Massachusetts EMF Bills 2017-2018

The following two documents provide background information for our public servants, journalists and the public on the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of radiation emitted by all of today's wireless technology:

Cece Doucette introduced the first EMF commission bill in 2015-16 as S. 1222. With great thanks to the experts and citizens who sent in testimony, the bill was advanced out of the Joint Committee on Public Health and went to the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance where it died. We were congratulated on advancing the bill as that almost never happens in Massachusetts the first time a bill is introduced, especially if it comes in under a citizen's name instead of being directly sponsored by a legislator.

Acknowledging the public record of facts we created, Senator Karen Spilka reintroduced the bill this next session under her own name as a Senate Resolve to form a commission, investigate, and address the issue. See the history of S. 1268 below.

In the 2017-18 legislative session, Massachusetts initially introduced seven bills to address wireless radiation and public health, to protect children in schools, to protect children from hand-held devices, to label toxic products, to provide point of purchase notifications, to offer utility "smart" meter opt-out, to train the medical community and to provide health insurance for microwave illnesses.

Concerned citizens, scientists, doctors and technologists from around the world once again submitted testimony to help educate legislators on the risks and alternate technology solutions.

Five of the seven bills were then reported out of committee favorably and two were sent to study.

When the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure investigated wireless radiation, they introduced an eighth bill of their own.

The new bill was Resolve S. 2431 to form a commission to bring scientists, doctors, industry and key public servants to the table to address EMFs. A template was made available to download and send in a statement of support.

Reporting of Specific Bills

Joint Committee on Public Health

S.1268 Resolve creating a special commission to examine the health impacts of electromagnetic fields will look at non-industry-funded science and recommend public protections. Sponsored by Senator Karen E. Spilka. This bill was reported out of committee favorably on February 7, 2018, was referred to the Joint Committee on Rules, and was then discharged to the Senate Committee on Rules which failed to act and the bill expired on December 31, 2018. Click here for bill updates.
H.2030 An Act relative to best management practices for wireless in schools and public institutions of higher education requires the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish technology standards to protect the health and safety of public school students and staff. Sponsored by Representative Carolyn C. Dykema and originally referred to the Joint Committee on Education. After public hearing on September 5, 2017 this bill was discharged to the Joint Committee on Public Health, which reported it out favorably on February 7, 2018. It was then assigned to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing which asked for a reporting extension to May 16, 2018 but then sent the bill to study. Click here for bill updates.
- Please note, Maryland had a similar bill in their legislature this session too, House Bill HB1110: Public Schools - Health and Safety Guidelines and Procedures - Digital Devices.
- The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is the first state agency in the United States to issue a report on Wi-Fi in Schools, and recommends using hard-wired internet connections over wireless:
- http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OEHFP/EH/Pages/WiFiCEHPAC.aspx
S.2079 An Act reducing non-ionizing radiation exposure in schools. Introduced for a constituent by Senator Donald F. Humason, Jr., and originally referred to the Joint Committee on Education. After public hearing on September 5, 2017 the bill was discharged to the Joint Committee on Public Health which sent it to study on February 7, 2018. Click here for updates.
Note: Representative David Linsky also introduced another bill addressing extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields from power lines after a cancer cluster developed near residential power lines in his district. H. 1192 An Act relative to a special commission to study electric and magnetic fields was also reported out favorably and assigned to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, which then reported it out favorably. It was assigned to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which failed to act and the bill expired on December 31, 2018. Click here for bill updates.

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

S.107 An Act relative to disclosure of radiofrequency notifications requires manufacturer warnings be prominently displayed on product packaging of wireless radiation-emitting devices. Sponsored by Senator Julian Cyr.
S.108 An Act relative to the safe use of handheld devices by children requires specific language be included on product packaging, as modeled by an ordinance unanimously passed in Berkeley, California. Also sponsored by Senator Julian Cyr.
- On February 7, 2018 the committee filed an extension to April 9, 2018, examined the issue and reported the bill out of committee favorably with changes.
- The committee incorporated Senator Cyr's bills into a new bill called Resolve S. 2431 to form a commission to bring scientists, doctors, industry and key public servants to the table to address EMFs. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means which failed to act and the bill expired on December 31, 2018.

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

S.1864 An Act relative to utilities, smart meters, and ratepayers’ rights gives utility customers the no-fee choice of retaining analog water, gas and electrical meters and refusing installation of “smart” utility meters which emit radiation 24x7. Sponsored by Senator Michael O. Moore. The committee sent this bill to study on February 7, 2018. Click here for updates.

Joint Committee on Financial Services

S.2080 An Act increasing medical awareness and insurance coverage of non-ionizing radiation injury and reliance upon credible independent medical research. Introduced for a constituent by Senator Donald F. Humason, Jr. The committee sent this bill to study on February 7, 2018. Click here for updates.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

For those who remember School House Rock, you may appreciate this three-minute refresher on how a bill becomes a law at the federal level which is not too different from the state level:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0

The following indicates how a bill becomes a law in Massachusetts; other states will have their own processes on file:

https://malegislature.gov/Content/Documents/HowAnIdeaBecomesLaw/HowAnIdeaBecomesLaw.pdf

Several EMF bills cleared the longest step, "Committee Report Directs the Measure’s Path - Rejection or on to First Reading and Secondary Committee".

Note: The information provided here is publicly available on the Internet.

It is intended to provide a starting point to inform you of EMF dangers.

Please do your own research, draw your own conclusions, and act accordingly to protect those you love.

http://tinyurl.com/Understanding-EMFs