“Every year, thousands of workers in the Commonwealth receive training to make themselves and their work environments safer,” Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said.
星期二, 12月 20, 2016
AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS WITH SIX MAJOR RETAILERS TO STOP ON-CALL SHIFT SCHEDULING
AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS WITH SIX MAJOR RETAILERS TO STOP ON-CALL SHIFT SCHEDULING
Disney, Aeropostale, David’s Tea and Other Retailers Agree to Cease Burdensome Scheduling Practice Following Multistate Investigation
BOSTON – Continuing her efforts to protect vulnerable workers and their families, Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that six major national retailers that have locations in Massachusetts have agreed to stop using on-call shift scheduling following an inquiry by a multistate coalition of attorneys general.
An estimated 50,000 workers nationwide will benefit from the agreements to end the burdensome scheduling practice. Employees assigned to on-call shifts are typically required to contact their employer an hour or two before a scheduled shift to learn whether they must work the shift. Work is not guaranteed, and no wages are paid if a worker is not needed.
“On-call policies hurt low-wage workers who not only must line up daycare, elder care, or other arrangements with no guarantee of compensation, but also must pass up other opportunities to cover a shift or risk losing their job,” said AG Healey. “These policies are bad for workers and their families and we are pleased that these retailers have stopped using them.”
The six companies – Aeropostale, Carter’s, David’s Tea, Disney, PacSun, and Zumiez – were among 15 large retailers who received a joint inquiry letter from nine attorneys general in April of this year seeking information and documents related to their use of on-call shifts. Each of these 15 retailers has at least one store in Massachusetts, and collectively they have more than 150 stores in the state.
These six companies reported that they were using on-call shifts, but after discussions with the AGs’ Offices, all agreed to stop doing so, and none are currently using on-call shifts.
In addition to ending the use of on-call shifts, four of the companies – Carter’s, Disney, David’s Tea, and Zumiez – all committed to providing employees with their work schedules at least one week in advance of the start of the work week. This advance notice allows employees to plan ahead to cover child care and other obligations.
The six companies all found alternative staffing methods for addressing unanticipated employee absences or fluctuations in business volume. Typically, some kind of pool arrangement has been implemented in lieu of on-call shifts.
The collaboration among attorneys general stemmed from their collective concern about the impact of on-call shifts on employees and their families, as well as the national scope of the retail companies involved.
In April, AG Healey’s Office joined the other attorneys general in sending letters to 15 retailers, including American Eagle, Aeropostale, Payless, Disney, Coach, PacSun, Forever 21, Vans, Justice Just for Girls, BCBG Maxazria, Tilly’s, Inc., David’s Tea, Zumiez, Uniqlo, and Carter’s. Nine of these companies responded that they did not use the practice of on-call scheduling or had recently ended it.
The letters were signed by representatives of the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Rhode Island. Several offices signed only letters to retailers located within their states.
Retail salesperson is the most common occupation in the United States. In Massachusetts, there are over 100,000 retail sales jobs, and entry level retail workers earn, on average, $1,460 a month or $17,520 a year. Although men and women are nearly evenly represented in retail jobs, women are concentrated in low-wage retail jobs.
AG Healey is committed to protecting the economic security of Massachusetts residents, particularly vulnerable workers. AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws, including minimum wage and overtime laws.
Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465. More information about the state’s wage and hour laws is also available in multiple languages at the Attorney General’s new Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor.
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BURLINGTON WOMAN SENTENCED TO JAIL, ORDERED TO PAY UP TO $570,000 FOR BILLING PUBLIC AGENCIES FOR UNLICENSED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
BURLINGTON WOMAN SENTENCED TO JAIL, ORDERED TO PAY UP TO $570,000 FOR BILLING PUBLIC AGENCIES FOR UNLICENSED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Defendant and Her Twin Sister Stole from Medicaid, Medicare and Lawrence Public Schools
WOBURN – A Burlington woman has been sentenced to jail and ordered to pay up to $570,000 in restitution for stealing from public agencies by billing for unlicensed psychological services, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
Nita Guzman, age 52, pleaded guilty on Friday in Middlesex Superior Court to the charges of Medicaid False Claims (2 counts), False Claims to Public Agency (1 Count), Larceny (4 Counts), and Unlicensed Practice of Psychology (2 Counts).
After the plea was entered, Judge Laurence Pierce sentenced Guzman to 18 months in the House of Correction, with five years of probation upon completing her sentence. He also ordered her to pay up to $570,000. A restitution hearing has been set for Feb. 7, 2017 in Middlesex Superior Court to determine the exact restitution amount.
