 114. (a) Whenever the secretary of administration and finance determines that procurement reforms or initiatives have resulted in cost savings for an agency of the executive department during fiscal year 2013, the secretary may reduce allotments under section 9B of chapter 29 of the General Laws to reflect some or all of the amounts saved; provided, however, that allotment reductions based upon procurement savings shall not exceed $30,000,000 and that within 15 days of reducing allotments the secretary shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means in writing. (b) If, as of October 1, 2012, the secretary of administration and finance determines that allotment reductions related to procurement reforms or initiatives in fiscal year 2013 will be insufficient to generate $30,000,000, the secretary may submit to the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means a cost saving plan to reduce allotments under said section 9B of said chapter 29; provided, however, that no allotment reductions shall be made under this subsection prior to the submission of a cost savings plan.(c) The total amount of allotment reductions under this section shall not exceed $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2013. Eminent Domain Fund Transfer
SECTION 115. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than June 30, 2013, the treasurer shall transfer $10,000,000 from the eminent domain trust fund established under section 7D of chapter 79 of the General Laws to the Unclaimed Property Fund established in section 9 of chapter 200A of the General Laws. Suspension of Tourism Formula
SECTION 116. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the formula for application of funds provided in section 35J of chapter 10 of the General Laws shall not apply in fiscal year 2013.
Federal Reimbursement for THE RIDE
SECTION 117. Notwithstanding chapter 66A of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the regional transit authorities organized under chapter 161B of the General Laws may provide to the executive office of health and human services personal data relative to customers using the authorities’ paratransit services for the purposes of securing federal reimbursement and of administering the MassHealth program.
MassDOT Snow and Ice Spending
SECTION 118. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation may incur liabilities and make expenditures in fiscal year 2013 in excess of funds available to the department for snow and ice removal; provided, however, that such expenditures shall be approved by the secretary of transportation in consultation with the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that no expenses shall be made in excess of funds available until $50,000,000 has been expended for snow and ice removal in fiscal year 2013; provided further, that the negative balance of funds available for snow and ice removal shall not exceed $30,000,000 at any time; and provided further, that the state comptroller may certify for payment invoices in excess of funds available to the department.(b) The department shall, on or before May 1, 2013, report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means the total amounts budgeted and expended for snow and ice removal; provided, however, that the department shall seek appropriations, as required, to cure deficiencies resulting from the removal of snow and ice for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.
Trial Court Transferability
SECTION 119. Notwithstanding clause (xiii) of the third paragraph of section 9A of chapter 211B of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the court administrator may, from the effective date of this act through April 30, 2013, transfer funds from any item of appropriation within the trial court to any other item of appropriation within the trial court; provided, however, that a transfer under said clause (xiii) of said section 9A of said chapter 211B shall not occur until 10 days after the revised funding schedules have been submitted in writing to the house and senate committees on ways and means; and provided further that the revised funding schedules shall include: (1) the amount of money transferred from any item of appropriation to any other item of appropriation; (2) the reason for the necessity of the transfer; and (3) the date on which the transfer shall be completed. Video Teleconferencing
SECTION 120. The court administrator may execute a memorandum of understanding with any interested sheriff’s office to initiate or expand the use of video conferencing technology to conduct various court proceedings for the purposes of improving courtroom efficiency and decreasing inmate transportation costs. The terms of any such agreement shall specify the types of court appearances that may be conducted by video.In counties where technology is inadequate to conduct appearances through video conferencing technology, the court administrator and the applicable sheriff’s office shall jointly file a proposal with the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the technological upgrades required to institute video conferencing in that county, the amount of funding needed to implement such video conferencing technology in that county and the availability of federal or private grants for such purposes.The court administrator and the Massachusetts Sheriff’s Association shall, not later than February 15, 2013, file a joint report with the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on the judiciary detailing the number and locations of facilities and courthouses where video conferencing technology is being utilized, the types of appearances being conducted through the use of the technology, the approximate number of inmate transportation trips to and from court that have been eliminated through the use of the technology, the savings associated with the elimination of such inmate transportation and plans to expand the use of the technology into either additional facilities and courthouses or to additional types of appearances.
Pension Cost of Living Adjustment
SECTION 121. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the amounts transferred pursuant to subdivision (1) of section 22C of chapter 32 of the General Laws shall be made available for the commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund established in section 22 of said chapter 32. The amounts transferred pursuant to said subdivision (1) of said section 22C of said chapter 32 shall meet the commonwealth's obligations pursuant to said section 22C of said chapter 32, including retirement benefits payable by the state employees' and the state teachers' retirement systems, for the costs associated with a 3 per cent cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to section 102 of said chapter 32, for the reimbursement of local retirement systems for previously authorized cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to said section 102 of said chapter 32 and for the costs of increased survivor benefits pursuant to chapter 389 of the acts of 1984. The state board of retirement and each city, town, county and district shall verify these costs, subject to the rules adopted by the state treasurer. The state treasurer may make payments upon a transfer of funds to reimburse certain municipalities for pensions to retired teachers, including any other obligations which the commonwealth has assumed on behalf of any retirement system other than the state employees' or state teachers' retirement systems and the commonwealth's share of the amounts to be transferred pursuant to section 22B of said chapter 32 and the amounts to be transferred pursuant to clause (a) of the last paragraph of section 21 of chapter 138 of the General Laws. All payments for the purposes described in this section shall be made only pursuant to distribution of monies from the fund, and any distribution and the payments for which distributions are required shall be detailed in a written report filed quarterly by the secretary of administration and finance with the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public service in advance of this distribution. Distributions shall not be made in advance of the date on which a payment is actually to be made. The state board of retirement may expend an amount for the purposes of the board of higher education's optional retirement program pursuant to section 40 of chapter 15A of the General Laws. To the extent that the amount transferred pursuant to said subdivision (1) of said section 22C of said chapter 32 exceeds the amount necessary to adequately fund the annual pension obligations, the excess amount shall be credited to the Pension Reserves Investment Trust Fund, established by subdivision (8) of section 22 of said chapter 32, for the purpose of reducing the unfunded pension liability of the commonwealth.
Chapter 70 Minimum Required Local Contribution
SECTION 122. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, upon the request of the board of selectmen in a town, the city council in a city with a plan E form of government or the mayor in any other city, the department of revenue may recalculate the minimum required local contribution, as defined in section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Based on the criteria established in this section, the department shall recalculate the minimum required local contribution for a municipality's local and regional schools and shall certify the amounts calculated to the department of elementary and secondary education.(b) A city or town that used qualifying revenue amounts in a fiscal year which are not available for use in the next fiscal year or that shall be required to use revenues for extraordinary non school-related expenses for which it did not have to use revenues in the preceding fiscal year or that has an excessive certified municipal revenue growth factor which is also greater than or equal to 1.5 times the state average municipal revenue growth factor may appeal to the department of revenue not later than October 1, 2012, for an adjustment of its minimum required local contribution and net school spending.(c) If an appeal is determined to be valid, the department of revenue may reduce proportionately the minimum required local contribution amount based on the amount of shortfall in revenue or based on the amount of increase in extraordinary expenditures in the current fiscal year, but no adjustment to the minimum required local contribution on account of an extraordinary expense in the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, shall affect the calculation of the minimum required local contribution in subsequent fiscal years. Qualifying revenue amounts shall include, but not be limited to, extraordinary amounts of free cash, overlay surplus and other available funds.(d) If upon submission of adequate documentation, the department of revenue determines that a municipality's appeal regarding an excessive municipal revenue growth factor is valid, the department shall recalculate the municipal revenue growth factor and the department of elementary and secondary education shall use the revised growth factor to calculate the preliminary local contribution, the minimum required local contribution and any other factor that directly or indirectly uses the municipal revenue growth factor. Any relief granted as a result of an excessive municipal revenue growth factor shall constitute a permanent reduction in the minimum required local contribution.(e) The board of selectmen in a town, the city council in a city with a plan E form of government, the mayor in any other city or a majority of the member municipalities of a regional school district which used qualifying revenue amounts in a fiscal year that are not available for use in the next fiscal year may appeal to the department of revenue not later than October 1, 2012, for an adjustment to its net school spending requirement. If an appeal is determined to be valid, the department of revenue shall reduce the net school spending requirement based on the amount of the shortfall in revenue and reduce the minimum required local contribution of member municipalities accordingly. Qualifying revenue amounts shall include, but not be limited to, extraordinary amounts of excess and deficiency, surplus and uncommitted reserves.(f) If the regional school budget has already been adopted by two-thirds of the member municipalities then, upon a majority vote of the member municipalities, the regional school committee shall adjust the assessments of the member municipalities in accordance with the reduction in minimum required local contributions approved by the department of revenue or the department of elementary and secondary education in accordance with this section.(g) Notwithstanding clause (14) of section 3 of chapter 214 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the amounts determined pursuant to this section shall be the minimum required local contribution described in chapter 70 of the General Laws. The department of revenue and the department of elementary and secondary education shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education of the amount of any reduction in the minimum required local contribution amount.(h) If a city or town has an approved budget that exceeds the recalculated minimum required local contribution and net school spending amounts for its local school system or its recalculated minimum required local contribution to its regional school districts as provided in this section, the local appropriating authority shall determine the extent to which the community shall avail itself of any relief authorized by this section.(i) The amount of financial assistance due from the commonwealth in fiscal year 2013 pursuant to chapter 70 of the General Laws or any other law shall not be changed on account of any redetermination of the minimum required local contribution pursuant to this section.(j) The department of revenue and the department of elementary and secondary education shall issue guidelines to implement their respective duties pursuant to this section.
Authorization to Transfer Tobacco Settlement Payments
SECTION 123. Notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 29D of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, all payments received by the commonwealth in fiscal year 2013 pursuant to the master settlement agreement in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Philip Morris, Inc. et. al., Middlesex Superior Court, No. 95-7378, shall be deposited in the General Fund. Notwithstanding section 3 of said chapter 29D to the contrary, the comptroller shall transfer 100 per cent of the earnings generated in fiscal year 2013 from the Health Care Security Trust, as certified under paragraph (f) of said section 3 of said chapter 29D, to the General Fund. McKinney-Vento Cost Certification
SECTION 124. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary and secondary education shall adopt regulations to certify district costs related to transportation of homeless students under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq. The department shall adopt the regulations required by this section not later than December 1, 2012. Private SPED Tuition Rate Freeze
SECTION 125. Notwithstanding section 22N of chapter 7 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the bureau of purchased services within the operational services division shall set prices in fiscal year 2013 for programs under chapter 71B of the General Laws at the same level calculated for fiscal year 2012, except the prices for those programs for extraordinary relief, as defined by the division’s regulations; provided, however, that upon the request of a program, the bureau shall determine the minimum price for out-of-state purchasers by identifying the most recent price calculated for the program and applying the estimated rate of inflation, established by October 1 of each year under said section 22N of said chapter 7, in a compounded manner for each fiscal year following the most recent calculated price. The bureau shall accept and process applications for program reconstruction for fiscal year 2013 to be considered for rate adjustment in fiscal year 2014. Programs for which prices in fiscal year 2012 were lower than the full amount permitted by the operational services division may, in fiscal year 2013, change the full prices calculated for fiscal year 2012.
University of Massachusetts and State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 126. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for any state university or the University of Massachusetts the dollar value of tuition and fee waivers authorized by statute by the board of higher education, by the board of trustees of the University of Massachusetts, by the boards of trustees of individual state universities and by the campuses of the University of Massachusetts shall remain at the level set in academic year 2012-2013; provided, however, that if sufficient funds are appropriated to allow for the dollar value of a particular waiver to be increased, the dollar value of such waiver shall be increased commensurately. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the alteration, amendment or abrogation of any tuition remission policy or tuition or fee waiver program negotiated under chapter 150E of the General Laws and contained in any collective bargaining agreement or approved for non-unit personnel by the board of higher education or the institutional boards of trustees or their designees.This section shall not apply to students who are currently or were formerly in the custody of the department of children and families and are eligible to receive a tuition and fee waiver under section 19 of chapter 15A of the General Laws or to students who are eligible to receive a Massachusetts National Guard tuition and fee waiver under said section 19 of said chapter 15A.
University of Massachusetts and State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 127. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the state universities and the campuses of the University of Massachusetts shall not be required to honor any waiver or scholarship created after the passage of this act, whether created by legislation, by the board of higher education, by a local board of trustees, by collective bargaining or by any other method, unless a specific appropriation is made by the commonwealth to cover the cost of such scholarship.
University of Massachusetts and State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 128. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the 3-year student charges plans required under section 42 of chapter 15A and section 8A of chapter 75 of the General Laws shall be submitted to the board of higher education and the University of Massachusetts board of trustees, as applicable, not later than March 1, 2013.
University of Massachusetts and State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 129. Not later than October 1, 2012, the commissioner of higher education, in consultation with the secretary of education, the president of the University of Massachusetts and the presidents of the state universities shall submit to the board of higher education a report that includes a review of: (1) the effectiveness of all tuition and fee waivers; (2) the merits and feasibility of changing the name of waivers to “scholarships”; and (3) the policies governing and costs related to continuing education programs. The report shall examine the extent to which these waivers are being used by the intended beneficiaries, the cost to the state universities, the University of Massachusetts and the commonwealth of these waivers, and the relative benefits of maintaining these waivers as compared to providing additional support to students through the scholarship programs authorized in section 16 of chapter 15A of the General Laws. The report shall include recommendations to the board concerning the extent to which such waiver programs should be continued, modified, discontinued or replaced by providing additional support to the state scholarship program and further recommendations to enable campuses to alter the proportion of student charges that are represented by tuition and fees so that fees represent no more than 25 per cent of total student charges. The report shall also include any recommendations for pertinent regulatory or statutory changes. A copy of the report shall be provided to the joint committee on higher education, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the board of trustees of the University of Massachusetts and the secretary of education at the time the report is submitted to the board of higher education.
University of Massachusetts and State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 130. (a) In this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-“Retained tuition fringe costs”, all fringe benefits for state university and University of Massachusetts employees previously paid by the commonwealth using remitted tuition, which shall, commencing fiscal year 2014, be paid by the employer state university or the University of Massachusetts from retained tuition.“State-supported courses”, courses taught by employees of a state university or the University of Massachusetts and paid for using state appropriations.“State-supported tuition”, all tuition collected at state universities and the University of Massachusetts for credits earned in state-supported courses. (b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in order to implement the first year of a permanent tuition retention program for each state university and the University of Massachusetts, as applicable, in fiscal year 2014, each campus’s state appropriation shall be calculated by: (i) adjusting the fiscal year 2013 amount upwards, subject to appropriation, to reflect the higher education funding formula; (ii) adjusting the level determined in clause (i) downwards by the amount of state-supported tuition each institution remitted to the commonwealth in fiscal year 2013 and will retain in fiscal year 2014; and (iii) adjusting the level determined in clause (ii) upwards to ensure the appropriation reflects the remitted tuition fringe costs value in fiscal year 2013, so that each campus is able to pay the retained tuition fringe costs on its retained tuition in fiscal year 2014.
University of Massachusetts and State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 131. Not later than December 31, 2017, the board of higher education shall submit a report to the joint committee on higher education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of education concerning the effect that tuition retention, as established by sections 35, 43, 46 and 75, has had on the finances of the state universities and the University of Massachusetts under section 42 of chapter 15A of the General Laws or section 8A of chapter 75 of the General Laws, as applicable, on the student enrollments at such institutions and on access thereto. The report may present specific recommendations for amending or repealing provisions of this act, and shall be prepared by the board of higher education in consultation with the boards of trustees.
University of Massachusetts and State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 132. If, as a result of the implementation of sections 35, 43, 46 and 75, the appropriation for a state university or the University of Massachusetts is reduced in a fiscal year, after fiscal year 2013, such institution shall have the authority, notwithstanding any limitations in this act, to increase student charges for that fiscal year in order to recover the full amount of the reduction in its appropriation, subject to the approval of the board of higher education. Any such increase shall be in addition to any annual increase in charges authorized under the institution’s 3-year student charges plan under section 42 of chapter 15A or section 8A of chapter 75 of the General Laws, as applicable.
Community College Reform
SECTION 133. There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations regarding community college funding and performance data tracking. The commission shall consist of the commissioner of higher education, who shall serve as the chair; the secretary of education; 3 presidents from the community colleges as chosen by the Massachusetts Community College Council of Presidents; the president of the senate or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; the minority leader of the senate or a designee; the minority leader of the house or a designee; and 2 persons to be appointed by the governor from the business community representing 2 different geographic regions of the commonwealth. In examining community college funding and performance data tracking, the special commission shall consider, but not be limited to considering: (i) accurate community college enrollment data; (ii) institutional performance with respect to clearly defined educational goals and metrics; (iii) incentive grants distributed by the board of higher education; and (iv) innovation and institutional action in support of workforce development. The commission shall make recommendations on the educational goals and metrics for measuring community college performance and shall consider, but not be limited to considering: (i) the number and rate of completion of degrees and certificates awarded annually; (ii) the number of students taking remedial courses; (iii) the transferability of credits among the community college, to other training institutions and to 4-year higher education institutions; (iv) alignment of degree and certificate programs with existing and emerging business and industry sectors; (v) post-graduate job placement rates; (vi) proficiency of professional degree curriculum in preparing students for post-graduate success; (vii) collaboration with vocational-technical schools and training programs implemented by the community college and vocational-technical schools; and (viii) collaboration with businesses within the geographic region of the community college. The first meeting of the commission shall take place within 45 days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall file its report with the board of higher education, the chairs of the senate and house committee on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on higher education and the executive office for administration and finance not later than December 31, 2012.
Community College Reform
SECTION 134. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, each community college shall coordinate the procurement of goods and services, consolidation of information technology services and platforms and auditing services with at least 5 other institutions of public higher education. Each community college shall submit a plan to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on the implementation and costs associated with the consolidation of information technology services and platforms by December 31, 2012; provided, however, that a collaboration of institutions may submit a plan on behalf of all of its members. Each community college shall submit an annual report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on the cost reductions and increased efficiencies achieved through the collaboration by December 31.
Community College Reform
SECTION 135. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the term of a member of the board of trustees of a community college shall not be terminated under section 40 prior to the expiration of a member’s term or other vacancy under section 21 of chapter 15A of the General Laws.
Community College Reform
SECTION 136. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the board of higher education shall, within 120 days after the effective date of this act, establish and issue guidelines and procedures for the search, selection, appointment, compensation, evaluation and removal of the presidents of the community colleges.
MassHealth and Commonwealth Care Dental Services
SECTION 137. (a) Notwithstanding section 53 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, for fiscal year 2013, the executive office of health and human services may determine the extent to which to include within its covered services for adults the federally-optional dental services that were included in its state plan or demonstration program in effect on January 1, 2002 and the dental services that were covered for adults in the MassHealth basic program as of January 1, 2002; provided, however, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, at least 90 days before restructuring any MassHealth dental benefits, the executive office shall file a report with the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the proposed changes and the anticipated fiscal impact of such changes.(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of section 6 of chapter 118H of the General Laws, for fiscal year 2013, medically necessary dental services covered through health insurance plans procured by the board of the commonwealth health insurance connector authority for any resident with a household income that does not exceed 100 per cent of the federal poverty level shall include preventative procedures but shall exclude those categories of services that are not provided through MassHealth.
UMass and EOHHS Interagency Service Agreement
SECTION 138. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services, acting in its capacity as the single state agency under Title XIX of the Social Security Act and as the principal agency for all of the agencies within the executive office and other federally-assisted programs administered by the executive office, may enter into interdepartmental services agreements with the University of Massachusetts medical school to perform activities that the secretary of health and human services, in consultation with the comptroller, determines appropriate and within the scope of the proper administration of said Title XIX and other federal funding provisions to support the programs and activities of the executive office. The activities may include: (1) providing administrative services including, but not limited to, providing the medical expertise to support or administer utilization management activities, determining eligibility based on disability, supporting case management activities and similar initiatives; (2) providing consulting services related to quality assurance, program evaluation and development, integrity and soundness and project management; and (3) providing activities and services for the purpose of pursuing federal reimbursement or avoiding costs, third-party liability and recouping payments to third parties. Federal reimbursement for any expenditures made by the University of Massachusetts medical school relative to federally-reimbursable services the university provides under these interdepartmental service agreements or other contracts with the executive office shall be distributed to the university and recorded distinctly in the state accounting system. The secretary may negotiate contingency fees for activities and services related to pursuing federal reimbursement or avoiding costs and the comptroller shall certify these fees and pay them upon the receipt of this revenue, reimbursement or demonstration of costs avoided. Contracts for contingency fees shall not exceed 3 years and shall not be renewed without prior review and approval by the executive office for administration and finance. The secretary shall not pay contingency fees in excess of $40,000,000 for state fiscal year 2013; provided, however, that contingency fees paid to the University of Massachusetts medical school under an interagency service agreement for recoveries related to the special disability workload projects shall be excluded from that $40,000,000 limit for fiscal year 2013. The secretary of health and human services shall submit to the secretary of administration and finance and the senate and house committees on ways and means a quarterly report detailing the amounts of the agreements, the ongoing and new projects undertaken by the university, the amounts expended on personnel and the amount of federal reimbursement and recoupment payments that the university collected.
Initial Gross Payments to Qualifying Acute Care Hospitals
SECTION 139. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, on or before October 1, 2012 and without further appropriation, the comptroller shall transfer from the General Fund to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, established in section 36 of chapter 118G of the General Laws, in this section called the fund, the greater of $45,000,000 or one-twelfth of the total expenditures to hospitals and community health centers required pursuant to this act, for the purposes of making initial gross payments to qualifying acute care hospitals for the hospital fiscal year beginning October 1, 2012. These payments shall be made to hospitals before, and in anticipation of, the payment by hospitals of their gross liability to the fund. The comptroller shall transfer from the fund to the General Fund on or before June 30, 2013, the amount of the transfer authorized by this section and any allocation of that amount as certified by the director of the health safety net office.
MassHealth Savings Reports
SECTION 140. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, MassHealth shall, not later than August 1, 2012, file a report with the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means identifying savings initiatives and cash management strategies that the executive office will pursue in fiscal year 2013 in order to operate the MassHealth program within the amounts appropriated in items 4000-0430, 4000-0500, 4000-0600, 4000-0700, 4000-0870, 4000-0875, 4000-0880, 4000-0890, 4000-0895, 4000-0950, 4000-0990, 4000-1400 and 4000-1405 of this act; provided that MassHealth shall notify the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 15 days in advance of any deviation from the planned implementation of savings initiatives and cash management strategies included in this initial report; and provided further, that MassHealth shall notify the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 90 days in advance of implementing any proposed rate cuts to providers or service cuts to members.
Department of Mental Health Inpatient Study
SECTION 141. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be an independent commission to study the state’s inpatient and community mental health services. The commission shall consist of 7 members, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the governor; and 2 of whom shall be selected by the co-chairs, of whom 1 shall be selected from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness who have demonstrated experience with the commonwealth-funded mental health service delivery system and 1 shall be selected from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society who have demonstrated experience in evaluation and research of the commonwealth-funded mental health delivery system. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a comprehensive assessment of the inpatient and community-based needs of mental health services funded through the department of mental health, including an estimate of the appropriate number of inpatient beds given the current number of community placements; (ii) the anticipated impact of the closure Taunton State Hospital on the mental health needs of the southeastern region of the commonwealth; and (iii) legislative or other recommendations to maintain and improve the quality of mental health services funded through the department. The department shall provide any information requested by the commission in order to further the purposes of the commission; provided, however, that such information shall not be provided to the commission if the information would violate the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The commission shall submit the results of its study, together with drafts of legislation, if any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the secretary of health and human services, the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse not later than December 28, 2012.
Nursing and Resident Care Facility Base Year
SECTION 142. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, nursing facility and resident care facility rates effective July 1, 2012 under section 7 of chapter 118G of the General Laws may be developed using the costs of calendar year 2005.
Nursing Home Assessment
SECTION 143. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the nursing home assessment established in subsection (b) of section 25 of chapter 118G of the General Laws shall be sufficient in the aggregate to generate $220,000,000 in fiscal year 2013.
Inspector General’s Health Safety Net Audit Unit
SECTION 144. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in hospital fiscal year 2013, the office of the inspector general may continue to expend funds from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, established in section 36 of chapter 118G of the General Laws, for costs associated with maintaining a pool audit unit within the office. The unit shall continue to oversee and examine the practices in all hospitals including, but not limited to, the care of the uninsured and the resulting free charges. The inspector general shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the results of the audits and any other completed analyses not later than March 1, 2013. For the purposes of these audits, allowable free care services shall be defined pursuant to said chapter 118G and any regulations adopted thereunder.
Transfer State Lab from Department of Public Health to State Police
SECTION 145. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, this section shall facilitate the orderly transfer of certain employees, proceedings, rules and regulations, property and legal obligations of the department of public health, as the transferor agency, to the department of state police, as the transferee agency.(b) Subject to appropriation and chapter 22C of the General Laws, the employees of the laboratories of the department of public health that analyze illicit and seized substances for law enforcement purposes, including those employees who immediately before the effective date of this act hold permanent appointment in positions classified under chapter 31 of the General Laws or have tenure in their positions as provided in section 9A of chapter 30 of the General Laws or do not hold such tenure, or hold confidential positions, are hereby transferred to the department of state police, without interruption of service within the meaning of said section 9A of said chapter 30, without impairment of seniority, retirement or other rights of the employee and without reduction in compensation or salary grade, notwithstanding any change in title or duties resulting from such transfers and without loss of accrued rights to holidays, sick leave, vacation and benefits, and without change in union representation or certified collective bargaining unit as certified by the state labor relations commission or in local union representation or affiliation. Any collective bargaining agreement in effect immediately before the transfer date shall continue in effect and the terms and conditions of employment in that agreement shall continue as if the employees had not been so transferred. The transfer shall not impair the civil service status of any such reassigned employee who immediately before the effective date of this act either holds a permanent appointment in a position classified under said chapter 31 or has tenure in a position pursuant to said section 9A of said chapter 30.Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all such employees shall continue to retain their right to collectively bargain under chapter 150E of the General Laws and shall be considered employees of the department of state police for the purposes of said chapter 150E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to confer upon any employee any right not held immediately before the date of said transfer, or to prohibit any reduction of salary grade, transfer, reassignment, suspension, discharge, layoff or abolition of position not prohibited before such date.(c) All petitions, requests, investigations and other proceedings appropriately and duly brought before the laboratories of the department of public health that analyze illicit and seized substances for law enforcement purposes or duly begun by such laboratories and pending before them prior to the effective date of this act, shall continue unabated and remain in force, but shall be assumed and completed by the department of state police.(d) All orders, rules and regulations duly made and all approvals duly granted by the laboratories of the department of public health that analyze illicit and seized substances for law enforcement purposes, which are in force immediately before the effective date of this act, shall continue in force and shall thereafter be enforced, until superseded, revised, rescinded or canceled, in accordance with law, by the department of state police or the department of public health.(e) All books, papers, records, documents, equipment, buildings, facilities, cash and other property, both personal and real, including all such property held in trust, which immediately before the effective date of this act are in the custody of the laboratories of the department of public health that analyze illicit and seized substances for law enforcement purposes, shall be transferred to the department of state police, to the extent agreed by both departments.(f) All duly existing contracts, leases and obligations of the laboratories of the department of public health entered into to enable the analysis of illicit and seized substances for law enforcement purposes shall continue in effect, but shall be assumed by the department of state police. No existing right or remedy of any kind shall be lost, impaired or affected by this act.(g) All references in any general or special law, regulation, contract or other document to the laboratories of the department of public health that analyze illicit and seized substances for law enforcement purposes or to a principal officer thereof shall be taken to refer to the department of state police or to a principal officer of that department.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 146. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, this section shall facilitate the orderly transfer of employees, proceedings, rules and regulations, property and legal obligations of the following functions of state government from the bureau of state office buildings, except for functions related to the operation and maintenance of the state house, as the transferor agency, to the division of capital asset management and maintenance, as the transferee agency. (b) To the extent that employees of the transferor agency, including those who hold permanent appointment in positions classified under chapter 31 of the General Laws or have tenure in their positions as provided by section 9A of chapter 30 of the General Laws or do not hold such tenure, or hold confidential positions, are transferred to the respective transferee agency, such transfers shall be effected without interruption of service within the meaning of said section 9A of said chapter 30 without impairment of seniority, retirement or other rights of the employee and without reduction in compensation or salary grade, notwithstanding any change in title or duties resulting from such reorganization, and without loss of accrued rights to holidays, sick leave, vacation and benefits, and without change in union representation or certified collective bargaining unit as certified by the state division of labor relations or in local union representation or affiliation. Any collective bargaining agreement in effect immediately before the transfer date shall continue in effect and the terms and conditions of employment therein shall continue as if the employees had not been so transferred. The reorganization shall not impair the civil service status of any such reassigned employee who immediately before the effective date of this section either holds a permanent appointment in a position classified under chapter 31 of the General Laws or has tenure in a position by reason of section 9A of chapter 30 of the General Laws. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, all such employees shall continue to retain their right to collectively bargain under chapter 150E of the General Laws and shall be considered employees for the purposes of said chapter 150E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to confer upon any employee any right not held immediately before the date of the transfer or to prohibit any reduction of salary grade, transfer, reassignment, suspension, discharge, layoff or abolition of position not prohibited before such date.(c) All petitions, requests, investigations and other proceedings appropriately and duly brought before the transferor agency or duly begun by the transferor agency and pending before it before the effective date of this section, shall continue unabated and remain in force, but shall be assumed and completed by the transferee agency.(d) All orders, rules and regulations duly made and all approvals duly granted by the transferor agency, which are in force immediately before the effective date of this section, shall continue in force and shall thereafter be enforced until superseded, revised, rescinded or canceled, in accordance with law, by the transferee agency.(e) All books, papers, records, documents, equipment, buildings, facilities, cash and other property, both personal and real, including all such property held in trust, which immediately before the effective date of this section are in the custody of the transferor agency shall be transferred to the transferee agency; provided, however, that this shall not include any property related to the operation and maintenance of the state house including, but not limited to, the community crew transportation vehicle.(f) All duly existing contracts, leases and obligations of the transferor agency shall continue in effect but shall be assumed by the transferee agency. No existing right or remedy of any character shall be lost, impaired or affected by this section.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 147. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance and the superintendent of the state house shall enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the negotiation of and participation in bulk purchasing contracts. The memorandum shall ensure the continued participation of the bureau of the state house in all bulk purchasing contracts currently in place under the bureau of state office buildings and shall require the superintendent of the state house or a designee to participate in all such future contract negotiations; provided, further, that the memorandum shall ensure that the state house is a priority in all contracts for mechanical and building maintenance during emergency situations; provided further, that the memorandum shall require the division of capital asset management and maintenance to continue to provide access control cards and parking services currently in place under the bureau of state office buildings for the legislature; provided further, that the memorandum shall require said division to provide to the bureau of the state house engineers and specialists for consultation on projects or in the event of an emergency; and provided further, that the memorandum shall require said division to continue to provide access to equipment currently used by the bureau of state office buildings. The memorandum shall authorize the bureau of the state house to use the division of capital asset management and maintenance’s work order management system software at no cost.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 148. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the term of the sitting members of the art commission established in section 19 of chapter 6 of the General Laws shall expire 90 days after the effective date of this section. The new membership of the art commission shall be appointed under section 20 of chapter 6 of the General Laws. Notwithstanding said section 20 of said chapter 6 to the contrary, initially, of the members to be appointed by the governor, 3 shall be appointed for terms of 2 years, of the members appointed by the senate president, 1 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and 1 shall be appointed for a term of 4 years and of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and 1 shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. The governor, senate president and speaker of the house of representatives shall make these appointments to the commission within 90 days after the effective date of this act.Nothing in this section shall preclude the reappointment of a sitting member of the art commission.
