Alison Kuznitz
State House News Service
Senate President Karen Spilka told the News Service Wednesday that the Senate will likely take up legislation to strengthen protections for immigrants amid aggressive federal enforcement actions before the branch turns to its long-promised primary care reform bill.
"Very, very soon," the Ashland Democrat said when asked about the timeframe to tackle both issues. "But we also have the [annual state] budget, you may remember, so we'll have to schedule it one after the other."
Spilka said major legislation "might" surface next week but didn't offer specifics.
The House on March 25 passed the PROTECT Act, which blocks federal agents from making civil immigration arrests at courthouses. Sen. Will Brownsberger has said the Senate bill may install protections around other places — such as schools, hospitals and churches — as Gov. Maura Healey proposed in late January.
Spilka declined to say whether those expanded protections will appear in the forthcoming bill.
The People's PROTECT Act Coalition that's composed of nearly 60 organizations rallied Monday, calling on the Senate to strengthen the House version by ending "harmful" collaboration with ICE, expanding access to optional virtual court proceedings and improving the visa certification process for certain crime victims.
"We are calling on our leaders to demonstrate their commitment to community by terminating the Department of Correction's 287(g) contract immediately," said Adriana Ortiz of Neighbors United for a Better East Boston.
The department is the only state entity with a 278(g) agreement that deputizes local officers to carry out federal immigration duties, and that contract remains allowed under the House bill.
The primary care bill is expected to hew closely to task force recommendations about boosting investment in the sector and introducing a new payment model. Spilka named primary care a priority almost 16 months ago, and said the package will focus on making care "more affordable and more accessible."