Statement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross and USPTO Under Secretary for Intellectual Property Andrei Iancu on the Election of Daren Tong as WIPO Director General

WASHINGTON –  The Department of Commerce and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office congratulate Daren Tang, Singapore’s Chief Executive of Intellectual Property, on his election to the post of Director General for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Wilbur L. Ross, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, praised the nomination.

“The election of Daren Tang as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization is good news for the global economy. Mr. Tang understands the importance of intellectual property rights to inventors, artists, entrepreneurs, companies, and all those whose livelihoods depend on their creative genius. Much of today’s economic growth is due to the application of new inventions, technologies, and cultural creations that are protected by patents, trademarks, and copyrights.”

Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director, stated:

“I congratulate Daren Tang on his election as the new Director General of the WIPO. We are eager to work with Mr. Tang and his leadership team to enhance multilateral cooperation and build consensus on IP issues. We especially look forward to working with WIPO and all of its member states to continue its mission of safeguarding intellectual property as a means of driving innovation, investment, and economic opportunity everywhere in the world.”

一連兩起 外州訪客離波士頓後確診染新冠狀病毒

              (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 新冠狀病毒(COVID-19)這幾天在美國肆虐，繼加州，華盛頓州陸續告急後，今天(3月5日) 麻州也爆出感染病例，包括一名田納西州居民確診後傳出曾經來過波士頓，3名百奧健(Biogen)員工來波士頓開會後確診。

              今日5點半左右，麻州公共衛生廳更新州內新冠狀病毒概況，稱麻州面對的危險仍低，迄今仍只有一宗確診病例，3月2日出現的一宗疑似病例，還有待公衛廳實驗室確認。

              田納西州的公衛人員表示，該州一名Williamson郡居民，約五天前，曾在納殊維爾(Nashville)國際機場和波士頓羅根機場之間，來回搭機直飛，但未透露是搭哪家航空公司飛機。

              百奧健(Biogen)稱有3名到波士頓參加會議的員工，上週新冠狀病毒確診，其中2人住在歐洲，1人住在麻州之外。

              根據美國疾病防治局(CDC)每日下午4點更新的各州病例數報告，麻州迄今仍在1至5宗病例之間。不過由於在美國的新冠狀病毒病例不斷增加，華盛頓州甚至傳出養老院發生社區感染情況，死亡病例由2宗陡增至6宗。波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)，麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)在過去這兩三天內，都曾為此匯集公衛人員，議員等召開會議，討論對策。

根據中國國家衛生健康委員會公佈的數據，新冠狀病毒疫情在中國已呈減緩趨勢，3月3日的新增病例創下僅高於1月20日77例的次低記錄。

但在中國以外的國家，地區，新冠狀病毒病例卻出現陡增情況，其中以韓國，義大利，伊朗災情最慘重，韓國還在2月28日至29日間，出現一日內新增病例超過800，比當日中國新增病例數還多的驚人狀況。伊朗也曾出現過一日新增病例超過800，3月5日確診病例依然多達591宗。

在美國的50州，1直轄特區，5島嶼等共59個行政區中，根據美國疾病防治局公佈的資料，目前共有99宗確診病例，10人死亡。有13州有1到40宗病例，46州及地區無病例。加州和華盛頓州災情最重，加州有36宗確診病例，華盛頓州有39宗確診病例，包括在西雅圖和金郡發生的6宗死亡病例。

微軟(Microsoft)鑑於疫情嚴重，全美10宗死亡案例有9宗發生在華盛頓州，3月4日已由公司執行副總裁Kurt DelBene發信要求該公司西雅圖及舊金山灣區員工，3月25日之前，在家工作。

臉書(Facebook)也在獲悉該公司一名合同工確診染患新冠狀病毒後，暫時關閉了西雅圖的一間辦公室，也已經鼓勵所有西雅圖員工，三月底以前都在家工作。

Baker-Polito Administration Files $240 Million Economic Development Bill

Baker-Polito Administration Files $240 Million Economic Development Bill

Comprehensive economic development bill enables investments in housing production, new community tools, and innovative technology as well as provisions of An Act to Promote Housing Choices

SALEM — Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy joined Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll to celebrate the filing of An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth, a $240 million economic development legislative package that includes provisions of An Act to Promote Housing Choices to produce more housing, build community and regional capacity, support diverse businesses and create jobs. This bill encourages more market rate housing in Gateway Cities and similar regions by expanding the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP); invests in affordable housing near transit; provides new flexible, responsive tools to build vibrant communities; and facilitates further economic growth and job creation by significantly increasing support for small businesses and industry clusters.