Bureau of the State House
SECTION 149. The secretary of administration and finance shall ensure the orderly transition of the bureau of state office building employees to the division of capital asset management and maintenance under section 146 and shall maintain the continued, orderly operation of the state house during the transition period.
ELL and Safe and Successful Youth Program Evaluation
SECTION 150. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no grant applications shall be accepted by the executive office of health and human services under item 4000-0005 of section 2 or by the executive office of education for grants distributed under item 7009-6400 of said section 2 in fiscal year 2013 prior to the competitive selection of an independent program evaluator by each administering agency. The independent evaluator chosen for each program shall provide assistance with the evaluation of grant applications and, to the extent possible, in developing the requirements for grant recipients. The independent evaluator shall be responsible for a multi-year evaluation of each program’s implementation and outcomes; provided that the evaluator shall be responsible for evaluation design. Each program shall select an evaluator based on a competitive process. The selected evaluator shall demonstrate: (i) prior experience in evaluating the impact of social programs on low-income urban youth and communities using either random assignment of treatment or regression discontinuity methods; (ii) prior experience in field evaluation; and (iii) demonstrated skill in using quantitative analysis relevant for program evaluation. When selecting an independent evaluator, the administering agency shall consider: (1) a sample of previous similar work; (2) the ability to perform requested services; and (3) a proposed evaluation budget; provided, however, that the administering agency shall give preference to non-profit research organizations. Each administering agency shall develop a request for proposal for program evaluators based on the criteria included in this section not later than August 15, 2012 and shall select an evaluator not later than October 1, 2012. Once selected, evaluators shall assist the administering agency with reviewing, and to the extent possible, developing requests for proposal for grant funds that ensure that grant recipients: (A) fully cooperate with the independent evaluator; (B) commit to seeking the informed consent of program clients and their families to share data relevant to evaluation; and (C) provide access to program and administrative data necessary for evaluation. The evaluators shall provide quarterly progress updates to the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall inform the committees on the progress of implementing the evaluation plan and shall identify in those updates any obstacles encountered in implementing the evaluation plan; provided, however, that the first quarterly report shall detail the evaluation plan for each program, data required for analysis and outcomes measured. The evaluators shall provide an annual report not later than March 15 of each year of the evaluation period to report on relevant findings and analysis.
Task Force to Improve Services to Children, Youth and Families
SECTION 151. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services shall convene a task force on confidentiality and data sharing, to improve services provided by the commonwealth to children, youth and families and the delivery of those services. The task force shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of education or a designee; the director of Medicaid or a designee; the commissioner of developmental services or a designee; the commissioner of transitional assistance or a designee; the commissioner of children and families or a designee; the commissioner of youth services or a designee; the commissioner of early education and care or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee; and 6 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall work in the private sector and have specific expertise in state and federal confidentiality laws and policies, 1 of whom shall have expertise in professional licensure requirements, including codes of conduct and ethics, 1 of whom shall be an information technology expert with experience designing and implementing information technology systems, including electronic medical records, which facilitate improved data collection while also protecting client rights, 1 of whom shall be a researcher who uses data relating to state services provided to children, youth and families and 2 of whom shall be advocates for children, youth and families.The task force shall: (1) review existing laws, regulations and policies regarding confidential communications and informed consent for the purposes of making recommendations for improving personally identifiable data sharing and improving sharing of de-identified aggregate data for the purposes of program evaluation, programmatic and resource planning and development without compromising a client’s rights to confidentiality; and (2) develop recommendations for a data set for personally identifiable data sharing that protects client confidentiality and does not exceed the minimum amount necessary to achieve the goals of: (i) identifying individuals receiving benefits or services from more than 1 agency or entity within the executive office of health and human services; (ii) coordinating or managing the programs, benefits or services in human services agencies available to or received by those individuals and evaluating these programs, benefits or services to identify their effects; (iii) creating and maintaining a nonduplicative client identifier system across all agencies and entities within the executive office of health and human services; and (iv) improving the educational opportunities for children receiving services from agencies within the executive office of health and human services. The task force shall report the results of its investigation and study, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, who shall forward the same to the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, the joint committee on public health and the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before January 1, 2013.
Rural Access Commission
SECTION 152. There shall be a special commission to study access to public assistance and state-sponsored services in rural areas. The commission shall consist of 13 members including: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as the chair; the commissioner of transitional assistance or a designee; the child advocate or a designee; the secretary of elder affairs or a designee; the undersecretary of housing and community development or a designee; the commissioner of early education and care or a designee; a representative from the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers; a representative from Children’s Trust Fund; a representative from the Massachusetts Association of Community Action Centers; a representative from the Massachusetts Model of Community Coalitions; a representative of Mass Home Care; a representative from a food bank or food pantry located in the commonwealth, appointed by the governor; and a representative of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association.The commission shall examine the barriers faced by low- to moderate-income individuals living in rural areas to obtain public assistance and state-sponsored services including, but not limited to, fuel assistance, child care subsidies, direct cash assistance, emergency housing services and health and human service programs which provide services to children, families, persons with disabilities and elders. The commission’s analysis shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of traveling to and from regional offices, the cost of delivering services in rural areas and the success of outreach efforts in rural communities. The commission shall investigate the feasibility of coordinating delivery of services between local and state agencies, expanding the use of technology to increase access to services and eliminating application requirements for in-person visits to state agencies. The commission shall file the results of its study, together with drafts of legislation, if any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, with the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities and the joint committee on elder affairs not later than April 1, 2013.
Probate and Family Court Fees Report
SECTION 153. The probate and family court department of the trial court shall submit a report including, but not limited to, a detailed comparison of the fees charged under section 40 of chapter 262 of the General Laws and collected by the court in fiscal year 2011, fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2013. The report shall be filed with the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2013.
Cape Cod Wastewater SmartMap and Cost Model
SECTION 154. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, subject to appropriation, the Cape Cod Commission, or its designee, shall link existing land use data with newly developed scientific and financial planning data to create a comprehensive, linked model for the purpose of identifying environmentally appropriate and affordable wastewater infrastructure solutions. The model shall identify the appropriate economy of scale for wastewater infrastructure solutions and shall provide estimates of the costs associated with implementing various solutions. The model may be used by communities in the commonwealth to pursue regional wastewater options that satisfy environmental regulatory requirements in the most efficient and cost effective manner and have the potential to preempt future water quality litigation. The comprehensive model shall be accessible to the public through a web mapping application. The components of the model and the web mapping application shall include, but not be limited to: (i) Cape-wide build-out scenarios and water usage data; (ii) recommendations regarding the appropriate use and costs of a range of technologies in specific circumstances for achieving water quality goals, including natural systems restoration, alternative on-site technologies and more traditional technologies such as satellite, cluster and centralized treatment technologies; (iii) scientific data that supports the calculation of nitrogen loads and estimates the impact of various land use patterns, technologies and other factors on water quality; and (iv) planning level cost estimates of wastewater infrastructure costs to Cape Cod taxpayers and potential rate payers to meet water quality goals. The model shall allow the user to vary land use development patterns, wastewater infrastructure technologies and tax and rate structures to understand the environmental and financial implications of various decisions related to wastewater planning. The comprehensive model shall be completed not later than June 30, 2013.
GAA Electronic Reporting Requirement
SECTION 155. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all secretariats, departments and agencies required to submit reports under this act shall file their reports by the dates required in this act via electronic means to the chairs of any committees named as recipients as well as with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives; provided, however, that the house and senate clerks shall develop procedures and requirements for secretariats, departments and agencies for the preparation of the reports to facilitate their collection and storage and such reports shall be made available to the public on the general court’s website. State University Tuition Retention
SECTION 156. The requirements of section 42 of chapter 15A of the General Laws shall apply to academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2013; provided, however, that in implementing the requirements of subsection (b) of said section 42 of said chapter 15A, the initial 3-year plan shall be submitted to the board of higher education beginning in the academic year beginning on or after July 1, 2013; and provided further that the board of education shall review the plans of each state university for the academic year beginning on or after July 1, 2013. For subsequent academic years, the board shall develop procedures to provide for the review of state university plans on a staggered basis, so that the board may review a smaller number of plans each year. These procedures may include provisions requiring a state university to submit an updated plan before the approval period of such state university’s initial plan has expired in order to accommodate a staggered schedule.Notwithstanding any provision of section 42 of chapter 15A of the General Laws to the contrary, the 3-year student charges proposals for the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy shall include provisions for performance measurement standards and admissions standards specific to the respective missions of Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Massachusetts Maritime Academy that are consistent with the performance measurements systems and admission standards in effect on the effective date of this act.
University of Massachusetts Tuition Retention
SECTION 157. Section 8A of chapter 75 of the General laws shall apply to academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2013; provided, however, that in implementing the requirements of subsection (b) of said section 8A of said chapter 75, the initial 3-year plan shall be submitted to the board of higher education beginning in the academic year beginning on or after July 1, 2013.
Community Preservation Act – Effective Date
SECTION 158. Sections 57 to 71, inclusive, shall apply to all Community Preservation Fund appropriations approved by a city or town’s legislative body on or after the effective date of acceptance of sections 3 to 7, inclusive, of chapter 44B of the General Laws in any such city or town. | mini_pile | {'original_id': 'f41e14a1a99041d2aefcb6b346c4e009310c535ad5fa71906970536e2f1d7de2'} |
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| mini_pile | {'original_id': '0b6a5558eed53b940eb02f200867d3f4eaa60aba4ee20caaa99c4c7add566265'} |
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Someone once told you that all paths eventually take you where you're really going. Not that that's very helpful right at this moment. At least, not in a practical sense.
As far as your eye can see, you’re surrounded by bamboo.
This isn’t really a problem in the daylight if you keep to the edge of the forest. People in the village harvest shoots there all the time. You, however, are in way deeper than that. It’s gotten considerably darker, too. You’re pretty sure it’s become nighttime somewhere along the way. And a thought keeps coming up. A stupid but persistent one: if the bamboo forest were alive you’d be stuck somewhere deep in its bowels. You still hope to see the moon, eventually. That would dispel some of the near-total darkness. Wishful thinking at its best.
You hold back a sigh. A lot of youkai prefer to come out at night. Therefore, It’s more likely that you’ll get eaten up whole any time soon. This previously-unseen monster would, naturally enough, have an impossibly large mouth and be full of deadly teeth. That’s just the way things tend to go for innocent humans around these parts. Ain’t no sugar-coating it.
Still, it’s still too early to panic. You got into this mess knowing fully about the risks. But you couldn’t help it. You saw her in the market, peddling her wares, and spent most of the day working up the courage to talk to her. And when you finally did, you could only stammer out a request for medicine. You handed her a few coins and lost your nerve to say anything else. you barely stammered a request for medicine and handed over a few coins. Still, though, there was reason to hope – when your eyes made contact, a funny sensation spread throughout your body. It was warm and comforting, like napping under the shade of a tree on a sunny afternoon. Made you feel stupidly carefree.
You held on to that and slowly built up your courage again. Problem was, by the time you had the perfect line, she had already packed up and left. By chance you spied her off in the distance, walking in the direction of the bamboo forest. Without thinking, you followed, not quite being able to clear the village crowds before she had disappeared. Once in the forest, you caught glimpses of her here and there. Even called out a few times to no avail. The rough terrain and her head start made it feel like catching up was impossible.
And so you got lost. Eventually you stopped catching glimpses of her and everything got dark. Thus your current predicament.
What to do? You can’t go back. You don’t know which way is back anyhow. And it’s not like you’re giving up on her just yet. You fancied her, even if she was a youkai. A rabbit youkai like her couldn’t possibly be dangerous. Quite the opposite: you were sure she was lovely. Both on the outside and the inside. Anyone who offered up medicine to the village couldn’t be a bad person.
Not that your friends would understand. They’d make fun of you. But what did they know about true love? They could spend the rest of their lives settling for the plain-looking girls of the village. You, on the other hand, would not settle for anything but the most sublime.
Enough thinking! You can’t afford to spend any more time lost in your thoughts. If you don’t make up your mind now, it feels like you’ll never find her again.
[] Keep pressing on in the last direction you saw her going.
[] Call out for help, maybe someone will hear you.
[] Try to stay quiet and look for some way to get your bearings.
[X] Try to stay quiet and look for some way to get your bearings.
The moon would at least cast a directional shadow, if it appears, that is.
[X] Keep pressing on in the last direction you saw her going.
I'd rather press on than stay still. a moving target is harder to hit.
Seems a little pretentious to go after a girl just because she's special or abnormal in what she is compared to regular humans.
Oh this person got whammied by her eyes, rip guy.
Is this finally Reisen route ?
I know you want to tap dat bunnybutt, but safety comes first.
[x] Try to get your bearings.
[x] Keep pressing on in the last direction you saw her going.
[x] Bluff and keep calm. The unseen threat is the deadliest.
That, or start trying to serenade her.
The Tewi option never gets old.
When we get there they'll be like "oh yeah this happens like once a week, just take two of these and go home."
Granny always said that the smartest thing to do if you were ever lost and alone in the dark would be to be as careful as possible. Too many villagers got eaten up by those nasty, filthy youkai, she said. Didn’t want her precious grandson to end up like ‘em. But then again, she never once set foot outside of the village. And grandpa used to trade with the tengu. Take a week or so to go to the farthest reaches of Gensokyo with his wares. So maybe she was just jealous of them stealing away her husband for so long. After all, you had heard the lurid tales of promiscuous youkai who looked like innocent young women and seduced men and stole their souls. And your friends insisted that they stalked the village in disguise, looking for victims... but that was neither here nor there.
Point was that there was some wisdom to Granny’s words.
There was a certain level of noise that was unavoidable – your snapping twigs and rustling of leaves – but you were sure that you could otherwise be pretty stealthy. So, what next? Getting to the high ground. Somewhere where the terrain would make more sense. You look around and stumble in the dark some but find a direction where the forest floor seems to slope up subtly. So you follow it. All the while keeping as quiet as a poor lost human could reasonably be.
Your patience pays off. Just a little. Over by a babbling brook (or maybe it’s more of a creek? Hard to tell in the dark) you find your first clearing. It’s not much of a clearing but it’s enough so that there’s actual openings in the bamboo canopy. As if on cue, the moon breaks from behind clouds, providing you with some much needed light. Lucky that it’s nearly full too, it’s much brighter that way.
You wash your face with some of the cool water from the brook. It’s almost summer and so the nights have gotten warmer as a result. Your chase through the forest made you sweat more than you realized. It makes you wish you had unnatural powers like some of those youkai did – flying through the air would make you get your bearings right away. Still, if you could figure out which stars are which, you can at least know your heading.
But before you can recall the orienteering lessons you got as a young boy, something else draws your attention. It’s subtle at first. Something low-pitched like a groan or maybe a growl, barely inaudible. But then comes the rustling. And the shaking. A cluster of bamboo stems and their busy parts are all shaking not even a stone throw’s distance from you. Even with the pale moonlight you can’t see what’s causing all the commotion. It’s a leafy thicket. You’d have to go in to see what’s going on. Only thing that’s for sure is that the shaking is intensifying.
It’s a worrisome development, for reasons your grandma would be keen to point out.
Obviously, there's only only one thing to do in a scenario like this.
[] Pick up a stick and poke the rustling spot.
[] Call out and hope it’s not a hungry youkai.
[] Run away!
Guys, if you don't mind, please don't sage votes. It's way easier to monitor activity on the site through the front page than it is to go through all the different boards. The sooner I know there are votes, the sooner I can decide whether or not to update. Thanks.
Aiming for a fastish update schedule. And we're just now starting to cook with gas.
[] Call out and hope it’s not a hungry youkai.
[x] Call out and hope it’s not a hungry youkai.
[X] Call out and hope it’s not a hungry youkai.
[X] Pick up a stick and poke the rustling spot.
Totally safe.
[X] Pick up a stick and BASH the rustling spot.
[x] Call out and ask for directions.
[X] Run away!
How is this not the leading option here?
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“Oh hey,” you call out weakly, trying not to startle whoever is in there. “Is someone there?”
There’s no reply. The rustling intensifies for a moment. And then stops altogether.
“Hello-?” you say a little more firmly, taking a step closer to the source of the disturbance.
Still nothing.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” you say, just in case it’s another frightened human who has lost his way. And if it’s not… well, it’s still a disarming gesture. Probably.
You cross your arms, waiting for a reply. Maybe they’ve gone? No more rustling at all. All you can hear is the soft whispers of the breeze across the bamboo above you.
In the time it takes you to draw another breath, you find yourself suddenly staring up at the sky. You wince, feeling the pain of being knocked back flat on your butt. And then, the realization that someone is grabbing on to you. Their weight pressing down violently on your chest and legs.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?!” you exclaim, frowning at whoever it is that’s tackled you.
A pair of red eyes star back at you, brightly reflecting the moonlight. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asks, long nails running down softly, but provocatively down your neck.
“Seeing if there was anyone else around,” you reply, frowning even harder and meeting her eyes with your own gaze. It’s important that she know that surprise tackles are not acceptable in the middle of the woods. “So are you always this rude?”
“I could ask the same of you,” the girl asks, grinning and showing off a few pointy teeth. Not as many as you thought a youkai would have. “Spying on a girl is completely unacceptable.”
“Spying?” you try to shove her off, but she growls and pins your arms down with preternatural strength. Her nails dig into your forearms, hurting you slightly. You realize that you won’t win in a contest of strength. “I was just minding my own business in these woods,” you tell her calmly, feeling that maybe you should be panicking harder than you should be. Granny would want you to, after all. “You were doing all that rustling and moving around. Hard to ignore. So I called out and announced myself as is appropriate.”
“I don’t believe you,” she says, raising a very skeptical eyebrow. “Would you have me believe that just the moment I’m adjusting my clothes is the one that you decide to make your presence known?”
“Yup, dunno what else to say,” you attempt a shrug. Doesn’t go to well with you on your back and with your arms pinned. “So, are you going to eat me or what? I’d rather you let me go if it’s all the same to you.”
“No, I’m not going to eat you,” she says, frowning. Her animal-like ears droop some, as if unconsciously, “are all you villagers this stoic?”
“Well, panickin’ ain’t going to do me any good,” you tell her, “you clearly could rip me apart if you wanted. So, really, this all I can do.”
“Hm...” she closes her eyes and smiles, “I guess you have a point. Still, you have to admit it’s not a typical response.”
“Maybe,” you try to shrug again, to similar results, “only other thing that comes to mind is trying to flatter you. Call you pretty and all, see if I can catch you off guard. But I’m already in love with another youkai, so maybe things would get messy if the truth ever got out.”
She laughs and shakes her head. More importantly, lets go of your arms. You're not sure she believes you entirely, especially the part about being in love with someone else. You flashed her your most honest look, but that's probably not enough to dismiss all doubts right away. She keeps her body on your legs and torso, keeping you from sitting or standing up. “You might have had some luck with that,” she says, “I’m not exactly vain or anything, but I admit that I’m a bit self-conscious about my appearance. We all have our weak points.”
She relaxes and finally gets off you, extending a hand to help you up. You take it and are pulled up with a strength unbecoming such slender arms. She wipes the dirt off her long dress and adjusts the brooch that sits near her neck.
“Don’t I know you from somewhere?” you ask. A girl with long, auburn hair isn’t that rare… but you can’t help but feel that you’ve seen her face somewhere before. In the village, probably. Without the ears and the teeth, obviously. Still someone's cousin? A festival? You can't quite figure it out.
“Nope! Don’t think so!” she replies hastily, pulling at the edges of her sleeves. The motion is entirely unsubtle and draws your eyes to whatever it is she’s hiding. The thing about the pale moonlight is that it's hard to see up someone's sleeve at the best of times. Let alone when their wrists have retreated into their clothes.
“Hm...” you pause for a second, thinking of what to say next. Stories about encountering youkai in the wild usually end in bloodshed and tragedy. Staring at a strong, yet evasive youkai girl after she tackles you for a misunderstanding isn’t exactly standard fare. Though if you squint just right, she looks like a regular ol’ girl.
[] What kind of youkai is she, anyhow? You don’t know much about them.
[] You don’t know if she’ll believe you anymore but, for whatever it's worth, you do think she’s pretty.
[] It keeps on bugging you that she looks somehow familiar. Gotta prod more.
[X] It keeps on bugging you that she looks somehow familiar. Gotta prod more.
Go for the throat.
This is probably a bad idea, but now I'm curious.
[X] What kind of youkai is she, anyhow? You don’t know much about them.
[x] It keeps on bugging you that she looks somehow familiar. Gotta prod more.
Got a feeling bringing up the werewolf subject would only annoy her even more.
I have to go for the obvious bait choice.
If only one choice is allowed then remove the second.
Not sure if being pushy is the best choice.
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“Didn’t I see you at a wedding last year?” you ask.
“No,” she says firmly, any playfulness rapidly gone from her face.
“The harvest festival?” you ask again. A white dress seems about right, you reason.
“Definitely not,” she answers dourly, the lack of amusement growing more intense. Any more and it looks like she’s liable to maul you.
Regardless, you ask again, “a bar then? Restaurant? Just messing around the village?
“No, no and no!” she huffs, more upset than a normal person would be when faced with inane questions. But it’s not like you have a clear idea of why exactly she’s so… unambiguous in her answers. Sure, stupid questions don’t deserve much of an answer, but they don’t deserve sharp rebukes either. You get the feeling that if she hadn’t just helped you up from the ground, she’d happily have you pinned to the ground.
“I’m pretty sure I know you from somewhere,” you tell her. Though it’s equal parts a declaration as it is a question. There’s nothing more solid that you can use against her. It’s all conjecture and spotty memory.
“I don’t know you and you don’t know me, got it?” she clarifies with all the patience of a parent brandishing a belt in one hand. It’s clear to you that any more prodding will lead to physical discomfort. At best.
It’s the end of the subject and you’re not too sure where to go next. “So...” you trail off, pretending you have something insightful to add.
“…I’m not going to hurt you, if that’s what you’re wondering,” she says a sly smile manifesting itself on her lips. “Go on, you’re free to leave. If you’re not here for the performance later, you should just go back to your village.”
“Performance?” you ask.
“Need to know only,” she grins, her fangs a ready reminder that you could be killed at any moment. “Go on then, shoo.”
“I’m not a dog,” you tell her, thinking quietly, kinda unlike you. Somehow you suspect that the comparison would not flatter her much. Though there’s a part of you that would gladly pet her and run your fingers around the back of her head, scratching those big ears of hers. She’d probably enjoy it, too.
“Well, you’re not welcome in these woods,” she tells you, “humans aren’t supposed to be mucking around outside of the village at this hour.”
“I’ve got somewhere I have to be,’” you tell her, “you can’t keep me away from her.”
“And who is ‘her’?” she asks, a very smug look on her face. Whatever antipathy she may have shown earlier is replaced with idle curiosity.
“My one and true love,” you tell her, without missing a single beat. “Like I said earlier, I’m in love with a youkai.”
“Right, right,” she nods, as if it was something she should have kept in mind. “And who is this youkai?” she asks, like she doesn’t quite fully believe you,”someone who spends a lot of time in the village?”
“No, not really,” you answer. “She’s more of a an occasional presence. Every two weeks or so, for a single day. Sells medicine to us. Cute face, kind heart.”
“I’m sure,” she says, a clear level of sarcasm poisoning her tone. Reminds you a little of your friends’ reactions when everyone is sharing their tall tales full of alternative facts and wishful thinking.
You shrug, “well if you’re not going to eat me, I think I’ll just be on my way.” You don’t need her insinuating things about your beautiful youkai rabbit. If she doesn’t get it, she just loses out.
“You’re going to keep wandering all by yourself through the woods?” she asks. Her tone does not really convey concern, it’s more akin to bemusement. If you were in her position, you’d probably feel the same way. Not like you’re the very model of self-reliance or anything. Not by a long shot.
“I have to find her,” you tell her, “I feel like I’m pretty close.”
“No, not really,” she says, “at this rate you’ll die here before you find anyone else.”
[] Appeal to her decency and ask her to help you find the way.
[] You don’t need any help to find your one true love.
[] Pat her on the head, she’s a good wolf-like girl despite all the posturing.
[x] Pat her on the head, she’s a good wolf-like girl despite all the posturing.
>smug woof
send help
[X] Appeal to her decency and ask her to help you find the way.
Is it bad that I agree with what Kagerou is saying?
We're gonna get mauled for this, but we're going to the hospital anyway, so we'll be fine.
[X] Pat her on the head, she’s a good wolf-like girl despite all the posturing.
It'll be fucking worth it.
Always bet on awoo
Can we just give up on the sex bunny and go for an awoo instead?
I forsee no danger.
[x] Appeal to her decency and ask her to help you find the way.
“More importantly...” you trail off. Crossing your arms, you try to get your thoughts organized. She follows your movements with a raised eyebrow, seemingly curious about what you’re going to say next. Probably that whole dying soon if you keep at it business. “It’s a pretty nice evening out, isn’t it? Not too cold or not too hot. I was worried the temperature would drop a lot.”
“What are you, stupid?” she sighs, both her shoulders and ears drooping. “Who cares about the temperature? Go back home.”
“Didn’t we meet during the winter?” you ask, “I was walking to my grandma’s house one day and I thought that someone was following me through the snow. Pretty sneaky-like, could have been a youkai like you.”
“Again with this?” she looks cross, her lips joining tightly together in displeasure. “No, we haven’t met before, stop asking.”
“Somehow I don’t believe it,” you tell her, with another shrug, “I guess it’ll come back to me some other time.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it,” she says with no uncertain sarcasm. And, just like that, a little smirk forms on her lips. “Come on now, little boys like you ought to just give up and home. I’m going to be going my own way now, you’re on your own.”
She motions like she’s about to leave, giving a half-hearted goodbye with a wave of a hand. Her long, sharp and crimson nails look like they could poke a hole through solid barrel. It’s a gesture that’s no doubt calculated for maximum intimidation, in order to get you to finally leave.
“Hold up,” you stop her.
“What?” she frowns, “if this is about how you think you’ve seen me before, I swear that I’ll...” she opts to finish her sentence with a mixture of an unintelligible (curse?) word and a growl.
You smile at her. Without any hesitation you reach out towards her. It doesn’t seem like she was expecting the move, as she could have swatted down your arm at any moment. You pat her on the head, telling her, “you’re a good person. You were nice enough to talk to me and warn me because you care if I get hurt.”
Youkai have pretty soft hair, you find yourself thinking as you try not to muss up her hair too bad. Whether she's a youkai or not, a woman’s hair is her life. Another nugget of wisdom you’ve learned from your granny. So, yeah, it’d be pretty rude of you to mess her hairdo up. There’s a temptation to stroke her hard, maybe just behind the ears, and make a real mess of things. Would be overkill for a first encounter. You’re not some kind of monster. It’s harder still to brush aside the impulse to say “good girl” and tell her she’s special.
There seems to be some confusion in her eyes about just what is going on. Confusion that quickly becomes realization. And then a range of emotions show in her eyes. The one that she eventually settles upon isn’t the one that you would have preferred. Without even hesitating, she grabs your hand by the wrist and forcibly removes it from her head. She then hold on tight and, without ever breaking eye contact with you, bites down on it. Hard.
“Ow,” is what you would have liked to have said. But what comes out is a string of expletives, both real and made up on the spot. It hurts way more than you thought was possible, like her teeth specifically targeted all the nerves in your hand. What’s more, in the instant after she withdraws her teeth, blood begins to gush out at a alarming rate.
There’s tears in your eyes before you know it. An involuntary reaction to shooting pain.
“Weirdo,” she says quietly but firmly. Evidently not proud of what she’s done but she’s playing it like it was a necessary evil. Her carmine eyes follow the same-colored blood that’s now dripping onto the forest floor. It feels like she wants to ask if you’re going to do anything about it, but doesn’t want to encourage you to interact with her any further.
[] The medicine your true love sold you will fix everything
[] Bite her back to see how she likes it
[] Wipe away the tears and ignore the wound completely
[x] The medicine your true love sold you will fix everything
[X] Wipe away the tears and ignore the wound completely.
-[X] Laughs and bit her farewell.
[X] The medicine your true love sold you will fix everything
How has this man lived so long without dying yet.
[X] Wipe away the tears and ignore the wound completely
-[x] Walk away awkwardly
This guy is something else.