“Guzman and her sister orchestrated a criminal scheme to provide and bill for unlicensed psychological and mental health services for patients, including children, that they were not qualified to offer,” said AG Healey. “Guzman stole more than half a million dollars from taxpayers and defrauded public agencies who provide important services to those in need.”
Guzman’s twin sister, Nina Tischer, pleaded guilty in February 2016 to charges of False Claims to Public Agency (3 Counts), Larceny (3 Counts), Identity Fraud (3 counts), and Unlicensed Practice of Psychology (3 Counts). She was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in the House of Correction, suspended for a probationary period of five years.
Guzman and Tischer were indicted in August 2014 by a Statewide Grand Jury.Both sisters lived in Minnesota at the time of the indictments. In September 2014, Guzman was arrested by a Minnesota County Sheriff and Tischer turned herself in, and they were subsequently arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court.
The AG’s investigation revealed that Guzman, through her company New England Psychological Consultants, Inc., billed Medicaid, Medicare, and Lawrence Public Schools more than $550,000 for unlicensed mental health services.
Her twin sister, Nina Tischer, through her company PsychSupport, Inc., billed a division of UMass Medical School more than $30,000 for unlicensed psychological examinations. Neither sister is a licensed psychologist, a legal requirement for practicing psychology in Massachusetts.
Through their corporations, both located in Lowell, the sisters provided bilingual psychological services to Medicaid and Medicare members in the greater-Lowell and greater-Lawrence areas, performed mental health disability evaluations for the Department of Transitional Assistance and the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth), and assessed children for learning disabilities for Lawrence Public Schools.
The investigation of Guzman began when a licensed psychologist reported to the AG’s Office that Guzman’s company had used her name and license number without permission to bill a Medicaid managed care organization more than $430,000.
Additional investigation by the AG’s Office and federal agents from the Office of the Inspector General for Health and Human Services revealed that Guzman also used the name, license and other identifying information of a second psychologist to bill the managed care organization and the federal Medicare program more than $60,000 of services that the psychologist did not provide.
Guzman also billed the Lawrence Public School system more than $60,000 of psychological evaluations of students in special education programs. The evaluations were performed by Guzman or Tischer. State regulations require that any such evaluations be performed by a licensed psychologist.