Last year, following extensive public engagement and stakeholder input, the Baker-Polito Administration released Partnerships for Growth, an economic development plan with four pillars – Addressing the Housing Crisis, Building Vibrant Communities, Supporting Business Competitiveness and Training a Skilled Workforce – that serve as the framework for the legislation filed today by Governor Baker. 

“Building on the success of our two previous economic development bills, An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth invests in further housing development and supports small businesses and innovative companies throughout the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This important legislation, partnered with our Housing Choice initiative, will continue our work to promote growth and success in every region of the state.”

“Since 2015, I have visited all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth, and have had the privilege of visiting with residents to understand what each community needs to thrive – from housing, to the economy, and to their workforces,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “This legislation will allow communities across Massachusetts to provide opportunities and incentives to residents and businesses alike to ensure regional development and success.”

Governor Baker re-filed An Act to Promote Housing Choices last year to create targeted zoning reform to advance new housing production in Massachusetts and support the administration’s goal to produce 135,000 new housing units by 2025. An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth includes these Housing Choice provisions to enable cities and towns to adopt certain zoning best practices through a simple majority vote rather than the current two-thirds supermajority.

This bill includes $50 million towards the construction of new affordable housing, including units for low and extremely low income residents, and housing near transit hubs like train and subway stations, while mitigating traffic congestion. It also invests $10 million in sustainable, climate-resilient affordable housing developments to mitigate climate change impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation expands HDIP by increasing the incentive cap three-fold from $10 million to $30 million. To improve housing stability, the bill also makes $25 million available to nonprofits, municipalities and community development corporations to support the reuse of blighted or vacant properties.

“After a statewide planning process that brought us to communities like North Adams, Chatham, and Salem and included extensive public engagement, we are excited to put the framework that is the Partnerships for Growth plan to work through this $240 million economic development package that encompasses housing, community development, and business competitiveness,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “This legislation builds on the state’s successful innovation and technology ecosystems by funding initiatives undertaken by universities and businesses, and also expands the Commonwealth’s investments in diverse small businesses and advanced manufacturing. We are grateful to our partners in the Legislature and in the Commonwealth’s cities and towns for your collaboration, and look forward to ongoing work to continue economic opportunity across Massachusetts.”

Today’s event was held near the future BRIX Condominiums, new housing supported through HDIP. Close to the Salem Commuter Rail Station, BRIX will replace the former Salem District courthouse with 55 market rate condos, six affordable units, and 3,000 square feet of new commercial space, and is part of Salem’s ongoing effort to transform the northern part of its downtown.

“As the Mayor of a vibrant and busy city, I am so pleased that Governor Baker and his team are advancing this new economic bill and especially that it includes supports for critically needed affordable housing, funding for economic capacity building and community development, and, measures to boost the competitiveness of our businesses,” said Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. “Salem is working hard to implement all the tools available to us to help increase our residents’ access to housing that meets their needs, whether it is affordable or market-rate. We’re also pushing hard to advance our competitiveness when it comes to jobs in the innovation economy. This legislation presents a framework of supports that are instrumental in continuing the efforts we’ve achieved on these fronts, while also laying the groundwork for future success.”

This legislation provides new flexible, responsive tools to build vibrant communities, including $40 million in financial assistance to redevelop underutilized buildings and lots to unlock new economic development and housing opportunities, and $10 million for a rural and small town development fund. The bill also increases community and regional capacity by making $5 million available through grants to support locally-driven, locally-beneficial growth, $5 million for maintenance of broadband infrastructure. Additionally, it provides $15 million in reauthorizations of the Site Readiness Fund and improves existing tools to better serve communities.