-[X] Laughs and bid her farewell.
[] The medicine your true love sold you will fix everything
Delusion station.
Let's hope this isn't some of Eirin's more "experimental" medicine.
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I'll be writing now, instead of later, because there's a good chance I'll be busy. It's near the full amount of votes I've been getting, anyhow. With the same amount logical consistency that anon is renowned for.
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It’s with some glee that you remember that you have a little something that should take care of your problem. You smile at her because of the supreme confidence that you and your hand will be alright. The smile seems to confuse her, and her eyes widen some as she looks hard at your face. Trying to figure out why you aren’t whimpering or filled with anger, no doubt.
Yeah, you ought to be somewhat angry. She bit your left hand, your dominant hand. As someone who often has to fill out ledgers and write, it’s a complete pain to work with your other hand. Smudges are the least of your concern, that said, the actual pain of cramped fingers because they’re not used to the work is much worse. It’s enough of a bother to reach into your pockets with your right hand right now. But it’s worth it.
You eye the little pouch that you bought with some expectation. For the moment, the girl’s curiosity seems to match your own. She follows your every move silently, her eyes fixed on your clumsy attempts to carefully undo the little knot at the top of the cloth. When you finally get it open, you discover that the contents are a little white powder. Innocuous enough, but the proof of your love’s infinite compassion for all living things. It feels like any problem in the world can be fixed by the medicine’s application.
There is some question as to how to apply the powder. Rub on wound, ingest directly, mix with something else like a liquid? You’re not too sure about that. Nor are you really sure about the required dose. Well, doesn’t really matter, you reason. There is no way possible that there’s a wrong way to take in her love.
So you pinch a bit of the powder between your fingers and then apply it directly to the wound. The blood flow isn’t particularly wild but it’s steady enough that by now little droplets of blood are starting to roll off the tips of your fingers. The powder mixes with the blood, becoming something like a paste. Or maybe sludge, given its viscosity. It has no immediate effects and you happily apply some more to where the youkai bit you.
Just in case you haven’t quite figured it out. You also swallow some of the powder. It has an acrid taste, like ash or coal and almost immediately bonds with your saliva. It’s hard to swallow as it begins to stick to the inner walls of your mouth and throat. Eventually, with enough saliva and determination, you manage to get a reasonable amount of the stuff down.
That just leaves you with a little bit more of the medicine in the pouch, which you decide to keep in case you need more later.
“I’ll be fine,” you tell the girl who has been watching you silently all of this while. “I forgive you because you gave me a chance to try something my love made.”
“So is that some sort of miracle powder?” she asks, eyeing your still-bleeding hand.
“It must be,” you answer.
“...you don’t know what it does but took it anyways?” there’s disbelief written all over her face. You can’t blame her. She doesn’t know what true love is. That trust you instinctively feel. In a way, you pity her, because you can’t share your feelings with her.
“It must be good for me, otherwise she wouldn’t have given it to me,” you share your logic. It’s not hard to understand.
Her ears droop more, becoming almost entirely flat. She scratches her cheek lightly as if trying to think of something else to say. But she can’t think of anything and sighs. She grabs your hand again and brings it to her mouth. Instead of biting it again, she forcefully turns it so the back is towards her lips. And then licks it. Her tongue moves methodically up and down your hand, lapping up any excess blood and leaving behind a slick coating of saliva. She turns your hand and does the same for your palm. She even kisses the tips of your fingertips, sucking up the stray drops about to fall. Your hand is moist all over by the time she lets go.
“Press where the biggest hole is with your fingers,” she says, grabbing your other hand with some force. Your fingertips start to feel sticky when pressing against the mix of residue blood, saliva and flesh. “Until it stops bleeding keep the pressure on.”
“Um, okay,” you say dumbly, not sure what’s brought on what you assume is an act of kindness from her perspective. She lets go and rubs a finger on her blood-stained lips. She then smacks them. When she senses that that’s not enough to get rid of your blood, she passes her equally-stained tongue over them, spreading a thin and shiny coating of saliva. At last, with some frustration she wipes her mouth with one of those long sleeves of hers.
“You’re going to die out here,” she says finally. Her ears perk up and her features harden as certainty dominates her expression.
“I’ll be fine-” you start to tell her again.
“You’re going to die out here,” she repeats with some finality, interrupting you, “unless I change my plans for the evening. So you’re coming with me.”
“Oh, but it’s okay,” you tell her, “I don’t want to put you out or anything.”
“This isn’t a discussion,” she says, grabbing onto your shoulder. Her long nails begin to dig into your flesh through your clothes. It’s an implicit threat of violence if you dare to refuse her kindness. “You’re coming with me. Now.”
There’s nothing else to do but let her chaperon you. You were right, she is a good girl. For her to be so concerned about a stranger, especially a human stranger, is touching.
“What?” her expression refuses to soften, and suspicion is dead-set in her tone.
[] You are glad to have made a nice and kind friend like her
[] With her help, you’ll be seeing your true love again in no time
[] You’ve always wanted to go on an adventure with a youkai
[x] You are glad to have made a nice and kind friend like her
Let's positive thinking!
Anything else would be taking Kagerou's kindness for granted, so let's go with this.
[X] You are glad to have made a nice and kind friend like her
He would die without her, no question.
We're not gonna' build a harem of concerned nannies, are we?
[X] With her help, you’ll be seeing your true love again in no time
Nothing like a tiny bit of bloodloss to help make good decisions.
Wouldn't it be funny if Reisen turned out to be a massive cunt?
And the MC, in his delusions, assumed that she's being ultra-kind or something.
Do it.
“You’re really nice,” you tell her, the smile firm and warm on your face. The second best thing to happen you that day was, no doubt, meeting her. “I’m glad we’re friends.”
“We've just met.” It seems that she’s unimpressed and looks just about ready to roll her big red eyes. Such a kidder, this one.
“Yeah, but you’re being kind. You’re going to help me out now. Isn’t that level of solidarity normal in a friendship?”
“I guess,” she frowns, failing to think up a better response. Her arms cross for a brief moment and she seems to think. But if there’s anything that comes to her mind, she chooses not to share it. Instead engaging in further conversation, she urges you to follow her. Adopting a tone that smacks of self-confidence, she leads you back into the bamboo maze and remarks, “come on, we’re wasting time.
You follow, chuffed that your relationship is going so well. It’s all that you can talk about, really. She doesn’t really share much about herself, but it’s okay, you fill in the silence by talking about how much it means to you that there’s good people like her around in the world.
There’s moments that she fires back, acting annoyed. But you know it’s all just an act, a way to make it seem that she’s keeping a modest distance. There’s the whole human-youkai cultural divide between you. It must be fear of setting down on the wrong course without getting to know you better first that keeps her from betraying much in the way of genuine emotion. First day together, so it’s baby steps all the way. It’s something she points out at one point, stating in response to your optimistic comments, “I bit your hand. That isn’t exactly something close friends do to one another.”
“That’s not really a big deal,” you reply, “friends fight sometimes too. But it makes their bonds grow closer once they move past it. I once got into a fistfight with one of my dearest friends when I was in school. Once we patched things up, we’ve been like brothers for the last ten years. Since you’re taking me along, holding my hand, I think that the groundwork is in place for great things to come from our friendship.”
“I’m just holding your hand because you’d get lost otherwise,” she growls, tugging on your unhurt hand as if to tell you that you should hurry up. For a while she’s been crashing through the foliage without hesitation. It’s loud, tiresome work to clear a path. It seems that she’s gotten a little tired of it. Her hand has gotten sweaty.
And so has yours. More than that, your entire body has all of a sudden started feeling hot. It’s a kind of weird heat, though, one that feels white-hot in the depths of your stomach and is spreading all across your body in waves. It numbs your muscles so that all the trudging you're doing through underbrush feels about as tiring as breathing. You can’t say that you feel good but you can’t say that it feels bad either. Most of your sensory awareness of the world kind of just melts away.
You hope that you won’t start sweating too much. It simply wouldn’t do to meet your true love with your brow slick with sweat and a body odor that could instantly curdle milk.
You stop by another clearing. This one is artificial as it gets. Bamboo grows quickly so any sort of space that’s got such a clear round edge to it has to be constant work to keep perfect. In the center of this perfect space is a lone cottage. It’s not much to look at – made from wood brought from somewhere else and with a likely one or two small rooms inside. A wisp of smoke is coming from the back and lights flicker through a small window. There’s someone home.
“There,” she lets go of your hand and looks at you, “knock on the door. You’ll be able to go back home afterwards.”
“Eh?” you look at her quizzically. The heat in your stomach has worked its up to your head. Thinking about things is a little hard at the moment. Your more complex thoughts keep getting… interrupted? There’s a lot that you can and do think about. Most of which has little to do with the thought that precedes it.
“I can’t keep babysitting you all night, I have other things to do,” is her cold follow up. She points to the cabin with her chin, motioning for you to go up to the door and knock.
[] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[] Hold her hand tightly so she doesn’t leave.
[X] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
We don't want to bother our friend, right?
[X] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
Either way, I feel something bad's about to happen, so may as well not be impetulant to the awoo.
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
Don't forget the entire point of coming to the forest.
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[x] Promise to come back and deepen our friendship.
Such a kind act shouldn't go without recompense. We can come back with some rib-eye steaks or treats for the doggy.
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[x] Promise to come back and deepen our friendship.
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[x] Promise to come back and deepen our friendship.
Uh-oh. We, uh, just got bit by a werewolf and just rolled with it. The panic we should have had never happened.
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[x] Promise to come back and deepen our friendship.
[x] Hold her hand tightly so she doesn’t leave.
Pls don't go. Do want awoo
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[X] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[x] Promise to come back and deepen our friendship.
I get the feeling this won't be the last of her.
[x] Go on ahead, she’s done enough.
[x] Promise to come back and deepen our friendship.
MOTHERFUCKER. We're in for some shit, aren't we?
There’s a few words that you blurt out. They’re sincere but maybe not quite coherent thoughts. The warm numbness in your head is responsible for that.
Your thoughts are coherent enough for you to do as you’re asking without complaining, though. So you cross the distance to the cottage and to its simple wooden door. There’s no knocker or anything. Or a lock by the looks of it. Still, it’d be rude to just barge in.
You take a final look back towards your companion before knocking. She’s nowhere to be seen. Whatever she had to do tonight was probably real urgent. That’s a reasonable interpretation. And so, after mouthing a final silent goodbye, you rap on the door.
The smell of food lingers in the air, now that you pay attention. It’s nothing too distinct, no pungent spices that dominate the fragrance. Maybe roasted vegetables or some sort of mild stew. Earthy and simple. Kinda like the cottage itself. Pretty amusing connection, you think to yourself.
There’s a smile on your face when the door opens. A young girl with long, pale hair answers the door. She studies you silently, her eyes scanning from head to toe. “Um, hullo,” you greet her, finding that she’s not exactly too keen on speaking first.
The girl crosses her arms. Though she is somewhat smaller in stature and definitely more delicate-looking that you are, she has a surprising amount of presence. More than you see yourself having normally. Maybe she’s not used to talking to people either? It’s not that you think she’s unfriendly, that’d be rude to assume, but it’s fair to say that she is not about to engage you in the inane pleasantries typical of human interaction.
“Hey, nice home, looks cozy,” you say, blurting out thoughts at forefront of your mind. Anything else requires too much effort. And from what you can see from the intimate lighting behind her, it’s probably a fair assumption. “I was told to come here, I’m looking for help since I got a bit lost in these woods.”
“...yeah?” she asks, looking around to see if you’re alone.
“My friend is gone, sadly. Was a nice youkai with cute ears and brown hair. Long red nails and scary te – well that’s not important. She’s a good friend. I’m a human, though,” you say, “pretty normal guy.”
“...” she stares at you, her face betraying no emotion. If there’s any curiosity about her, she hides it well.
You’d love to explain it all to her in much more detail. Maybe over a cup of tea. Or cold water. Something. Whatever gets rid of the urky feeling that’s come all over you. The heat is sultry, disabling most of your systems. Though you can’t really feel your legs, you “know” they in the process of giving up on providing support. As the girl stands before you, you drop to your knees.
“Absolutely… normal...” you say quietly, feeling like it’s too much effort to even look up at the girl. Idly, you think to yourself, strange to see a girl wearing trousers.
She finally moves, to do something. Or maybe say something. You’re not too sure. There’s a whole different thing going on with you. Something hot, different than the feeling in your head works its way up your stomach and your throat. Bitter, sweet, white and red, it then erupts out of your mouth. And onto the floor and her shoes. And some onto your hands, instinctively placed to brace yourself. It really hurts; the feeling is that your insides are all trying to crowd through your mouth at once.
It’s not long after that the heat wave gets to be a little too much. It’s like staying too long in a hot spring: the result is that you are completely lightheaded. A second wave of brackish liquid comes out of your mouth, hurting just as bad. You slump onto your side and close your eyes. There’s nothing else you could possibly do.
Except apologize. Granted, when you come to. Whenever that is. Feels like it’s going to take a while. But it’s the last coherent thought you remember...
[] Flowers are key
[] Sweets are better
[] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
[X] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
[x] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
[x] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
This guy is fucking dying.
[x] Sweets are better
I much prefer chocolate to bad poetry.
[X] Flowers are key
Wow, he should really seek help. Psychiatric help.
[x] Sweets are better
Any chance of the midnight boombox antics we failed to get in the last Reisen route?
[X] Sweets are better
Through the stomach we shall go!
[x] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
Only he can pull this off without dying of embarrasment
[x] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
[x] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
[x] Nothing beats a heartfelt poem
So this is what it's like to become a werewolf for the first time, eh? Oh dear.
File 149350124317.png - (1.04MB, 857x1604, a bird with a fag.png) [iqdb]
It’s a morning like any other. The steady soft sound of rain provides a comfortable cushion for your return to reality. You groan, stifle a yawn and slowly open your eyes. A somewhat unfamiliar ceiling looms above you. The cottage. The memory of your arrival is still fresh. So fresh that you can remember the exact sensations that dominated your body before you passed out.
You sit up. Not hurriedly, mind, but with enough urgency so that it shows that you want to make sense of what followed your collapse. It’s then that your sense of smell decides to return; the damp scent of wet earth from outside is mixed in with the subtle smells of a kettleful of herbal infusions somewhere. It’s a relaxing combination, much better than the smell of sick and blood which had filled your nostrils just before you lost consciousness.
There’s a candle lit on a simple dresser next to you. Next to the bed. The simple straw bed that you’re lying on. It crunches reassuringly as you shift your weight and look around. The cottage is sparse, save for a stove, a pair of chairs, the bed and the dresser, there’s only a few hooks on the walls with some clothes pegged to them and not much else. It’s cozy and lived-in but by no means what you’d call a proper home.
It’s on one of those chairs, facing one of the windows on the front of the house, that your host is minding her own business. She sits with her legs against the wall, the rest of the chair tipped back precariously at an unstable angle. If she stopped pushing off suddenly, she’d no doubt fall clear off the wooden chair.
There’s a reserved look about her, like she doesn’t quite connect to the world around her. With the noise you’ve made, you’re certain she’s noticed that you’re awake. Yet she doesn’t so much as glance in your direction, instead looking out at the falling rain outside. The lethargic look is what would probably suit you better, given the circumstances of your arrival.
“Good morning,” you greet her, trying not to sound either too apologetic or overly eager. Either seems out contrary to the mood. “Thank you for taking me in,” you add with a smile, nothing that your left hand has also been bandaged. It’s been at least a few hours. With an overcast sky limiting the light outside, it’s hard to tell, but you think it’s very early morning still.
“...” it feels like she acknowledges your presence without looking at you. She leans back further in her chair and raises her arms behind her head, providing a makeshift headrest.
“Like I said, I was lost and I needed a bit of help,” you tell her, trying to form some sort of connection, “I’m Moroboshi, just your average villager.”
“...Fujiwara,” she says, adding nothing else.
“Well, Ms. Fujiwara, thanks again, I feel that I owe you my life.”
You clear your throat, and do your best to say the words engraved in your memory, “it may not be much, but I feel it’s appropriate…”
“Enough,” she interrupts your recitation before the end of the stanza, “you won’t please me with either waka or kanshi.”
“Oh, but… alright,” you slump your shoulders, feeling a little dejected. You thought for sure that the a poem by the princess would do the trick.
“Lie still, before you empty what remains of your insides on my floor again.”
“I feel fine now,” you say, feeling very embarrassed, “it won’t happen again.” None of that heat or those wonky feelings that assailed you last night are at all present. In other words, you’re as fine as you’ve ever felt.
“...” she doesn’t say anything else. Instead, she rocks her chair back and forth some and then flicks a strand of her long hair off of her face.
[] Lie in bed quietly. Let the shame sink in.
[] You need her help, tell her about your mission.
[] Imposing any more would be rude, leave and be on your way.
[X] Lie in bed quietly. Let the shame sink in.
Shame? This MC? U sure m8?
[X] Imposing any more would be rude, leave and be on your way.
Wouldn't be much point in coming here if we were to just leave so soon.
[x] You need her help, tell her about your mission.
He's never been very secretive about his goal. And Mokou knows where Reisen lives, going alone would be stupid.
[x] Imposing any more would be rude, leave and be on your way.
I wanna see what kind of initiative Mokou shows.
It's been over a day, and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of additional activity. It's probably safe to say that waiting for more votes is futile. I will flip a coin to break the tie and write.
It easier to relax, to reflect and survive the silence inside of Fujiwara’s home with your thoughts elsewhere. The alternative is to succumb to the cheek-brightening shame of having inconvenienced a stranger in such a spectacular manner. You did enough of that, agonizing about the fact that she had to clean the sick you spewed all over her floor and then move you to a bed. Showing up somewhere unexpectedly, looking for help for something selfish was something you felt would be frowned upon in the best of times in polite society.
The steady rainfall outside provides a convenient focus for your thoughts. Late spring showers provide the already-blooming flowers and abundant grasses with more than enough water to keep on growing for a while yet. In the village, farmers would be thankful for extra water for the warm-season crops as long as the downpour isn’t too excessive. Floods around this time of year are rare enough but, if they happen, they can wash away topsoil and sometimes the still-growing plants.
“Drink,” Fujiwara commands, ripping you away from your thoughts about crops and rain and gruffly shoving a leather canteen in front of your face. You were so resigned to looking up and letting your mind wander that you didn’t even hear her move.
“Thanks,” you grab the canteen and help yourself to a drink. Fujiwara returns to her chair casually, not bothering to watch if you follow through with her order. You’re pretty thirsty. No doubt all the vomiting you did last night has something to do with it. Though you pace yourself, drinking only tiny sips, you manage to finish off all the water within what you think is a half hour.
And then it’s back to silence and meditation. Mainly in the form of staring at the ceiling and listening to the rain. This once again ends in another interruption.
“Eat,” she commands again, this time around shoving small bowl in front of you. You nod and take it, once again watching her return to her chair silently. It contains some rice and a pickled bamboo shoot along with a pair of chopsticks. You eat it gladly, finding that your hunger is easily stimulated by the sight of food. You eat with such relish that you start to question whether or not you were even sick to begin with.
After you finish eating, you place the bowl next to the empty canteen on the small dresser with the candle on it. Then you sigh and sit up fully once and for all. It registers no response from your host, who continues to stare out her window silently. Emboldened by her massive indifference, you eventually find the rest of your strength and stand up. This elicits no further response, which in turn, makes you take a few steps closer. And grab a chair. You place it next to hers and join her in staring out the window.
“The ceiling got boring,” you say quietly, feeling that you ought to justify yourself as pointless as it may be. As expected, there’s not much excitement going on outside either. A grey sky, light rain and green bamboo as far as the eye can see. The real benefits to sitting by the window is that a steady current of air makes its way past you, seemingly taking away any lingering feelings of illness that may have had.
Some time passes. It’s hard to say how much. Everything seems so unchanging, so static. By your reckoning, it’s at least an hour of rain watching before she speaks up. It just as easily could have been only a few minutes. “More water?” she asks.
“Not yet,” you reply. Neither of you looks at the other, continuing your aimless vigil of the world beyond.
The complete lack of temporal awareness does strange things to you. As ridiculous as it may sound, just sitting there, an arm’s length from Fujiwara, gives you a sense of companionship. Camaraderie. Peace, even. It may be speculation from an idle mind, but it seems like it’s possible that she feels the same way. It’s something that would be ruined by any other complications.
So it’s somewhat surprising that she breaks the silence again. “Are you afraid of dying?” she asks, her head tilting slightly in your direction.
It’s a question that takes you aback. Her tone isn’t hostile or dark or anything, she simply put the question forward as casually as one would ask about liking a type of food or color. If you were to ask her to repeat it or clarify what she meant, you feel that she would pretend as if she had never asked it in the first place. And you’d go back to the silence.
[] Sure, but probably no more than the average person.
[] You’ve never really thought about it.
[] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
[X] I'm afraid of dying before I meet the love of my life. After that, I think I won't be afraid.
If write-ins are not allowed, then I vote for:
[X] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
I'm not against write-ins per se but I'd rather avoid them if possible because it can make tallying votes messy. Just saying what you'd like to happen in a comment is enough. If it's appropriate and people want it, I'll try to have it in there.
That said, your write in is more of the first choice than the third. And also the kind of thing the protagonist would just say anyhow based on previous things and choices made.
[x] Sure, but probably no more than the average person.
[x] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
He went into the forest fully knowing the risks, got all buddy-buddy with a youkai and didn't even mind getting bitten that much. And he's only a common villager following his obsession, that's something.
[x] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
Anything else doesn't really befit the protag based on his actions so far. That doesn't mean it isn't a stupid outlook, but being suicidal for love and friendship is the modus operandi here.
[x] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
Yeah, pretty much.
[X] I'm afraid of dying before I meet the love of my life. After that, I think I would be even more afraid.
[x] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
Gotta stay true to ourselves
[x] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
[x] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
[X] Sure, but probably no more than the average person.
Guys, he wasn't in his right mind last night. He has mellowed a lot since he got up.
Yeah guys, I don't know about voting just to stay consistent with the actions of a guy who was overdosing on an unknown narcotic and under reisen's wizardry.
That said, I like this guy as an absolute madman and wanna read about how he eventually kills himself, or fails to die despite trying his hardest to do so.
[x] No, it doesn’t worry you at all.
“You’re an idiot,” she states plainly. Without malice and maybe even without particular judgment. It’s a plain fact: one that you should already know. Her tone leaves room for no other interpretation.
“I don’t see why I should be worried,” you repeat in hopes of getting an explanation.
“That’s beside the point,” she mumbles, more to herself than to you.
Then it’s back to quiet. For a while.
The rain begins to thin out some time later. The sun is still hidden behind a ceiling of grey but it won’t be too long before it starts to poke through the thinnest parts of the cloud layer. The constant current of air coming in weakens as the temperature gets warmer. You lean back in your chair, propping yourself similarly to Fujiwara.
“...what about you?” you ask, as if it hadn’t been a lifetime since your last words.
“All I’m worried about is you not shutting up,” she says brusquely. With a swift move of her hand she tips your chair further back, almost past the point of no return. “Lose your concentration, and you can crack your skull wide open.”
“How scary,” you force a laugh, letting her play with your chair willy-nilly. If it tips and you lose your balance, it’s on her.
“Doubt you’ll let me die just like that,” you say, “you saved me last night, would be a waste of effort, don’t you think?”
“How boorish, assuming what other people will and will not do,” she pumps her fist, shaking your chair up suddenly. “Is every kid in the village as conceited as you these days or am I lucky to only have to suffer you?”
“I like to think I’m pretty grounded and reasonable, actually,” you say, “if something can’t be helped, it can’t be helped. Like dying, why worry?”
“Sure, whatever,” she lets go of your chair and lets her chair come to a safe rest on the floor. You chance a quick glance at her – there’s a clear manifestation of emotion on her face. Irritation. Subdued, simmering possibly towards anger. It doesn’t seem like it’s directed at you, necessarily. What caused it and if it can become overt is something you can’t say.
You sigh and lean back, letting the chair tip precariously. “Maybe it’s not my place to say, since I barely know you, but it’d probably be easier for the both of us to get along if you talked just a little bit more than you do.”
“If I had anything interesting to say, I’d talk more,” she says, playing at modesty. But you know it’s something else entirely. With the way she carries herself about, the deliberate deflections…
“Thank you for keeping me company all the same, I suppose,” you state dryly, not wanting to externalize your thoughts. You haven’t annoyed her on a more personal level yet. But bringing up the scores of topics that come to your mind, including what she’s even doing in the woods to begin with, without being intelligent about it seems like a recipe for disaster.
“Moroboshi,” she interrupts your thoughts.
“Sure,” you answer.
Fujiwara gets up unceremoniously from her chair and moves to the stove behind you. You keep watching the rain outside as she lights a fire and sets a kettle. Soon enough, she hands you a cup. She is light on her feet and efficient at her work. You sip at the green tea leisurely, waiting until she returns to her seat. Then it seems like it’ll be more of the same.
[] Relax until the rain lets up.
[] Ask more about her even if she doesn’t like it.
[] Freely talk about yourself instead.
[X] Relax until the rain lets up.
I like how easygoing this guy is until he goes mad.
[x] Relax until the rain lets up.
[x] Freely talk about yourself instead.
[x] Freely talk about yourself instead.
A little backstory?
[X] Relax until the rain lets up.
[x] Freely talk about yourself instead.
Maybe this will make her open up. Or make him realize that the powder he used is shit.
[x] Freely talk about yourself instead.
[x] Relax until the rain lets up.
So basically we're a junkie and Reisen is our 'supplier', thus the obsession.
[X] Relax until the rain lets up.
I'm beginning to think Moroboshi is actually Druggie-kun from Forbidden Scrollery.
[] Relax until the rain lets up.
File 149389085820.jpg - (696.95KB, 1200x865, after the rain.jpg) [iqdb]
The mellow flavor of the tea agrees with the mood. You savor it, pausing between sips at times, while watching really nothing of note happen. Fujiwara remains as taciturn as before; whatever irritation she just barely allowed to show is gone. She is quiet and drinks from her cup with the same lack of urgency as you. The rocking and tipping stops altogether and both your chairs remain firmly planted on the ground. The only noise you can distinguish beside the soft sound of rain is your own breathing.
There is no second cup of tea offered. Nor any excuse for conversation.
So you think. Think long and hard about anything and everything. You still have a clear purpose and intend to follow through on it. But it’s hard not to spend a portion of this idle moment thinking of home. You didn’t exactly say goodbye and it’s not like you to be gone all night. There will be some worry and maybe some recrimination but it seems unimportant compared to all that you stand to gain.
The rain eventually does let up. Sometime past midday. At least, so you reckon. The sky is still overcast, though the clouds are lighter in color. It may rain again later but, for the moment, things seem fine. It doesn’t take long for the lack of rain to translate into action.
“Let’s go,” Fujiwara instructs after continuing to stare outside for a while. Likely to make sure it wasn’t just a brief stoppage. She stands, tends to some of her possessions and then waits at the door. She doesn’t put on a coat, despite the risk of renewed rainfall later.
You join her and she leads you outside. The ground is soft, the earth dark. Fortunately not to the point of getting boggy. Before leaving, she gives you a few minutes of privacy behind her home, at a small structure that’s detached from the rest of the place. You hadn’t even thought of it, but feel great relief when you emerge to face her again.
The journey forward isn’t too hard. The bamboo has done a remarkable job of drinking up all the rain, so the forest floor feels firm. Before you get too far, you make sure of your destination, stating, “I don’t want to go back to the village.”
“Yes, I figured,” Fujiwara comments, absolutely no surprise in her voice.
“So you know who I’m looking for?” you ask, trying to recall if you talked to her at all about what you were doing yesterday. Unless you talked in your sleep, you don’t think you ever mentioned it.
“No and I don’t care,” she grunts, motioning for you to stay close. There is no clear trail and no landmarks, so you have no idea how she’s navigating the bamboo maze. “I do know where you want to be.”
“No other explanation,” she says, “though I do have a half a mind to find that troublesome youkai and push you onto her again. Then again, her kind tend to be feckless.”
“From last night… you mean...?” you’re uncertain who she’s talking about exactly. Fujiwara has a knack for knowing what you’re thinking even before you say it.
“...quickly, before it starts raining again,” she silences you, picking up the pace. While definitely not grueling, the faster movement forces you to concentrate on not crashing into bamboo.
Fujiwara only slows down some time latter when you come upon an actual path in the middle of the woods. It begins to drizzle again and she shows a complete lack of concern about the fact. She sticks her hands into her pockets and adopts a more casual gait. After walking the path for a while, she stops suddenly and then turns to you.
You scan her face and divine her meaning. “Thank you for helping me out, sorry for imposing so much.”
“I’ll send you the bill later,” she smiles wryly. “It’s just a little ways down this path, you can’t miss it.”
“I...” you try to think of something more to say. Being nursed from ill-health is something that still has meaning to you.
“I know a little rain doesn’t bother someone so fearless, but I’m sure that you wouldn’t want to catch a cold all the same,” she hurries you on. With good reason. You’re just a little bit moist right now but if the rain returns in earnest, you’ll be drenched.
You nod, ready to move on but thinking of how to best leave things.
[] Promise to drop in some other day, to watch the rain together again.
[] If she’s ever in town, she should come visit.
[] Don’t say anything.
[X] Promise to drop in some other day, to watch the rain together again.
rember heppy time wit frends
[x] Promise to drop in some other day, to watch the rain together again.
[X] If she’s ever in town, she should come visit.
I pray to the dragon for another rainy day soon.
They have good, if weird, chemistry.
I don't like the 'promise to drop in' option. If you consider it vs telling her to come by with nothing as the neutral option, the big difference is clearly that one happens on her terms, and one on ours. You don't invite yourself to someone else's house, especially someone clearly as private a person as Mokou.
Besides, we've already promised to visit someone else, and I don't want to pile more stuff on to that.
Will write soon.
>Besides, we've already promised to visit someone else
Well, maybe.
File 14939397936.jpg - (3.54MB, 2132x943, the woman in the dunes.jpg) [iqdb]
“I’ll be seeing you around,” you tell her, “if I get the chance, I’ll pop by and watch the rain with you again.”