The investigation of Tischer began when a licensed social worker reported the unauthorized use of her name and license by Tischer’s company, PsychSupport. Tischer used the social worker’s name and credentials to bill a division of UMass Medical School for disability examinations of people applying for Medicaid benefits or financial assistance from the Department of Transitional Assistance. Tischer billed UMass more than $8,000 for those evaluations.
Two additional professionals, a licensed mental health counselor and a licensed psychologist, also reported the unauthorized use of their names and licensing information by Tischer. The investigation revealed that Tischer billed UMass more than $30,000 for disability evaluations purportedly performed by the three professionals.
This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Casey Groff of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division. It was investigated by Investigator Eric Panicucci, also of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, and officials from the Division of Professional Licensure. The Wright County Minnesota Sheriff’s Office and Wright County Attorney’s Office also assisted in this case.
波士頓華裔退伍軍人會送玩具讓小朋友快樂過聖誕
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| 陳文浩(前)扮聖誕老人，為小朋友們送上禮物。 (波士頓華裔退伍軍人會提供) |
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| BCNC提供 |
12月22日，該會將出席中華廣教學校聖誕會，為小朋友送禮物。
波士頓華裔退伍軍人會從司徒文信擔任會長那一年起，已連續多年在年終舉辦籌募玩具，給小朋友快樂聖誕的活動，
往年該會都是把籌募到的玩具，交給軍人社區服務機構去發放，今年該會決定改由自己發放給華埠的小朋友。
該會從12月3日開始，分別在波士頓僑教中心，波士頓華埠牌樓前擺出大紙箱，為兒童籌募玩具做聖誕禮物。
包括司徒文信，現任會長歐靖儀，資深會員黃國麟，陳志航，陳文浩，司徒倬榮等多人輪流站崗，收集到的玩具數量，足以讓數百名小朋友過一個開心的聖誕節
12月16日下午五點半，該會的陳文浩與波士頓華埠獅子會會長余麗媖等人，來到昆士小學飯堂，出席波士頓華埠社區中心的紅橡木項目聖誕慶祝會，給那些零到10歲的小朋友們帶去了100多件玩具做聖誕禮物，還帶去了餅乾，節慶糕點。
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陳余寶愛(後左起)與美東公安會前會長余國華，波士頓華埠獅子會會長
余麗媖(右一)和扮成勝膽老人的陳文浩(前)一起為紅橡木的小朋友
送上禮物及溫暖。
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波士頓華裔退伍軍人會近年每年都在社區內籌募玩具，分贈兒童，期以溫暖更多小朋友的心，為更多人帶來聖誕新年的歡樂氣氛。
今年和往年稍微不同的是，該 會募集的玩具，由該會自行匯集，並分送給華埠內的小朋友。
在波士頓華埠社區中心之外，該會還將於12月22日率隊拜訪中華廣教學校，把禮物送達廣教學校的小朋友手中。 (更新版)
牛頓市新年慶邀藝協表演中國傳統舞
藝協傳統中國舞蹈團接受 Newton 市政府的邀請，在 New Year’s Eve Mayor’s Open House,
Saturday, December 31, 2016, 1:30PM –
3:30PM 演出三場各三十分鐘的中國傳統舞蹈。
每年市政府主辦的 Mayor’s Open House 都提供很多精彩的節目，譲市民攜家帶眷自由參觀，觀眾川流不息。中華藝術協會為這個重要的演出特別安排了三場不同的多彩多姿舞蹈節目，譲觀眾能欣賞到更多中華民族舞蹈之美，有興趣的觀眾朋友不要失去這難得的好機會。
AACYF 美南加州華人社團2016十大新聞
轉載
美国南加州华人社团2016年度十大新闻揭晓
美华裔非政府组织(NGO)研究会、北美华文新媒体民调中心、全美华裔青年新闻工作者联谊会、英文版《洛杉矶邮报》等机构于12月20日联合公布“美国南加州华人社团2016年度10大新闻”评选结果。
评选结果是根据专业民调、新闻影响度、社会影响力，并结合网上搜索率排名等综合方式产生。这是相关机构连续第八年公布的南加州地区华人社团年度10大新闻评选结果。今年首次有英文媒体参与评选工作，评选结果同时以中英文版本发布。
从评选结果可以看出，南加州华人社团在2016年度呈现出较为明显的变化态势，新生代社团在社会公益领域、营造创新、创业氛围，建设华人社区高端交流平台、在主流社会建立话语权、中华文化传承；深度涉入国家政治事务等方面采用了新的运作方式和更为丰富的活动内容，华人社团的活动方式正在开始出现转变。
按事件发生时间顺序，2016年度南加州华人社团10大新闻依次为：
1, 由非营利机构PlusYoou普创等机构主办的首届南加州华人创业颁奖典礼1月31日下午在洛杉矶帕萨迪纳市隆重举行，吸引近六百位风华正茂的各路青年精英与会。颁奖典礼全程充满了鼓励青年学子创业，分享创业经验和知识的热烈氛围，被誉为南加州华人创业圈形成以来最大规模和最具影响力的颁奖盛典。
2，美国少林寺文化中心等机构3月19日下午在洛杉矶中国城中山广场举办“嵩山少林寺日”庆祝活动。设置了禅、武、医、艺、食等不同展区，吸引了众多的各族裔观众，当天的庆祝活动为中国城带来超过万人的游客。美国西岸发行量最大的英文版《洛杉矶时报》在当天的加州版，头版头条报道了“少林寺日”活动举办的新闻，并同时刊登了对美国少林寺文化中心负责人释延续师傅的大篇幅专访，这是近年来该报纸首次为华人社区的活动发布的正面新闻报道。
