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Home My WebLink About2000-11-07 State Election WarrantCOMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I, on October 19, 2000 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this State Election Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1 J. Warren Killam School, 333 Charles Street Precinct 2 Registry of Motor Vehicles, 275 Salem Street Precinct 3 Reading Police Station, 15 Union Street Precinct 4 Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 5 Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street Precinct 6 Alice M. Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue Precinct 7 Reading Library, Local History Room, 64 Middlesex Avenue Precinct 8 Arthur W. Coolidge, Middle School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive The date of posting being not less than seven (7) days prior to November 7, 2000, the date set for the State Election in this Warrant. I also caused an attested copy of this warrant to be published in the Reading Daily Chronicle in the issue of October 24, 2000. A true copy. Attest: Cheryl A. Johnso own Clerk Daniel W. Halloran Jr., Constable STATE ELECTION WARRANT (Seal) COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To any of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and Town Affairs, to meet at the place designated for the eight precincts in said Town, namely: Precincts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A and 8B Hawkes Field House 62 Oakland Road TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2000 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to cast their votes in the State Election for candidates of political parties for the following offices: ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT - AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE COMMONWEALTH U. S. SENATOR FOR THE COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS....... 6th & 7th Middlesex Districts, all precincts COUNCILLOR 6th District, all precincts SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT 3ra Middlesex District, all precincts REPRESENTATIVES IN GENERAL COURT 21sT & 34TH Middlesex Districts CLERK OF COURTS Middlesex County, all precincts REGISTER OF DEEDS Middlesex Southern District, all precincts REGISTER OF PROBATE Middlesex County, all precincts NORTHEAST METROPOLITAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT...... Middlesex County, all precincts 6th Congressional District 7th Congressional District 21st Middlesex District 34th Middlesex District Precincts 1 & 8B Precincts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8A Precincts 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8A & 8B Precincts 3 & 5 QUESTIONS #1- Earlier Redistricting for State Legislators and Governor's Councillors #2 - Voting for Incarcerated Felons' #3 - Dog Racing #4 - Income Tax Rate Reduction #5 - Health Insurance and Health Care #6 - Tax Credit for Tolls and Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes #7 - Tax Deduction for Charitable Contributions #8 - Drug-Dependency Treatment and Drug-Crime Fines and Forfeitures and you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one (1) public place in each precinct of the Town not less than seven (7) days prior to November 7, 2000, the date set for the election in said Warrant, and to publish, this Warrant in a newspaper published in the Town. Hereof fail not to make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said voting. Given under our hands this 17th day of October, 2000. it An; YI2,- Mat J. Nestor, Chairman Geor V. Hines, Vice Chairman ~c y ' thony, Seefetary / 1'-f &,-I. . . lz-;- I-," lit e~L1A4A4LXEAA Matt w Cumming Sally M. oyt BOARD OF SELECTMEN A true copy. Attest: 61_.- heryl . . Johnso , Town Clerk Daniel W. alloran Jr., Constable STATE ELECTION November 7, 2000 Pursuant to the Warrant and the Constable's Return thereon, a State Election was held for all eight precincts 'at the Hawkes Field House. The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, Cheryl A. Johnson, when on motion of Mildred L. Barton, Precinct 1, it was voted to dispense with the further reading of the Warrant, except the Constable's Return, which was then read by the Town Clerk. The ballot boxes were examined by the respective Wardens and each found to be empty and registered 00. The Town Clerk declared the polls open at 7:00 a.m. and closed at 8:00 p.m., with the following results: 12,905 ballots (80%) of registered voters cast as follows: ELECTORS OF PR ESIDENT AN D VICE PRES IDENT - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total Browne and Olivier 14 5 11 12 10 7 8 3 4 74 Buchanan and Higgins, Sr. 7 3 2 3 4 5 4 0 9 37 Bush and Cheney 649 531 529 634 471 570 542 220 544 4690 Gore and Lieberman 908 872 831 848 817 881 843 264 731 6995 Hagelin and Tompkins. 0 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 8 Nader and LaDuke 87 86 102 89 72 100 103 15 71 725 Others 6 4 2 5 2 4 3 0 5 31 Blanks 47 62 35 39 33 29 48 21 31 345 Total 1718 1566, 1513 1631' 1409 1597 1552 524 1395 12905 SENATOR IN CONGRESS - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Edward M. Kennedy 1133 1033 1036 1047 948 1059 1036 326 893 8511 Carla A. Howell 209 191 174 216 178 201 188 61 160 1578 Jack E. Robinson, III 233 210 172 212 166 211 178 87 209 1678 Dale E. Friedgen 3 2 5 1 6 7 6 1 5 36 Philip Hyde, III 6 5 7 4 . 