“Sure, kid,” she says, punching you lightly on the shoulder. Fujiwara turns with some finality, leaving you on your own. You can’t help but feel that she expects to never see you again.
With the risk of heavier rainfall in the back of your mind, you don’t dwell on your thoughts for too long. Instead, you get moving and follow the narrow dirt path. This part of the bamboo forest feels quieter – not that there was much noise to begin with. Something like the splash of a large raindrop against a leaf resonates louder than what you’d expect. You hurry, somehow feeling that you ought to get indoors as soon as possible.
Your destination isn’t too far away. Though left unsaid, Fujiwara had more or less promised you that you were almost there. There’s no way that you would have found it by yourself, you feel, so strangely nestled in this endless sea of green.
At first all you see is the wall that encloses the area. Made from bamboo, it blends in with the surrounding are seamlessly. It stretches for as far as your eye can see, for whatever that’s worth in this forest. Then, as the path gets closer, you see that behind the wall is a building, a house maybe not unlike something seen in the village. Save for its scale. Its clear even from this initial view that it’s quite stately and large, something which would put the traditional important families and their homes to shame. With a second floor and maybe a few detached buildings within the compound, it seems like something so ridiculous to have in the middle of the woods.
As you circle around towards where you think the entrance is, you note that it’s hard to tell just how long the building has been here. Given its imposing tiled roof and steady wooden walls, it’s reminiscent of the older buildings you see in the village. A lot must be spent on upkeep, you think, since there are no blemishes, decayed tiles or anything else that’s normal in the average home. And in a forest where the bamboo can grow anywhere nearly overnight, that’s an impressive feat.
As you near the entrance, the dirt path becomes paved and bamboo rails on either side. With the rain, the stones have become slick and so you run your hand along the rail just in case. This leads you to a gate, made from a combination of flexible bamboo and hard wood. Just beyond it, you can see through gaps that the path extends to a single-storied part of the main building.
Before you can knock and get out of the rain once and for all, you notice that someone is watching you. Or has been, rather. A brown rabbit showed up at around the time the paved path began. It kept its distance, skulking in the bamboo opposite the wall but otherwise kept up with with your movements. You make brief eye contact with the plump, remarkably large, rabbit. It would put a fair number of cats and some dogs to shame with regards to size. It stares at you, unafraid, holding its position just a few steps to the side of the gate, near where wall and bamboo meet.
You smile at it. It stands on its hind legs for a moment, brushing its front paws against its face. Doesn’t seem like the rain is bothering it much, either. It’s atypical for a wild animal to be so unafraid of a human. Then again, not a lot of what’s happened to you thus far is very typical.
[] Knock and announce yourself as is proper.
[] Bid the rabbit closer with a treat.
[X] Bid the rabbit closer with a treat.
New friend?
[X] Bid the rabbit closer with a treat.
Even if it's a trick, it'll likely be harmless.
[X] Bid the rabbit closer with a treat.
[x] Bid the rabbit closer with a treat.
All Eientei rabbits are canonically white, no? A big, brown rabbit seems like a trap more than anything.
[x] Bid the rabbit closer with a treat.
[] Knock and announce yourself as is proper.
[X] Greet the rabbit politely.
I mean
They're there.
Maybe they live here, right?
This is kind of what you're supposed to do if you stride up to someone's place and you see someone right outside it.
[x] Knock and announce yourself as is proper.
[x] Knock and announce yourself as is proper
File 149428652359.jpg - (12.78KB, 181x135, rabbits.jpg) [iqdb]
7 minutes, guys.
There’s not much that you have on your person. You weren’t expecting to be gone from home for very long. So not only is it difficult to imagine what it is a rabbit would enjoy as a treat but, searching your pockets, you find that your more optimistic projections to be baseless. A pouch with some medicine in it and a coin purse isn’t going to interest it.
Wrinkling its nose, it stares at you idly, seeing just what you’re up to. You try to keep smiling while rooting around for something, anything, that you can offer it.
“Here, have this,” you say at last, finding that there is something after all that you can offer. You squat, extend your arm and open your hand flat, palm-side up. There’s a single piece of hard candy in your hand. White and chalky, you urge the rabbit to take it before it gets wet, “hurry up and take it, before the rain ruins it.”
It stares at you, possibly not understanding what the gesture means. You keep your voice steady and soft, trying to entice it closer. It’s probably something of a ridiculous scene – a man squatting outside a gate in the rain, trying to endear himself to a simple rabbit.
Maybe it’s the wiggling of your fingers or maybe it’s your trustworthy face but, eventually, it decides to come closer. It stops next to your arm and sniffs, its long whiskers brushing up against you as it sizes you up. It doesn’t take the piece of candy; it ignores your offering altogether. You can’t blame it. After all, it’s not really the kind of stuff you like either. It’s probably something that was given to you by someone a long time ago and you stuffed it in your pockets and forgot about it completely. You lower your hand even more and bring it closer to the rabbits face, only to find that it take a half-hop away, towards your body.
It’s then that it acts. You don’t know how it divined the location of the pouch, but it goes for it with a decisive movement. In its mouth is its prize and it wastes no time hanging around. It hops away before you can reach out or even stand up.
Panic threatens to overwhelm you. You spring into action, giving chase to the fleet brown rabbit. For all of its size and earlier lethargy, it now eludes you, running along the exterior wall much faster than you can hope to go.
I have to get it back! you can’t think of anything else. The terrible excitement that’s taken control of your mind and body is so intense that you feel like your heart is going to burst. Or that if you stop you’re going to vomit again. It seems almost too cruel that the one thing that could make you feel better is precisely the thing that that damn rabbit stole from you. “I need that medicine!” you cry out, to no avail.
The chase takes you far from the gate. You’re somewhere around a corner and through some boggy spots by another wall. It’s there that you trip, splattering yourself with water and mud. The rabbit finally escapes you, darting through a nearby hole in the perimeter wall.
You stand, simply swatting away the thickest globs of mud from your chest and arms and scramble towards the hole. It’s dark. Not a simple hole in a wall. With your heart pounding loudly in your ears you look around and see the reason: there’s a building immediately on the other side. Not part of the main structure. You’ve wandered far from the main entrance. This is something remote and detached. A tiny window is located near the roof – much too small for a person to go in and out through - it’s just for ventilation.
The hole is quite large, you realize. The entrance is a bit snug, but beyond is maybe the area under the floorboards. You can’t really see much inside, save for the occasional glint or maybe glimmer of something on the far end.
You need to get your miracle powder back. To forget about it would be tantamount to spitting in your true love’s face.
[] Crawl into the hole
[] Climb the wall and look for another way in
[X] Crawl into the hole
Think like a rabbit. Become the rabbit.
[x] Crawl into the hole
[x] Crawl into the hole
[X] Crawl into the hole
[x] Climb the wall and look for another way in
We're not going to outrabbit the rabbit. But we may outhuman it.
Also why rabbit thief, why??
[x] Crawl into the hole
We shall brave all trials for the sake of our magical happiness powder.
[x] Crawl into the hole
You try to crawl into the hole. It’s not easy going at all. You have to twist and contort yourself as best you can. The sad fact of the matter is that your frame is much larger than a rabbit’s. You curse your shoulders for getting in your way and then you curse again when you hurt yourself by stretching your arm out in an unnatural position. The pain doesn’t stop you. Nor does the cold, wet earth beneath you. It’s only due to sheer willpower that you finally manage to get most of your body through the opening.
What greets you isn’t much to look at. It’s dark and, though your eyes begin to adjust, you still can’t really make heads or tails of much of anything. But at least the ground beneath you is drier and, as you wiggle the rest of your body through the hole, you take a moment to just simply breathe. You still can’t calm down. You’ve no idea where the rabbit has gone. Only that there’s not much space between your head and what you assume is the floor above you.
So you crawl.
Aimlessly, really just anywhere that feels like the right direction. There’s the occasional twinkle of light somewhere ahead but it’s never enough to really guide you. If this dark, cramped space has anyone else in it, you’re oblivious to their presence. All you can hear is the soft background sound of rain that’s interrupted by your various grunts and groans as you grope your way around in the dark. More than once you smack your hand or head into a wooden foundation that holds the floor above up.
Sweat blurs whatever faint shades of dark your eyes are beginning to distinguish. Wiping your face involves bringing your head almost into the dirt and basically nuzzling your own hands. It’s an action that upsets you. It reminds you of the rabbit swiping its paw across its face, idly watching you from a distance. You begin to move again, determined to make it out and get your property back.
The glint, glimmer—or whatever the hell that thing is—is close. You catch it out of the corner of your eye and adjust your heading accordingly. You wish you could just roll around but due to the restricted space, you have to change heading little by little. But your persistence pays off. There’s a definite light source. Something faint, something almost ephemeral. It disappears from time to time.
You realize what it is as you reach it. A hole in the floor above, letting in the light. If not for your exhaustion, you would have let out a sigh.
Instead, you find that you are skewered. Or, at least, it feels like it. Light envelops you, a loud noise and movement above you ushers it in. You’re blinded by the suddenness of it all. It is then that you are skewered, with a heavy force landing square on your back. It is blunt and pins you down to the ground. The surprise nearly knocks the wind out of you.
“A trespasser, huh?” a voice above is forceful and stern but does betray just the slightest hint of amusement, “or, perhaps, a thief?”
“I’m...” you wheeze, finding it hard to speak with all the weight being pushed into your back.
“A no-good worm,” the voice mocks you, “the lowest of the low.”
Perhaps there is something to that thought. As you struggle to break away or, just maybe turn over to face whoever it is, a familiar face appears off to your side. The brown rabbit, its nose twitching, examines you from just outside of your arm’s reach. You can’t tell if it’s got your pouch but you’re certain it does. The bastard. Almost as suddenly as it appears, the rabbit is gone, retreating back into the shadows.
“So, are you even going to make an excuse or are you just going to writhe around uselessly until I put you out of your misery?” the voice asks, just maybe a little disappointed that you aren’t really giving her much attention given the circumstances.
[] Make no excuse and yield since she’s already made up her mind.
[] That damn thieving rabbit was to blame for the misunderstanding.
[] Ignore it all, you can still get to the medicine if you can just break free.
[X] That damn thieving rabbit was to blame for the misunderstanding.
Hmm, I wonder if this mysterious person is, in fact, Reisen herself?
[x] Make no excuse and yield since she’s already made up her mind.
[x] Tell her you're just here to look for your true love
Struggling is gonna make us look even more guilty.
[X] Make no excuse and yield since she’s already made up her mind.
[x] "I'm really only here to see my true love..."
-[x] "but some thieving rabbit ran off with my medicines that she gave me."
This might work.
[x] That damn thieving rabbit was to blame for the misunderstanding.
[X] A vote for this guys idea
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“...the rabbit!” you gasp, finishing up one of the many broken sentences you’ve been blurting out ever since you found yourself stuck. A part of your mind wishes that you had enough composure to offer a sound, nuanced and polite explanation. Instead, a mix of half-curses, half-explanation and vague allusions to why you’re even in the forest to begin with are all that you can offer.
For what it’s worth, you think that the person holding you still has shown a remarkable degree of patience. The pressure on your back loosens some, Maybe it’s a quiet assurance for you to calm down and take a deep breath. Still pretty hard to do when your belly is flat against the hard earth.
“Those are very many excuses,” she says quietly after you stop thrashing about quite so much. “Sounds very fish. I’m not very easy to fool, you know. Am I really to believe that you’re hate a rabbit so much that you’re practically frothing at the mouth? But not really because you’re also… something about love?”
“It took my stuff!” you complain again, narrowing your eyes at the darkness around you. That bugger’s watching, you think, sure of the conclusion.
“Alright then, Mr. Thief,” the voice adds, “you can tell me all about how rabbits are evil if you promise to calm down. I’ll decide what to do with you later.”
“I am calm,” you say very unconvincingly.
“Sure. Listen carefully. I’m going to let go,” she instructs,”you’re going to turn around, real slow like, sit up and then climb up to where I am. Any funny business and you’re going to be in a world of pain.”
There’s nothing you can do but agree. The pressure on your back disappears. And you follow instructions. You roll onto your back, finding that you are blinded momentarily by a lamp shining down through the hole. You wince but sit up. Slowly, as the voice told you to. The hole above is a hatch that leads directly into the building. You climb, well, more like stand up.
You find yourself in a very crowded room. The smell of dust and old wood fills the air. Chests, boxes and all sorts of storage containers are stacked and arrayed as far as the eye can see. And sitting, standing and otherwise occupying every vacant spot is something else entirely: a legion of rabbits. Dozens of pairs of eyes are staring at you, their faces expressionless as far as you can tell. Most are white but there’s a few other colors mixed in here and there but you can’t tell if your brown betrayer is around at a glance.
A heavy wooden stick is poked into your side. “Take a seat, let’s get to the bottom of why you’re here.”
You turn to face the voice. It belongs to a girl. A short girl. One with short dark hair that seems to be messily draped every which way from the top of her head. Atop the head, there’s a sign that she’s not quite human—large white ears that flop to either side of her head. Rabbit ears. It’s a rabbit youkai. Not like your love but similar. Smaller, but somehow commanding all the same.
There’s no choice but to sit on a nearby stool. A short girl in a pretty pink dress isn’t very intimidating by herself. The scowl on her face, the heavy-looking rod in her hand and eerily quiet assembly of rabbits together are another thing entirely. Perhaps saying all those mean things about the rabbit that screwed you over wasn’t such a good idea?
It feels like you’re in for a painful experience. Granny did say something about your expectations being the most important thing you can control. Maybe that’s sage advice that’s somehow relevant to the situation.
[] If death by angry rabbit throng is your destiny, so be it.
[] There’s nothing to fear: she’s cute and a cute rabbit like her can’t possibly be mean!
[] Be uncooperative. That damn rabbit won’t get the last laugh if you can help it!
[x] If death by angry rabbit throng is your destiny, so be it.
Let out last words be "Lunarian rabbits are better!"
[x] Be uncooperative. That damn rabbit won’t get the last laugh if you can help it!
Don't take any shit from them.
We're gonna play tough nut for this one.
I accept it. Regardless this is the last time we'll ever help them.
[x]If death by angry rabbit throng is your destiny, so be it. Lunarian rabbits are better.
You brace yourself for a painful experience. Death by rabbit isn’t exactly the way you imagined it would end. At least not in a mysterious bamboo forest where there’s plenty of more dangerous youkai. A wolf, one meaner than your friend, seems like a more logical candidate.
The pressure from all those pairs of eyes has you on edge. You try to ignore them, focusing instead on the girl with the stick. She’s let one end rest on the ground and is leaning on it, eyeing you with clear suspicion. She leans forward some and you feel that all the other rabbits are as attentive to her motions as they are to you. You notice that a small necklace hangs around her neck, a small carrot of all things. Rabbit pride at its finest.
“You broke into our home, badmouthed a fellow rabbit and generally are acting like a crazy person,” she says, a light smile appearing over her lips. “It seems like you’re a pretty dangerous sort of guy. The kind that rabbits would do well to stay away from.”
“If you’re going to kill me, just get it over with,” you say, holding back a sigh. Not the greatest way to end a day but it is what it is.
She raises an eyebrow, “why would I want to kill you?”
“Anger? Boredom? I don’t know, some reason. No idea how rabbits think,” you say with a shrug. The rabbit that stole medicine did so without an explanation. And even now, it’s probably mocking you from somewhere in the shadows.
“Maybe you should just shut up then,” the girl’s smile becomes a damnable smirk. “If you don’t know how we think, then let me enlighten you.”
The girl shakes her head, her white ears flop around as easily as her wild hair. She removes her weight off of the stick, lifting it back up and pokes you lightly with it, “come on,” she says, “be a good sport now.”
“Put yourself in my shoes. Finding some guy wiggling around under a building, ranting and raving isn’t exactly a good first impression. What am I supposed to make of you?” Doesn’t seem like she intended for you to give an answer. With an exaggerated flourish, she waves an arm around to the rabbits, “more importantly, what are they supposed to think? Humans aren’t really nice to rabbits, you know. They have a disgusting tendency to want to turn us into stew.”
There is some commotion among the rabbits at the suggestion. A few of them move around, some of them excitedly twitch their noses and ears at you. The girl shakes her head again and forces a sigh, “deplorable, right?”
“So what’s your point?” you ask, still not sure what’s going to happen to you. It’s looking less and less likely that you’ll be ripped to shreds by a fluffy group of rabbits.
“That you make amends for trespassing, making a fuss and all the other bits of nastiness,” she suggests, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Return what was stolen to me first,” you say.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she looks you straight in the eye, giving a perfect look of honesty. If she’s lying, there’s no way of telling.
“You’re a rabbit and a rabbit took my pouch with medicine. It’s important to me. I want it back.”
“Just because I’m a rabbit doesn’t mean I automatically know what another rabbit does or not,” she explains, looking around the room, “any of you guys know what he’s talking about?”
Silence follows. And the rabbits remain stationary.
“Don’t take me for an idiot,” you complain, “you rabbits know what’s what.”
“Wow, that’s a pretty rude assumption. I was going to ask the guys to try to find out if what you’re talking about is true and help out if they can help but you can just forget it now,” irritation creeps into her words, “doesn’t seem like you’re a good person anyhow.”
“I want my property back.”
“Doesn’t seem like you’re getting it back anytime soon,” she says, the irritation transforming into conviction, “with your attitude, it’s best if we just kick you out. You’re not welcome here anymore.”
“I- but I have things to do and-” you try to think of the words to explain why you came in the first place but her lack of further interest in you leaves you at a loss.
“If you come back, the rabbits will defend themselves. We may not look like much but together, we’re pretty tough. Go make trouble elsewhere,” she says, striking you with the stick on your shoulder. It hurts a little. All the rabbits around you are chittering excitedly.
Maybe she has a point. You’re not calm by any stretch, but you can see how things would look suspect from her perspective. Or their perspective, rather. Desperate as you are for your sacred medicine, you’re willing to be flexible.
“I can’t leave!” you blurt out finally, finding no other words. “There’s… got to be someway I can get my stuff back and move past this incident. Look, I’m sorry for insulting you, I mean it.”
“Hm...” she bites her lower lip, as if thinking things through. She looks around the room as if asking for permission to proceed. The rabbits seem to calm down. “Well, maybe, but we need a show of good faith from you. To make up for the trespassing and all the insults.”
She presents you with a pair of alternatives for compensation.
[] Donate your whole coin purse so that every rabbit can buy a tasty carrot.
[] Promise to help the girl out with an important favor when the time comes.
This is exactly why I'd rather not have any write ins. They're often messy and make no sense in the context. How the hell would the protagonist even know what a lunarian is? If you guys really have a strong opinion or insight, just add a comment and it may be worked in if appropriate. Hell, I encourage you to talk and discuss all you want. Just, please, no more write-in votes. Not to mention it pointlessly fragments the voting process. I don't want to slow down the story any more than is necessary while waiting for votes. Still aiming for at least once every day, so make sure to check in often as you can.
I'll be ignoring write-ins wholly from now on.
[x] Donate your whole coin purse so that every rabbit can buy a tasty carrot.
I got a feeling she'll screw us up with some "important" favor later. Might as well pay our dues now and be done with it. Plus, buying them all carrots seems like a more sincere apology than some vague promise.
Dude has a point.
[x] Promise to help the girl out with an important favor when the time comes.
A story hook is cool
Goddamn hypocrite rabbit
I'm agreeing with this for the same reasons the earlier anon stated. Though this probably means we'll have no money for goods and services later...
[x] Donate your whole coin purse so that every rabbit can buy a tasty carrot or something...
-[x] Wait, didn't you read somewhere that carrots aren't particularly healthy for rabbits?
I'm going to assume that the protag isn't a complete fool, he's only been blinded by love so far.
Delaying any update until several hours from now because life was a bit busier than I would have liked today, sorry. not calling it or anything but I think that it's clear where the wind is blowing right now.
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The girl smiles, her eyes sharply focused on you. The other rabbits seem subdued, uninterested even in what’s going on. It wouldn’t surprise you if a pair of them started nuzzling you lovingly given how quick they seem to change their emotional state.
You reach for your coin purse, undoing the string that ensures it won’t just fall out or get snatched easily. The bag is heavy in your hands, representing most of the money you have to your name in this world. A few coins clink together as you stand up and extend your arm towards the girl. You offer the purse in the same way you offered the candy to the brown rabbit—a situation that you’re altogether too painfully aware it parallels. Once again you offer goodwill and friendship.
“As General Secretary of the Central Committee, and plenipotentiary in matters of rabbit welfare, I graciously accept your indemnity,” the girl speaks formally, her tone solemn and practiced. With those words recited, she takes the purse from your hand and stashes it away in an otherwise invisible pocket in her dress. She gives you a firm nod, letting you know that you are once again in good standing.
“So, what happens next?”
“Normally we would form a committee to assess the merits of your case and then that recommendation would be sent to the all-Union Council of Ministers whereby action could be decided there or, more likely, at the next general congress,” she explains not skipping a single beat.
“Oh… that sounds like it might take a while,” you observe.
“It’s important that the voices and concerns of all rabbits be heard and taken into account,” she tells you. It’s the kind of answer that could mean anywhere from “a few hours” to “when you’re grey and old”.
“What am I to do until then?”
“As Chairman of the Council of Rabbit Commissars,” she explains, casually adding another title, “and plenipotentiary in matters of rabbit welfare, I believe that there’s sufficient cause to take expedited action. In the interest of better relations between the rabbit community and yourself.”
At that statement and with a subtle look from her in their direction, a pair of rabbits detach from the main host, disappearing into the shadows.
“That’s good news,” you nod.
She smiles at you, “let us do our best to put behind this ugly incident, resolve it in a timely fashion and create strong bonds of solidarity and friendship.”
“Sure, sounds good to me,” you find yourself smiling back. Maybe it’s because the room full of rabbits also seems to be happy about the turn of events. Though they don’t speak, their energy is infectious. “I don’t think we’ve introduced ourselves properly,” you say with a sheepish grin. It’s kind of awkward not to know who you’re talking to. “I’m Moroboshi, from the village.”
“Tei,” the girl says, chuckling, “just an ordinary rabbit that’s been lucky to serve my fellow rabbits in my limited capacity. I’d introduce you to the rest of the gang, but I’m afraid we could be here all day.”
“That’s alright,” you say, looking around the room, “all that matters is that they know there aren’t any ill-feelings just because of the action of one rabbit.”
“Yes, good,” Tei agrees with the sentiment, “in time, I’m sure we’ll all look back at this and laugh. More importantly, how to best celebrate our new friendship?”
“I’m not sure...”
“It’s a good thing that we both understand how to best advance our interests, right?” she asks, interrupting your thought. “While things are being sorted out, it’s important we lead by example and show all the rabbits that humans are good, after all.”
“I guess, what did you have in mind?” you ask, feeling that there’s no point in pressing harder. The only realistic hope you have of getting your medicine back is with her help and goodwill.
She grins—an expression that states I thought you’d never ask—and makes a gesture at another nearby rabbit. A bottle of sake materializes and Tei grabs a pair of cups from a nearby chest. “A little toast to set things off on the right foot,” she tells you.
The cups are poured and she hands you one. The rabbits seem to all be intently watching the both of you. They crowd in closer, coming out of the shadows to the area around the lamp where you and Tei are standing.
Tei looks around the room with a knowing look, the very vision of mirth. “To friendship!” she exclaims, raising her cup.
It falls upon you to say something, you realize. “To rabbits!” you start, raising your cup, not quite sure where the thought will end.
[] “A friendly and understanding bunch!”
[] “And their gracious and wise representative!”
[] “And to mutual respect and benefit.”
[x] “And their gracious and wise representative!”
I guerss we can be friendly now, since everything we had of value is lost to us for good.
[x] “A friendly and understanding bunch!”
[X] “And their gracious and wise representative!”
Be on her good side, I'd say.
[X] “And their gracious and wise representative!”
[x] “A friendly and understanding bunch!”
Apropos of nothing, we can safely assume that rabbits are an empty-headed, easily-pleased bunch. A single sentence ought to put us in their good graces permanently.
X] “And their gracious and wise representative!”
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Tei takes your compliment with a convivial smile. It’s a moment for joy, sure, but it’s also one that she doesn’t care to make too much about herself. She sweeps her gaze around the room, making every rabbit there feel included in the celebration. You’re not exactly an expert on rabbit expressions but you think that maybe, just maybe, they are all thinking, yeah, she is pretty great and wise.
You lock eyes with her once again and then drink. The sake feels aged, and is little quick to sting your tongue with flavor. As you swallow you feel more complex flavors work their way through. It’s light and makes your throat feel comfortably warm. Not bad, maybe? It doesn’t make you want to retch; your knowledge of what makes sake good or bad is limited by your lack of experience with the stuff. Grandpa loved the stuff but you haven’t really had any outside of festivals and special occasions.
“Not bad, huh?” Tei chuckles, sitting unceremoniously on the matted floor. You follow suit, figuring that informality is a hallmark of friendship. She pours out another cup for you. “To your health!”
“To yours,” you reply, drinking up.
She pats you on the shoulder with a laugh, “I’ve got a good feeling about you.”
“I’m glad,” you tell her, noting that she’s pouring yet another drink for you.
“Life seldom offers the opportunity to relax like this, don’t you agree?” she asks, not really expecting a reply, “always so caught up in what we have to do or what we should do that we never stop and just take a breath.” She motions to your cup, “or appreciate the small things, like a good drink with good company.”
She raises her glass and you match the gesture. You drink more while she seems to have a sudden revelation. The rabbits have been reveling with you as well, playing with one another and generally bouncing around, looking… happy you think it’s safe to say. Tei puts down her glass and signals at a rabbit, making it respond by coming closer.
It’s a white little fellow, who hops along until it reaches where you’re sitting. It looks at Tei expectantly, twitching its long ears.
“This is Hiroyuki,” Tei states, nodding at the fellow rabbit.
“Hello,” you greet, as is the decent thing to do. The rabbit turns its head towards you and you think it nods. Even if it didn’t, the thought of it brings a slight smile to your lips.
“Hiroyuki is a close associate of mine and a smart little guy,” she explains, pride in her words. The other rabbits takes the praise quietly, eyeing you instead. “I am usually very busy and I can’t be everywhere at once. So while we’re tracking down the other rabbit and you’re conducting business here, it’s probably best if you have someone with you at all times that can offer help if you need it.”
“Sure, sounds reasonable,” you nod, finding nothing wrong with such a cute helper. Whatever hostility you were feeling earlier has faded due to the comforting atmosphere in the room now. Not to mention the inner warmth that is now cradling your mind delicately.
“To Hiroyuki, a good and diligent rabbit,” she toasts.
You’re exchanging a warm look with Hiroyuki as you bring the latest cup of sake to your lips. You down it all, wishing him all the best. Though he doesn’t talk, you’re sure he’s thinking the same thing about you. He comes closer, sitting down next to your leg where he sniffs you a little before staying quietly out of the way.
“I hope that rabbit hospitality has made a good impression on you,” Tei says, keeping your cup perpetually full of sake. The small girl is happy to let the good times keep going, encouraging the other rabbits to dance around and frolic. You’re not sure who is doesn’t it or when it started exactly, but there’s also singing. It’s a happy melody, easy to hum along to. Or clap along to, as the case seems to be.
It’s then that you notice that a few of the rabbits that were sitting in the shadow also have human-like bodies and are mingling with their tinier counterparts. Some of them are dancing, wildly hopping around and taking each other hands and spinning around. A lot of the boxes and storage containers have been pushed away, clearing an area for the rabbits to go as wild as they like. They really do seem to be enjoying themselves.
You’re mesmerized by it all, your thoughts getting a little slower and more disconnected. You pet Hiroyuki, something which the small rabbit doesn’t seem to mind at all, twitching its ears happily as you rub its head. You drink to yet another toast, this time not really sure what it was for. Then again, it doesn’t really matter. Worrying is for suckers. Tei is right; the here and now is important to appreciate.
[] Why not join in? Grab Tei and dance.
[] Tell Tei that you’re having fun but wish that your true love were here to share the moment.
[X] Tell Tei that you’re having fun but wish that your true love were here to share the moment.
We shan't forget our goals.
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Bloody hell
Fuck, didn't mean to post with name on. Not used to having one.
[x] Tell Tei that you’re having fun but wish that your true love were here to share the moment.
Purple haze, all around
Don't know if i'm going up or down
Am I happy or in misery?
Whatever it is, that girl put a spell on me
[X] Why not join in? Grab Tei and dance.
Things are clearly going too well here - we need to correct that.
[x] Why not join in? Grab Tei and dance.
Guys, she's helping him get over his obsession. For her own reasons, I'm sure, but I haven't seen him this chill since the story started. Let's not fuck this up.
The next thing you know, it’s really hot all over. The air feels dense and moist.
A lot of your skin feels like worn leather, insensitive and tough. The world of singing and dancing is no longer there. Instead, it’s remarkably quiet, with only the sound of dripping water reverberating with undue loudness.
You open your eyes and things are blurred. Your head is trying to escape your body, seems like, loudly pounding to be set free from the otherwise heavy corpse. Light is such a bother, giving more energy to the struggle happening behind your eyes, inside your head. It takes a moment for things to come into something approaching focus. Once you stop wincing, you start making sense of your surroundings.
Tile, steam and a bathtub. And you’re in it. Hot water is about neck high and your naked body is casually sprawled, with its legs spread open underwater. It would be relaxing if it weren’t so damn hot. The unfamiliar ceiling is the least of your worries, the fact that you don’t remember even getting into the bath seems more pressing.
With some effort, you get your arms to cooperated. You lift them out of the water and grope around for the edges of the tub. Naturally, you don’t have the strength to lift yourself out of the water just yet, but it’s something of a start. At the very least, it stops you from feeling like the world is spinning around. Just a little.
The temptation to close your eyes again is great. But if you do, you’re sure that you’ll happily nap away for a while longer. And that’s not helpful. What is helpful is wiggling your toes and keeping your body from feeling like it’s going to dissolve away in the hot water at any moment.