Leveraging private sector, academic and federal funding sources, this legislation strengthens partnerships and invests in technology and innovation priorities to encourage cluster growth. This includes making $45 million available for grant opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, fintech, quantum computing, blockchain and blue tech. The bill also continues the administration’s support for advanced manufacturing with a new $10 million expansion of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), as well as support for small and growing businesses, including enterprises owned by minority, female, immigrant, or veteran entrepreneurs, through $10 million of increased funding for community development financial institutions (CDFIs).

“One of the things that distinguishes Massachusetts from other regions is our breadth of industries that lead to emerging technology intersections, and a commitment to remain not only the discoverers but also the makers,” said Dr. Julie Chen, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the UMass Lowell. “By promoting the integration of housing, transportation, technology, and talent, this Economic Development bill helps to advance the teaming we need between government, academia, and industry to achieve innovation at scale.”

  

Bill Highlights

Address the Housing Crisis: 

• $50 million for transit-oriented housing for the production of new, high density affordable housing near transit nodes; 
• $25 million for neighborhood stabilization to help nonprofits, municipalities, and community development corporations return blighted or vacant housing back to productive use; and
• $10 million for sustainable and climate-resilient construction in affordable, multi-family housing developments to better respond to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through use of efficient, sustainable design practices. 
• Building on the 2016 reforms to the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP), this bill expands the HDIP program by raising the annual cap to $30 million so that more multi-unit, market rate housing development projects can move forward in Gateway Cities and similarly situated communities.
• State resources can only go so far if local communities are not zoning for more housing. This legislation includes the language of the Housing Choice legislation approved by the Joint Committee on Housing.
• This bill proposes a series of modifications to existing law to better enable local housing authorities to address capital needs and get the best out of the state’s public housing stock.

Build Vibrant Communities:

• $40 million for revitalizing underutilized properties by supporting the redevelopment of underutilized, blighted, or abandoned spaces; 
• $15 million for the reauthorization of the site readiness fund to continue assisting communities with site assembly and assessment, predevelopment permitting, and other predevelopment activities; 
• $10 million for a rural and small town development fund to support community development and infrastructure projects in rural communities and small towns; 
• $5 million for a grant program to assist municipalities and regional efforts through planning and community capacity efforts on housing and economic development initiatives;  and 
• $5 million for maintenance of broadband infrastructure in central and western Massachusetts.
• The Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) is an effective program that has yielded positive results in Gateway Cities across the state. This bill amends two facets of the TDI program, TDI Equity and the TDI Fellows, so that MassDevelopment can better deploy resources and tools.

Support Business Competitiveness: 

• $45 million for a new research and development fund to strategically deploy resources in support of the technology and innovation ecosystems, such as key industry clusters and other emerging areas, and leverage public-private partnerships; 
• $10 million to expand the advanced manufacturing pipeline by providing state support for advanced manufacturing beyond the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative’s (M2I2) current scope to allow continued growth across the state; 
• $10 million to enable community development financial institutions to reach underserved populations, such as women and minority-owned businesses, and leverage federal funding to support lending for small businesses in need of capital; 
• $10 million for a matching fund to support large scale capital investments in tourism assets across the state;
• $5 million for a matching grant program to support micro-businesses and low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs.

Successes through An Act Enhancing Opportunities for All, the 2018 economic development bill:

Through the 2019 MassWorks Infrastructure Program round, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $72 million in infrastructure awards to a diverse mix of 36 projects in 35 communities across the Commonwealth, including nine Gateway Cities and eight communities that will receive MassWorks funding for the first time. The awards will unlock a total of $2.3 billion in private investment and more than 4,600 new full-time jobs, along with more than 3,100 new housing units, more than a third of which are affordable, building on the administration’s efforts to tackle the ongoing housing shortage.

In grants approved last month, the Seaport Economic Council awarded $2.34 million to support coastal infrastructure projects that include commercial fishing pier reconstruction and complete marina renovations, as well as more than $580,000 in maritime economic planning grants to help fund projects such as waterway improvement plans and harbor master plans that seek to identify opportunities to increase economic activity at established waterfronts and address the challenges due to climate change. Since its relaunch by the Baker-Polito Administration in 2015, the Seaport Economic Council has invested over $44 million through 96 grants in 42 coastal communities, funding projects ranging from local priorities to shared Commonwealth-wide initiatives.

