The latest news from the Council:

 - Senate budget keeps salary reserve lanauge in line with House budget – On Wednesday, May 14, the state Senate released its budget for FY 2009 which contained a $23 million salary reserve for employees making less than $40,000. 

The $23 million figure the Senate released is in line with the figure released by the House earlier this year. This means that human service workers are likely to see the salary reserve set at $23 million for FY 2009 and are likely to see a salary increase.

The Providers' Council will follow the budget process as it progresses and continue posting new information in the eDigest, as well as on our website.

- Campaign to Strengthen Human Services will hold Rally and Lobby Day on June 10 – On June 10, The Collaborative -- a group of three human service membership organizations, including the Association for Developmental Disabilities Providers, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Cororation of Massachusetts and Providers' Council -- will hold a rally and lobby day in Nurses Hall on the Second Floor of the State House.

Please join us for this important event! We will hold a rally and lobby for Senate Bill 65, The Collaborative's rate-reform bill. To register, go to this site and click on the June 10 Lobby Day in the What's New section. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m.; registration begins at 9:30 a.m. We hope to see you there.

- Last chance to sign up for good2gether and possibly win a $1,000 grant! – It's your last chance to win a $1,000 grant for your organization and sign up for a new, revolutionary service. Sign your organization up today and you'll be in the running! You'll also connect with MILLIONS of donors, advocates, and volunteers -- at zero cost (and even with an opportunity to make a profit!)

Beginning next week, good2gether will make your organization's events, in-kind donation needs, volunteer opportunities, programs - and more - visible, searchable and sharable on Boston.com and dozens of other high-traffic websites for free! The service will become discoverable by search engines by the end of the month and will launch on Boston.com the week of May 19th! Here's how to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity:

1. Visit the good2gether network by visiting the below link. By signing up as a member of the Providers' Council -- a launch partner -- you're assured to stay on the cutting edge! http://preview.good2gether.com/join/mchsp

2. Use good2gether's simple online form to create your organization's profile. Add events, volunteer opportunities, job openings, programs, and more.

3. Get ready for a whole lot of exposure! Your profile goes live on Boston.com in just a few weeks! You can also sell sponsorship on your site and use it to generate revenue for your organization!

Don't delay -- join now by visiting http://preview.good2gether.com/join/mchsp. Questions about g2g? Contact us today.

- Council to hold training for members on "treble damages" on May 28th – On April 14th, Senate Bill 1059 became law. The new law makes violations of Massachusetts wage and hour laws, including inadvertent violations, subject to mandatory treble damage awards. Treble damages were once awarded to only punish willful misconduct - this is no longer the case.

Our members are welcome to join us on May 28th at Plymouth Church in Framingham at 9 a.m. with Jeff Hirsch, Esq. from Robinson and Cole. Hirsch will give an update on this new law, its impact, and wage and hour compliance issues. We will also plan to cover related subjects such as the Independent Contractor laws. Please come with your questions.

The cost of the training is $35. If you are interested in attending, please see the attached form.

- House Ways & Means FY2009 Budget Proposal contains $23 million in Salary Reserve – The House Ways & Means Committee released its FY2009 budget proposal on April 16, and included $23 million in the salary reserve. They also designated the amount to go to human services workers making less than $40,000 per year. The Collaborative, of which the Providers' Council is a member, issued a statement on the budget early Wednesday afternoon. To read the statement, please click here.

- Senate Bill 65 favorably reported out of committee – S.65 is on the move! The bill, sponsored by The Collaborative and known as The Campaign to Strengthen Human Services, was favorably reported out of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday. The bill's next destination is the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.

We need your help now more than ever to keep advancing this landmark legislation! Please visit http://www.strengthenhumanservices.org today and send a letter to your legislators! Contact Bill Yelenak at the Providers' Council and volunteer to write a Letter to the Editor of your local newpspaer. We will help with the writing and editing of the letter, and anything else you might need. Visit our public policy and advocacy page to find out about a regional S.65 meeting in your area and make plans to attend!

The Providers' Council, the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations of Massachusetts make up The Collaborative, which is sponsoring the legisaltion. Click here for details.