“Oh, you’re here,” you say, finally noticing that not alone. By a door to your left, past a small stool and much tiled floor, is a familiar face. Small and cute, his fur seems a little less fluffy because of all the steam. “It was...” you try to organize your thoughts; it’s something akin to trying to wrangle angry chicken into a pen. But the answer comes eventually, after a very awkward pause, “it’s you, Hiroyuki.”
“What’s that?” you furrow your brow. Couldn’t be, you heard another voice.
And there it is again.
“...are you talking to me?” you ask.
There is no one else present, the words just pop into your mind. In reality, all you see is a small white rabbit wrinkling its nose and moving its mouth quietly, as if nibbling the very air.
“Wait, I can understand you?” you feel like maybe your throbbing head is playing tricks on you.
Get out of the bathtub, or you’ll pass out again, Hiroyuki advises, his ‘voice’ a calm contrast to the cacophony of your mind.
“I’ll try,” you tell him, making the effort to gather strength to your extremities. Easier said and done. The weight of the water and the weight of the steam upon your body seems like the weight of the world. You’d rather not dwell upon all your failed attempts so, after a while, you managed to stand up and get out of the tub, puffing and heaving like a man 60 years older.
Dry yourself before you catch cold, he says, turning his small head away from the full display of your naked body. Doesn’t seem like he cares but you can’t help but feel just the least bit judged.
There’s a towel by the bathroom door. You lurch towards it, finding that steadying your walk is a lot more trouble than it normally is. A similar scene played itself out not too long ago. That… yes, Tei, she was consoling you about your love. She was very interesting to hear what you had to say about her and how your heart belonged exclusively to her. Rabbit solidarity, perhaps, but there was something else too it… something that you can’t really recall because your head is still trying to murder you for getting carried away with the merriment.
How could she have kept up with you? You think of the girl in the pink dress. She was just full of surprises. Empathy, tolerance and leadership—these were undeniably part of her own extensive talents. She seemed like she had a lot to say about your situation btu was more than happy to hear you blather and babble on and on and on and on and on. It was an unnatural level on interest, maybe. Eh, that’s probably a rude way of putting it, given that you probably made a complete fool of yourself and ruined the spirit of the impromptu party.
You’re not even thinking too straight. You’re just piecing together random thoughts with fragments of memories. Confessions, acceptance and then losing control of yourself. Your cheeks flush and it’s not just because of all the steam. You may have gone a little beyond socially accepted norms when whining about your love. Not that you were called out on it, but perhaps you should have been.
Hurry up, Hiroyuki looks at you with what passes for impatience in a rabbit’s eyes. There are hints of irritation there too. He’s by the door, waiting for you to open it. There is little time, he emphasizes.
[] Trust him, it's urgent.
[] There’s a lot of gaps in your memory that you’d like to fill first.
[X] There’s a lot of gaps in your memory that you’d like to fill first.
How many wrong choices can we make before he explodes?
[x] Trust him there's little time
Regardless of trust, being naked in someone else's bathroom is not a situation you want to prolong... If you don't know who the owner is.
[X] Trust him, it's urgent.
Trust Hiroyuki. He knows more about the surroundings and inhabitants than we do.
[X] Trust him, it's urgent.
[X] Trust him, it's urgent.
[x] There’s a lot of gaps in your memory that you’d like to fill first.
Hang the fuck on, I wanna know first.
We're late! We're late! For a very important date!
No time to say hello, goodbye! We're late, we're late, we're late!
[X] Trust him, it's urgent.
[X] Trust him, it's urgent.
[X] Trust him, it's urgent.
At this point I just want to ride this train to the end of the line. No matter how on-fire it is.
[X] Trust him, it's urgent.
I hope we didn't do anything too extreme while drunk.
You secure the towel around your waist. It’s as much for your modesty as it is for comfort. With all the rain during the day, it’s bound to be cool beyond the walls of the steamy bathroom. Though his face is inscrutable, at least as much as you can humanly tell, it feels like Hiroyuki is on the verge of sighing. Easy for him to judge—he’s naked all the time.
Once you slide the door open, the rabbit bolts immediately, underscoring just how little time there is to waste. You follow, finding that there’s little to keep you around. You clothes are nowhere to be seen and you can’t even find a pair of slippers to wear. There’s no doubt that your steps are ungainly and, more than once, you feel like you are going to stumble. The wooden floor is as about as flat, smooth and stable as it could be, so the problem is your body.
The corridors are long and somewhat dark. It’s hard to make sense of where exactly you would be in the building. The frantic pace you’re forced to adopt doesn’t help things; every time you pause to catch yourself before you trip, Hiroyuki turns and spurs you on with his gaze. With your head pounding as hard as it is, it’s hard to hold a thought for a very long time. Any excess willpower is being used to keep your legs sturdyish and the contents of your stomach from rising back up through your throat.
It’s only when you’re led through the door to a room that you realize just how cold you feel. Water continues to drip from your body. Stay, Hiroyuki commands, wanting you to slide the door shut behind you.
“What are we doing?” you ask, overwhelmed and short of breath.
Staying alive, he gives a non-answer. One that, combined with the strange vibe you’re getting from him, you take to mean that you should dry yourself off properly. He does not look away as you pat yourself dry, making you feel somewhat weirded out. Apparently rabbits don’t care too much about modesty or privacy.
Once dry, you try to get your bearings. The room is small, looks like an unused… you’re not sure what. There’s a few chest and things that make it seem like it’s a storage room but there’s also a bedroll. But it doesn’t look lived-in at all. So not a bedroom. You do discover, however, clothes that have been left neatly folded upon the bedroll. There’s a note as well. You read it.
“Your broken heart won’t remain broken for too long. Get dressed, I’ve arranged a compatibility interview -T”
“Do you know anything about this?” you ask your companion.
... he stares at you like you’ve just asked something incredibly stupid. Maybe you have. Feels about as stupid as asking where the light is coming from, all you know that there’s a faint light coming from the ceiling, but you can’t see a lamp or an obvious source.
You get dressed, finding that the clothes are a little too big in places. Not to mention way fancier than what you’re used to. The thread count feels finer and the pattern is something subtle, something in good taste. It’s something that maybe an elder from an important family would wear, a dark blue fabric that exudes subtle confidence in its own quality. The closest thing to this that you’ve ever worn was when you became of age and your whole extended family came together to welcome you to adulthood.
You look terrible, Hiroyuki tells you, but no longer stink.
“Mmm, thanks, I guess?” you take the compliment with good humor, sighing as you allow yourself to sit down and rest. “What now?”
[] A little more waiting can’t possibly hurt.
[] Too much time has been already wasted just waiting.
[x] Wait
[X] Try to adjust the clothes
[X] Calm yourself and focus.
There are a few things you can do with clothes that are too big for you. More than you can either clothes that are too small, at any rate
Also, this guy needs to chill the fuck out. I know circumstances were conspiring against him, but still.
[x] A little more waiting can’t possibly hurt.
Marriage interview with Reisen?
[x] A little more waiting can’t possibly hurt.
This guy's time doesn't seem that valuable, and besides we've been trusting hiroyuki so far and nothing horrible has happened yet.
[x] A little more waiting can’t possibly hurt.
[x] Wait
[X] Try to adjust the clothes
[X] Calm yourself and focus.
[x] Wait
[X] Try to adjust the clothes
[X] Calm yourself and focus
As much as I hope it's with Reisen, it's probably Kaguya what with the fancy clothes and all. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if we were actually wearing her clothes.
OK fellas, let's not forget things that happened just weeks ago.
>I'll be ignoring write-ins wholly from now on.
Although at least I think this write-in can be safely interpreted as the waiting option, full stop.
Sure. I'm still ignoring everything else, but at least the first part is clearly one of the choices. in general, if you want something in, just state it like a normal gosh-darned comment. If it makes sense and others agree, it'll be worked in.
Can't call votes yet since I don't really have the time to write. Sometime tomorrow when I have free time, probably. Still, I suspect that things probably won't change. I find the past few votes to be hilarious, it's the most blatant tone deafness I've seen in a story in a while. The other choices are there for a reason, y'know. Can't hurt to think about what characters are doing and why a little more before jumping the gun. It's still fun for me to write either way, but maybe not as fun for you to read if you keep at it.
The rabbit proffers no more instructions. You’re left sitting, legs and arms crossed, wondering just what the hell comes next.
It’s a wait that pulls no punches, leaving you idle for too long. The dull throbbing of your head isn’t helped by the stray thoughts that force themselves upon you . The most disquieting things are the random flashes of memory that come with some of these thoughts; Tei is listening, the rabbits dance, you drink more because it would be impolite to refuse. There is sympathy. You talk a lot. About life, about the village. About your love.
You wince as you struggle to recall more, feeling that there’s something key that you’re missing. You tug at your sleeves, fidgeting with the excess fabric. Whoever the clothes were made for had longer arms and probably a wider frame. There’s no way to make the clothes stay fashioned on properly without doing some adjustments. If you had a sewing needle… perhaps you could do something about it.
Still, it’s not like it’s too shabby. Better than your mud-and-rain-soaked clothes, definitely. You’re thankful to Tei for providing them. Heaven knows what sort of impression you’d make on your love, showing up disheveled, dirty and wet. Sure, she’d likely understand your ordeal because she’s just that great but you’d still feel a little guilty about it. You’re sure she’s the type of person who tries her best in all circumstances, so you have to endeavor to do the same.
Hiroyuki is ignoring you entirely, being sat in a dimmer part of the room. It doesn’t seem like he feels like humoring you. You make attempts at conversation, but get nothing in return. If he’s upset, you have no clue why. Hard to tell what rabbits are thinking. Or so you keep telling yourself. It’s useful to have something to obsess about, keeps your mind from reminding you just how sick and out of sorts you are.
At some point, however, your rabbit companion perks his ears up. You ask what’s up, but get more of that annoying silence in reply.
“Fine, be that way,” you scowl at Hiroyuki—a small show of defiance you allow yourself—as you anxiously try to figure out what’s going on.
Luckily, it doesn’t take very long for you to find out.
The near-preternatural silence of your surroundings is interrupted by the sound of movement. Footsteps. Doors opening. More footsteps. Wood creaking. Louder footsteps, hurried ones. Closer and closer. Hiroyuki’s nose twitches. Maybe in anticipation. You feel like yours does the same.
Then the door is slid open.
A familiar face full of frustration stands at the threshold. Sharp eyes glance around the room. They find Hiroyuki. And then they find you. The expression hardens into a scowl. She crosses her arms and growls softly to herself. But there’s also a hint of uncertainty in her eyes, as she continues to scan the room.
But you’re happy to see her. Even if she’s not exactly returning your feelings. And looks a bit scary, in fact. Ah, but that might just be posturing. Despite her long, sharp nails and teeth, she’s a good girl. She may have bit you once before but she also helped you out when you were in a jam. A sure mark of a compassionate heart. Plus, no one with fluffy ears like hers can be a bad person.
[] Greet her with all the enthusiasm you can muster
[] Wait and see if she does something else first
Updates so fast, you have to factor in time dilation!
[X] Greet her with all the enthusiasm you can muster
Kagerou's back!
That time dilation made it look like it took ages bro.
[X] Greet her with all the enthusiasm you can muster
[X] Wait and see if she does something else first
Really don't wanna get bitten again.
[X] Greet her with all the enthusiasm you can muster
[X] Greet her with all the enthusiasm you can muster
Who's a good girl? You are!
File 149836568022.jpg - (36.94KB, 552x476, 18622521_1714754012150369_6703130672904234593_n.jpg) [iqdb]
[X] Greet her with all the enthusiasm you can muster
File 149852505343.jpg - (568.89KB, 1010x1440, unimpressed woof woof.jpg) [iqdb]
The indifference shown stings. And yeah, it’s hard not to wonder why she hasn’t greeted you as soon as she saw that you were there. But that’s all the more reason to show her the error of her ways. It’s not your intention, not mainly at least, to embarrass her by being so lovely. If she so happens to feel self-conscious about her lack of manners, that’s on her.
You scramble to your feet. Not the best of ideas given how sensitive your body seems to be. Still, it’s necessary. You’re a man on a mission, a man with a clear destiny. Unsteady legs and the dull throbbing in your head are shut out from conscious thought.
“It’s been a long time,” you say, with what you hope is the right amount of friendly charm in your smile. Too much would seem forced; too little, ineffective.
She looks past you, whatever thoughts she’s having keeping her brow furrowed.
Undaunted, you keep at it. You take a few steps towards her, saying, “come on, I know you missed me, too. I was wondering when I’d see you again.”
There's a sigh as she places her hands on her hips. It’s not that she’s ignoring you, as such, but that she seems to want to ignore reality as a whole. At least for the moment.
Unfortunately for her, there’s no ignoring friendship.
You clamp your arms firmly around her. It’s a bear of a hug, so it’s more than enough to keep a wolf-y girl in check. “I really am glad to see you,” you tell her.
She growls and moves her arms around your back. Instead of clasping you as firmly, though, her long nails make a point of stabbing into your flesh. It’s oddly relaxing, actually. You get that she’s supposed to be upset but maybe she’s hitting all the right pressure points to relax you. What a good girl.
“I could kiss you,” you say with a laugh, letting her go. There’s an urge to scratch her behind her ears, but a dull throbbing on your hand, where she bit you, keeps you from going too far.
“With a breath like yours, I’d end up disemboweling you,” she cautions, snarling and baring her teeth before shoving you back. It’s a mild shove, nowhere near the full force she could muster, so you count it as a mild victory for friendship.
“Oh,” you frown, realizing that, while you bathed, you haven’t washed out your mouth. “There was a party earlier and… well, sorry.”
“Seems that you’re quickly becoming my burden,” she says, little humor in her tone. “At least you’re not asking me where you saw me last this time around...”
“Say, now that you mention it...”
Her lips flash a toothy warning, “say anything more and you’ll be finding out what your own liver tastes like.”
“Isn’t this great?” you chuckle, “we’ve got our own inside jokes and everything.”
“Damn rabbits...” she complains.
[] What’s so damnable about them? They’re friendly, helpful and cute.
[] Scratch behind her ears without fear. Friendship is magic.
[] You know she isn’t exactly the affectionate type, but is she really not happy to see you?
[x] What’s so damnable about them? They're friendly, dishonest and... oh.
-[x] You know she isn’t exactly the affectionate type, but is she really not happy to see you?
No write-ins means just that. Ain't gonna count it, lest we get the typical thoughtless copy paste. 'sides you have no leg to stand on being sarky, given how every single rabbit-related choice has been overwhelmingly in favor of trusting them and following their lead. Even in a silly story, choices gotta have some consequences. Wanna change that? Vote for the appropriate options when you can, convince others to do the same.
[x] What’s so damnable about them? They’re friendly, helpful and cute.
[X] You know she isn’t exactly the affectionate type, but is she really not happy to see you?
That hurt :(
Delusion route go. But really, this is the only option that might answer some questions about the rabbits. The others are just asking to be bitten again.
[X] Scratch behind her ears without fear. Friendship is magic.
She will be our friend even if it kills her.
Leave the bunnies alone for a moment. There's a better focus for our attention around.
You stare at her hard, almost as if you believe that if you do it for long enough you’ll be able to see past those sharp eyes of hers and into her mind and thoughts. Naturally, it’s technique to help you figure out what’s really going on. Keeps your thoughts from wandering. And, most importantly, is a very unsubtle way to get her attention.
Anyone would feel a little uncomfortable at being stared at so intently at close quarters. Your wolf-y friend is no exception. Despite muttering something else about rabbits under her breath, her gaze can’t help but fall upon your unflinching stare. Her lips tremble and look about to emit an annoyed complaint, but you preempt her, saying, “I’m a bit disappointed, I have to admit.”
“W-what?” she’s taken aback by the suddenness of it all and can’t find any other words, likely thinking you were going to go along with her own thoughts.
“I said, I’m disappointed,” you repeat, pause and then add, “I know you’re not the kind to show how much you care, open affection doesn’t come easy, but it’s still disappointing to see you act like this.”
“Um...” she begins.
But you interrupt, “you have to realize that even though I like you and can see past posturing all the time, it still hurts to be treated so poorly. I mean, come on, are you really not happy to see me?”
“Happy to see-?” she scrunches up her face and raises an eyebrow, possibly pondering the question. Almost immediately, she sighs and replies, “I don’t have time for this.”
“Don’t be so cold,” you admonish, “you’re being hurtful for no good reason. Don’t you think it’d be better if we got along more?”
“You’re just some guy I met the other day,” she snaps, wagging a finger right in front of your face. “Just because I didn’t kill you doesn’t mean that we’re friends.”
“You bit me but took me to a safe place afterwards, that’s kindness. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have done it,” you say.
“That was a mistake,” she hardens her expression, “I should have left you out there to die.”
“Oh,” you droop your shoulders, feeling dejected, “is that really how it is? I really thought you were a good person. And that we got along well. I thought that when you came in… well, that maybe you were looking for me.”
“I’m only here because I was forced here, you idiot,” she doesn’t hold back at all, “if I had known you were here, I probably wouldn’t have come… even if it meant dealing with all that annoying harassment and those threats.”
“...I thought that youkai and humans could get along just fine, guess only rabbits are interested in friendship,” you say, feeling a lump in your throat. Thank goodness your love was the kind and understanding type. It’s thoughts about the bond that you have that keep you from completely giving into despair.
She snarls, exasperation central to her words, “don’t be so damn naive! We met once, for the briefest of moments. We didn’t form a bond. I bit you, you moron! I’m not proud of it, but how did you ever think that was a good sign? Hell, we never even exchanged names! We’re basically strangers! If you died right now, I wouldn’t so much bat an eye!”
Her face comes close to yours, and you get hit by more than just a small amount of spittle from her short rant. Your heart is racing but likely no less than hers. The tension in the air is unbearable, stifling; both her breathing and yours become ragged and uneven. She mouths something but doesn’t vocalize. There’s still outrage there but perhaps not a desire to push further. It feels like anything could happen if either of you do anything else.
[] Quietly accept that she wants nothing to do with you.
[] Push back against her unacceptable behavior.
daily-ish updates again with the new thread, maybe! Hopefully!
[x] Quietly accept that she wants nothing to do with you.
It's time to wake up.
Super best friends!!
Wolves eat rabbits anyway.
[X] Quietly accept that she wants nothing to do with you.
[x] Push back against her unacceptable behavior.
Just think of the possible benefits of getting bitten again.
>last updated: 2017/07/05
Wow Eientei if fucking dead.
Fellow rabbit enthusiasts here. I also find our general lack of buns disturbing.
If it's any consolation, I'm going to be posting a story involving Tewi Getting creampied over in /at/ in a week or three.
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Mol. Cells 2018; 41(8): 717~723
Unleashing the Therapeutic Potential of CAR-T Cell Therapy Using Gene-Editing Technologies
In-Young Jung1, and Jungmin Lee1,*
1ToolGen, Inc., Seoul 08501, Korea
Received May 31, 2018; Revised July 12, 2018; Accepted August 7, 2018.; Published online August 14, 2018.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, an emerging immunotherapy, has demonstrated promising clinical results in hematological malignancies including B-cell malignancies. However, accessibility to this transformative medicine is highly limited due to the complex process of manufacturing, limited options for target antigens, and insufficient anti-tumor responses against solid tumors. Advances in gene-editing technologies, such as the development of Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9), have provided novel engineering strategies to address these limitations. Development of next-generation CAR-T cells using gene-editing technologies would enhance the therapeutic potential of CAR-T cell treatment for both hematologic and solid tumors. Here we summarize the unmet medical needs of current CAR-T cell therapies and gene-editing strategies to resolve these challenges as well as safety concerns of gene-edited CAR-T therapies.
Keywords: CAR-T cell, CRISPR/Cas9, gene editing
First-generation CARs were comprised of a single intracellular signaling domain derived from ITAM-bearing signaling domain of CD3ζ. Because costimulatory signals such as CD28, 4-1BB, or CD278 were not provided in first-generation CAR-T cells, the clinical responses to tumors were largely insufficient (Ma et al., 2002; Park et al., 2007). To enhance the limited anti-tumor efficacy of first-generation CARs, one or two additional costimulatory domains were incorporated into the CD3ζ-based cytoplasmic domain, which resulted in second or third generation CARs. This modification led to a drastic increase in CAR-T cell effector function, persistence, and survival (Moeller et al., 2004; Savoldo et al., 2011).
Second-generation CAR-T cells have dramatically improved cancer immunotherapy for multiple blood cancers. The initial success of CAR-T cell therapy was driven mainly by CD19 CAR-T cells, especially in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (Park et al., 2016). Both CD28 and 4-1BB CD19 CAR constructs have consistently led to high anti-tumor responses in the clinic, achieving a 70–94% complete response rate (CR) in B-ALL, 40–75% in CLL, and 57–68% in B-NHL, culminating in the recent approval of two CD19 CAR-T cell products by the U.S. FDA.
Despite this significant progress in CD19 CAR-T cell therapies, there are still overarching unmet medical needs in the CAR-T cell therapy field. First, the complex process of autologous CAR-T cell production hinders controllable manufacturing and on-time treatment for patients. Second, CAR-T cells can exhibit fratricide, which narrows options for target antigen choice and restricts the development of CAR-T regimens for diverse cancer types. Lastly, T-cell exhaustion and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) jeopardize CAR-T cell efficacy for various solid tumors. These challenges pose significant barriers, both to the commercialization of current CD19 CAR-T therapies and to extensions of the therapy beyond CD19 CAR-T cells.
Gene editing technologies have emerged as promising engineering tools to resolve the limitations mentioned above. The early gene editing technologies, Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) and Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), are chimeric nucleases composed of a unique DNA-binding domain followed by the FokI DNA-cutting nuclease domain. Whereas ZFNs use multiple zinc fingers, each of which contacts 3–4bp of DNA, as their DNA binding domain, TALENs deploy 1bp-recognizing TAL domains as DNA-binding modules (Gaj et al., 2013). Distinct from these early gene-editing technologies, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) is a two-component system, composed of a guideRNA and the Cas9 protein. The guideRNA mediates base pairing to complementary target DNA, and Cas9 binds with the guideRNA to induce a double strand break in the target DNA region. Because the CRISPR/Cas9 DNA binding site can be designed to target any sequence of interest by simply altering the guid-eRNA without the need for complex protein engineering, the CRISPR system is highly versatile and is emerging as an efficient alternative to conventional programmable nucleases (Sander and Joung, 2014); as such, it is already being tested in CAR-T cell clinical trials (Table 1). Here, we summarize the recent use of gene-editing technologies to resolve problems associated with CAR-T cell therapy and discuss the potential safety issues and limitations of gene-edited CAR-T cells.
Development of off-the-shelf CAR-T cells
There are several barriers to expanding the accessibility of current autologous CAR-T cell therapies. First, quality control for CAR-T cell production is very challenging. The considerable variability of each patient’s starting materials significantly impacts both the feasibility of manufacturing and the therapeutic potential of the product (Singh et al., 2016). Also, because current autologous CAR-T cell therapy requires multi-site manufacturing, highly consolidated sample collection, CAR-T cell manufacturing, and treatment are crucial to ensure critical quality attributes (Levine et al., 2017). Second, the use of CAR-T cell therapy is largely limited by its high price. CD19 CAR-T cell therapy costs $350,000–$500,000, not including health care utilization costs and potential mark-ups. The high price is mainly a result of the laborious processes and expenses required for individualized CAR-T production. Lastly, patients with aggressive disease progression may be unable to withstand the delay required for the complicated manufacturing of an autologous CAR-T regimen.
Development of allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy would simplify and resolve some of the challenges associated with the current autologous CAR-T cell therapy manufacturing process. However, the mismatch between major and/or minor histocompatibility antigens from the host and the donor can elicit significant immunological side effects. Therefore, to develop safe and potent allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy, immunological interactions between the host and the donor must be suppressed.
First, graft versus host diseases (GvHD) must be prevented, because GvHD observed in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation induces a significant level of fatal responses in clinical studies (Gajewski et al., 2009; Poirot et al., 2015). Because T-cell alloreactivity is dependent on the interaction of T-cell receptors (TCRs) with alloantigens presented by human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) (Amir et al., 2011), TCR-depleted T-cells do not cause GvH responses when infused into HLA-unmatched patients. Among the components of the TCR complex that may be targeted for knockout (KO), including TCR and CD3 isotypes, TCR is considered to be the more promising target because of its distinct regulatory mechanism, known as allelic exclusion (Magklara and Lomvardas, 2013). T-cells are epigenetically regulated to express only one TCR chain, and thereby functional TCR disruption can be achieved by targeting the one functional TCR allele located in euchromatin (Poirot et al., 2015). The beneficial role of TCR KO in evading GvHD has recently been validated in human clinical trials, where TCR-depleted CD19 CAR-T cells successfully circumvented GvHD in two infant patients (Qasim et al., 2017).
Host versus graft effect (HvG) is another issue that must be resolved to allow development of allogenic CAR-T cells. One simple approach is to use a lymphodepleting agent to suppress the host immune system during CAR-T cell treatment. However, because these agents also have toxic effects on the infused CAR-T cells, various efforts have been made to render CAR-T cells resistant to the lymphodepleting regimens approved by the FDA. For example, Poirot et al. (2015) have demonstrated that elimination of surface CD52 expression caused T-cells to become resistant to the anti-CD52 antibody, alemtuzumab. Likewise, KO of the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) gene endowed CAR-T cells with resistance against purine nucleotide analogues such as clofarabine, fludarabine, and cytarabine (Valton et al., 2015). Another approach to suppressing the HvG effect using gene-editing technology is to KO the β2-microglobulin (B2M) gene in T-cells, which can prevent alloantigen presentation by infused T-cells (Ren et al., 2017a). Together, these studies have clearly demonstrated that gene editing has great promise for resolving problems associated with autologous CAR-T cells, although further clinical investigations are needed to validate these approaches.
Broadening CAR target antigens for blood cancers
Although CAR-T cell therapies have shown successful clinical outcomes, especially in B-cell malignancies, developing therapeutic CAR-T cells in certain other types of blood cancers is still unachievable due to a lack of proper tumor-specific antigens. Choosing proper target antigens is one of the most important factors determining successful clinical outcomes of CAR-T cell therapy. A good target antigen should meet two prerequisites. First, it should be ubiquitously expressed on all tumor cells. Second, to minimize off-target toxicity of CAR-T cells, the expression of target antigens should be exclusively confined to the tumor cells. In this respect, it is often extremely hard to find proper target antigens for he-matological malignancies because most antigens found on malignant cells are also found on normal T-cells, which can lead to unintended decreases in CAR-T manufacturing yield and loss of potency (Chen et al., 2017; Cooper et al., 2018a; Galetto et al., 2015;Gogishvili et al., 2017; Pinz et al., 2016). In cases of T-cell malignancy, CD4, CD5, and CD7 have been intensively targeted by CAR-based therapies because they are ubiquitously expressed in malignant T-cells. However, many studies have consistently observed fratricidal effects of such targeting. For example, transduction of CAR-T cells targeting CD4, CD5, or CD7 caused depletion of CD4-positive, CD5-positive, or CD7-positive CAR-T cells, respectively, significantly reducing overall CAR-T cell yield (Cooper et al., 2018a; Fleischer et al., 2017; Pinz et al., 2016). Also, continuous interaction of CAR-T cells with target antigens during T-cell expansion significantly reduced their anti-tumor efficacy, presumably due to decrease in CAR expression and T-cell exhaustion (Cooper et al., 2018a; Fleischer et al., 2017). Other studies have deployed alternative immune cells, such as anti-CD5 CAR NK, to detour the self-killing effect of CAR-T cells (Chen et al., 2017). However, considering the strong therapeutic potential of T-cells, a novel engineering strategy is desperately needed to generate fratricide-resistant CAR-T cells. To tackle this problem, Cooper et al. (2018b) and Fleischer et al. (2017) targeted CD5 and CD7 using CRISPR/Cas9, respectively, which successfully suppressed surface expression of CD5 and CD7 in CAR-T cells. They found that such knockouts prevented the self-killing effect of CAR-T cells and potentiated anti-tumor activity (Cooper et al., 2018a; Fleischer et al., 2017; Pinz et al., 2016).
Targeting the CS1 antigen for multiple myeloma was also challenging because it is ubiquitously expressed by activated T-cells. To circumvent the potential fratricide effect of anti-CS1 CAR-T cells, Galetto et al. (2015) inactivated CS1 using a TALEN, successfully preventing the loss of CS1-positive CAR-T cells during T-cell expansion. Collectively, disruption of CAR target antigens in T-cells not only prevents fratricide but also increases the anti-tumor efficacy of CAR-T cells by circumventing T-cell exhaustion and CAR down-regulation.
Enhancing anti-tumor activity of CAR-T therapy
Despite their remarkable success in treatment of B-cell malignancies, CAR-T cell therapies against solid tumor have largely failed. The poor anti-tumor response of CAR-T cells against solid tumors results in part from immunosuppressive mechanisms. One such mechanism is the result of prolonged T-cell activation. Studies have shown that although the serial killing capacity CAR-T cells allows effective tumor regression in TME where the tumor cells outnumber CAR-T cells (Jenkins et al., 2015), repetitive tumor encountering can dampen effector functions by reprogramming CAR-T cells toward an exhausted state (Pauken et al., 2016; Schietinger et al., 2016). Conventionally, strong, constitutive promoters such as EF1α or LTR have been used to express CARs. However, strong, unregulated CAR expression can result in accelerated T-cell differentiation and exhaustion (Eyquem et al., 2017). Eyquem et al. demonstrated that incorporation of a CAR gene into the TRAC locus using CRISPR/Cas9 enables transcriptional regulation of CAR similar to TCR during antigen challenging. The resulting optimally controlled CAR expression kinetics successfully sustained T-cell function, circumventing T-cell exhaustion induced by repetitive activation. Besides improving T-cell function, integration of the CAR sequence at the TCR locus allowed generation of off-the-shelf CAR-T cells, supporting the versatility of this CAR knock-in approach.