The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced the opening of the second round of the Massachusetts Dredging Program, which was created in the 2018 economic development bill. This standalone grant program offers focused funding for saltwater dredging on a competitive, annual basis to help coastal communities maintain and improve their navigational waterways and support the long-term growth and sustainability of the state’s blue economy. Last year, the administration awarded a total of $4.1 million to five communities: Beverly, Chatham, Dennis, Hingham and Nantucket.

In October, the administration announced two new grants totaling over $5.2 million from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) to support the development of new advanced manufacturing technologies across the state, including a new photonics lab operated by Bridgewater State University and Stonehill College. The Baker-Polito Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the M2I2 effort, which allows the Commonwealth to co-invest in projects supported by the national Manufacturing USA initiative, helping promote innovation and job growth across the state.

And last month, Governor Baker and the Workforce Skills Cabinet awarded $14.6 million in Skills Capital Grant awards to 54 educational institutions to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education. To date, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $78 million in Skills Capital Grants to 280 different programs. Through Skills Capital Grants, schools have expanded their enrollment capacity in high-demand occupations, enabling more than 14,500 additional students to enroll in educational programs that are a priority for employers across Massachusetts.

香港南豐集團斥資7500萬 買波士頓市中心溫斯若普廣場一號

(Boston Orange編譯) 香港南豐集團旗下子公司，南豐生命科學(Nan Fung Life Sciences)地產公司斥資7500萬美元，買下波士頓市中心的溫斯若普廣場一號(One Winthrop Square)大樓。

這座五層高辦公室大樓，上一次的交易記錄是2015年以5500萬元賣給MAPFRE美國保險公司。

南豐生命科學地產公司在這一交易前沒多久，才剛投資了1億1500萬元在波士頓海港區，向Brookfield物業公司買下Sleeper街51號。

南豐生命科學地產公司執行長Matthew Powers在一份聲明中表示，他們期待為生命科學企業在波士頓市成長帶來更多獨特機會，也將和波士頓是合作來支持這一重要產業。

他說，波士頓市有著因應生命科學產業的重要與成長的共生機會，但在高品質的生命科學空間上，仍有需求未得滿足，而我們很驕傲能夠為尋找機會在波士頓落腳，發展的公司，提供這樣的空間。

              溫斯若普廣場一號大樓佔地115,677平方英尺，座落在隔著兩棟樓的溫斯若普中心工地旁，薩福克建築公司正在那兒建造154.5百萬平方英尺辦公/住家大樓。

Governor Baker and State Health Officials Discuss Community Preparedness With Health Care, Infectious Disease Experts and Front Line Leaders

Governor Baker and State Health Officials Discuss Community Preparedness With Health Care, Infectious Disease Experts and Front Line Leaders

Joined by leaders in local public health, long-term care, education, transportation and emergency response

(From the governor's office)

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration convened a meeting with front-line leaders representing hospitals, local public health boards, emergency response, long-term care, and higher education to discuss ongoing preparations for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Massachusetts. Governor Charlie Baker was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak and Massport CEO Lisa Wieland.

Leaders joining Governor Baker and administration officials included: Chief of the Division of Emergency Preparedness at Mass General Hospital and Director of the Mass General Hospital Center for Disaster Medicine Dr. Paul Biddinger, Director of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiologist at UMass Medical Center Dr. Richard Ellison III, Chief Public Health Office at Cambridge Public Health Department Claude-Alix Jacob, University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, Manager of the Metro Regional Preparedness Coalition at the  Cambridge Health Alliance Jendy Dunlop, Director of Special Projects for ProEMS Ambulance Service Gibson McCullagh, and Louis J. Woolf, President and CEO of Hebrew Senior Life.   

“Our administration’s top priority continues to be the health and safety of Massachusetts residents, and our ongoing collaboration with medical experts, first responders, school officials, local public health leaders and other stakeholders is a crucial part of our ongoing preparedness efforts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “While the risk for COVID-19 in Massachusetts remains low, our partnership with these organizations and leaders is crucial to ensuring that the Commonwealth remains safe and prepared.”

“We appreciate our ongoing collaboration with a wide range of organizations as we work together to ensure Massachusetts remains prepared for a potential outbreak of COVID-19,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration is committed to remaining a resource for entities on the front lines of the Commonwealth’s ongoing preparedness efforts.”

