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ballotQuestions/2024/23-12.yaml

@@ -10,22 +10,69 @@ ballotQuestionNumber: 5
 relatedBillIds: []
 description: null
 atAGlance: null
-fullSummary: |-
+voteEffectYes: "A YES VOTE would increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker to the full state minimum wage implemented over five years, at which point employers could pool all tips and distribute them to all non-management workers."
+voteEffectNo: "A NO VOTE would make no change in the law governing tip pooling or the minimum wage for tipped workers. "
+fiscalConsequences: "There are no direct fiscal consequences on the Commonwealth or municipalities because they generally do not employ tipped employees. Nevertheless, this measure will affect proposed state and municipal revenues and expenditures due to impacts on employee and business income and earnings. While those impacts are difficult to project due to the lack of reliable data, increasing the minimum hourly wage of tipped employees will likely increase state income tax collections because employees will earn more in hourly wages from which state income tax is withheld. The impacts on gratuity earnings and gratuity tax reporting are unknown."
+inFavor: |-
+  Vote Yes for FAIRNESS. It’s fair for Workers: Instead of being paid the
+  current tipped worker wage of just $6.75 an hour, Massachusetts tipped workers
+  deserve the full minimum wage with tips on top. Workers in 7 other states earn
+  a full wage plus tips, and they enjoy robust tips and growing restaurants where
+  menu prices are comparable to Massachusetts. This law would create greater
+  financial stability and predictability, acknowledging workers’ skills and
+  professionalism. It’s fair for Employers: Many Massachusetts small businesses
+  are already paying the full minimum wage plus tips. Big restaurant
+  corporations should do the same. This would reduce employee turnover and
+  improve service quality. It’s fair for Consumers: Big restaurant corporations
+  are not paying their fair share and are forcing consumers to cover their
+  employees’ wages through tips. Tips should be a reward for good service, not a
+  subsidy for low wages paid by large corporations. Estefania Galvis One Fair
+  Wage 11 Converse Ave Malden, MA 02148 813-898-9136 www.yeson5ma.com
+supportCommittee: "One Fair Wage Plus Tips MA Committee 95513"
+opposeCommittee: "Committee to Protect Tips 95521"
+against: |-
+  This question is funded by a radical group from California. Tipped employees
+  have made it abundantly clear the way they earn money does not need to be
+  changed. State and Federal law guarantee them the $15 hourly minimum wage
+  with many earning over $40/hr and 90% reporting at least $20/hr. A recent
+  survey also showed that 88% oppose ‘tip pools’ where tips are shared with
+  non-service employees and 90% believe that if tipped wages are eliminated,
+  they will earn less. Other attempts to implement this have seen catastrophic
+  results. In Washington, D.C., nearly 10% of tipped employees have lost or
+  left their jobs. This follows increases in menu prices, the implementation of
+  20% ‘service fees’ and a wave of closures. This would reduce overall wages
+  for servers, increase costs for restaurants and skyrocket the cost of eating
+  out. It will be disastrous with many neighborhood restaurants being forced to
+  close. Doug Bacon Former Server and Bartender, Current Restaurant Owner
+  Committee to Protect Tips 160 E Main St # 2 Westborough, MA 01581
+  www.ProtectTips.org
+campaignFinancials:
+  support:
+    - cashRaised: 889526.25
+      spent: 889526.25
+      inKind: 1036954.37
+  oppose:
+    - cashRaised: 2518234.24
+      spent: 2518234.24
+      inKind: 658123.44
+fullSummary: >-
   This proposed law would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage an
-  employer must pay a tipped worker, over the course of five years, on the following
-  schedule: - To 64% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2025; - To 73% of
-  the state minimum wage on January 1, 2026; - To 82% of the state minimum wage
-  on January 1, 2027; - To 91% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2028; and
-  - To 100% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2029. The proposed law
-  would require employers to continue to pay tipped workers the difference between
-  the state minimum wage and the total amount a tipped worker receives in hourly
-  wages plus tips through the end of 2028. The proposed law would also permit
-  employers to calculate this difference over the entire weekly or bi-weekly payroll
-  period. The requirement to pay this difference would cease when the required
-  hourly wage for tipped workers would become 100% of the state minimum wage
-  on January 1, 2029. Under the proposed law, if an employer pays its workers an
-  hourly wage that is at least the state minimum wage, the employer would be
-  permitted to administer a “tip pool” that combines all the tips given by customers to
-  tipped workers and distributes them among all the workers, including non-tipped
-  workers.
+  employer must pay a tipped worker, over the course of five years, on the
+  following schedule:
+  • To 64% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2025;
+  • To 73% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2026;
+  • To 82% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2027;
+  • To 91% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2028; and
+  • To 100% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2029.
