News from local Legislators

Evangelidis to serve on diary farm task force

House Minority Leader Brad Jones appointed state Rep. Lewis G. Evangelidis (R-Holden) to a new task force on dairy farm revitalization.

The task force, created by the Legislature, will investigate solutions for preserving and strengthening the dairy farm industry in Massachusetts. The study will consider a variety of factors affecting dairy farming, including fuel prices and healthcare and insurance.

"My best friend was raised on a dairy farm in Princeton, which is no longer existence," said Evangelidis. "I have seen first-hand how quickly these farms are disappearing and I am looking forward to working with other members of the task-force to protect and preserve dairy farmers in our state."

There is only one diary farm left in Westminster.

The 19-member task force will include representatives of the farming industry and milk processing community, representatives of the Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers and the Massachusetts Cooperative Milk Producers Federation, representatives of six state agencies and six state lawmakers.

Brewer appointed to committee on identity thief, proposes emergency notification system

State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) was appointed to a conference committee to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of comprehensive identity theft legislation.

The committee's goal is to fine tune legislation that would require entities possessing personal data to contact the person whose data is breached. The legislation originally filed by Senator Michael W. Morrissey (D-Quincy) also allows for persons to actively implement a security freeze with credit reporting companies.

Brewer has also announced the Senate is making progress to improve the safety of all colleges by mandating alert system for colleges and universities. The features of the alert system include notification by telephone, cellular telephone, cellular text messaging service, cellular short message service and electronic mail. The alert system is also required to notify the public within one hour of activation and in a form easily decipherable by the population at large. The budget proposed by the senate includes some matching funds to help implement the program.