3, 由南加州大学、加州大学洛杉矶分校、尔湾分校、圣地亚哥分校的香港学生会（HKSA）4月30日晚联合在洛杉矶好莱坞举办国际舞会，得到南加州各大学的中国同学会、台湾同学会、香港同学会、韩国同学会、印度尼西亚同学会等31个留学生团体的支持协办。是多年来华人留学生在南加州地区举办的规模最大的国际学生交流舞会。
4, 美国华人公共外交促进会、全美中华青年联合会、美华国际商会、北美海峡两岸文化交流写会、美洲中华青年促进中国和平统一联合会、南加州华人华侨联合会、亚洲研究会、美国海峡两岸经济研究、北美深圳青年联合总会等侨团，7月13日在洛杉矶向全球华人社团发出倡议，海外华人社团发表的反对南海仲裁声明，要同时发布当地语种的版本，并争取在当地主流媒体发布，让当地社会知道中国对南海主权的立场，同时在国际社会中为历史留下重要的记录。他们同时表示，只要有英文版本的声明，就提供协助在美国的英文媒体上发表。该倡议获得了全球众多媒体的广泛报道。
5, 由洛杉矶当地知名学府罗耀拉大学 (Loyola
Marymount University) 的华裔教授们发起组成的中国俱乐部，和该大学的中国学生学者联谊会（LMUCSSA），8月19日在洛杉矶的La
Harbra 市举办专题研讨会。提出加强美国大学和中国学术界、教育界的交流。联合在美的中国学者，营造中国学者板块，提高中国学者整体在美国学术界的影响力。这是近年来，在当地众多华裔学界团体和各类活动中，首次公开明确提出的学界愿景。
6，由PlusYoou普创、LEAP职业发展论坛、肯尼亚马拉野保基金会、美国栖息地守望者基金会、全美中华青年联合会、“再站起来”公益项目，以及深圳守望自然野保发展研究中心等机构联合主办，旨在鼓励全球华人投身支持公益事业以提高华人国际形象的“全美首届华人公益及非营利组织创业论坛”9月28日在洛杉矶举行，该论坛是第一次在美国举办的由华人社团发起的立足公益事业创新的主题论坛。
另，由北美职通车发起、与南加州中华科工会CESASC，全美中华青年联合会，美西南中国学生学者联合会，世界青年发展论坛等几家美、中公益组织合作的 “首届全美公益调查-留美中国学生职业规划现状调查”的启动仪式，10月9日下午在南加州大学校园内的Ronald中心举行。
南加州华人公益事业的专业化细分、参与公益人数构成的多元化和年轻化、公益组织的的执行力等方面的成长和发展在主流社会中备受关注。
7，在全美享有知名度的南加州华裔草根政治组织“橙县金橙俱乐部”等有区域地缘群众基础的华裔草根组织，在大选期间，组织大量义工参与包括电话拜票、人工逐一手写明信片、拜访选民家庭等，为愿意维护华裔权益、愿意为华裔代言、对华裔友善的候选人提供最直接和有效的支持。华裔参政正在从口号变成最直接有效的行动，华裔的草根组织在这次美国大选中受到各级参选人的重视。
8，由中国留学生发起成立的SoGal洛杉矶分会， 10月8日在洛杉矶主办的全球影响力峰会。邀请了十多位，合计拥有粉丝上亿的国际网红、各行业具有极大影响力的网络大咖们，介绍自己的经验、分享自己的观点、回答青年朋友们的问题。将洛杉矶的创业优势，娱乐产业、新媒体、多元文化内容创造一起来讨论，给青年创业生态圈带来更多的思路。是洛杉矶众多新兴的创新创业活动中，唯一专注促进和帮助青年女性创业的专业活动。
9，在孙中山先生诞辰150周年之际，美国南加州侨学界人士组织的“孙中山与青年、留学生”专题研讨会，探讨孙中山与青年之间的关系、以及对青年的重视，鼓励海外华裔青年、留学生加强社会责任感。提出创新社区活动方式、创新社团组织结构、以创新思维推动华人社区思维方式转型，符合时代发展的需求。
10，有近四千名中国留学生的南加州大学中国学生学者联谊会 (USCCSSA) ， 11月18日晚在洛杉矶市中心的城市俱乐部 (City
Club) 举办南加州菁英汇 (SoCal Elites Connect) ，邀请来自社会各界精英与留学生分享工作心得和感悟。鼓励留学生积极面向社会，建立自信，培养使命感和责任感。近30名知名人士嘉宾和来自南加州各知名学府经过遴选出的150名中国留学生出席了当天的活动。是首次由华人社团、留学生社团在城市俱乐部举办的高端交流活动。（AACYF洛杉矶讯）
星期一, 12月 19, 2016
A Statement from House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo
A Statement from House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo
“I am pleased that the First Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed the convictions of John O’Brien and the other employees of the Probation Department in connection with the alleged scheme to receive legislative appropriations in return for jobs in the Probation Department.
I am particularly grateful that the Court has found that no member of the legislature had committed any impropriety in connection with the allegations in the indictment. It is unfortunate that for six and a half years other legislators and I have lived under the cloud of suspicion of having been involved in illegal activity.
Today, the Court of Appeals has affirmed what I have said for the entire period – that neither I, nor to my knowledge any other legislator had engaged in any wrongdoing. The decision of the Court constitutes a complete exoneration for this institution and all of its members. These false and scurrilous allegations can now be given an appropriate burial.”
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