CAR-T cell activity in TME can also be compromised by multi-dimensional immunosuppressive mechanisms mediated by PD1, LAG3, and DGK (Nguyen and Ohashi, 2014; Riese et al., 2013; Schadendorf et al., 2015). To resolve this problem, many studies have used checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD1 or anti-LAG3 blockade, to invigorate exhausted CAR-T cells (Liu and Wu, 2017). However, systemic delivery of checkpoint blockade often causes significant adverse clinical effects by increasing autoimmune responses (Naidoo et al., 2015). To avoid both PD-1-mediated immunosuppression and the adverse effects of checkpoint blockade, PD-1 KO has been carried out in T-cells. PD-1 KO improves anti-tumor efficacy of CAR-T in various blood and solid tumor mouse models, presumably by enhancing effector function and survival of T-cells in TME (Menger et al., 2016; Su et al., 2016; Rupp et al., 2017). In a seminal report from University of Pennsylvania, however, it was revealed that PD1 KO T-cells are susceptible to T-cell exhaustion and lack long-term durability, although they showed enhanced short-term proliferation and cytotoxic effects (Odorizzi et al., 2015). Thus, long-term follow-up studies as well as clinical validation are needed to fully understand the therapeutic potential of PD-1 KO.
Another promising KO approach is to target TCR inhibitory checkpoints such as DGK. In contrast to the invigoration of the CD28 pathway by PD-1 KO, DGK KO amplifies CD3 downstream signaling, endowing CAR-T cells with resistance to TGF-β and PGE2, inhibitory molecules produced by the TME (Jung et al., 2018; Riese et al., 2013). DGK KO anti-EGFRvIII CAR-T cells successfully enhance tumor infiltration in a glioblastoma xenograft mouse model and improve effector functions in TME, highlighting the therapeutic potential of DGK KO to enhance anti-tumor function of CAR-T cells for solid tumors (Jung et al., 2018).
Two other promising KO targets are LAG-3 and FASL. LAG-3 is upregulated in exhausted T-cells in multiple in vivo studies and CAR-T trials (Eyquem et al., 2017; Galon et al., 2017). However, no functional enhancement was observed in in vitro and in vivo experiments when CRISPR/Cas9-mediated LAG-3 KO was carried out in CAR-T cells (Zhang et al., 2017). FasL is present in immunosuppressive TME, promoting apoptosis and terminal differentiation of cytotoxic T cells, which can dampen the anti-tumor efficacy of CAR-T therapy (Klebanoff et al., 2016; Peter et al., 2015). To circumvent FASL-mediated immunosuppression, FAS KO was carried out in T-cells (Ren et al., 2017b). Ren et al. lentivirally delivered a triple guideRNA expression cassette targeting KO of TRAC, PD-1, and FAS. The three guideRNAs, under the control of three different promoters (human U6, mouse U6, and H1) successfully produced triple KO CAR-T cells that showed reduced Activation Induced Cell Death (AICD) and superior expansion capability. These studies support the strong promise of CRISPR/Cas9 as a tool for multiplex genome editing as well as the beneficial role of FAS KO in enhancing T-cell survival.
Safety concerns
Although gene-editing technologies can be effectively deployed to address the limitations of conventional CAR-T therapy, there exist potential safety risks. One of the major concerns of gene-editing-based therapies is off-target effects, since unintended off-target mutagenesis might ablate tumor-suppressor genes or activate oncogenes. A series of recent studies have reported off-target effects in T-cells. Using an IDLV gene-trapping assay, 10 potential off-target sites were detected in T-cells treated with megaTAL, none of which occurred in an exon region (Osborn et al., 2016). Ren, Liu et al. have observed marginal off-target effects in CAR-T cells electroporated with CRISPR/Cas9 targeting TRAC or TRBC (Ren et al., 2017a), and showed that the use of high-fidelity Cas9 successfully eliminates off-target effects observed with the use of conventional Cas9, while maintaining on-target knockout efficiency (Ren et al., 2017a; Slaymaker et al., 2016). To manage the safety risk of off-target effects, careful selection of target site combined with unbiased off-target assays are required (Tsai et al., 2014).
Another safety concern is that multiplex gene editing can lead to translocations between double-strand break sites. Such events were detected at a rate of 1×10−4 –2×10−2 in human T-cells treated with two TALEN mRNAs targeting TRAC and CD52 (Poirot et al., 2015). Although no proliferative advantage was detected in T-cells that underwent translocation, thorough transformation analysis is needed to ensure the safety of gene-edited CAR-T therapies.
Lastly, besides the safety risk elicited by gene-editing per se, such as off-target effects and translocation, the altered function of gene-edited CAR-T cell can induce adverse effects in the clinic. For example, upregulated effector functions and hyperproliferative capacity of PD1 KO CAR-T cells can cause severe systemic inflammation, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), as observed in multiple CD19-CAR-T studies (Lee et al., 2015; Porter et al., 2015). The long-term safety profile of PD-1 KO CAR-T should be further examined in the clinic (Table 1).
In the past, effective genome engineering of primary T-cell was unachievable due to low transfection efficiencies. But recent advances in electroporation tools as well as T-cell activation methods allow highly efficient gene editing in primary T-cells. However, there are still challenges remaining in current T-cell engineering methodology. First, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing can induce apoptosis and growth retardation in engineered T-cells, partially attributable to p53-mediated DNA damage and type I interferon responses (Haapaniemi et al., 2018; Kim et al., 2018). Since doubling times of T-cells in the initial expansion phase is 8–11 h, 1–2 days of growth inhibition after electroporation can result in significant decrease in total CAR-T cell yield. Using modified guideRNAs, such as 5’hydroxyl guideRNA or 2’O-methyl guideRNA, has been reported to alleviate the type I interferon immune response, thereby enhancing CAR-T manufacturing (Kim et al., 2018; Osborn et al., 2016). Also, compared to high KO efficiency in primary T-cells (70–90%), the knockin (KI) efficiency is relatively low (Osborn et al., 2016; Poirot et al., 2015; Ren et al., 2017a). Several groups have reported 10–50% CAR KI efficiency using MegaTAL or CRISPR/Cas9 in combination with AAV6-mediated delivery of a homologous recombination donor (Eyquem et al., 2017; Sather et al., 2015). Suppression of the p53 pathway during gene-editing has been shown to increase the rate of homologous recombination in retinal pigment epithelial cells and human pluripotent stem cells, however this approach has not yet been validated in human primary T-cells (Haapaniemi et al., 2018; Ihry et al., 2018).
In AUGUST 2017, Tisagenlecleucel, the first genetically engineered cellular drug, was approved by the US FDA with unprecedented clinical outcomes, followed by approval of axi-cabtagene ciloleucel in October. Since then, there has been growing interest in developing next-generation CAR-T cell therapy, including by the use of gene-editing technologies (Table 1, The advent of CRISPR/Cas9 and off-target analysis tools has enabled effective and precise genome-engineering of CAR-T cells, and thereby these technologies are expected to resolve the following three unmet medical needs of current CAR-T cell therapy (Fig. 1). First, gene-editing allows development of off-the-shelf universal CAR-T cells by alleviating GvH and HvG, which can significantly improve CAR-T manufacturing at reduced cost and in shorter time. Second, gene-editing can broaden the range of usable CAR target antigens in blood cancers, otherwise untargetable, by preventing CAR-T fratricide. Third, gene-editing enhances anti-tumor responses by circumventing T-cell hypofunction caused by continuous cell activation and immunosuppressive effects of the TME, which may expand the use of CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors. Because full understanding of the TME immunosuppressive mechanism is still elusive, there are as yet no clinically validated KO targets for clinical applications. Comprehensive analysis of the TME will reveal robust targets for gene-editing to improve efficacy of CAR-T cells. Although potential safety concerns of gene-editing technologies still need to be resolved, the promising outcomes of gene-edited CAR-T cell therapy may offset the risks. In conclusion, unequivocally, gene-editing technologies, especially CRISPR/Cas9 alongside further understanding of T-cell exhaustion, TME, and clinical outcomes, will ensure the development of more potent CAR-T cell therapies.
Fig. 1. Gene-editing technologies can resolve three unmet medical needs of CAR-T cell therapy. First, gene-editing allows development of universal off-the-shelf CAR-T cells by alleviating GvH and HvG. Second, gene-editing broadens the range of otherwise untargetable CAR target antigens by preventing CAR-T cell fratricide of. Third, gene-editing enhances anti-tumor responses by circumventing T-cell hypofunction caused by continuous activation and immunosuppressive TME, which may expand the use of CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors.
Table 1
Overview of clinical trials of CAR-T cell therapy.
Registered clinical trials of CAR-T cell therapies using gene-editing. Of 11 trials, CRISPR/Cas9 was used as an editing tool in 9 trials, and TALENs in 2 trials
NCT NumberGene Editing ToolTarget geneT-cellIndicationCountryGroup
NCT03399448CRISPRTCR/PD-1NYESO-1 TCR-TMM/Melanoma/Synovial Sarcoma /Myeloid/Round Cell LiposarcomaUSUniversity of Pennsylvania
NCT03166878TCR/B2MCD19 CAR-TB-cell Leukemia/LymphomaChinaChinese PLA General Hospital
NCT03398967TCRDual specific CD19 and CD20/CD22 CAR-TB-cell Leukemia/LymphomaChinaChinese PLA General Hospital
NCT03081715PD-1Endogenous T-cellEsophageal CancerChinaHangzhou Cancer Hospital Anhui Kedgene Biotechnology
NCT02863913Invasive Bladder Cancer Stage IVChinaPeking University /Cell Biotech
NCT02867345Hormone Refractory Prostate CancerChinaPeking University /Cell Biotech
NCT02867332Metastatic Renal Cell CarcinomaChinaPeking University/Cell Biotech
NCT02793856Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung CancerChinaSichuan University/Chengdu MedGenCell
NCT03044743EBV-CTLGastric Carcinoma Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma T-Cell Lymphoma Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Diffuse Large B-Cell LymphomaChinaNanjing Drum Tower Hospital
NCT02746952TALENTCR/CD52GD19 CAR-TRelapsed/refractory B-ALLUS/EuropeServier
NCT03190278TCRCD123 CAR-TAcute Myeloid LeukemiaUSCellectis
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46. Singh, N., Perazzelli, J., Grupp, S.A., and Barrett, D.M. (2016). Early memory phenotypes drive T cell proliferation in patients with pediatric malignancies. Sci Transl Med. 8, 320ra323-320ra323.
47. Slaymaker, I.M., Gao, L., Zetsche, B., Scott, D.A., Yan, W.X., and Zhang, F. (2016). Rationally engineered Cas9 nucleases with improved specificity. Science. 351, 84-88.
48. Su, S., Hu, B., Shao, J., Shen, B., Du, J., Du, Y., Zhou, J., Yu, L., Zhang, L., and Chen, F. (2016). CRISPR-Cas9 mediated efficient PD-1 disruption on human primary T cells from cancer patients. Sci Rep. 6, 20070.
49. Tsai, S.Q., Zheng, Z., Nguyen, N.T., Liebers, M., Topkar, V.V., Thapar, V., Wyvekens, N., Khayter, C., Iafrate, A.J., and Le, L.P. (2014). GUIDE-seq enables genome-wide profiling of off-target cleavage by CRISPR-Cas nucleases. NatBiotechnol. 33, 187.
50. Valton, J., Guyot, V., Marechal, A., Filhol, J.-M., Juillerat, A., Duclert, A., Duchateau, P., and Poirot, L. (2015). A Multidrug-resistant Engineered CAR T Cell for Allogeneic Combination Immunotherapy. Mol Ther. 23, 1507-1518.
51. Zhang, Y., Zhang, X., Cheng, C., Mu, W., Liu, X., Li, N., Wei, X., Liu, X., Xia, C., and Wang, H. (2017). CRISPR-Cas9 mediated LAG-3 disruption in CAR-T cells. Front Med. 11, 554-562.
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30 November 2019 Volume 42,
Number 11, pp. 739~819
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• CrossMark | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '423', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.8141292929649353}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '83905', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:VW62TSRUZR4G2TJHWOD3MDJIJ7TVYK7A', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:4c7b4ab3-f6f7-4d87-ac36-a5f06d1fa02a>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2019, 12, 9, 22, 32, 6), 'WARC-IP-Address': '114.108.163.170', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'application/xhtml+xml', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:NE3WEH64E4K7A3WY5PSK4FBOZLNY3B3T', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:b3a87601-fe42-4228-b234-381dc7e566d5>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.molcells.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.14348/molcells.2018.0242', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:8431ddf7-7c06-4d99-b3b8-15a80ccd751d>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '5149', 'url': 'http://www.molcells.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.14348/molcells.2018.0242', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-51\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for December 2019\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-194.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.03320270776748657', 'original_id': '9e4d99a8714105e6bba7ee37f4c52d08a41ae137a2a4b34ded6ad318a233bb19'} |
*= $0801
.byte $4c,$16,$08,$00,$97,$32
.byte $2c,$30,$3a,$9e,$32,$30
.byte $37,$30,$00,$00,$00,$a9
.byte $01,$85,$02
jsr print
.byte 13
.text "(up)oraax"
.byte 0
lda #%00011011
sta db
lda #%11000110
sta ab
lda #%10110001
sta xb
lda #%01101100
sta yb
lda #0
sta pb
tsx
stx sb
lda #0
sta db
sta ab
sta xb
next lda db
sta da
sta dr
eor #$ff
sta cmdr+1
lda ab
eor #$ff
cmdr and #0
eor #$ff
sta ar
lda xb
sta xr
lda yb
sta yr
lda pb
ora #%00110000
and #%01111101
tax
lda ar
cmp #0
bne nozero
txa
ora #%00000010
tax
nozero lda ar
bpl noneg
txa
ora #%10000000
tax
noneg stx pr
lda sb
sta sr
ldx sb
txs
lda pb
pha
lda ab
ldx xb
ldy yb
plp
cmd ora da,x
php
cld
sta aa
stx xa
sty ya
pla
sta pa
tsx
stx sa
jsr check
inc cmd+1
bne noinc
inc cmd+2
noinc lda xb
bne nodec
dec cmd+2
nodec dec xb
clc
lda db
adc #17
sta db
bcc jmpnext
lda #0
sta db
clc
lda ab
adc #17
sta ab
bcc jmpnext
lda #0
sta ab
inc pb
beq nonext
jmpnext jmp next
nonext
jsr print
.text " - ok"
.byte 13,0
lda 2
beq load
wait jsr $ffe4
beq wait
jmp $8000
load jsr print
name .text "oraay"
namelen = *-name
.byte 0
lda #0
sta $0a
sta $b9
lda #namelen
sta $b7
lda #<name
sta $bb
lda #>name
sta $bc
pla
pla
jmp $e16f
db .byte 0
ab .byte 0
xb .byte 0
yb .byte 0
pb .byte 0
sb .byte 0
da .byte 0
aa .byte 0
xa .byte 0
ya .byte 0
pa .byte 0
sa .byte 0
dr .byte 0
ar .byte 0
xr .byte 0
yr .byte 0
pr .byte 0
sr .byte 0
check
.block
lda da
cmp dr
bne error
lda aa
cmp ar
bne error
lda xa
cmp xr
bne error
lda ya
cmp yr
bne error
lda pa
cmp pr
bne error
lda sa
cmp sr
bne error
rts
error jsr print
.byte 13
.null "before "
ldx #<db
ldy #>db
jsr showregs
jsr print
.byte 13
.null "after "
ldx #<da
ldy #>da
jsr showregs
jsr print
.byte 13
.null "right "
ldx #<dr
ldy #>dr
jsr showregs
lda #13
jsr $ffd2
wait jsr $ffe4
beq wait
cmp #3
beq stop
rts
stop lda 2
beq basic
jmp $8000
basic jmp ($a002)
showregs stx 172
sty 173
ldy #0
lda (172),y
jsr hexb
lda #32
jsr $ffd2
lda #32
jsr $ffd2
iny
lda (172),y
jsr hexb
lda #32
jsr $ffd2
iny
lda (172),y
jsr hexb
lda #32
jsr $ffd2
iny
lda (172),y
jsr hexb
lda #32
jsr $ffd2
iny
lda (172),y
ldx #"n"
asl a
bcc ok7
ldx #"N"
ok7 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
ldx #"v"
asl a
bcc ok6
ldx #"V"
ok6 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
ldx #"0"
asl a
bcc ok5
ldx #"1"
ok5 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
ldx #"b"
asl a
bcc ok4
ldx #"B"
ok4 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
ldx #"d"
asl a
bcc ok3
ldx #"D"
ok3 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
ldx #"i"
asl a
bcc ok2
ldx #"I"
ok2 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
ldx #"z"
asl a
bcc ok1
ldx #"Z"
ok1 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
ldx #"c"
asl a
bcc ok0
ldx #"C"
ok0 pha
txa
jsr $ffd2
pla
lda #32
jsr $ffd2
iny
lda (172),y
.bend
hexb pha
lsr a
lsr a
lsr a
lsr a
jsr hexn
pla
and #$0f
hexn ora #$30
cmp #$3a
bcc hexn0
adc #6
hexn0 jmp $ffd2
print pla
.block
sta print0+1
pla
sta print0+2
ldx #1
print0 lda !*,x
beq print1
jsr $ffd2
inx
bne print0
print1 sec
txa
adc print0+1
sta print2+1
lda #0
adc print0+2
sta print2+2
print2 jmp !*
.bend
| mini_pile | {'original_id': '25f8179c327c697b4ef909dbde36acd9387b040d4b8111328927424dad174481'} |
The winter blues have hit and I have to get away…the question is where to? Port Douglas, Cairns, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay? All fabulous winter escapes but this year we treated ourselves to a little Noosa Indulgence… | mini_pile | {'original_id': '637ee778392a1c5e6afa4ff83740e1af25f519e3f7fdec27ffaddfee30993178'} |
Spontaneous motion of droplets during the demixing transition in binary fluids
Kumaran, V (2000) Spontaneous motion of droplets during the demixing transition in binary fluids. In: Journal of Chemical Physics, 112 (24). pp. 10984-91.
Download (126Kb)
The convective interaction between a pair of droplets coarsening during the demixing transition of a binary fluid is examined. The starting point is the model H equation for binary fluids, and the droplet sizes are considered to be large enough that thermal fluctuations are neglected. Droplet motion is induced by the convective coupling in the concentration equation, where there is a flux of concentration due to the fluid velocity, and a reciprocal effect in the momentum equation. The effect of the convective force density is separated into two parts—one due to the sharp concentration gradients at the droplet interface, and the other due to the variation in the matrix. It is shown that the dominant contribution to the fluid velocity field is due to the sharp concentration variation at the interface, and this is proportional to the square of the droplet flux at the surface. The surface flux is determined by solving the diffusion equation in the matrix between the droplets, and matching the solution to that in the interfacial region. The analysis indicates that there is an attractive interaction if the two droplets have radii larger or smaller than the critical radius, while the interaction is repulsive if the radius of one droplet is larger and the other smaller than the critical radius. The magnitude of the induced droplet velocity is estimated.
Item Type: Journal Article
Department/Centre: Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering
Date Deposited: 07 Jun 2004
Last Modified: 19 Sep 2010 04:12
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/id/eprint/254
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View Item View Item | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '12', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.8843519687652588}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '22677', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:ERZUA57CXQ24RFRI2AJBFIQ4NYV32ITC', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:9e7850e1-7973-4939-9e08-cd5fb79e500b>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2014, 3, 10, 16, 45), 'WARC-IP-Address': '14.139.128.75', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:AHWGMGSQBETGZT3XNBTQ32VCELOHTVFA', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:d75a4402-4140-4d01-b1bd-9f44ccc74f43>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/254/', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:253702fa-e826-49c6-8c86-b7cbad9ad2f4>', 'WARC-Truncated': 'length'}", 'previous_word_count': '312', 'url': 'http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/254/', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2014-10\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for March 2014\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.021891474723815918', 'original_id': '74c06707a7adaf3bc5f34599dfc5295a875f19cc8db7f3250b96eeb01060581b'} |
/**
* App.react.js
*
* This component is the skeleton around the actual pages, and should only
* contain code that should be seen on all pages. (e.g. navigation bar)
*/
import React, { Component } from 'react';
import { connect } from 'react-redux';
class App extends Component {
render() {
return (
<div className="App">
{ this.props.children }
</div>
);
}
}
// REDUX STUFF
// Which props do we want to inject, given the global state?
function select(state) {
return {
data: state
};
}
// Wrap the component to inject dispatch and state into it
export default connect(select)(App);
| mini_pile | {'original_id': 'c84d7d9bcd7f678fc83380b2ce4f9a740a6ad14289bbc4afbdf76739e8b2ec02'} |
Catégorie:Mandoliniste par nationalité
page de catégorie d'un projet Wikimedia
Catégorie:Mandoliniste par nationalité nature de l’élément page de catégorie d'un projet Wikimédia
Category:Mandolinists by nationality
Wikimedia category
Category:Mandolinists by nationality instance of Wikimedia category
Luokka:Mandoliininsoittajat maittain
Wikimedia-luokka
Luokka:Mandoliininsoittajat maittain esiintymä kohteesta Wikimedia-luokka
Kategori:Mandolinistar etter nasjonalitet
Wikimedia-kategori
Kategori:Mandolinistar etter nasjonalitet førekomst av Wikimedia-kategori
رده:نوازندگان ماندولین بر پایه ملیت
ردهٔ ویکیمدیا
رده:نوازندگان ماندولین بر پایه ملیت نمونهای از ردهٔ ویکیمدیا
تصنيف:عازفو مندولين حسب الجنسية
تصنيف ويكيميديا
تصنيف:عازفو مندولين حسب الجنسية نموذج من تصنيف ويكيميديا | common_corpus | {'identifier': 'https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8605183', 'collection': 'Wikidata', 'open_type': 'Semantic data', 'license': 'CC0', 'date': '', 'title': 'Category:Mandolinists by nationality', 'creator': 'None', 'language': 'Multilingual', 'language_type': 'Semantic data', 'word_count': '81', 'token_count': '297', '__index_level_0__': '13666', 'original_id': '3d7e179b8fe8c9533a9b47c3c61ef9e315a34052829007d3f53d9ce511ef80e8'} |
\section{Relation is Set implies Domain and Image are Sets}
Tags: Relations
\begin{theorem}
Let $V$ be a basic universe.
Let $\RR \subseteq V \times V$ be a relation.
Let $\RR$ be a set.
Then $\Dom \RR$ and $\Img \RR$ are also sets.
\end{theorem}
\begin{proof}
From Domain of Relation is Subset of Union of Union of Relation:
:$\Dom \RR \subseteq \map \bigcup {\bigcup \RR}$
From Image of Relation is Subset of Union of Union of Relation:
:$\Img \RR \subseteq \map \bigcup {\bigcup \RR}$
We are given that $\RR$ is a set.
From the Axiom of Unions:
:$\bigcup \RR$ is a set.
Applying the Axiom of Unions a second time:
:$\map \bigcup {\bigcup \RR}$ is a set.
We have that $\RR \subseteq V$, by definition of basic universe
From the Axiom of Swelledness, it follows that every subclass of $V$ is a set.
The result follows.
{{qed}}
\end{proof}
| math_pile | {'subset': 'ProofWiki', 'meta': "{'type': 'Theorem_Proof'}", 'original_id': '4ff1fc337a8a9e1a768dad463c93342888858234e5e2356bc840fe2979767d52'} |
Nutrient canals of the alveolar process as an anatomic feature for dental identifications.
Nutrient canals are anatomic structures of the alveolar bone through which neurovascular elements transit to supply teeth and supporting structures. A dental identification using a nutrient canal of the mandibular alveolar process as the most compelling anatomic feature for antemortem-postmortem radiographic comparison is described. Nutrient canals as a potential marker for clinical disease is also discussed. | mini_pile | {'original_id': '9ca1a59bcbf71ad35df484d55b7e522467433b1daca0654dc3f73a440e2a77c6'} |
Q:
Handling loops in Brainf*ck
I tried testing my Brainfuck interpreter in c with this bottle shaped code in Brainfuck:
+>+++++++[>>>+++
+++++<<<<+++++
+++>-]+++++++++>>>
+>>++++++++++[>+
+++++++++<-]>[
>>+>+>+>+>+>+>
+>>+>+>>+>+>+>
+>>+>+>>+>+>+>
>+>+>+>+>>>>>+
>+>+>+>>+>+>+>
>+>+>+>+>>+>+>
+>>+>+>+>+>>+>+>
>+>+>+>+>+>+>>>>
+>+>>+>+>+>+<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
-]<++++[>++++++++<
-]>[>+>>>>>>>>+>>>
+>>>>>+>>>+>>>>+>>
>>>+>+>>+>>>>>+>>>>+
>>>>>+>>>>+>>>>>+>>>
+>>>>>>>+>+>+>>>+>>>
>>+<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<-]+++++[
>>>++>+++>+++>++>>+++>>++>
>>>>>+++>>++>++>>+++>+>>>+++
+>->++>++>++>+++>++>>--->->+>>>+
+>++>>>>++>++++>++>>->++>>>++>->++
+>+++>>+>+++>>>+++>++>+++>++>>>++>>++>
++>>++>++>+++<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<-]>>-->+>+>+>-->+>>>+>++>>-->+>+>->>+>>>
+>->+>>->++>-->-->++>->>>->++>++>+>>+>>+>>>+
>->>>++>>>>++>++>>>>>+>>++>->+>++>>>>+++>>>+>>
->+>->+<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<[>>>>++
++++++++[->[-]+>[-]<<[<<<<<.>>>>.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>
>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<.>>>>.>
>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<.>>>>-.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>..<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<-]>[<<<<<->[-]+>[-]<<[<.>>>>.>>>>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>>>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<.>>>>.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<-.>>>>+++++++++.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>
.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>..<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<-]>[<<.>>>>.>>>
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>>>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<.>>>>.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<+++++++++.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>
.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>..<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<->]<<+>>>>>->]<<]<<<<
-]>>>>++++++++[->[-]+>[-]<<[<.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>
.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>>.<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<.>>>>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.>.>>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<-.>>>>.>.>.>
.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>
.>>.>..<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<-]>[<<.>>
>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>
.>.>.>.>.>.>>>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<-.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>..<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<->]<<]<.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<.>>>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.>.>>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<.>.>.>.>.>.>.
>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>>.>
And instead ouf outputing the whole '99 bottles of beers on the wall' song from 99 to 1, it put out just the verses from 99 to 96 bottles. Is there something wrong with the loops in Brainfuck code or in the interpreter?
Here is my c code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int loop(char *commands, int indexOfCommand, int mode){
int sum = 0;
int movingIndex = indexOfCommand;
while(sum > -1){
movingIndex -= mode;
if(commands[movingIndex] == ']')
sum += mode;
else if(commands[movingIndex]=='[')
sum -= mode;
}
return movingIndex;
}
int main(){
unsigned char array[30000] = {0}; // all elements are 0
unsigned char commands[60000] = {0}; // all elements are 0
int counter = 0;
int c;
int loop(char *commands, int indexOfCommand, int mode);
while((c = getchar()) != EOF){
commands[counter] = c;
counter++;
}
int indexOfArray = counter;
int indexOfCommands = 0;
int numOfCommands = 0;
int length = sizeof(commands)/sizeof(commands[0]); // the length of an array
while (indexOfCommands < length && numOfCommands < 60000){
switch(commands[indexOfCommands]){
case '+':
if(array[indexOfArray]==255){
array[indexOfArray]=0;
} else array[indexOfArray]++;
break;
case '-':
if(array[indexOfArray]==0){
array[indexOfArray]=255;
}else array[indexOfArray]--;
break;
case '>':
indexOfArray++;
break;
case '<':
indexOfArray--;
break;
case '.':
putchar(array[indexOfArray]);
break;
case ']':
if(array[indexOfArray]!=0) {
indexOfCommands=loop(commands,indexOfCommands,1);
}
break;
case '[':
if(array[indexOfArray]==0){
indexOfCommands=loop(commands,indexOfCommands,-1);
}
break;
default:
// if there is any other character, just ignore it
break;
}
indexOfCommands++;
numOfCommands++;
}
return 0;
}
A:
The condition for premature end of the program execution is here:
while (indexOfCommands < length && numOfCommands < 60000) {
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
// interpret BF opcodes
numOfCommands++;
}
You have underestimated how many instruction BF needs to do simple things. (I'm not sure why that condition is in there. Remove it and you'll see all 99 verses.)
| mini_pile | {'original_id': '717eab4afe05ee553f97938ec3c212af3ecde17c060d2f0af9d45665c41f7726'} |
Artificial Intelligence: A Primer for the Laboratory Leader
Artificial Intelligence: A Primer for the Laboratory Leader
Are robots coming for us, or are they coming to help us?
Gaurav Sharma, MD, Tarush Kothari, MD MPH
“Alexa, what is artificial intelligence?”
The moment you say these words, the circle on top of your digital voice-controlled assistant lights up, and the machine replies, “Artificial intelligence is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence and decision making.”
In the past five years, popular media has been flooded with stories featuring “smart” machines and artificial intelligence (AI) slated to replace everything from truck drivers to doctors. Much of the discussion comes off as hypothetical musings about a dark future with rampant job loss and dramatic proclamations about the end of the world as we know it.
Closer to home, AI has become a hot topic in the clinical pathology peer-reviewed literature, at meetings and training courses, and among bloggers.
The jargon around AI can be intimidating and confusing for laboratory managers and leaders. Perhaps we could all help ourselves by becoming familiar with certain basic concepts and definitions. For the purpose of this article, we have framed these basics into 11 questions, with the aim of demystifying AI.
1. What is AI?
As the term suggests, artificial intelligence is intelligence that is artificial (machine based or nonhuman), programmed by humans to perform humanlike activities. By contrast, human intelligence is premised on learning by trial and error and by past experiences (either one’s own experiences or those of others).
Any AI system has three basic properties:
1. Intentionality: Humans design AI systems with the intention of making decisions from historical or real-time data.
2. Adaptability: AI systems learn and adapt as they compile information to make decisions and continuously refine this process.