"The Department of Public Health has been working closely with the CDC since the beginning of the outbreak in China, and has worked tirelessly to plan and communicate with state and local partners to prepare our communities and share specific strategies all of us can take to stay healthy,” said Secretary Marylou Sudders.

Yesterday, the Department of Public Health held its second conference call with local colleges and universities, in part to address questions and concerns about upcoming international travel for universities, like study abroad programs, which often require significant planning and investment. With this in mind, the administration is urging colleges, universities and high schools to cancel upcoming, organized international trips at this time.

“The Department of Public Health continues to monitor this dynamic situation and we have been coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders, including educational institutions that frequently sponsor, organize, or are associated with individual and group international travel,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel. “While the risk of COVID-19 is low in Massachusetts, the administration strongly urges schools to cancel all upcoming organized international travel for the foreseeable future.”

Earlier today, the CDC issued an updated Travel Health Alert for all United States residents starting today, instructing travelers returning from countries with a Level 3 alert (currently China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy) to stay home and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the US. This guidance also instructs travelers from countries with a Level 2 alert (currently Japan) to monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the US. The guidance advises against any non-essential travel to Level 3 countries. The Department of Public Health will be issuing more detailed guidance related to this development shortly.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in early February and on Monday, DPH announced its first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 since the FDA approved testing at the State Public Health Laboratory on February 28^th, with results being confirmed by the CDC. This morning, DPH announced 719 people who did not show symptoms of COVID-19 have been in self-quarantine in their homes following international travel and/or contact with individuals who have been exposed to the virus, with 470 of those individuals completed monitoring and are no longer quarantined and 249 are currently quarantined. This information will be posted online today.

Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses and are generally spread through respiratory secretions (droplets from coughs and sneezes) of an infected person to another person. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, pneumonia (fluid in the lungs). Information is still limited about how this novel coronavirus spreads. More information on COVID-19 is available at mass.gov/2019coronavirus.

There have been more than 100 U.S. cases of COVID-19 confirmed since January. Globally, more than 90,000 cases have been confirmed. Late Tuesday, the CDC reported a total of 9 COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S.  

Although the risk of COVID-19 to Massachusetts residents remains low, and the risk of the flu is high, people are advised to take many of the same steps they do to help prevent colds and the flu, including:

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes and face.
• Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
• Stay home when feeling sick.
• Stay informed.
• Get a flu shot.

Clinicians who have patients they think may have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should  contact DPH via the 24/7 EPI line (617-983-6800).

The State Lab has an adequate supply of test kits from the CDC for testing. The anticipated turnaround of test results from the State Lab is 24 hours, depending on testing volume.

Individuals who are in voluntary self-quarantine continue to be monitored by their local boards of health.

People who have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19 and who have symptoms of the disease (fever, cough, shortness of breath) should immediately contact their healthcare provider immediately and call ahead before going to a healthcare facility.

For more information on COVID-19 visit mass.gov/2019coronavirus.

2020海外青年英語服務營延7月中再辦 3月15截止報名

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉說明英語服務營相關報名細節。
(僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange ) 受COVID-19疫情影響，臺灣高中(職)以下學校今年延後開學，僑委會等機構合辦的「2020年海外青年英語服務營」，也將順延至7月中旬舉行，活動報名時間現延長至3月15日。

波士頓僑教中心表示，「海外青年英語服務營」是中華民國僑務委員會、教育部、客家委員會和原住民族委員會合作辦理，為期四週的活動，鼓勵海外青年到台灣偏遠地區，擔任中小學生的英語老師，既鍛鍊領導力，適應力，教學能力，也得到做公益機會，還能抽空體驗台灣之美，一舉數得。

今年的「2020年海外青年英語服務營」，現改為7月14日至8月5日在臺灣各地舉行，凡是能以簡單中文溝通，身心健康、學行良好、能適應團體生活、具高度意願從事志願服務，在新英格蘭地區已就讀11年級以上，並於2020年11月30日前已年滿17足歲，但未滿25足歲的華裔青年，都可報名參加。