6 5 8 4 8 53 Philip F. Lawler 16 21 26 45 26 31 24 9 27 225 Others 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 0 3 10 Blanks 117 104 91 104 78 82 109 36, 90 811 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 1290211 REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS - SIXTH DISTRIC T - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total John F. Tierney 1045 846 1891 Paul McCarthy 520 433 953 Others 2 1 - 0 2 Blanks 151 116 267 Total 1718 1395 3113 REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS - SEVENTH DISTRICT - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 811 Total Edward J. Markey 1182 1116 1173 1046 1177 1181 370 7245 Others 6 3 10 9 12 6 0 46 Blanks 378 393 447 354 407 365 154 2498 Total 1566 1512 , 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 9789 COUNCILLO R - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total Michael J. Callahan 1068 1024 993 1001 896 1050 988 321 853 8194 Others 2 2 2 5 4 2 1 0 2 20 Blanks 648 540 517 624 509, 544 563 203 540 4688 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 SENATO R IN G ENERAL COURT - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total Richard R. Tisei 1175 1049 1008 1167 960 1103 1050 385 985 8882 Steve Spain 377 359 365 311 355 365 342 100 292 2866 Others 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 4 Blanks 166 158 139 151 92 128 159 39 118 1150 Total 1718 1566 1512 1 _ 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REPRESENTATIVE IN GEN'L COURT - 21st MIDDLESEX DIST - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 811 Total Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 1217 1111 0 1180 0 1132 1071 376 1002 7089 Others 4 1 0 18 0 3 2 0 5 33 Blanks 497 454 0 432 0 461 479 148 388 2859 Total 1718 15566 0 1630 0 1596 1552 524 1395 9981 REPRESENTATIVE IN GEN'L COURT - 34th MIDDLESEX DIST - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Paul C. Casey 739 736 1475 Michael J. Rotondi 658 573 1231 Others 0 1 1 Blanks 115 99 214 Total . 1512 1409 2921 CL ERK O F COU RTS - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Edward J. Sullivan 1058 1049 1001 993 936 1040 1009 329 845 8260 Others 1 2 1 3 3 1 0 0 2 13 Blanks 659 , 515 , 510 634 470 555 543 195 , 548 4629 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGISTER OF DEEDS - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Eugene C. Brune 1056 1013 979 972 878 1018 971 325 845 8057 Others 1 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 2 12 Blanks 661 551 531 656 529 577 581 199 548 4833 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGISTER OF PROBATE - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total John R.Buonomo 640 ' 591 612 543 524 591 550 196 528 4775 Lee Johnson 496 435 422 500 411 474 431 171 407 3747 Diane Poulos Harpell 221 216 189 223 203 220 218 56 165 1711 Others 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Blanks 361 324 289 364 271 311 353 101 295 2669 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE - CHE LSEA - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Michael T. Wall 1010 965 941 930 838 953 904 298 809 7648 Others 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 3 9 Blanks 708 599 570 700 569 642 , 648 226 583 5245 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SC HOOL COMM ITTEE - MALDEN - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Earl W. Fitzpatrick 988 936 914 905 807 926 882 286 783 7427 Others 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 8 Blanks 730 629 597 725 601 669 669 238 609 5467 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCH OOL COMM ITTEE - MEL ROSE - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total William C. Mahoney 998 937 918 907 812 920 883 281 769 7425 Others 1 4 1 0 1 2 0 0 3 12 Blanks 719 625 593 723 596 , 674 669 243 623, 5465 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL COM MITT EE - NORTH READING - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Paul L. Sweeney 1032 947 929 936 830 955 927 293 812 !76]61 Others 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 6 Blanks 686 618 582 694 578 , 640 625 231 581 5235 Total = 171,81 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL COMM ITTEE - READING - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Robert S. McCarthy 1075 1004 975 1034 879 1020 974 322 864 8147 Others 0 3 1 0 0 4 1 0 2 11 Blanks 643, 559, 536 596 530 572 577 202 529 4744 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SC HOOL COMMITTEE - REVERE - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total Ronald J. Jannino 691 640 614 605 571 651 593 189 545 5099 Gary G. Peluso 304 317 318 292 263 284 284 93 248 2403 Others 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 Blanks 723 609 580 733 575 660 673 242 602 5397 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCA TIONA L SCHOOL COMMITTEE - STONEHAM - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Anthony