“In Massachusetts, bipartisan public policy is still alive and well. When we put aside our differences and seek common ground, we are able to produce legislation that truly benefits everyone in the Commonwealth. I'm proud of my record of working across the aisle and I look forward to building upon that record as we move forward."

Helping Low-Income and Marginalized Families

In the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, Senator O'Connor offered an amendment that sought to end what is known as the "cliff effect" in the Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter program. The Cliff Effect is the unfortunate situation where a person headed toward economic stability earns a wage increase, but the raise triggers the loss of benefits that are worth more than the raise. It’s a huge setback that often keeps people in poverty.  

Those that have been a part of the EA shelter program in Massachusetts are familiar with this phenomenon. In order to qualify for this program, households must earn less than 115% of the federal poverty level; for a family of three, this means less than $24,530 a year ($2,044 a month). Once in shelter, families must develop and adhere to a rehousing plan, which includes activities to increase their economic mobility and move towards self-sufficiency. However, in Massachusetts, you are kicked out of the EA shelter program if you end up succeeding and earning more than 115% of the poverty level.

Senator O’Connor's amendment raised the cap of maximum household earnings for the shelter program from 115% of the poverty level to 200%. This change now allows that family of three to earn up to $42,660 a year ($3,555 a month) and still be a part of the EA shelter program. This increase to 200% ensures that families can actually work their way off government assistance and not fall back into the emergency shelter program.  

Advocating for the Student Opportunity Act (Foundation Budget Review Commission Legislation)

Senator O'Connor played a key role in the passage of the Student Opportunity Act, having served on the 6-member conference committee to consolidate the final legislation and pass into law. This legislation is the most significant change to public education funding since 1993 and represents an unprecedented $1.5 billion investment in our education system ($2.2 Billion when accounting for inflation).

The Student Opportunity Act:

• Adjusts the education funding formula in order to better assess the necessary costs of each individual district, distributes resources more evenly, and enables schools to provide the opportunity every child deserves.
• Adjusts the formula better account for the rising cost of employee health care, and increases in special education and English learner enrollment.
• Makes another major policy change to the funding formula includes returning the definition of “low-income” to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level as opposed to the 133% level that has been used in recent years.
• Fully funds charter tuition reimbursements, includes transportation costs into the special education reimbursements, and lifted the annual cap on Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) spending by $150 million.
• Makes additional policy updates include providing funding to districts and schools pursuing creative approaches to student learning, and ensuring the Secretary of Education collects and publishes data on student preparedness in each district and high school for post-graduate success in college and the workforce.

Protecting People with Disabilities

After first being sworn-in to office in 2016, the Joyce family walked into Senator O’Connor’s office and told him about the abuse their nonverbal son, Dana, was experiencing at his group home. That meeting led to Senator O’Connor filing Dana’s law. The bill establishes a registry of individuals found to have committed abuse against those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Group homes serving these populations would be required to check the registry during the application process, and any individual who appears on the registry would be barred from employment. Dana’s Law was signed by Governor Baker in March of 2020. 

Voting to Ban Conversion Therapy

Senator O'Connor was the only Republican in the Massachusetts Senate to vote to ban conversion therapy for minors. Conversion therapy tries to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill prohibited conversion therapy performed by licensed state therapists on minors and did not affect pastoral counseling by religious leaders.