整個「2020年海外青年英語服務營」活動，為期4週，第1週上課，接受英語教學培訓；第2至3週前往偏遠地區的國中、國小，實地從事英語教學志願服務；客籍學員則前往客家文化發展區之偏鄉學校服務；第4週在台灣北部做文化參訪。前三週活動全程參加之學員，可獲僑委會核發一份80小時中英文服務證明。

通過甄選錄取的學員，須自行負擔部分費用，包括新臺幣5,000元(含活動制服、背包、吊牌等)、來回機票、醫療保險理賠額度以上的醫療費用，以及提前報到或延後離營之膳宿和其他費用等。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉表示，今年的英語服務營，為配合臺灣高中(職)以下學校延後開學，現已順延至7月中旬舉行，活動報名時間也延至3月15日截止。有意申請者，宜先至海外青年報名系統(https://teenage.ocac.gov.tw)註冊，再列印報名表、營隊規則及規範評核表、個資使用同意書，並在表上親筆簽名，同時備齊相關文件，送交波士頓華僑文教服務中心(地址：90 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands MA 02461)，才算完成報名手續。有任何疑問，可電洽陳美樺：617-965-8801。

波士頓宣導"iTaiwan窗口" 鼓勵青年回台投資、就業

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前右五)和僑青代表合影。(僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange) 僑委會為鼓勵海外僑社青年返臺投資或就業，刻正推廣「i臺灣窗口」。波士頓僑教中心特地在2月28日晚舉辦說明會，說明該項目服務內容，介紹該中心的服務專櫃，並請大波士頓地區僑團首長及年輕專業人士廣為宣傳。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉表示，該中心與海外16處僑教中心同步推出「i臺灣窗口」」（i-Taiwan Window）相關計畫，以「臨櫃專人諮詢服務」的單一窗口，協助僑社青年藉線上資源，獲取詳實的臺灣政府經濟、科技、教育、內政及勞動等主管機關資訊，強化僑社青年和台灣的聯繫。

出席者座談。(僑教中心提供)

歐宏偉還補充說明，蔡英文總統在2018年過境洛杉磯時，視察當地僑教中心，並舉辦僑社青年座談。席間有與會青年代表要求取得回臺就業及投資等相關資訊，從而促成政府設置「i臺灣窗口」。

波士頓僑教中心今年規劃舉辦一次兩天一夜的”i臺灣體驗營”，讓僑青有機會與駐地外館、各專業僑團座談，分享，觀摩，互動。。

當晚應邀出席的波士頓地區主要僑青團體負責人及僑社第二代專業人士，包括紐英崙中華專業人員協會長康雅雰、波士頓臺灣同鄉會會長林碧憶、臺灣世衛外交協會波士頓幹事林思妤、波士頓臺大校友會會長饒雨涵、劍橋合唱團團長華人德、新英格蘭大波士頓臺灣商會理事翁逸虹等。他們都很讚賞”i臺灣窗口”這一服務平台。

當晚也出席了的紐英崙青少年中文夏令營營長王志維、慈濟波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿等人也表示，將全力協助宣傳這服務專案，並籌辦體驗營活動，讓更多僑社青年及華裔第二代，透過政府的用心，和台灣有更緊密聯繫。

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Enactment Of Nicky’s Law Establishing a New Abuse Registry of Caregivers in Massachusetts

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Enactment Of Nicky’s Law Establishing a New Abuse Registry of Caregivers in Massachusetts

For high resolution and additional photos, click here.

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Commissioner Jane Ryder today joined advocates, legislators and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities for a ceremonial signing of An Act To Protect Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities from Abuse, also known as “Nicky’s Law.”

Administration officials were joined by Nancy Alterio, Director of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director of the Arc of Massachusetts, family members of the law’s namesake Nicky Chan, and other advocates and legislators to celebrate the enactment of the law, which establishes a new abuse registry of caregivers in Massachusetts.

The registry will be administered by the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) – the agency tasked with protecting adults with disabilities from the abusive acts or omissions of their caregivers – who will maintain the registry’s list of any providers or caregivers with histories of substantiated abuse. Effective January 31, 2021, any individual listed on the registry cannot be hired or work for DDS or any of its licensed or funded providers throughout the state.

“Protecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is vitally important, and I want to thank the family members, advocates and our legislative colleagues for their work to pass this bill,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The new registry established in Nicky’s Law will provide an additional safeguard against abuse and further improve the safety and quality of services provided to some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents.”

“By enacting Nicky’s Law, the Commonwealth is making clear that we continue to view the safety of those with developmental disabilities as a top priority,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased to support the creation of the registry outlined in this law, which creates a new mechanism for the Department of Developmental Services and its providers to conduct comprehensive background checks on employment candidates.”     

Currently, candidates who apply to DDS or one of its licensed providers must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and National Background Check screening before they can be hired. The creation of this Registry will now provide an additional resource against which DDS and its providers must conduct comprehensive background checks on candidates interested in working with those served by the Department.

“The safety and wellbeing of those we serve is paramount across health and human services,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “We will continue to work with DPPC and the many advocates like the Arc of Massachusetts, who were instrumental in passing this bill, to keep identifying ways we can protect and safeguard individuals from harm or neglect.” 

DDS provides support to over 40,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a variety of residential settings (ranging from state operated facilities and group homes), community-based day programs, and employment settings, among others.

“By expanding our ability to thoroughly vet candidates – and tracking trends and instances of abusive behaviors – this additional tool helps us better protect the individuals we serve and helps end repeated cases of abuse by caregivers,” said Department of Developmental Services Commissioner Jane Ryder.

“People with disabilities and their families deserve peace of mind when it comes to getting the care they need,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “With this law, we reassert our values as a Commonwealth to protecting the most vulnerable among us from abuse and to holding perpetrators accountable. I would like to thank Senators Michael Moore and Sonia Chang-Diaz as well as my legislative colleagues, families and advocates for bringing this registry to fruition.”

“This registry provides protections for the most vulnerable among us, and I’m proud of the House’s ongoing work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities,” said House Speaker DeLeo, (D – Winthrop). “Thank you to Chairs Michlewitz, Campbell, Khan and Cutler for their thoughtful contributions and to the members of the House who worked on this issue.”

“I am incredibly happy and proud that today Nicky’s Law was officially signed into effect by the Governor. Of course this would not be possible without the incredible work of individuals and organizations that pushed for this bill and worked behind the scenes to get us where we are today. I think this is a real testament to the power that advocacy can have in the legislative process, and it’s because of these advocates that we were able to get this common sense legislation pushed through and provide the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable population the protections they deserve,” said Senator Michael Moore (D – Worcester).

“The love that these families have for their children is so strong and unrelenting that they managed to manifest real change so that no one would have to endure what their children did,” said Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth), a lead sponsor of the bill. “Today is a great day in our fight to protect the most vulnerable among us and it is all thanks to the families that had the courage to tell their story.”

“The testimony of families and caretakers of victims makes clear that this legislation is absolutely necessary to protect our fellow human beings who most often cannot communicate that they are being abused,” said Representative Linda Dean Campbell (D-Methuen). “To protect the most vulnerable among us is clearly one of the most important responsibilities we have as lawmakers. This law also provides a way for us to do so while protecting those saints among us who care for those most in need.”

"The Disabled Persons Protection Commission is very excited to be part of a measure that provides another tool to combat pervasive abuse against persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Nancy Alterio, Executive Director of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission. “The Commission is honored that advocates and the Legislature have entrusted this effort to the DPPC – with collaboration, all things are possible."

“Through this registry, our governor and our lawmakers are sending a strong message; that there is no room for disrespect and that the Commonwealth will safeguard the human rights of adults with disabilities,” said Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director of the Arc of Massachusetts.

“I am incredibly proud of what's been accomplished by the passage of Nicky's law both as chair of AFAM and, above all, as a parent of an adult son with autism in a residential placement,” said Michael J. Borr, Chairman of Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts. “This effort is a case in point of what is possible when we advocate as a community and partner with our elected officials resulting in the passage of this important legislation. I want to especially thank Senate President Spilka, Speaker DeLeo and Governor Baker for their support. Nicky’s Law will help to protect individuals, our most vulnerable, who cannot protect themselves. We are their voices.”

DPPC will maintain the registry and oversee all functions including notification, decision appeals and requests to remove a name from the Registry. The law takes effect on January 31, 2021, and will only include the names of individuals with substantiated cases of abuse after that date.