[HCRA] Shawn O'Donnell <k3hi@arrl.net>: QST--Massachusetts legislation alert

[Dennis A Malone]

--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: Shawn O'Donnell <k3hi at arrl.net>
To: Dennis A Malone <wb1ehd-3 at juno.com>
Subject: QST--Massachusetts legislation alert
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:21:06 -0400
Message-ID: <p0610056dbd08a68dc8a5@[192.168.1.100]>
References: <721D3436A7C2B344A301FD4A413C71A903C5CFCA at kosh.arrlhq.org>


Dennis--

Here's a message I'm distributing around Massachusetts.  It has a 
little more information than I had yesterday, plus links to more 
details.

--Shawn



Legislation Alert:

Cell phone ban provision passes in Massachusetts Senate Committee

On Monday, June 28, the Senate Long-Term Debt and Capital 
Expenditures Committee passed a transportation bond bill, H4771, that 
includes a provision to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while 
driving.  This bill does not appear to be a direct threat to mobile 
amateur operation, but we should keep an eye on the bill to make sure 
it isn't amended to make things worse.

The bill bans the use of hand-held cell phones, only.  Cell phone use 
with a headset will still be legal, and the bill says nothing about 
two-way radio systems.

Last year, several House committees approved a cell phone ban in bill 
H3919, but that bill has been stuck in the House Ways & Means 
committee since last July.

H4771 now goes to the Senate Ways & Means Committee for review.  This 
bill originated in the House and is undergoing review in the Senate, 
so it is still a few steps away from becoming law.  See the "Ham's 
guide to legislation" at 
http://www.userstudy.com/ARRL/Guide_to_MA_legislation.pdf  We're 
currently in the "Three readings" stage in the Senate, in the middle 
row of the diagram.

The cell phone ban, along with a primary-enforcement seat belt law, 
were attached to a finance bill by the Long Term Debt committee. 
Given the controversial nature of the seat belt and cell phone laws, 
it is possible that either or both provisions will be eliminated from 
the bill as it passes through other committees.  Also, the House will 
have to approve the amendments, since it passed a different version 
of the bill. 

The provision attached to H4771 uses the same language as H3919 
(typos and all,) minus the passage in H3919 that would have made it 
illegal for junior drivers to use any type of cell phone.

For more information, including text of the bill and tips on 
contacting your representatives on Beacon Hill, visit 
http://ema.arrl.org/sgl/

73,

Shawn O'Donnell K3HI
ARRL EMASS State Government Liaison
k3hi at arrl.net
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