3. Intelligence: this intelligence is nonhuman, though it is generally the best approximation of how a human would make decisions (hence, depending on how an AI system is designed, it is prone to bias).
2. How old is AI?
The term artificial intelligence was coined in 1956 at a computer science conference at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. AI came into national folklore in 1997, when IBM Deep Blue defeated the reigning world chess champion in a six-game match. In 2011, IBM Watson defeated the all-time most successful human players of Jeopardy in front of millions of television viewers. Within the realm of the clinical laboratory, the first mentions of AI appeared in the 1990s.
3. What is the difference between a general AI system and a narrow AI system?
A general AI system can solve complex and interconnected problems. In the real world, general AI systems are few and just emerging.
A narrow AI system, on the other hand, is programmed to perform highly repeatable but specific and data-intensive tasks efficiently, at scale, and without errors (e.g., taking inventory of store shelves).
4. Is AI applicable to lab-generated data?
Laboratory-generated data offers an ideal environment for AI applications because it meets all the requirements of big data—a term used to describe large data sets characterized by the properties of volume, velocity, veracity, and variety. Big-data sets may have limited visible value, but when mined with the right questions in mind and using the right exploratory methods, they can reveal insights and information that were previously hidden.
5. What is an algorithm?
An algorithm is a set of instructions that a machine can act upon. These instructions help the machine decide and execute the next step based on current information. Simple algorithms can be set up using simple conditions (e.g., “and,” “or,” and “not”), and multiple simple algorithms can be combined into complex algorithms. A start sequence of a clinical laboratory analyzer is an example of an algorithm—it defines the individual sequence of events to be followed before the machine is ready for operation.
6. What is machine learning?
Machine learning (ML) includes any application or domain of AI that relies on sophisticated algorithms to spot patterns or associations within a data set, make predictions, and suggest appropriate actions to a human based on those predictions.
There are three broad types of ML:
i) Supervised: The goal of supervised ML is to find the mapping function (f) given the input variable (x) and the output variable (y).
y = f(x)
Typically, a training data set is used to first identify the mapping function (f). The function (f) can then be used to predict outputs on a new data set similar to the training data set with similar input variables. Different types of supervised ML algorithms are linear regression, logistic regression, decision tree, k-nearest neighbor, naive-Bayes, and support vector machines.
ii) Unsupervised: Unlike supervised ML, there are no predefined outputs in unsupervised ML. The goal here is for the algorithms to identify the most interesting output pattern that describes the input data. There are two types of algorithms within unsupervised ML: clustering and association. Clustering can discover groupings inside your input data (e.g., that certain specialists such as obstetricians and geneticists overwhelmingly order prenatal genetic tests). Association can discover rules hidden inside your input data (e.g., only certain hematologists prescribe an expensive medication such as argatroban). Neural networks are a type of unsupervised ML.
iii) Reinforcement learning: Unlike supervised or unsupervised ML, the goal in reinforcement learning is to maximize reward in any given situation. The goal of the algorithm is to find the best path with maximum total reward, which is usually the sum of the positive or negative rewards along a sequential path.
7. What is deep learning?
Deep learning can be thought of as a subset or next generation of machine learning that can make predictions entirely independent of humans. The most common deep learning methods (i.e., those used in image analysis software, voice and speech recognition, and natural language processing) use neural networks, which are inspired by the neuronal circuitry of the brain and how it is believed to process information. Deep learning is powerful in that it is able to take on both supervised and unsupervised ML tasks.
8. What is natural language processing?
Human language is an incredibly complex system for communicating ideas and concepts across groups, time, and locations. Our words and languages are fraught with opportunities for misinterpretation and misrepresentation. A single word may represent more than one concept (e.g., “star” can refer to a film actor as well as a celestial body) or several words may represent a single concept (e.g., the element sodium can be written as Na, sod., or sodium). For linear-thinking machines, understanding language is an error-prone exercise. For example, the phrase “call me a cab” can be validly interpreted by a machine as a call for a taxi (what you wanted) or a request for being addressed as “cab” (a hilarious but logical misunderstanding).
Natural language processing (NLP) is a discipline that helps computers capture human language, identify the concepts, derive meaning from what is being conveyed, and communicate back in words (either oral or written) that are easily understood by humans. NLP is divided into many subdisciplines, including but not limited to optical character recognition, speech recognition, and voice-driven internet search. So, any time you see a product featuring NLP, it is designed to understand and interpret oral or written words.
9. What is an artificial neural network?
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computing devices (hardware or software) modeled on biological brains. Like the neuronal networks in our brains, ANNs can comprise hundreds to billions of individual units that are interconnected and can be switched on or off at any given time.
ANNs are typically arranged in layers. Data are presented to an ANN through its input layer, processed by a network of internal layers, and retrieved from the output layer. This level of interconnection contrasts traditional computing in which processing units are arranged in a series and information is sequentially transferred between each silo.
Traditional computing architecture is very efficient in solving a limited set of problems with well-defined inputs and outputs (e.g., the digital calculator). Most ANNs are distinguished by a specific learning rule that determines how the processing units interact with each other. When trying to solve a new problem, ANNs might have a learning curve.
10. Will AI take over our jobs?
Yes and no.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, mechanization of agriculture and manufacturing reduced the need for jobs that require physical labor. The advent of computing in the late 20th century eliminated jobs requiring consistent but low-skill mental work, such as simple arithmetic done by accountants. In the 21st century, the internet economy has eliminated jobs that require mid-skilled work, including tasks that require coordination, collation, minimal computation, and analysis. Think of and—web-based apps that upended travel agencies and taxi companies, respectively.
Like the internet economy, AI will disrupt underlying business models that offer decent-paying jobs in areas such as research, development, marketing, and analysis of all kinds. Any job that has a predictable workflow and deals with a limited number of tasks and variables is at risk of losing its ground to the advent of AI. Think of inventory management, supply chains, risk management, finance, law, and even medicine.
In health care, AI may result in the loss of some jobs, but it also presents opportunities for new jobs. Creative destruction is a concept that was proposed in the 1950s by the Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter. He believed that in a capitalistic system, new markets and methods develop from existing ones, incessantly destroying the old system and creating a new one in its place. We posit that AI will be a creative destroyer of several roles and jobs in health care—it will make several low-complexity jobs redundant but will reward specialization and adoption of new business models. For example, there will be a need for analytics translators, a domain that does not exist yet but will be critical in bridging the technical expertise of data engineers and data scientists with the operational expertise of individual departments. Analytics translators may not be proficient in AI but will be well-versed in understanding the expectations of the customer, the business model of the enterprise, and the nature of the problems that the enterprise faces.
11. What will be the manager’s role in the post-AI laboratory?
In the post-AI laboratory, the role of the manager may differ from that of today. The biggest difference will be that more information and insights will be easily and quickly available to the manager. Access to high-quality, high-speed, and low-cost insights will allow managers to focus on high-yield and people-centric issues rather than on low-yield and task-centric issues. Laboratory managers will work in six main roles in the post-AI laboratory:
Roles of Laboratory Managers in the Post-AI Laboratory
RolePrimary CompetenciesOutcome
Project identifierProcess improvementIdentify projects or opportunities that eliminate waste or improve efficiency
Data investigatorData retrieval; data cleanupWork with data scientists to identify sources of data within and outside the lab
AI feederAnalyticsWork with data scientists to build a pipeline that takes existing data sources and directs them to the appropriate AI methods
AI validatorAnalytics; business/financeWork with non-lab specialists (e.g., finance) to validate the end results of AI analysis
AI communicatorAnalytics; communicationTranslate the AI insights and their operational meaning for employees and leadership
Project managerCommunication; project managementOnce an insight has been validated and a suitable project has been finalized, relay it to the teams and manage as a project
As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “Change is the only constant in life.” He lived in a world in which farmers worked with bare hands or rudimentary tools, were subject to the whims of nature, and sought the mercy of the Greek gods. Modern farmers work in a completely different world; they have mechanized tools, assured irrigation, current information on soil conditions, and detailed information on weather patterns and market demand, allowing them to grow more abundant crops and sell them at a higher price. Yet if ancient farmers were around today, they might believe modern agriculture had taken away their jobs. It is useful to remember that new technology eliminates old jobs, but it also creates new jobs. Instead of thinking that robots are coming for us, we may instead think about how robots are coming to help us. Let us not fear change; let us take inspiration from Heraclitus and look forward to a better and brighter future.
Gaurav Sharma, MD
Dr. Sharma is a pathologist practicing in Southeastern Michigan and is board-certified in anatomical/clinical pathology, molecular-genetic pathology, and clinical informatics.
Tarush Kothari, MD MPH
Dr. Kothari is a pathologist practicing in New York. He is board-certified in anatomical/clinical pathology and clinical informatics and holds a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University. | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '14', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.938914120197296}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '50692', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:KIDOKZ27FDBBREJRUOUOMKVUBST6PA7U', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:c7a65f65-32ef-4a2a-a07c-ca7162fd9304>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2020, 2, 21, 3, 41, 33), 'WARC-IP-Address': '216.223.155.117', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': 'text/html', 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:WTYY2G3APWVQ6WI7SGBRDB2XDNF7GRVR', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:08b46e96-328c-4b74-a847-e8b81b47f8a4>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'https://www.clinicallabmanager.com/insight/artificial-intelligence-a-primer-for-the-laboratory-leader-405', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:1daae9af-a168-4fc5-a4ad-f89f42d5ffdf>', 'WARC-Truncated': None}", 'previous_word_count': '2089', 'url': 'https://www.clinicallabmanager.com/insight/artificial-intelligence-a-primer-for-the-laboratory-leader-405', 'warcinfo': 'isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-10\r\npublisher: Common Crawl\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web for February 2020\r\noperator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)\r\nhostname: ip-10-67-67-178.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)\r\nrobots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.1\r\nconformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.9716958999633789', 'original_id': '9be40ce6a7cc91dc7e7fe7ef8a89bd4da7c01124620e8f395167b119f4e1f426'} |
Jan 5 2012 3:00pm
Espionage and Morality: The Arm of the Starfish
After playing with coming of age stories, science fiction, and warm family tales for young adults, for her next book, The Arm of the Starfish, author Madeleine L’Engle decided to try a new type of story, a thriller combining espionage and some science fiction elements, featuring characters from her by then wildly successful A Wrinkle in Time. In yet another switch, her protagonist, instead of a misunderstood girl, is a misunderstanding boy.
As a standalone book, it almost works. Unfortunately, although it can be read alone, The Arm of the Starfish is not quite a standalone book, as it features two of the characters from A Wrinkle in Time and its direct sequel, A Wind in the Door. Starfish, however, appeared in 1965 — three years after Wrinkle and eight years before Door. Although this decision to write books out of order gave L’Engle several creative opportunities, it would also restrict her in later books, and, as we’ve been chatting in comments, create havoc with the between-books timelines.
The basic plot first: Adam Eddington, a budding marine biologist has just gotten the summer job of his dreams: the chance to study and work with starfish on a small island off the coast of Portugal with one of the greatest scientists in the field, Dr. Calvin O’Keefe. While waiting to board his plane, he meets a beautiful young woman named Kali (the name would be a giveaway to anyone but Adam) and finds himself plunged into an international conspiracy of sorts, complete with priests without eyebrows, the U.S. Embassy, kidnapping, and starfish.
The starfish part contains the book’s sole venture into science fiction, and it’s also where L’Engle, for the first time, starts heading into questionable scientific territory. Not with the basic facts: starfish, as she correctly notes, are within a phylum, Echinodermata, relatively closely related to the phylum containing humans, Chordata. Going much more beyond that to imply that starfish and humans have a close genetic relationship is probably too much, but not too much for a science fiction text. Also, some (not all) starfish can regenerate arms, an ability probably evolved as an adaptation against predators: losing an arm to a fish is not as big of a problem if you can grow it back.
But it’s what the humans are doing with this ability that causes the problems. Dr. O’Keefe has somehow managed to transfer this regeneration ability from starfish to humans, using it to repair major injuries. So far, standard science fiction, but L’Engle goes a bit further. First, although Dr. O’Keefe is presented as an ethical scientist, he is conducting medical experiments with the regeneration technology on humans, without the assistance or knowledge of any other medical professionals. Most of his patients are the cheerful, more primitive, and — this is important — dirt poor peasants of the half-African/half-Portuguese island he and his family live on, and these experiments are done secretly and completely outside of a hospital setting. In any other book, Dr. O’Keefe would be presented as the villain, or at the very least as a decidedly grey figure playing with forces outside of his control.
I say this, because along with conducting medical experiments on impoverished villagers, Dr. O’Keefe is also assuring us that if this technology gets into the “wrong hands” (said hands mostly belonging to Soviets or Chinese) it could be extremely dangerous, on a level with the atom bomb. Just why is left fairly ambiguous, but a glimpse or two of deformed critters in the lab suggest that those evil Commies are planning to create armies of hideously deformed humans. Some vague statements about well intentioned drugs causing fetal abnormalities and miscarriages (something that really did happen) are also mentioned. Which therefore means that the technology must be kept ultra secret and kept from the Commies at all cost.
Long term readers of my posts will recognize the return of a sore point with me: the idea that knowledge of whatever has to be concealed because humanity, or certain parts of humanity, can’t handle it. And worse is what’s being concealed here. Dr. O’Keefe and Adam speak vaguely of the potential for misuse — but this is a treatment to regrow arms and legs, developed as the Vietnam War was ongoing and within living memory of World War II. And, if this is so dangerous, why on earth is the supposedly ethical Dr. O’Keefe working with this at all, much less experimenting on villagers?
(I’m also going to tiptoe past the book’s troubling suggestion that the deformed animals are the ones deliberately mutilated by humans, while the normal, healed animals are those accidentally injured, coupled as these observations are with the suggestion that the fat spider look of the chief villain was caused by his choices in life, and Canon Tallis lost his eyebrows after watching the torture of others.)
In any case, a conveniently evil millionaire, Typhon Cutter, is after the technology, which oddly enough he plans to sell to the Chinese instead of to, say, Pfizer, despite supposed financial motivations. Adam — possibly because he senses one or two of Dr. O’Keefe’s ethical issues here — has a hard time determining what is going on, and who he should support; these passages, dealing with ethics and choices, are among the better in the book, which also provides plenty of intrigue and even a few action scenes, rare in most of L’Engle’s work. And I did find that one or two sentences in the book filled me with a warm or longing nostalgia. (Including, sadly, Adam’s truthful comment that airline food at the time was actually edible, hard though that is to believe now.)
But as I noted, this is also the first book of a new four book series, and a sort of sequel to her previous novel. Granted that L’Engle did not have a new series in mind when she wrote it (or even an old series; she would not write the direct sequel to A Wrinkle in Time for several more years) and granted that the two characters from A Wrinkle in Time play only supporting roles, I am still unable to read this book outside that series, which brings me to the next problem.
Meg Murry O’Keefe is a decidedly minor character in this book. Always called Mrs. O’Keefe, she is calm, reassuring, intent, focused on mothering her children, a near clone of Mrs. Austin in the Austin books, serene and capable.
And all wrong for Meg Murry.
Let’s start with the first problem: although Calvin and both of her parents have earned their doctorates (and we will later find that her twin brothers Sandy and Dennys earn advanced degrees), Meg has not, although she “sometimes assists” her husband with his mathematics. Now, let me be clear: I have no problems with a woman choosing family and mothering over a career in academia or elsewhere, and I can readily understand that someone like Meg, with her difficulties in high school, might not be eager to continue on for an advanced degree.
I can also understand that some people might want to embrace the ordinary after living the extraordinary, and that Meg, above all, wanted to fit in to her small town. And I am well aware of the institutional difficulties (discussed in the comments in the A Wrinkle in Time post) that faced women, and particularly married women, attempting to enter careers in the sciences in the 1960s. Even married women with advanced degrees were strongly encouraged to stay at home and focus on childrearing, or blocked from earning tenure or advanced positions because of their gender, and Meg Murry O’Keefe reflects these realities.
But it still feels all wrong. This is, after all, Meg, a certifiable math genius, whose problems in school stemmed from knowing far, far too much about math. (And although yes, marine biologists use math regularly, it’s rarely the sort of advanced math we’re told Meg revels in.) And this is Meg, who has travelled to various worlds and was willing to go back to Camazotz to rescue a brother. And far from fitting in to her small town, she and her husband have taken their children to various parts of the world, placing Meg in something between the ordinary life she may have craved and the extraordinary life she seemed to be heading for.
As I’ve noted, L’Engle had no difficulty creating, even in the 1940s and 1950s, portraits of talented, career oriented women. In Dr. Murry she even showed that woman combining a career with motherhood — single motherhood at that. But in this book, she seems to have retreated back to her depictions of the Austin books: a woman can have a career or motherhood, not both — this as she in her own life was combining both.
But the career issue is only a minor one. The real issue is, what happened to Meg? And by this I mean the angry, frustrated, impatient girl of both Wrinkle and Wind in the Door, softened only slightly in A Swiftly Tilting Planet? How has she shifted into this image of serenity and patience and acceptance? I grant that people can change as they grow from teenager to adult, but I see nothing of Meg in this woman. Indeed, in this book, the generally confident, competent Calvin is the one expressing doubts and showing occasional impatience. It’s particularly odd given that eight years after this book, L’Engle was able to recreate that angry Meg in A Wind in the Door.
If not for the names of her children — Charles, Sandy, Dennis, all named for her brothers — and the fact that a later book confirms that yes, she really is the Meg Murry from A Wrinkle in Time, and that her son Charles has apparently inherited some of the family’s abilities with ESP, I would almost assume that Calvin O’Keefe had married another woman in college.
Which brings me to the issue of Poly. (Who will later become Polly, but is Poly in this book.)
I’ll just go ahead and note that of L’Engle’s three major teenage heroines – Vicky, Meg, and Poly – Poly is hands down my least favorite. It’s not difficult to see why. Vicky, as annoying as she can be and often is, still has very real, understandable issues and doubts, about her intelligence and looks and place in the world. Meg, with her anger and impatience and fish out of water feelings, is also someone I can identify with. They are characters whose flaws and self-esteem issues make sense, who readers can identify with. Their worldviews correctly reflect their relatively sheltered backgrounds.
Not so much with Poly, who comes from a loving, supportive family, has travelled widely, speaks at least seven languages fluently, at the age of twelve is already competent enough to have spent years working in a major marine biology research lab and gain enough technical knowledge from this to be a worthy kidnap victim. This sort of character can be handled in a couple of ways. You can make her simply amazingly self-confident, competent and awesome (i.e. Sophy in Georgette Heyer’s eponymous novel, The Grand Sophy). You can show her as a person of many worlds, but never comfortable in any, with self-esteem problems stemming from an awareness of not really belonging.
Or, you can fail to do either, creating a character whose only flaws seem to be occasional tactlessness (more in later books) and a tendency to dissolve into tears, who somehow pretty much rarely manages to be useful or awesome.
As in this book, where Poly’s chief accomplishments include getting kidnapped, getting jealous for no particular reason, and flipping out when her father (finally!) decides to do something ethical. She does manage to provide Adam with a convenient syringe/knife filled with a strong narcotic, and her insistence that he carry it later proves useful enough to allow me to sort of avoid the nagging question of just how a 12 year old got a hold of this. It does not help that, as in A Wrinkle in Time, L’Engle uses infantilizing language to describe Poly and the older Kali, but not Adam or Charles.
And one final problem, alluded to in the comments of A Wrinkle in Time:
This book contains no hint that two of its major adult characters traveled through time and space.
This began L’Engle’s problematic pattern of frequently treating each book as if the previous one never happened. On the one hand, this does make it considerably easier to read each novel as a stand alone work, since no knowledge of previous books is ever necessary.But on the other hand, this seems to cheat her characters, particularly in the O’Keefe series, and that perhaps is why I am less fond of this series than the Austin and Murry books.
Mari Ness once had the unpleasant experience of spending several hours moving starfish to fresh tanks, which perhaps explains her lack of enthusiasm for echinoderms in general. She lives in central Florida.
This article is part of The Madeleine L'Engle Reread: ‹ previous | index | next ›
Pamela Adams
1. Pam Adams
I found Adam very annoying- especially when compared to his more saintly characterization in Ring of Endless Light. If some attractive stranger came up to the 17-year old me in an airport, telling me a difficult-to-believe tale, why would I believe her, rather than my mentor of many years? (Clearly, Adam was thinking with a part of his anatomy not mentioned in many children's books!)
Mari Ness
2. MariCats
@Pam Adams - Yeah. I suspect I would have had an easier time with Adam if I hadn't read Ring of Endless Light first (years ago). Admittedly there's a huge publication gap between the two books, and Adam is supposed to have Learned Things, but, still.
I mean, the girl says, "Hi, I'm Kali." I really don't think she could have been any more obvious.
Tom Galloway
3. Tom Galloway
I agree completely that grown-up Meg is for all intents and purposes a pod person version of AWIT Meg, but consider that grown-up Calvin's also a case of "He's a what? now?". Namely, AWIT very specifically made it clear that Calvin's gift was communication, and that he was nothing special in math/science. And this leads to him becoming a worldclass marine biologist how exactly? As opposed to a teacher, diplomat, litagator, ad exec, etc. where his gift would actually be useful for the primary purpose of the profession (yeah, biologists have to communicate their work, but the work's primary).
Tom Galloway
4. Lsana
Arm of the Starfish was the last L'Engle book I read. I'd previously read Acceptable Time, assuming it was part of the Murray saga, without any clue that there were earlier books about Polly's previous adventures. I thought Acceptable Time did a much better job of explaining why Meg had never tried to get her PhD in math, and though I was a bit disappointed about that, I accepted Mrs. Murray's explanation that Meg didn't owe it to me or anyone else. Because of that, actually seeing her here didn't bother me all that much.
So this book didn't really bother me, but it didn't impress me either, certainly not enough to find the rest of the O'Keefe books. None of the characters did all that much for me, and the whole "it regenerates limbs but only on good things not on bad things like sharks" just made me roll my eyes.
Oh, and one more comment: don't assume that Calvin wouldn't need some serious upper level math in this research. Speaking as an algebraist/graph theorist who stumbled into biological research almost by accident, I suspect that Meg could find more than enough advanced math to keep her happy.
Mari Ness
5. MariCats
@Tom Galloway -- I admit that I missed that bit about Calvin, but then again, most of the marine biologists I know have ended up as teachers, trainers, speakers on behalf of Florida fisheries/parks, running major luxury salt water aquarium businesses and so on, requiring extensive communication skills, so that didn't throw me too much. (Plus, I'm the English/medieval studies major who ended up in a graduate marine biology program. I admit it is rare, but it can happen.)
My guess, based on L'Engle's later books, is that this came more from L'Engle's growing interest in marine animals, and less on what was right for the character.
@Lsana - :: nods :: I encountered matrix algebra, calculus and statistics in my classes. (And the fun of programming calculus into Matlab, but I believe needs me to keep my comments safe for family reading so I won't elaborate on that.) And biological papers and articles often have a mathematical component, and of course Calvin O'Keefe in this book would not have had the advantage of a nice little SPSS program to do regression analysis for him.
But with that said, marine biology is still not _that_ focused on math, not to mention that Meg's interest seemed to lie more in abstract, higher mathematics than in the practical applications of matrix algebra as applied to coral reefs. Not to say that she couldn't have helped with what Calvin encountered or had her fun with it, but it just seems all wrong.
Tom Galloway
6. between4walls
I thought that (despite the selling-to-China issue) the threat was less from a deformed communist army than from unethical use of the technology for monetary gain. Cutter wants to sell it for the money, the dilution of antibiotics for profit in Graham Greene's "The Third Man" is metaphor through which the risk is explained to Adam, and the mutilations started when Calvin offered to pay for animal test subjects.
This book dovetails interestingly with the imo superior The Young Unicorns, in which the misuse of medical tech is motivated by megalomania rather than greed, and which features a less morally compromised but, by comparison, dangerously naive researcher.
Tom Galloway
7. Lsana
Since my previous comment, it's occurred to me that there is another good reason why Meg wouldn't have gone on in academia. In addition to her issues with knowing too much, there's also the fact that she refused to play the game. The game that says when your teacher is droning on and on about somethign you already know, you scribble diligently in your notebook, pretending to be taking notes when you're actually doodling or writing a sci-fi story. The game that says when your teacher is full of BS, you plaster the "that is the most fascinating thing I've ever heard" expression on your face and and complain to your friends later. You be a good girl and do as your told.
That game doesn't go away in grad school; in fact, it gets worse. You do what your advisor tells you, focus on putting out publications that people may or may not read, and make whatever changes to your thesis your committee wants whether or not they make sense. I can easily imagine Meg taking one look at all that and telling them to shove it.
There's more abstract and higher mathematics in biology than you might think. I'm not talking statistics but rather graph theory, formal grammars, abstract algebra, and the like. Right now, the field of Mathematical and Computational Biology is growing incredibly quickly. Now, admittedly when this book was published the idea of mathematical biology barely existed, but also when this book was published, no one had actually figured out how to regenerate human limbs using starfish either. I can easily see that requiring knowledge of starfish DNA and RNA and the interactions of the genes and proteins responsible for the regeneration. The math behind that is incredibly complex and could be an interesting challenge for someone of Meg's caliber.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
P.S. My sympathies on the Matlab. I hate Matlab.
Mari Ness
8. MariCats
@between4walls - You know, I think I mentally recoiled so much from the thought that creatures would regenerate differently depending upon whether or not they were purchased that I blocked the thought. L'Engle also brought up the actual case of Thalidomide which was was linked to birth defects and blamed on a failure to do enough clinical studies, but which seemed to be pretty indiscriminate on which babies it affected, so my (admittedly vague) background on that case may have colored my interpretation here.
I certainly agree that The Young Unicorns is a much superior book and more thoughtful on the ethical issues.
@Lsana - Ok, fair enough, although I'm still not getting the feeling that what Calvin is doing really involves that much advanced math, and as you note, that field was barely in existence when this book was written. (Sidenote: I know a couple of people working on doing DNA genome mapping for sea cucumbers and sharks, so this is definitely an already happening sort of thing.)
Interesting point on the issues Meg would face in grad school. I think that's true, and I'm willing to buy it as fanwanking. But I'm wondering if something else entirely is going on here -- something that has nothing to do with what Meg would or would not have done in grad school.
In L'Engle's books, advanced education -- doctorates in medicine, science or theology -- or high skill in music or both is associated with the best, most admirable characters - the ones that the girl protagonists most desperately want to resemble, but can't. I don't think it's a coincidence that Mrs. Murry is a Nobel-prize winning scientist, Mrs. Austin a musician, various secondary women characters hold doctorates, and the sibling Vicky most envies, Suzy, ends up as a doctor. Nor do I think it's a coincidence that Meg's twin brothers end up with advanced degrees, but she does not.
Because a repeated theme of the books where Meg and Vicky are protagonists is how inferior they feel to the others -- something that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when they do not go on for advance degrees even though both obviously could.
And yet, Meg and Vicky are also the protagonists L'Engle most closely identified with -- and she goes out of her way to show that both of them, whatever their inadequacies in the academic and musical achievements departments - are still attractive to men. Meg picks up the most popular, intelligent boy in school; Vicky in her last two books has three different guys in each book swarming after her. Ok, one's Zachary, so, yuck, but another one is an actual prince.
So on the one hand, you have L'Engle seemingly punishing her protagonists, by not allowing them these admired qualities. And on the other hand, you have L'Engle showing that these protagonists are still desirable.
And these are supposedly the two protagonists L'Engle most closely identified with (which probably also explains why they feel more "alive" than Poly.)
Not sure I'm making much sense here; it's rather vague in my head.
PS - I don't think "hate" is strong enough to express my feelings about Matlab. What a horrible program.
Tom Galloway
9. between4walls
@maricats- My comment was unclear. The animals didn't regenerate differently based on being purchased, but the maiming of animals by humans began when Calvin offered to pay for test subjects, so people started mutilating animals in order to sell them to him. So Calvin wound up accidentally incentivizing cruelty by purchasing the test subjects.
Insofar as it's a religious allegory and Adam Falls, I think L'Engle throughout the book is playing with all the usual options for what the original sin is. Greed, sex, knowledge (which leads to the knowledge-has-to-be-concealed motif you mentioned), and finally faithlessness or faith in the wrong things or people, which causes the catastrophe when Kali trusts her father and Adams trusts Kali.
The unscientific aspect of the regeneration technology can be read as part of the allegory, the fruit in the Garden of Eden able to grant eternal life or godlike knowledge or death and suffering. It's annoyingly unrealistic, though, and not actually necessary to the story.
The fact that American businessman Typhoon Cutter has enough influence in fascist, NATO-member Portugal to get away with murder complicates the Cold War aspect.
Mari Ness
10. MariCats
@between4walls -- I'm going to seize on your word "unnecessary," since it strikes me that it's the best way to sum up this book, and why The Young Unicorns ends up being so much the better read.
It's not just that the unrealistic allegory is unnecessary, but it strikes me that so much of the book is - the use of the O'Keefes as secondary characters (which would later create huge timeline issues with the Murry/Austin books, as we'll be seeing, even when L'Engle apparently decided to more or less have Vicky and Poly O'Keefe be contemporaries), several characters feel unnecessary, leaving the entire book with a tired feel.
Contrast with The Young Unicorns, a more assured book, where a seemingly chance statement about Shakespeare actually has a plot point later, the morality is given a nuanced, thoughtful discussion, the villain is reacting to a real problem, and so on. It just feels more, well, necessary.
Tom Galloway
11. ErikaRS
The comments about Calvin got me thinking. On the one hand, I think the comment that he was a marine biologist more because of L'Engle's interest in the subject than because it being fitting seems reasonable.
On the other hand, the reminder that his gift was communication got me thinking. Calvin is a good communicator, handsome, popular, and, for some reason unknown to Meg, falls for her warts and all. Especially if you've read _Two Part Invention_, this sounds a lot like Hugh Franklin, L'Engle's husband. So maybe pushing Calvin away from a role where the use for his communication talents were more obviously useful was, in part, an attempt to make Calvin less like her husband.