+  The proposed law would require employers to continue to pay tipped workers
+  the difference between the state minimum wage and the total amount a tipped
+  worker receives in hourly wages plus tips through the end of 2028. The
+  proposed law would also permit employers to calculate this difference over the
+  entire weekly or bi-weekly payroll period. The requirement to pay this
+  difference would cease when the required hourly wage for tipped workers would
+  become 100% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2029. Under the
+  proposed law, if an employer pays its workers an hourly wage that is at least
+  the state minimum wage, the employer would be permitted to administer a “tip
+  pool” that combines all the tips given by customers to tipped workers and
+  distributes them among all the workers, including non-tipped workers.
 pdfUrl: "https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4254.pdf"

ballotQuestions/2024/23-13.yaml

@@ -10,57 +10,95 @@ ballotQuestionNumber: 4
 relatedBillIds: []
 description: null
 atAGlance: null
-fullSummary: |-
-  This proposed law would allow persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess, and
-  use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances. The psychedelic
-  substances allowed would be two substances found in mushrooms (psilocybin and
-  psilocyn) and three substances found in plants (dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and
-  ibogaine). These substances could be purchased at an approved location for use under the
-  supervision of a licensed facilitator. This proposed law would otherwise prohibit any retail
-  sale of natural psychedelic substances. This proposed law would also provide for the
+voteEffectYes: "A YES VOTE would allow persons over age 21 to use certain natural psychedelic substances under licensed supervision and to grow and possess limited quantities of those substances in their home, and would create a commission to regulate those substances."
+voteEffectNo: "A NO VOTE would make no change in the law regarding natural psychedelic substances."
+fiscalConsequences: "This measure would establish a 15% state excise tax for the sale of natural psychedelic substances, which would be available for spending from a dedicated fund; however, the revenue generating impact is unknown due to the lack of data for the new market being proposed. This measure would also allow for a local tax option that could generate local sales tax revenue. This measure would also create an oversight commission that would require dedicated resources to execute its duties and responsibilities. The costs of establishing and operating the commission would need to be developed and would be subject to appropriation."
+inFavor: |-
+  Vote YES on 4 to provide safe, regulated access to promising natural
+  psychedelic medicines for treatment-resistant PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
+  Psychedelics will be available in approved therapeutic settings under the
+  supervision of trained and licensed facilitators, NOT sold in stores to take
+  home.
+supportCommittee: "Massachusetts for Mental Health Options 95505"
+opposeCommittee: "Coalition for Safe Communities 95522"
+against: |-
+  MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, VETERANS, AND RECOVERY GROUPS URGE
+  NO ON QUESTION 4. Research from leading medical institutions including Mass
+  General Brigham, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Johns Hopkins shows that
+  psychedelic medicines can be effective treatments for depression and anxiety.
+  In fact, the FDA recently granted psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy”
+  designation. For many people who are suffering, daily medications and other
+  standard treatments aren’t working. Over 6,000 veterans die by suicide
+  annually, and countless more struggle from service-related trauma. Natural
+  psychedelic medicine can also offer patients with a terminal diagnosis relief
+  from end-of-life anxiety and help them find peace. That’s why question 4 is
+  supported by doctors, mental health providers, and veteran advocates. Vote YES
+  to expand mental health options. Lieutenant Sarko Gergerian, Mental Health
+  Counselor (MHC) Massachusetts for Mental Health Options 14 Sullivan Street
+  Boston, MA 02129 781-205-9737 https://maformentalhealth.org
+campaignFinancials:
+  support:
+    - cashRaised: 7752198.94
+      spent: 7752198.94
+      inKind: 1246724.32
+  oppose:
+    - cashRaised: 137072.5
+      spent: 129158.9
+      inKind: 0
+fullSummary: >-
+  This proposed law would allow persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess,
+  and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances. The
+  psychedelic substances allowed would be two substances found in mushrooms
+  (psilocybin and psilocyn) and three substances found in plants
+  (dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and ibogaine). These substances could be
+  purchased at an approved location for use under the supervision of a licensed
+  facilitator. This proposed law would otherwise prohibit any retail sale of
+  natural psychedelic substances. This proposed law would also provide for the
   regulation and taxation of these psychedelic substances.
-
-  This proposed law would license and regulate facilities offering supervised use of
-  these psychedelic substances and provide for the taxation of proceeds from those facilities’
-  sales of psychedelic substances. It would also allow persons aged 21 and older to grow
-  these psychedelic substances in a 12-foot by 12-foot area at their home and use these
-  psychedelic substances at their home. This proposed law would authorize persons aged 21
-  or older to possess up to one gram of psilocybin, one gram of psilocyn, one gram of
-  dimethyltryptamine, 18 grams of mescaline, and 30 grams of ibogaine (“personal use
-  amount”), in addition to whatever they might grow at their home, and to give away up to
-  the personal use amount to a person aged 21 or over.
