Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

On March 15, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that the state’s COVID-19 public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023, to align with the end of the federal public health emergency. Governor Healey will also file legislation that would extend key flexibilities provided by the public health emergency, particularly around staffing for the healthcare industry and emergency medical services. The Governor also announced that she plans to rescind Executive Order 595 which required all Executive Branch state employees to have received their primary series COVID-19 vaccines. 

Last State-Run Free COVID Testing Sites to Close

The state’s last 11 Stop the Spread sites in Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield, and Worcester are set to close by the end of March. The Stop the Spread program launched in July 2020 and has since provided more than 4.3 million PCR tests to residents across the state. The Department of Public Health acknowledged that large-scale, state-funded PCR testing is no longer the best use of resources due to a drop in demand for the sites. Instead, officials recommend that people continue to use access rapid at-home antigen tests, as well as PCR tests as needed, at retail pharmacies, urgent care facilities, and primary care settings. Additionally, every household is eligible to order four free at-home COVID tests through the federal government. 

DPH Offering $75 Gift Cards at Family-Friendly COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics 

The Department of Public Health is providing free COVID-19 vaccination clinics. A $75 gift card will be offered to any Massachusetts resident (adult or child) who gets vaccinated (first dose, second dose, or booster) at any of the clinics listed here until March 31, 2023. Additional options are available through the vaxfinder. If your child cannot attend a community clinic, you can request in-home vaccination. Anyone age 6 months and older can get a COVID-19 vaccination or updated booster at these clinics, unless otherwise noted in the clinic schedule. You do not need an appointment, but some clinics may encourage pre-registration. Vaccination is free and you do not need an ID or health insurance. 

Tests are available in Albanian, Cape Verdean Creole, Hungarian, Kiswahili, Pashto, Turkish, Ukrainian

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is announcing learner’s permit exams for passenger car (Class D) and motorcycle (Class M) licenses are available in seven additional foreign languages beginning today, Monday, March 20. The exams are now offered in a total of 35 languages and now include Albanian, Cape Verdean Creole, Hungarian, Kiswahili, Pashto, Turkish, and Ukrainian.

“MassDOT is focused on equitably supporting all communities in Massachusetts,” said Transportation Secretary & CEO Gina Fiandaca. “This announcement demonstrates MassDOT’s continued focus on identifying ways in which customer service offerings can be improved to be more accessible, inclusive, equitable, and convenient for residents across the Commonwealth. I would like to thank the RMV staff, stakeholders, and others who worked collaboratively to translate these important materials to help ensure customers have tools and resources available to support their journeys to successfully secure learner’s permits.”

“The RMV is pleased to automate the learner’s permit in these seven new additional foreign languages,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “The change supports commonly requested languages, supports new residents from Afghanistan and Ukraine, and assists the established Cape Verdean community in Southeastern Massachusetts.”

Each Class D or M learner’s permit exam is comprised of a randomized set of 25 questions intended to gauge the applicant’s knowledge of roadway signage and rules of the road, the dangers and penalties related to the impaired operation, and specific topics about sharing the road with bicyclists and hands-free driving laws. Test questions are developed using the information found in the Massachusetts Driver’s Manual: https://www.mass.gov/doc/drivers-manual/download.

Appointments are required for all learner’s permit applications and can be made at Mass.Gov/RMV.

The learner’s permit is now available in the following 35 languages: Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cape Verdean Creole, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Kiswahili, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Additionally, the RMV is finishing development on an American Sign Language permit exam to be offered in RMV Service Centers this spring.

The RMV has completed the translation of two critical informational resource documents into 11 languages. These documents will help customers prepare for the Registry’s identification document requirements as well as provide details on the road test process to increase the likelihood that applicants arrive prepared for their test and with an understanding of the RMV applicant, sponsor, and vehicle requirements. The translated acceptable identification document checklist can be found on Mass.Gov/ID and the translated road test information document can be found on Mass.Gov/RoadTest.

National Grid announced today that Massachusetts residential electric customers who receive their electric supply, called Basic Service, from National Grid, can expect lower bills for the six-month period beginning May 1 based on a summer rate adjustment proposal filed today with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.

If approved, the monthly bill for a typical residential customer would be reduced by about 39%, or $115.39, from $297.22 to $181.83.

The average residential customer uses about 600 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month and will see their electric supply price per kWh decrease from approximately 33.89 cents/kWh to 14.12 cents/kWh. 

National Grid buys electricity on behalf of our customers from the wholesale power market and passes through those costs without any markup or profit, so customers pay what National Grid pays for that energy. National Grid moves from winter to summer rates every May 1, per our approved procurement schedule. Summer rates are traditionally lower than winter rates due to lower electricity prices driven, in part, by lower demand for natural gas.

National Grid published additional details here.

https://www.mass.gov/how-to/nonprofit-security-grant-program

FEDERAL GRANT. PLEASE NOTE THE TIGHT APPLICATION DEADLINE!

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides federal funds to assist nonprofit organizations that are at risk of a hate crime or terror attack.

We are pleased to announce the MSBA's (Massachusetts School Building Authority) 14th annual "My Ideal School" contest. The primary goal of the "My Ideal School" contest is to promote discussion among students and teachers as to how thoughtful design and construction of schools in Massachusetts supports student engagement and 21st century learning.

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women are excited to announce that we are hosting our first in-person Youth Leadership and Advocacy Summit on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST at Girls Inc: 125 Providence St, Worcester, MA 01604.

Registration is open for the Spring 2023 session of our Youth Service & Engagement Program (YSEP)! 

YSEP is a free, educational and volunteer program for students in grades 7-12. 

Registration for the 2023 Cadet Exam is now open and ends May 5, 2023

The 2023 Cadet Exam will be held on May 20, 2023

Cadet Program | Mass.gov

The MBTA is advising riders to plan for additional travel time and longer headways on the Red, Orange, Blue, Green, and Mattapan Lines this week as MBTA engineers continue to perform repair validations and speed verifications following a Department of Public Utilities (DPU) site visit last week. Riders are encouraged to use the T’s Trip Planner tool at mbta.com/trip-planner for a list of travel options, including bus routes that run parallel to subway service.

the team at the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is working hard to recruit lifeguards and pool and waterfront supervisors for the 2023 summer season.