E. DeTeso 968 910 885 864 - 788 892 834 279 744 7164 Others 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 6 Blanks 750, 654 626 766 621 , 703 , 718 245 649 5732 Total 1718 __j5 6 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SC HOOL COMMITTEE - SAUGUS - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total Peter A. Rossetti, Jr. 936 884 864 830 766 859 813 261 717 6930 Others 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 8 Blanks 781 681 647 , 800 643 735 739 263 , 675 5964 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONA L SCHOOL COMMI TTEE - WAKEFIELD - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 813 Total Vincent J. Carisella 943 900 859 844 755 872 826 265 721 6985 Others 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 4 9 Blanks 775 665 652 785 654 722 726 259 670 5908 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCAT IONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE - WINCH ESTE R - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total John J. Bradley 931 883 854 854 762 868 842 261 725 6980 Others 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 5 Blanks 787 682 658 776 647 727 710 263 667 5917 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1_1409 t 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE - WINTHROP - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total James G. Wallace 907 861 861 846 765 868 834 268 722 6932 Others 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 8 Blanks 810 704 650, 784 644 726 718 256 670, 5962 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL COMM ITTEE - WOB URN - Vote for One Candidate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Deborah P. Davis 925 885 861 846 765 868 834 268 722 6974 Others 0 1 1 0 0 2 0. 0 3 7 Blanks 793 680 650 , 784 644, 726 , 718 256 670 5921 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 1 - PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION SUMMARY This proposed constitutional amendment would require that new district boundaries for state representatives, state senators, and governor's councillors, which are redrawn every ten years based on the most recent federal - census, take effect for the state election held two years after the federal census, rather than the election four years after the census as under the current system. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Yes 1204 1056 1045 1198 981 1159 1087 348 953 9031 No 393 382 348 330 345 358 330 121 342 2949 Blanks 121 128 119 102 83 79 135 55, 100 922 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 2 - PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION SUMMARY This proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit persons who are incarcerated in a corectional facility due to a felony conviction from voting in elections for governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative. The amendment would also result in such persons being ineligible to vote for governor's council secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state attorney general, or United States senator or representative in Congress. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Yes 1139 1028 623 1092 898 1081 988 361 958 8168 No 496 428 809 460 446 448 468 126 359 4040 Blanks 83 110 80 78 65 67 , 96 37 78 694 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 3 - LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION SUMMARY This proposed law would prohibit in Massachusetts any dog racing or racing meeting where any form of betting or wagering on the speed or ability of dogs occurs. The State Racing Commission would be prohibited from accepting or approving any application or request for racing. Any person violating the proposed law could be required to pay a civil penalty of not less than $20,000 to the State Racing Commission. The penalty would be used for the Commission's administrative purposes, subject to appropriation by the State Legislature. All existing provisions of the part of the state's General Laws concering dog and horse racing meetings would be interpreted as not applying to anything dog-related. The proposed law would take effect on June 1, 2001. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the rest of the law would stay in effect. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Yes 731 660 623 683 638 689 691 202 559 5476 No 908 802 809 880 718 852 778 290 767 6804 Blanks 79 104, 80 67 53 55 83 32 69 622 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 , 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 4 - LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION - SUMMARY This proposed law would repeal the law setting the state personal income tax rate on Part B taxable income (such as wages and salaries), which was 5.95% as of September 1, 1999 and would set the rate at 5.6% for tax year 2001.5.3% for tax year 2002, and 5% for tax year 2003 and after. If the Legislature set a lower rate for any of those years, that lower rate would apply. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would remain in effect. 