-
-  This proposed law would create a Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission of
-  five members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer which would
-  administer the law governing the use and distribution of these psychedelic substances. The
-  Commission would adopt regulations governing licensing qualifications, security,
-  recordkeeping, education and training, health and safety requirements, testing, and age
-  verification. This proposed law would also create a Natural Psychedelic Substances
-  Advisory Board of 20 members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and
-  Treasurer which would study and make recommendations to the Commission on the
-  regulation and taxation of these psychedelic substances.
-
-  This proposed law would allow cities and towns to reasonably restrict the time,
-  place, and manner of the operation of licensed facilities offering psychedelic substances,
-  but cities and towns could not ban those facilities or their provision of these substances.
+  This proposed law would license and regulate facilities offering supervised use
+  of these psychedelic substances and provide for the taxation of proceeds from
+  those facilities’ sales of psychedelic substances. It would also allow persons
+  aged 21 and older to grow these psychedelic substances in a 12-foot by
+  12-foot area at their home and use these psychedelic substances at their
+  home. This proposed law would authorize persons aged 21 or older to possess
+  up to one gram of psilocybin, one gram of psilocyn, one gram of
+  dimethyltryptamine, 18 grams of mescaline, and 30 grams of ibogaine
+  (“personal use amount”), in addition to whatever they might grow at their
+  home, and to give away up to the personal use amount to a person aged 21 or
+  over.
+  This proposed law would create a Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission
+  of five members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer
+  which would administer the law governing the use and distribution of these
+  psychedelic substances. The Commission would adopt regulations governing
+  licensing qualifications, security, recordkeeping, education and training,
+  health and safety requirements, testing, and age verification. This proposed
+  law would also create a Natural Psychedelic Substances Advisory Board of 20
+  members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer which
+  would study and make recommendations to the Commission on the regulation
+  and taxation of these psychedelic substances.
+  This proposed law would allow cities and towns to reasonably restrict the
+  time, place, and manner of the operation of licensed facilities offering
+  psychedelic substances, but cities and towns could not ban those facilities or
+  their provision of these substances.
   The proceeds of sales of psychedelic substances at licensed facilities would be
-  subject to the state sales tax and an additional excise tax of 15 percent. In addition, a city or
-  town could impose a separate tax of up to two percent. Revenue received from the
-  additional state excise tax, license application fees, and civil penalties for violations of this
-  proposed law would be deposited in a Natural Psychedelic Substances Regulation Fund
-  and would be used, subject to appropriation, for administration of this proposed law.
-  Using the psychedelic substances as permitted by this proposed law could not be a
-  basis to deny a person medical care or public assistance, impose discipline by a
-  professional licensing board, or enter adverse orders in child custody cases absent clear
-  and convincing evidence that the activities created an unreasonable danger to the safety of
-  a minor child.
-
-  This proposed law would not affect existing laws regarding the operation of motor
-  vehicles while under the influence, or the ability of employers to enforce workplace
-  policies restricting the consumption of these psychedelic substances by employees. This
-  proposed law would allow property owners to prohibit the use, display, growing,
-  processing, or sale of these psychedelic substances on their premises. State and local governments could continue to restrict the possession and use of these psychedelic
-  substances in public buildings or at schools.
-
-  This proposed law would take effect on December 15, 2024
+  subject to the state sales tax and an additional excise tax of 15 percent. In
+  addition, a city or town could impose a separate tax of up to two percent.
+  Revenue received from the additional state excise tax, license application
+  fees, and civil penalties for violations of this proposed law would be deposited
+  in a Natural Psychedelic Substances Regulation Fund and would be used,
+  subject to appropriation, for administration of this proposed law.
+  Using the psychedelic substances as permitted by this proposed law could not
+  be a basis to deny a person medical care or public assistance, impose
+  discipline by a professional licensing board, or enter adverse orders in child
+  custody cases absent clear and convincing evidence that the activities created
+  an unreasonable danger to the safety of a minor child.
+  This proposed law would not affect existing laws regarding the operation of
+  motor vehicles while under the influence, or the ability of employers to
+  enforce workplace policies restricting the consumption of these psychedelic
+  substances by employees. This proposed law would allow property owners to
+  prohibit the use, display, growing, processing, or sale of these psychedelic
+  substances on their premises. State and local governments could continue to
+  restrict the possession and use of these psychedelic substances in public
+  buildings or at schools.
+  This proposed law would take effect on December 15, 2024.
 pdfUrl: "https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4255.pdf"