Guest guest Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 From: Dosick Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 3:36 PM Subject: Action Alert - CRITICAL opportunity to stop Judge Rotenberg Center!!!†Greetings fellow advocates (and apologies for potential duplication): For all concerned with the issue of the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Massachusetts (school in Canton for children using/abusing electric shock " aversive " 'treatment'): This is a CRITICAL moment in the effort to stop JRC from continuing to use cruel and inhumane practices on young people, and YOUR help is needed - Time is OF THE ESSENCE! Recently, a budget amendment was passed at the State House which would stop the vast majority of these practices. Although this amendment isn’t a total ban on these practices, it severely restricts their use. Exemptions to the total ban would need State approval, be strictly regulated, and individualized. It stops the use of ‘aversives’ once annual court orders run out. Obviously, a total ban and closure of JRC is greatly preferable. However, without this amendment’s passage, nothing will change. Given the recent indictment of the Center’s founder, and public and political opinion turning against them, we are likely seeing the “beginning of the end†of JRC, and this amendment would greatly weaken and possibly end their authority to abuse and torture in the name of “treatment.†--------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE CURRENT SITUATION AND WHAT YOU CAN DO: During the Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12) State Budget process, a committee of State Senators put forth its recommendation for the State’s budget. (The House of Representatives put theirs out previously). The full Senate then debated this proposal, adding amendments which were approved or rejected to create the final Senate budget. During this debate, State Senator Joyce (D-Milton), a long-time opponent of JRC, filed an amendment which would restrict use of contingent shock and other aversive procedures in Massachusetts. This amendment was approved by the full Senate. The amendment faces a big hurtle, however. The next, and final major stage of the budget procedure is called the " Conference Committee. " The Conference Committee is made up of six legislators (three from the House and three from the Senate), and their main duty is to hash out the differences between House and Senate budgets. The Conference Committee must now decide which parts of each budget plan to approve for the final FY12 budget. In this case, we need to urge the Committee to choose the Senate’s recommendation – since the aversives (JRC) amendment was ONLY brought up in the Senate. Also, the most outspoken and powerful legislative supporter of JRC is a member of the House, and will likely fight hard against it. The fact that Senate President Murray is strongly opposed to the JRC has greatly helped, but the House hasn’t been as proactive on this issue. SINCE THE BUDGET MUST BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE MONTH, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHO TO CONTACT: Please call, email or write the six members of the Conference Committee (listed below); you can also contact your State Representative and Senator and urge him/her to contact the Chairs of the Conference Committee. In addition, contacting the Speaker of the House and the Senate President would help! (Their contact info is below as well). To find out who your legislators are, go to: http://www.malegislature.gov/People/FindMyLegislator or: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php Or, you can call the State House switchboard at (617) 722-2000 . --------------------------------------------------- WHAT TO SAY: Urge the Committee members to vote for the Redrafted Senate Amendment #EHS 472.1, " Further Regulating Treatment of Disabled Persons, " filed by Senator Joyce, for the final Conference Committee budget. (If emailing or calling Sen. President Murray, thank her for her ongoing support). When contacting your local Rep and/or Senator, be sure to mention that you are a constituent, and ask them to contact the Conference Committee Chairs. --------------------------------------------------- CONTACT INFORMATION: MASSACHUSETTS FY2012 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: HOUSE MEMBERS: Representative S. Dempsey (D-Haverhill) .Dempsey@... Representative Kulik (D-Worthington) .Kulik@... Representative Viriato M. deMacedo (R-Plymouth) Vinny.deMacedo@... SENATE MEMBERS: Senator M. Brewer (D-Barre) .Brewer@... Senator A. Baddour (D-Methuen) .Baddour@... Senator R. Knapik (R-Westfield) .Knapik@... ------------------------------------------------ SPEAKER OF THE MASS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Speaker of the House A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) .DeLeo@... PRESIDENT OF THE MASS. SENATE: Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) Therese.Murray@... * Sen. President Murray has been a dedicated supporter of the ban on aversives; please thank her! ------------------------------------------------ All can be written at: The Honorable ___________ The State House Boston MA 02133 ------------------------------------------------ Apologies for the lengthy email...It’s challenging to summarize this situation easily! THANK YOU for your efforts to promote justice for ALL human beings – justice that is long in coming, and finally within reach. Dosick Southborough, Massachusetts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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