The Senate is finalizing its budget and we have the latest updates below. After that it is on to a conference committee to settle discrepancies between the House and Senate. Here is a breakdown of where things currently stand (updated to reflect the latest Senate budget debate):
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC)
- Request: $27,000,000
- Governor’s Budget: $17,170,000
- House Ways and Means Budget: $18,000,000
- House Final Budget: $18,500,000
- Senate Ways and Means Budget: $17,000,000
- Senate Final: $18,000,000
The Senate adopted a $1 million amendment (#1000) co-sponsored by Senators Creem and Brownsberger during its budget debate. MLAC funding will now be debated in Conference, where we hope the House number of $18,500,000 will be adopted.
Trial Court
- Request: $654,374,856 + Modules
- Governor’s Budget: $638,606,000
- House Ways and Means Budget: $639,900,000 (including Specialty Courts module)
- House Final Budget: $639,900,000 (including Specialty Courts module)
- Senate Ways and Means Budget: $643,484,303
- Senate Final Budget: $643,484,303
We were pleased to see that the Senate budget proposal is roughly $3.5 million higher than the proposed House appropriation. We were also pleased to see that it included language and funding for statewide expansion of the Housing Court (more on that below).
However, we were disappointed that the Specialty Court module, funded by the House, was left out of the Senate’s budget plan. We were proud to recognize the remarkable work of the Specialty Courts at last week’s Law Day Dinner, and the $2.8 million Specialty Courts module would allow for their expansion statewide, giving access to justice for some of the most vulnerable populations and helping to treat issues underlying criminal behavior, such as homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health or veterans issues with support and dignity in order to curb recidivism. We hope that the final budget can include adequate funding for the Trial Court as well as funding for statewide expansion of both the Housing and Specialty Courts.
Statewide Housing Court Expansion
- Request: $2,400,000
- Governor’s Budget: $1,000,000
- House Ways and Means Budget: $0
- House Final Budget: $0
- Senate Ways and Means Budget: $1,194,614
- Senate Final Budget: $1,194,614
The BBA has been advocating for the statewide expansion of Housing Court for the last year. Housing Court has statutory jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases which involve the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants or owners of residential housing, as well as code enforcement cases. One of its greatest strength is that its judges are experienced in these issues and best able to address the complexities and nuances of each case.
The total cost to the state for the expansion is estimated to be roughly $2.4 million per year. The Governor’s budget included $1 million for Specialty Court, enough to get it started and operational for 6 months, but the House did not follow his lead, leaving this measure out of its budget entirely. We were pleased to see that the Senate provided similar language and funding to the Governor’s proposal, and we hope that this will remain in the final state budget and be included in the final budget.
We look forward to keeping you updated on the latest budget developments and, as always, urge you to make your voice heard at the State House.
– Jonathan Schreiber
Legislative and Public Policy Manager
Boston Bar Association