Mari Ness
12. MariCats
@ErikaRS -- Interesting, especially since L'Engle was known to include aspects of her real life in many of her books, and identified strongly with Vicky and Meg.
Tom Galloway
13. Drew Rieley
I have no idea what this fish or fishis are but the seem like good fish.
Tom Galloway
14. Laura Moore
If I remember correctly, Calvin experimented on only one human subject -- the little girl who lost her finger (to a shark?) -- and he only did it after much agonizing, and after consulting the tribal leader and Canon Tallis. Am I right on this?
It still may be ethically suspect, or even wrong, but he wasn't experimenting on humans extensively, as your post suggests.
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Post a comment | dclm_baseline | {'bff_contained_ngram_count_before_dedupe': '10', 'language_id_whole_page_fasttext': "{'en': 0.971442461013794}", 'metadata': "{'Content-Length': '83469', 'Content-Type': 'application/http; msgtype=response', 'WARC-Block-Digest': 'sha1:CNKR43RXOJSLYGH4U7DHZTDM46R5THM6', 'WARC-Concurrent-To': '<urn:uuid:55887ea0-1527-4f6c-bcc5-2cf203ad6b8b>', 'WARC-Date': datetime.datetime(2014, 12, 22, 3, 44, 44), 'WARC-IP-Address': '142.54.232.100', 'WARC-Identified-Payload-Type': None, 'WARC-Payload-Digest': 'sha1:NW6Z6XNAXXCO5WZ6EJN6EUXV7YXDXHFK', 'WARC-Record-ID': '<urn:uuid:f5cec96d-11a1-4252-986d-601f88dc6761>', 'WARC-Target-URI': 'http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/01/espionage-and-morality-the-arm-of-the-starfish?wbtrak=NGZhMzcwOTEtYzc1N2ZjMzg=', 'WARC-Type': 'response', 'WARC-Warcinfo-ID': '<urn:uuid:f1113ca9-62b6-4f1f-8192-34d43d85a743>', 'WARC-Truncated': 'length'}", 'previous_word_count': '4417', 'url': 'http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/01/espionage-and-morality-the-arm-of-the-starfish?wbtrak=NGZhMzcwOTEtYzc1N2ZjMzg=', 'warcinfo': 'robots: classic\r\nhostname: ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal\r\nsoftware: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0\r\nisPartOf: CC-MAIN-2014-52\r\noperator: CommonCrawl Admin\r\ndescription: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for December 2014\r\npublisher: CommonCrawl\r\nformat: WARC File Format 1.0\r\nconformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf', 'fasttext_openhermes_reddit_eli5_vs_rw_v2_bigram_200k_train_prob': '0.07216590642929077', 'original_id': '22b78a9012d09abdf3494d2355b9d724f06d48e4b5aad86e5ef3a2743b58f163'} |
The Impact of the Hepatocyte-to-Plasma pH Gradient on the Prediction of Hepatic Clearance and Drug-Drug Interactions for CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 Substrates.
Surrogate assays for drug metabolism and inhibition are traditionally performed in buffer systems at pH 7.4, despite evidence that hepatocyte intracellular pH is 7.0. This pH gradient can result in a pKa-dependent change in intracellular/extracellular concentrations for ionizable drugs that could affect predictions of clearance and P450 inhibition. The effect of microsomal incubation pH on in vitro enzyme kinetic parameters for CYP2C9 (diclofenac, (S)-warfarin) and CYP3A4 (midazolam, dextromethorphan, testosterone) substrates, enzyme specific reversible inhibitors (amiodarone, desethylamiodarone, clozapine, nicardipine, fluconazole, fluvoxamine, itraconazole) and a mechanism-based inhibitor (amiodarone) was investigated. Intrinsic clearance through CYP2C9 significantly increased (25% and 50% for diclofenac and (S)-warfarin respectively) at intracellular pH 7.0 compared with traditional pH 7.4. The CYP3A4 substrate dextromethorphan intrinsic clearance was decreased by 320% at pH 7.0, while midazolam and testosterone remained unchanged. Reversible inhibition of CYP2C9 was less potent at pH 7.0 compared with 7.4, while CYP3A4 inhibition potency was variably affected. Maximum enzyme inactivation rate of amiodarone toward CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 decreased at pH 7.0, while the irreversible inhibition constant remained unchanged for CYP2C9, but decreased for CYP3A4 at pH 7.0. Predictions of clearance and drug-drug interactions made through physiologically based pharmacokinetic models were improved with the inclusion of predicted intracellular concentrations based at pH 7.0 and in vitro parameters determined at pH 7.0. No general conclusion on the impact of pH could be made and therefore a recommendation to change buffer pH to 7.0 cannot be made at this time. It is recommended that the appropriate hepatocyte intracellular pH 7.0 be used for in vitro determinations when in vivo predictions are made. | mini_pile | {'original_id': 'e7a61d3a4ace6f89b6c2dff8d56bc08c46352ad613015138f3db8e0cb6a19e5a'} |
Q:
Change of coordinates and derivatives in $\mathbb{R}^n$ on a boundary integral
I'm am slightly confused while trying to keep everything straight between looking at integration as on a manifold vs. the diffeomorphism change of variables.
Consider a smooth domain $B\subset \mathbb{R}^2$ and the domain $B_s\subset\mathbb{R}^3$ such that $B_s=B\times[0,s]$
Question 1: Consider the integral
$$I=\int_{\partial B_s} f(x)\, d\sigma_{B_s}$$
where $\sigma_{B_s}$ indicates the integral over the boundary (surface measure). If we change variables, $(x_1,x_2,x_3)\to (x_1,x_2,s\xi)$, then I think we have
$$I=s\int_{\partial B\times (0,1)} f(x_1,x_2,s\xi) d\sigma_B d\xi+\int_{B\times\{0,1\}} f(x_1,x_2,s \xi)dx_1 dx_2$$
(where $d\sigma_B$ is the surface measure on $B\subset\mathbb{R}^2$)
is this correct? It bothers me that a $s$ does not comes out of the second integral although I know intuitively why (the top part has no "volume" in the third direction). I can't seem to reconcile this with the diffeomorphism version of the change of variables formula, and I would like to understand it better.
Question 2: If we considered
$$A=\int_{\partial B_s} \frac{\partial}{\partial_{x_3}} f(x) d \sigma_x,$$
we know from the chain rule that $\displaystyle\frac{\partial}{s\partial \xi}=\frac{\partial}{\partial_{x_3}}$. So when we change variables, does the problem become:
$$A=\int_{\partial B \times (0,1)}\frac{1}{s}\frac{\partial}{\partial \xi}f(x_1,x_2,s\xi) s\, d\xi d\sigma_B+\int_{B \times \{0,1\}}\frac{1}{s}\frac{\partial}{\partial \xi}f(x_1,x_2,h\xi) dx_1 dx_2?$$
I am not positive how derivatives inside of the integral are affected by change of variables
It seems both of my confusions would be solved if I understood integration on manifolds better... Thank you.
A:
The formula you have in Question 1 is correct. As a sanity check, put $f\equiv 1$ in it: the result should describe the surface area.
$$A=s\int_{\partial B\times (0,1)} d\sigma_B\, d\xi+\int_{B\times\{0,1\}} dx_1\, dx_2 =
s\int_{\partial B} d\sigma_B+\int_{B\times\{0,1\}} dx_1\, dx_2 $$
Now the fact that $s$ is present only in front of the first integral makes perfect geometric sense: stretching in vertical direction leaves the areas of top and bottom surfaces unchanged, while the side area is multiplied by the stretch factor.
Concerning question 2: to minimize confusion, it helps to use the notation $f_3(x_1,x_2,x_3)$, where subscript indicates differentiation in the third variable (whatever it is called). Since $f_3$ is just an ordinary function, the formula from Question 1 applies to it:
$$\int_{\partial B_s} f_3(x)\, d\sigma_{B_s} = s\int_{\partial B\times (0,1)} f_3(x_1,x_2,s\xi) d\sigma_B d\xi+\int_{B\times\{0,1\}} f_3(x_1,x_2,s \xi)dx_1 dx_2 \tag1$$
The next step is to relate $f_3(x_1,x_2,s\xi)$ and $\frac{\partial}{\partial \xi}f(x_1,x_2,s\xi)$. This is what the chain rule does:
$$\frac{\partial}{\partial \xi}f(x_1,x_2,s\xi) = f_3(x_1,x_2,s\xi)\, \frac{\partial(s\xi)}{\partial \xi} =f_3(x_1,x_2,s\xi)\,s $$
Therefore, $f_3(x_1,x_2,s\xi)$ can be replaced by $\frac{1}{s}\frac{\partial}{\partial \xi}f(x_1,x_2,s\xi)$ everywhere in (1):
$$\int_{\partial B_s} \frac{\partial }{\partial x_3}f(x)\, d\sigma_{B_s} = \int_{\partial B\times (0,1)} \frac{\partial}{\partial \xi}f(x_1,x_2,s\xi) d\sigma_B d\xi + \frac{1}{s}\int_{B\times\{0,1\}} \frac{\partial}{\partial \xi}f(x_1,x_2,s \xi)dx_1 dx_2 $$
By the way, it's a good idea to write $\frac{\partial }{\partial \xi} f(x_1,x_2,s\xi)$ (as you have done) instead of $\frac{\partial f}{\partial \xi} (x_1,x_2,s\xi)$. I find the latter notation a frequent source of confusion in calculations like these - do we take derivative first and rescale later, or the other way around?
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Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Pregnant women should avoid foods that can cause food poisoning or contain harmful pollutants. Food borne illness caused by certain bacteria can result in premature delivery, miscarriage, fetal death and/or severe illness of a newborn due to an infection.
Unfortunately, nausea is a common symptom experienced by many women usually in the first trimester. Although not directly correlated, there seems to be an association with nausea and the rise in the level of the "pregnancy hormone", BHCG. As the level of that hormone begins to plateau, toward the end of the first trimester, so does the feeling of nausea. Additionally, another hormone that rises in pregnancy contributes to the slowing of the gut, thereby worsening the symptomatology. Things that can be taken over-the-counter include Vitamin B6 (10 mg by mouth up to three times per day) and ginger containing products (Ginger-ale and ginger tablets). If uncontrolled, you doctor can discuss prescribed forms of therapy.
We never want to see any kind of bleeding during pregnancy. However, there are some things that do occur normally that may produce a small amount bleeding during early pregnancy. It is thought that bleeding may occur as a result of implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall. It is also possible for the sensitive cervical glands, under the influence of the hormonal changes of pregnancy, to either spontaneously bleed or bleed as a result of minor trauma (intercourse, cervical exam). Unless the pregnancy has been documented to be within the uterine cavity, we must also acknowledge the possibility of an abnormally located, or ectopic, pregnancy. If associated worsening pain is occurring, be sure to notify your doctor. Lastly, bleeding may signify the possibility of an impending miscarriage. Reassurance can easily be achieved through the auscultation of the fetal heart.
Many women experience lower abdominal pain early in pregnancy that can unfortunately continue throughout the pregnancy. These pains are due to stretching of the pelvic floor muscles as well as pulling on ligaments that function to support the uterus in the pelvis. For that reason the pain is referred to as "Round Ligament Pain". Often times the pain can be relieved through rest and the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol). As the pregnancy progresses, many women also employ the use of maternity support belts. However, cramping pain associated with spotting or bleeding should be further evaluated by you physician.
The amount of exercise one can tolerate during pregnancy is dependent on the amount of activity prior to pregnancy. Pregnancy is not the time to begin a hard exercise regimen. However, active women can safely continue exercise regimens within reason. It is advisable to not engage in sporting activities that may lead to injury.
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Things that may help include:
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Gynecology Questions
The most recent large study, The Women's Health Initiative, documented an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, breast cancer, and most recently, Alzheimer's Disease associated with the use of hormone replacement therapy. However, as the data was more closely analyzed and separated by age groups, these risks were not bestowed on women who initiated therapy at the onset of menopause. Thus, hormones still play a vital role in the transition through a women's most symptomatic years of menopausal life. The goal is to treat patients with the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time so as to obtain the benefits (fewer mood swings, fewer flashes, more sleep, less risk of osteoporosis and colon cancer) without incurring the risks.
Non-hormonal forms of treatment that have shown varying results include herbal remedies such as soy products and black cohosh. A prescribed medication that usually functions as an antidepressant has been shown to reduce the number of daily hot flashes experienced and improve the response to them.
Annual screening mammography is currently recommended to begin at the age of 40. Tests can be ordered sooner if warranted by a patient's symptoms or family history. A woman with a positive family history of premenopausal breast cancer would be encouraged to begin screening 10 years prior to that family member's diagnosis. Mammograms are still the mainstay of screening as they detect 90% of all breast cancers. As they miss 10% of all breast cancers, it is still important to perform monthly self-breast exams after each cycle. Other screening modalities, such as MRI, may be employed in high risk patients.
HPV is a virus known as Human Papilloma Virus spread through sexual contact and is responsible for abnormal pap smears and 99.7% of cervical cancers. There are more than 100 different types with approx. 30 types responsible for infection in the genital tract. Low-risk types cause genital warts and high-risk types cause abnormal pap smears. 90% of the time, your body naturally rids itself of the virus much the same way its does with many other viruses. About 10% of the time, the virus persists and continues to cause abnormal pap smears that can progress to cancer over time. Usually, definitive therapy can be carried out before cancer ensues. For that reason, appropriate follow-up is of utmost importance.
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Sermon for April 29, 2018
On Being Branches
Introduction
What is the heart of the Christian life?That important question is answered in our Gospel reading today in John chapter 15, where Jesus is teaching his disciples concerning the vine and branches.
(public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
Having left the Last Supper in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples are on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. As they walk and talk, Jesus is preparing his followers for his death, which will occur tomorrow, Good Friday. The disciples had come to know and love Jesus as they lived with him, listened to him and watched him work. But what would happen when Jesus was no longer with them bodily?
Earlier that evening in the Upper Room, Jesus had talked about leaving his disciples, reassuring them that his departure would result in them having a deeper, more intimate relationship with him through the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus tells them more about that relationship using the image of branches attached to a vine. Understanding that image was important for those disciples. It’s also important for us today.
Abiding: the essence of the Christian life
The image of the vine and branches points to the reality that the relationship that Jesus (the vine) has with his followers (the branches), and thus with the church, is of a particular kind. First, it’s not symmetrical. Jesus is its Source—he gives the relationship to us. Second, it’s not static—we don’t share in the relationship passively. It is a real, reciprocal giving and receiving. Third, the relationship is not automatic, which is why Jesus commands his disciples—he commands the church—to abide in him. As they do, they will grow in that relationship, coming to enjoy, trust and love Jesus at progressively deeper levels.
When I consider how strongly Jesus emphasizes the need for his disciples to abide in him, I realize that he is revealing the essence of the Christian life, which is our active, deliberate and continual participation in our union and communion with Jesus, by the Spirit. All that we think, say and do—all our programs, relationships and plans are to be rooted in and come out of that relationship. Our abiding in Jesus means living as the branches that he has made us. It means participating in Jesus’ life and love as we are addressed and transformed by the Spirit as he works actively within us, Jesus’ friends.
“Friends” by Liz Lemon Swindle (used with permission)
But what does abiding in Jesus look like on a day-to-day basis? How do we as members of the church, the body of Christ, live as branches in the true vine? Let’s look at three aspects of that abiding: 1) knowing, 2) trusting, and 3) obeying. Though we’ll look at each separately, remember they are interconnected aspects of one relationship.
1. We abide by knowing
To abide in Jesus means to continually seek to know him personally. It’s not the same as merely knowing things about him. Think of your spouse or another very close friend. Knowing them involves real, ongoing interaction: doing things together, being together in different situations, conversing, giving and receiving. It’s far more than merely knowing facts about them. It means spending time with them, which leads to even deeper knowing.
Many years ago, I was talking with a young man who found the Christian life rather boring. As I was thinking about how to proceed in our conversation, I felt inspired to ask, “What do you love about Jesus?” After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Well, he died for my sins…” I said, “Yes, but what about his person do you love? What about the way he deals with others, what he is passionate about, the words he says to you?” He had nothing else to say and I realized that it’s hard to love someone you really don’t know. It’s in a real, growing relationship of knowing that we come to love another person.
Knowing Jesus involves coming to see and perceive who he is and what he is up to—seeking to hear clearly what he is saying to us by his Spirit. Doing so takes effort, just as it takes effort to hear our friends clearly, instead of failing to listen, thinking we already know what they are about to say. Have you ever had that happen in an interaction with someone? You suddenly realize that you’re not getting their point because you haven’t been really listening? And when you finally do listen, you’re surprised at their actual point. Coming to really know someone tends to involve a certain type of repentance—setting aside our preconceived notions so we can listen more carefully to what is actually being said.
So how do we come to know Jesus? By learning about him, learning of his character and purposes, seeing who he is in relationship to his Father and the Spirit. We come to know him by meeting him and hearing from him in his written word and in prayer. It’s wonderful to know that God is a speaking God who blesses us with sustaining, life-giving, joy-filled relationship with him, and that we can actually grow in that relationship—knowing and loving him more deeply.
2. We abide by trusting
To be the branch is to have confidence in the vine—to trust that the vine really can nourish and sustain us so that we don’t need to be looking for other vines to plug into, or to try to be our own vine. Abiding in Jesus means actively trusting that he is good and for us all the way down. It means, as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12, trusting that his grace is sufficient, and his power is made perfect in our weakness. It means actively trusting that Jesus made me, knows me, and knows who I am becoming in him. It means trusting that he is my true Source of life, joy, love and identity and no one else is. There is no other place to put my trust for life.
The reality is that we are always living and acting on the basis of either trust or distrust. When we are not living from a place of confidence in Jesus’ presence and work in our lives, it’s likely we are trusting in something or someone else. We might be trusting our own skill or expertise, or our own programs or plans. Or we might be acting from a place of conviction that Jesus is not here, not paying attention, not remaining faithful to his work in us. In such times of distrust, we are living as if we are not the branches in the vine that Jesus has made us to be.
How can we live in greater trust in Jesus? By coming to know him better. Trust in Jesus is a response to who we find him to be. This dynamic is true in our other relationships as well. My trust in my husband is shaped by who I am coming to know he is. As I know him better, I respond in greater trust that he will be and act according to who he is. I trust my husband Gary (who is a theologian) to help me work through understanding God better, but I don’t ask him to be my surgeon! I know what he is able to do, and what he is not able to do. Though he is able, Jesus does not do all things. We can trust him to help us grow spiritually, but we don’t expect him to wash the dishes for us!
One more thing about abiding by trusting. In uniting himself to us, Jesus shares with us his trust in God the Father—a trust grounded in his intimate knowing of the Father. Jesus shares with us his trust in his Father so that we may grow in the joyous conviction of his good Lordship over all—his faithfulness to bring to completion his good purposes for our lives.
3. We abide by obeying
As we grow in trusting Jesus, we want to act on that trust—to live as if he is the Lord of our lives that he truly is. Note in John 15 how Jesus connects loving him with obeying him:
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. (John 15:9-11)
Jesus is saying that he has loved his disciples with the very love and in the very way he is loved of the Father. This is a further description of what he means by his being the vine and his followers being branches. As the branches, we are drawn into the triune God’s own loving, living communion. We are to abide (meaning to remain or to continue) in that loving relationship. But how do we do that?
Jesus tells us we do so by actively living in and receiving his love by keeping his commandments. In John 14 he spoke of loving him by keeping his word. Jesus’ commandments are his words to us—they are the shape of his loving purposes for our lives. These commands aren’t arbitrary tests of our loyalty, and they aren’t obligations we must meet to get Jesus to love us. They are the very shape of his love. We obey Jesus’ words to us because he is so wonderful, so good—why would we choose to live contrary to them?
We remain in communion with Jesus by obeying his commands to us, just as he remains in communion with his Father by obeying the Father’s commands to him. Unfortunately, however, we tend to view obedience as dull, even joy-denying. But look at Jesus’ next statement—he tells his disciples that he is giving them this instruction to keep his commands, “so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). Jesus has great joy in obeying the commands of his Father, who he knows, loves and trusts. And he wants us to share in this intense and intimate joy with him—to the full!
Abiding involves repentance
Obeying Jesus isn’t always easy. We may see obedience as getting in the way of our desires, hopes and plans. Also, we may see our past experiences and current expectations and struggles as reasons not to be obedient. This takes us back to the point already made that obeying Jesus is connected to our knowing and trusting him. The Holy Spirit is at work to help us see more and more clearly how much better Jesus is than all our own ways of giving ourselves life and value. He is at work to enable us to more deeply live in the freedom of trusting Jesus with all that we have and are.
This process of growth involves repentance—active turning away from whatever is in the way of obeying Jesus out of trust in him and his work. As C.S. Lewis said in Mere Christianity,
[To trust Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.
Obedience flows from trusting Jesus and that obedience then feeds our trust in him. As challenging as it often is, obeying Jesus’ commands helps us see even more that he is the object of our deepest longings—the source of true joy. In an article entitled “God’s message on ‘Ash Valentine’s Day’: True Love Dies,” Tish Harrison Warren speaks of this fruit of obedience in the lives of her Christian friends who are single:
I have a number of very close friends who are [single and] celibate, which inevitably entails some degree of loneliness, grief and suffering. They have chosen to forestall some happiness, in the short-term at least. The false promise of Valentine’s Day—that life begins and ends with finding your romantic “soulmate” —is radically rejected by my friends’ decision to embrace celibacy. And yet, it’s not all doom and gloom and solitary sadness for them, because their choice is born of love and conviction, and though there are days of very real sorrow and pain, they also experience profound joy. Through both suffering and joy, my friends witness to the wonder and glory of friendship with God and also to the friendship and love of a community.
Conclusion
Though we might be tempted to think that the center of the Christian life involves our efforts to preach the gospel, to have an ideal church, family, marriage, or life, Jesus’ words here in John 15 about the vine and branches help us realize that the center of the Christian life—the center of our life as a follower of Jesus—is our relationship with our Lord, which involves obeying his command to abide in him.
Note that Jesus’ command to us is not to bear fruit. Jesus says that when we obey his command to abide in him, fruit will result. The fruit that will come will be his fruit borne in us as we abide in him. By trusting in, staying in living communion with Jesus, remaining in his word, following his lead, and obeying out of that relationship in trust and love, fruit will result.
What wonderful news—Jesus has made us his own! We are and are becoming his beloved, holy children of our Father. He has made it so we can respond and receive—so that we can have communion with him, which is our sharing in the communion he has with the Father in the Spirit. Through that sharing we enjoy, again and again, the growing freedom of being the children of God that we are. Amen. | mini_pile | {'original_id': 'fd101a49faa678389acbca1756d886c3047776f0643f26db59fcb1330dbf150a'} |
1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for decolorization of reactive anthraquinone dye-containing wastewater using photocatalytic oxidation. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for decolorization of reactive anthraquinone dye-containing wastewater using photocatalytic oxidation, which include inducing high-efficiency photocatalytic oxidation under a controlled salt concentration and pH of wastewater to perform effective decolorization of reactive anthraquinone dye-containing wastewater.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fiber dyeing industry is so-called highly industrial water-consuming industry requiring industrial water for substantially all of the processing operations, and thus is characterized by discharge of a large amount of water contaminants. Particularly, wastewater from fiber dyeing industry has a dark color due to the remaining dye discharged from a dyeing process, and thus incurs the enmity of the people in terms of aesthetics. Moreover, it is reported in the field of water science that such wastewater interrupts the sunlight, thereby adversely affecting the growth of aquatic plants. Therefore, there is a need for developing eco-friendly highly efficient technology of decolorizing wastewater discharged from a dyeing process.
Reactive dyes have been used most frequently all over the word, due to the production of high-quality fibers and various demands, and thus are in a rapid increase in use. In addition, since reactive dyes have diverse and clear colors and are handled with ease, they are one of the dyes used widely in recent textile industries. Among such reactive dyes, reactive anthraquinone dyes come close to azo dyes in use and are increasingly in demand.
It is known that reactive anthraquinone dyes are materials having a relatively high molecular weight (500-1000 g/mol), and have high solubility so that they are hardly removed by adsorption. It is also known that reactive anthraquinone dyes are hardly degradable materials so that they are not amenable to decolorization using a typical sewage treatment process (e.g. active sludge process). In the case of wastewater containing such reactive dyes, the dyes used for a dyeing process are not adhered to fibers but discharged in an amount as high as about 50% thereof, resulting in a dark colored wastewater. For this reason, it is the most severe environmental problem to decolorize reactive anthraquinone dye-containing wastewater in which the residual salt is still present at a high concentration. Therefore, in order to meet stringent environmental regulation, there is an imminent need for more special and cost-efficient technologies as compared to currently available wastewater treatment technologies in the field of textile industries.
Meanwhile, many studies have been conducted about decomposition of toxic and hardly degradable materials through photocatalytic oxidation. As processes for treating dye-containing textile wastewaters through oxidation, Korean Patent Application Publication Nos. 2001-91796, 2003-77865 and 2004-84586, and US Patent Application Publication No. 2005-115004 disclose oxidation processes using fenton reagents, plasma, ozone, or the like. In addition, as processes for treating dye-containing textile wastewater through photocatalytic oxidation, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2001-8364 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-205100 disclose processes using fixed titanium dioxide as a typical photocatalyst, processes for increasing efficiency of dye-containing wastewater treatment as a function of titanium dioxide sizes, or the like.
However, most studies reported heretofore about treatment of reactive anthraquinone dye-containing wastewater have focused on decolorization carried out after diluting highly concentrated wastewater to reduce the salt concentration to a low level. Therefore, such decolorization methods may not be practically applicable due to its low cost efficiency. | mini_pile | {'original_id': 'ddaff0c2eb1cb1c6f2a4f56e1585165de4e59769819c45e010c1299dc9c4b916'} |
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Friday, 4 September 2009
Salmond's referendum pledge is cost free politicking
Vernon Bogdanor’s survey of ‘The New British Constitution’ observes that most Scots voted for devolution, not because of any profound dissatisfaction with Westminster’s sovereignty, but for largely instrumental reasons.
Their calculation was that regional government might allow Scotland to flourish, economically and socially, with representation devoted exclusively to its affairs. It would be foolish not to acknowledge that, ten years later, Scots widely accept that the institutions at Holyrood have been successful in this regard.
However, impetus towards wider devolved powers, or indeed eventual independence, is still essentially dependent on instrumental arguments. Although a minority mandate has allowed nationalists to form an executive at Holyrood, their emotional and separatist messages have not gained significant purchase. Instead, Alex Salmond has proved skilful at attuning nationalism’s tactics to voters’ instrumentalist concerns and pursuing his wider aim of independence by increment and even by stealth.
Brian Taylor might describe the SNP leader’s smile, returning slowly after his Islamist linked party squirmed off the hook, despite its release of the Lockerbie bomber. But Nick Robinson believes that it is a smirk which Salmond wears, and that seems to me the more appropriate metaphor for its bearer’s political wiles.
The Scottish Executive has announced, in its programme for government, an intention to hold a referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future, next year. The unionist parties are, of course, correct when they deride this idea as an unnecessary distraction, which would divert resources from the important task of tackling recession. But it is entirely in tune with Salmond’s attempts to promote nationalism by sophistry and gimmickry.
When the SNP is denied its referendum, it will portray unionist parties scared to submit the constitutional question to the wisdom of the Scottish electorate. It will also present a three option referendum, couched in nationalist terminology about ‘greater independence’, as a concession to the Calman Commission’s findings.
Taylor has noted that Labour’s ‘bring it on’ rhetoric (which contributed towards the departure of its last leader in Scotland) has dissipated. But there is still an argument that the best means to wrong foot nationalists is to fight a referendum and win. This would entail making its safe passage through parliament dependent on a clear, concise and honest question being put before voters.
‘Do you favour Scotland remaining part of the United Kingdom? Yes / No.’
Such a plebiscite would deliver a clear mandate for continued Scottish participation in the United Kingdom and deliver an early body blow to the nationalists’ ambitions. Otherwise the SNP will merely continue to chisel away at the UK’s constitutional integrity by stealth.
The difficulty is that a referendum REALLY WOULD comprise an expensive distraction, into which precious time and resources would have to pour. In order to provide enough votes to secure a poll, at least one unionist party would need to be complicit in the SNP’s irresponsibility. That is before we consider whether any of the three national parties would really relish coalescing behind a pro-Union ‘Yes’ campaign during a general election year. It hardly seems likely.
Therefore Alex Salmond could well afford a smirk, as he announced another cost free piece of politicking achieved at the expense of providing responsible administration in Scotland.
1 comment:
Alec said...
>> returning slowly after his Islamist linked party squirmed off the hook,
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Q:
Android - API key for GoogleMaps API V2 for release
I have trouble with GoogleAPI in my app. I use Google Maps and Places - both needs API key. Everything works fine, until I upload my signed app to Google Play. From what I know and from what I read so far, the API key has to have the same fingerprint as my signed app to work properly from app downloaded from GP. So I created a new API key, add two fingerprints with package name to this key. First with fingerprint from debug.keystore and second from fingerprint from my keystore which I'm using for singning app when I do release build (I'm using android studio ->generate signed apk). This way I assumed that this will work for debug and release, but it work only for debug.
To be sure that fingerprint of my app is the same as I have under Google API key I have implemented method which extract fingreprint of my app on runtime. They are match - when I do debug release I see fingerpring "A", when I do it for release I see "B" and I have both of then are the same as fingerprints which I have under API key (section Restrict usage to your Android apps). Note that package name is also correct.
Summary I don't know what I'm missing, or why this is not working when fingerprints are matched - result after release build is that Places api indicates KEY_INVALID and maps is gray, without titles.
A:
My mistake... (hopefully) I had another resource file for release with invalid key. So everytime when I sign the app, invalid key was used, I was not able to see it from android studio project explorer and find usages of that value returns 1 occurence, but there were two resources :)
| mini_pile | {'original_id': '7b32b05238c864b129da9f1f2f5ca3fddf6ce52d3246a99272f21be1876d9229'} |
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