1 2 3 .4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Yes 1053 898 864 970 792 935 897 312 853 7574 No 586 572 569 592 560 601 572 176 471 4699 Blanks 79 96 79 68 57 60 83 36 71 629 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 5 - LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION SUMMARY This proposed law would set up a state Health Care Council to review and recommend legislation for a health care system that ensures comprehensive, high quality health care coverage for all Massachusetts residents. Until the Council decided that such a system had been set up, the proposed law would prohibit the conversion of non-profit hospitals, health maintenance organizations (HMO's) and health insurance firms to for-profit status. The proposed law would also require health insurance carriers to provide certain rights to patients and health care professionals, starting January 1, 2001. The Council would recommend laws to set up, and would decide whether laws had been passed to ensure, a health care system that provides: barrier-free access to health care services; patients' freedom to choose their health care providers, get second opinions, and appeal denials of care; health care professionals' freedom to act solely in the best interest of their patients; affordable coverage, with cost increases no greater than national averages; preserving and increasing the quality of care and en- couraging research; at least 90% of all premiums to be used for patient care, public health, and training/research and no more than 10% for administrative costs, with simpler paperwork and administration; a prohibition of financial incentives that limit patient access to health care, and limits on incentives for inappropriate care. The Council would include 17 members representing health care and other organizations. It would hold public hear- ings, study proposals, and make recommendations to the state Commissioner of Public Health and the Legislature on laws and other steps needed to set up a system meeting the above requirements. The proposed law would also create a special legislative committee, including legislators and members of the Council, to make recommendations by September 30, 2001, for laws to set up a system meeting the above requirements by July 1, 2002. Starting January 1, 2001, the proposed law would require health insurance carriers to guarantee certain rights to their insured patients and to health care professionals. These rights would include: patients' right to choose all their health care providers, subject to the approval of a freely chosen primary care provider who has no financial incentive to deny care, and subject to payment of a reasonable extra fee to see a provider outside the carrier's network; health care professionals' right to make medical decisions in consultation with their patients; patients' right to transitional insurance coverage when they are undergoing a course of treatment from a health care provider whose contract with a carrier is being terminated; patients' right to medically neces- sary referrals to specialists; limits on and disclosure of contracts between carriers and health care providers that create financial incentives to delay or limit care or provide inappropriate care; health care professionals' right to discuss benefit plans with insured patients and to advocate on behalf of their patients; carriers could not termi- nate health care providers' contracts without cause; patients' right to receive emergency services, subject to authorization procedures, and to be reimbursed when they pay cash for emergency services from providers not affiliated with their carrier; utilization review procedures that meet specific standards, including patients' rights to appeal to the Commissioner of Public Health; in any year at least 90% of a carrier's Massachusetts revenue must be spent on Massachusetts health care, and a carrier that spent more than 10% for non-health care pur- poses would have to refund the excess to its insured patients. Each carrier would have to report its revenues, premiums, and expenditures to the state Commissioner of insurance every year. The proposed law states that it would not interfere with any existing contract, including contract terms (such as automatic renewal or option clauses) that may go into effect after January 1, 2001. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were de- clared invalid, the rest of the law would stay in effect. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total es 639 639 573 591 563 599 602 205 532 4943 No 982 817 838 954 775 923 836 277 785 7187 Blanks 97 110 101 85 71 74 14 H 1 42 78 772 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 -.596 552 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 6 - LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION SUMMARY his proposed law would allow a state personal income taxpayer a tax credit equal to the amount of tolls the tax payer paid during the taxable year on all Massachusetts roads, highways, tunnels, and bridges, including the Massachusetts Turnpike and its Boston Extension, the Tobin Bridge, and the Sumner, Callahan, and Ted Williams Tunnels. Also a corporation would be allowed a credit against its corporate excise taxes in an amount equal to all such tolls paid during the taxable year by the corporation or by its employees in furtherance of the corporation's business. The proposed law would also allow a state personal income taxpayer a tax credit equal to the amount of excise taxes on registered motor vehicles the taxpayer paid during the taxable year. A corpor- ation would be allowed a credit against its corporate excise taxes in an amount equal to all registered motor vehicle excise taxes the corporation paid during the taxable year. The tax credits could not be used to reduce a personal income taxpayer's taxes below zero or a corporate excise taxpayer's taxes below the minimum levels set by state law. Any amount of tax credit not usable in a taxable year because of these limits could be carried over and used in later taxable years, for up to ten years. The proposed law would apply to taxable years be- ginning on or after January 1, 2001. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Yes 704 594 624 664 540 618 589 210 551 5094 No 926 864 805 881 797 900 861 268 756 . 7058 Blanks 88 108 83 85 72 78 102 46 , 88 750 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 7 - LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION SUMMARY This proposed law would allow taxpayers who give-to charity a state personal income tax deduction for those charitable contributions. A taxpayer could take a deduction from any Part B income, including wages and salaries, of an amount equal to his or her charitable contributions for the year. The taxpayer could take the de- duction whether or not the taxpayer itemized deductions on his or her federal income tax return. The proposed law would apply to any contributions that met the definition of charitable contribution used under federal in- come tax law. The proposed law would apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Yes 1259 1071 1051 1280 989 1199 1129 390 1030 9398 No 374 390 388 279 369 337 336 102 295 2870 Blanks 85 105 73 71 51 60, 87 32 70 , 634 Total 1718 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 12902 QUESTION 8 - LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION SUMMARY This proposed law would create a state Drug Treatment Trust Fund, to be used, subject to appropriation by the state Legislature, solely for the treatment of drug-dependent persons. The Fund would include fines paid under the state's criminal drug laws; money forfeited because of its use in connection with drug crimes; and the pro- ceeds from selling property forfeited because of its use in connection with drug crimes. The Fund would be administered by the state's Director of Drug Rehabilitation. Money in the Fund would be spent to increase, rather than replace, existing government funding for drug treatment programs. Those programs would be ex- panded to apply to persons who are at risk of becoming drug-dependent and to include drug abuse prevention through education. The proposed law would expand eligibility for the program under which a person charged with a drug crime may request a court finding that he is drug-dependent and would benefit from court-moni- tored treatment. If the court so finds, and the person then successfully completes a treatment program, the crim- inal charges are dismissed. The proposed law would allow requests to enter this program by persons who are at risk of becoming drug dependent and by persons charged with a first or second offense of manufacturing, distri- buting, or dispensing a controlled substance, or possessing a controlled substance with the intent to do any of those things, or trafficking 14 to 28 grams of cocaine. The proposed law would change the state law governing forfeiture of money and property used in connection with drug crimes. Land and building could not be forfeited if used in a manner that was merely incidental to a drug crime. The state would have to prove by clear and con- vincing evidence that money or property was subject to forfeiture, and the property owner could then try to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the money or property was legally exempt from forfeiture. All forfeited money, instead of being divided between the prosecuting agency and responsible police department and used for law enforcement purposes, would be put in the Fund. All forfeited property, instead of being so dividided and used, would be sold and the proceeds put in the Fund. Records of all state and local forfeiture activities would have to be kept and made public unless harm to law enforcement efforts would result. The state Inspector General could audit and investigate these activities. Any official who concealed or diverted any forfeited money or property could be punished by a fine of up to $1000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the rest of the law would remain in effect. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8A 8B Total Yes 695 657 614 654 605 666 646 214 543 5294 No 928 801 809 889 739 864 807 266 767 6870 Blanks 95 108 89 87 65, 66 99 , 44, 85 738 Total 1718, 1566 1512 1630 1409 1596 1552 524 1395 11 12902 a true copy. Attest: i -/Cheryl. Johns ; Town Clerk