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For Immediate Release: October, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643

SENATOR JOYCE TO HOLD BRAINTREE OFFICE HOURS
ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Senator Brian A. Joyce is pleased to announce that he will hold office hours in Braintree on Friday, September 10th from 11 to 12 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Chambers of Braintree Town Hall.

“I encourage all interested constituents to attend my district office hours,” said Senator Joyce. “This is an opportunity for me to listen to the concerns of the people of Braintree, and hopefully provide some guidance and solutions.”
Braintree Town Hall is located at 1 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Drive. As always, individuals with questions or concerns are encouraged to call Senator Joyce’s State House office at (617) 722-1643, or his home at (617) 696-0200 day or night. The Senator can also be reached by email at [email protected].

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For Immediate Release: July 24, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643

SENATOR JOYCE ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM
Would increase Braintree Funding by $739,308

School districts in Massachusetts would gain valuable additional education assistance under a plan passed this week by the Senate.

The legislation seeks to address current inequities in the state’s education funding formula and will mean thousands of extra dollars for communities across the state.

“Many towns have suffered for some time under a formula that has shortchanged their school districts,” said Senator Brian A. Joyce. “This plan seeks to iron out these inequities and deliver additional assistance to school district across the Commonwealth who are in dire need of added financial resources.”

Specifically, the proposed formula change will mean an additional $739,308 for Braintree in FY06, with further increases each year for the following six years totaling millions of dollars.

Under the bill, Chapter 70 education aid will increase by $150 to $175 million a year, while helping reduce disparities in aid to and local contributions required of similar communities and encouraging professional growth among teachers and administrators.

To cope with the rising costs of health care, special education, and other expenses while attracting and retaining good teachers, maintaining small class sizes and expanding opportunities for students, all districts would see aid grow by at least $50 per pupil.

The legislation has been sent to the House of Representatives for action.

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For Immediate Release: May 3, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643

BRAINTREE’S RECYCLING EFFORTS AWARDED GRANT
Senator Brian A. Joyce along with Senator Michael Morrissey and Representative Joseph Driscoll are pleased to announce that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded the Town of Braintree with a
Municipal Recycling Grant to help fund their recycling efforts.

The Municipal Recycling Grant provides towns across the Commonwealth with resources for recycling equipment, household hazardous waste equipment, educational materials, and technical assistance. The Town of Braintree will be receiving “postage only” consumer education grant.

This grant will play a critical role in making both Braintree and Massachusetts a recycling community and Commonwealth that promotes consumer awareness of recycling, composting and hazardous waste collection programs.

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For Immediate Release: April 22, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643

EDUCATION REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR SENATOR JOYCE LEGISLATURE PLANS LEVEL FUNDING FOR LOCAL AID, FUNDING INCREASES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
“With this budget we are preserving our investment in our students and schools,” said Senator Brian A. Joyce this week, announcing that a Senate and House budget resolution for the next fiscal year will be boosted by $75 million for local aid, to more than $3.1 billion.

The Legislature’s plan also commits to an $80 million increase in Special Education Circuit Breaker funding – reimbursing communities approximately 65 percent compared to last year’s 35 percent reimbursement rate, and the plan increases Regional School Transportation by $11.6 million over last year’s funding level.

“We are at risk of having our economic downturn back the progress we’ve made in our schools but the Legislature has made the choice to preserve and reinforce our commitment to classrooms,” said Senator Joyce.

Senator Joyce noted that the proposed figures for education will preserve funding for Braintree at $4,655,171 in FY05.

Senator Joyce expects that education will continue to be a top priority in the FY05 budget and reiterated his commitment to “investing in our schools so that the progress we have made in improving public education can be maintained and ensure our students of a bright future while at the same time continue our efforts to keep pressure off local property taxpayers.”

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For Immediate Release: April 28, 2002
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643

EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

Senators Brian A. Joyce and Michael Morrissey are pleased to announce that Braintree East Middle School has been awarded the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Environmental Education from Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA).

The East Middle School was selected based on their impressive environmental program, particularly their Biodiversity project.

“Learning about nature is an integral part of understanding the importance of preserving our environment,” Senator Joyce said. “I commend the students of the East Middle School for their work on behalf of the environment.”

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For Immediate Release: October 31, 2002
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643

COMMUNITY CHOICE’ PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED
Enhanced home care option now available to seniors

Senator Brian A. Joyce is pleased to announce that the state has launched a $3.9 million pilot program which will allow seniors to choose community based services over institutionalized care.

The Community Choices pilot program, modeled after Senator Joyce’s Equal Choice bill, was secured by the senator in the state budget and is designed to remedy the gross disparity in Medicaid aid between individuals who choose to receive care at home, and those who seek care in an institution.

“The current structure of Medicaid reimbursement leaves many seniors with no real choice other than institutionalization. It is small wonder, then, that more than 80 percent of our long-term care spending goes towards institutionalized care.

“The reality is that this pilot program is not only the fiscally responsible thing to do, but it also provides a fair and compassionate solution to those who find themselves no longer able to care for themselves,” said Senator Joyce.

Under the program, integrated health care services are provided at home to persons whose health care costs would be at least 50 percent below the cost of care they would otherwise receive in an institution under the state’s Medicaid long-term care waiver. Institutional care is far more costly than care provided at home. Medicaid currently pays $51,516 per person for nursing home care.

“This program will guarantee that seniors will receive care in the least restrictive setting. It ends discrimination against persons with disabilities by providing home care as an alternative to institutional care,” said Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care.

The program will be available to eligible seniors beginning November 1, 2002. For more information, please call your local Aging Service Access Point who can review your case for eligibility and provide you with the services that best meet your needs. In Braintree, Milton and Randolph, call Ed Flynn of South Shore Elder Services, Inc at 781-848-3910.

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