mass essential workers bill

If you need assistance, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Workers who support the essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Military. Massachusetts Gov. Employees of companies engaged in the production, storage, transport, and distribution of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including seeds, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids. The $3.65 billion package also includes $500 million in bonuses to both private- and public-sector essential workers who worked in-person during the Covid-19 state of emergency. Workers performing mortuary funeral, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services, including at funeral homes, crematoriums, cemeteries, and coffin makers. Relative to promoting comprehensive transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. Relative to opportunities for improving pollinator health. Checks will be mailed automatically to eligible individuals regardless of what type of industry or business they work for with no type of application or action needed on behalf of Massachusetts essential workers themselves. Transportation safety inspectors, including hazardous material inspectors and accident investigator inspectors. Natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel processing plants, including construction, maintenance, and support operations. Did you qualify to receive the $500 essential worker payment? The panel would offer its recommendations on eligibility no later than Feb. 1, 2022. Staff at government offices who perform title search, notary, and recording services in support of mortgage and real estate services and transactions. Charlie Bakersaid in late October that he's generally supportive of the bonuses, saying that "this is something that is the right thing to do." Workers including truck drivers, railroad employees and contractors, maintenance crew, and cleaners supporting transportation of chemicals, hazardous, medical, and waste materials to support critical infrastructure, capabilities, functions, and services, including specialized carriers, crane and rigging industry workers. Providing services related to energy sector fuels (including, but not limited, petroleum (crude oil), natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, other liquid fuels, nuclear, and coal), supporting the mining, processing, manufacturing, construction, logistics, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, security, waste disposal and storage, and monitoring of support for resources. Massachusetts / CBS Boston. Workers performing information technology and cybersecurity functions at healthcare and public health facilities, who cannot practically work remotely. Mass transit, freight and passenger rail workers, including contracted vendors, providing transit services and/or performing critical or routine maintenance to rail or mass transit infrastructure or equipment. Installation, maintenance and repair technicians that establish, support or repair service as needed. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including truck drivers, bus drivers, dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, Registry of Motor Vehicle (RMV) employees, towing/recovery services, roadside assistance workers, intermodal transportation personnel, and workers who maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-jurisdiction travel). Thank you for your website feedback! Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity. Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed to manufacture medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "The one-time investments made in this bill address evident needs across all Massachusetts communities and sectors of the economy, particularly those who were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," House Speaker Ron Mariano said in a statement. Residential and commercial real estate services, including settlement services. 25, 2022, 1:30 p.m. Environment and Natural Resources. Environment and Natural Resources. Local and state inspectors and administrative support of inspection services who are responsible for the inspection of elevators, escalators, lifts, buildings, plumbing and gas fitting, electrical work, and other safety related professional work. An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers By Representative Zlotnik of Gardner and Senator Velis, a joint petition Workers supporting the construction of housing, including those supporting government functions related to the building and development process, such as inspections, permitting and plan review services that can be modified to protect the public health, including allowing qualified private third-party inspections accountable to government agencies). contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Financial Services. They continued to do their jobs, often exhibiting flexibility and creativity and an effort to ensure that those needs were met. Workers who are needed to maintain orderly market operations to ensure the continuity of financial transactions and services. Relative to health insurance consumer deductibles. "I'm glad it's here," Baker said at a Friday news conference. Half a million low-income workers will be the first to get the payments, which are being mailed out over the next week. HD5038/SD 2921- An Act to provide liability protections for contractors, sub-contractors and unions during the COVID-19 Pandemic: would indemnify contractors and unions for not completing their work because of abnormally dangerous working conditions, Click here to find contact information for your elected representatives to demand they support the above bills. Bill S.1195 192nd (2021 - 2022) An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. Environment and Natural Resources. Spending may be reallocated between different federal funding sources, or between federal sources and state sources. Operational staff for water distribution and testing. Central office personnel to maintain and operate central office, data centers, and other network office facilities, critical support personnel assisting front line employees. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Scientific researchers in higher education completing in-process research to ensure health and safety and to prevent the loss of essential data, Workers who support the design, production and distribution of educational materials or technologies for the use of educators or students in distance learning during the state of emergency. Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains, including workers at chemical manufacturing plants, workers in laboratories, workers at distribution facilities, workers who transport basic raw chemical materials to the producers of industrial and consumer goods, including hand sanitizers, food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, paintings and coatings, textiles, building materials, plumbing, electrical, and paper products. Massachusetts essential workers will soon receive $500 payments from the commonwealth. Massachusetts We will use this information to improve this page. Workers who are critical to facilitating trade in support of the national, state and local emergency response supply chain. For legislation to reduce single-use plastics from the environment. Dispatchers involved with service repair and restoration. Air transportation employees, including air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel, ramp workers, aviation and aerospace safety, security, and operations personnel and accident investigations. Instrumentation, protection, and control technicians. Title; H.3900 : An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities Propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel distribution centers. Factors that A&F considers in matching spending with funding sources include eligibility rules,spending deadlines,the availability of new funding sources, and compliance risks. The $500 payments, comprising the first phase of the $460 million COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program, are funded through federal coronavirus relief dollars. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. WebWorkers supporting essential maintenance, manufacturing, design, operation, inspection, security, and construction for essential products, services, and supply chain and Support to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste, recycling, and hazardous waste, including landfill operations. Workers providing electronic point of sale support personnel for essential businesses and workers. March 1, 2023. You may opt-out by. Operational staff at community water systems. FFOs role in compliance for federal funds, including compliance resources for municipalities and state agencies. "The recommendations shall prioritize lower-income essential workers who performed essential duties in-person since the start of the state of emergency declared by the governor on March 10, 2020," the bill states. Workers supporting the production of protective cleaning and medical solutions, personal protective equipment, disinfectants, fragrances, and packaging that prevents the contamination of food, water, medicine, among others essential. As the federal government issues guidance and as the priorities change, A&F adapts its strategy for allocating funds in order to maximize the amount of federal funds available to the Commonwealth. Workers and security staff involved in nuclear re-fueling operations. If you do not receive a check, you may be eligible for a future round of premium payments, according to the Baker administration. That round will be based off 2021 tax returns, though logistical details including the amount of the next payment remain an open question. WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller noted, $25,000 for a marker commemorating the designers of Riverbend Park in Cambridge, Restoring obscure historic buildings in out-of-the-way spots, like $75,000 for the Wilder Homestead in Buckland, $40,000 for the Jenkes Store in Douglas, and $50,000 to spruce up a gazebo in Townsend, $85,000 to improve The Brookline Chamber of Commerce website (, $200,000 to spruce up the middle school field soccer field in Hanson, $5 million to cover debts at the Edward Kennedy Institute. Workers providing personal and household goods repair and maintenance. Retail customer service personnel at critical service center locations for onboarding customers, distributing and repairing equipment and addressing customer issues in order to support individuals remote emergency communications needs, supply chain and logistics personnel to ensure goods and products are on-boarded to provision these front-line employees. Baker's administration and an advisory panel would determine who exactly qualifies as an "essential worker." And left out of Zlotniks proposal is a recognition that the states main retirement fund is 64% funded, and the teachers fund, 52%, as of 2019. Please let us know how we can improve this page. If so, are you experiencing problems? State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Essential employees who worked in-person throughout the pandemic could be cashing in on taxpayer-funded bonuses of up to $2,000 under a $3.65 billion plan by House lawmakers. Operational staff and technical support for SCADA Control systems. They estimate the bills cost at in the billions of dollars and point to a massive boost even for a single individual, the president of the University of Massachusetts, whose lifetime pension benefit would increase by $790,750. Workers who support the operation, inspection, and maintenance of essential dams, locks and levees. Critical government workers, as defined by the employer and consistent with Continuity of, Workers that provide services for or determine eligibility for public benefits such as subsidized health care, food and feeding programs, residential and congregate care programs, shelter, in-home supportive services, child welfare, juvenile justice programs, adult protective services and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals (including family members), Professional services (such as legal, accounting and tax preparation) and payroll and employee benefit services when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities and critical sector services or where failure to provide such services during the time of the order would result in significant prejudice, Commercial retail stores that supply essential sectors, including convenience stores, pet supply stores, auto supplies and repair, hardware and home improvement, and home appliance retailers, Workers and instructors supporting academies or training facilities and courses or assessments for the purpose of graduating or certifying, during the duration of the state of emergency, healthcare personnel, cadets, and other workers who are critical to the ongoing response to COVID-19. Workers who maintain, ensure, or restore, or are involved in the reliable development, transportation, fuel procurement, expansion, or operation of the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, including call centers, utility workers, engineers, retail electricity, constraint maintenance, and fleet maintenance technicians- who cannot perform their duties remotely. Workers performing security, incident management, and emergency operations functions at or on behalf of healthcare entities including healthcare coalitions, who cannot practically work remotely. Charlie Baker's desk in time for Thanksgiving, the State House News Service reports. WebTo the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers. Workers supporting the distribution of food, pharmaceuticals (including materials used in radioactive drugs) and other medical materials, fuels, chemicals needed for water or water treatment and energy. Massachusetts Essential Workers Bill "Massachusetts was already behind most of the country in utilizing these funds before the latest setback, and further delay will only continue to leave residents, small businesses and hundreds of organizations frozen out from the support the rest of the country is now tapping into to recover from this brutal pandemic. Similar Bills. And, again, 126 state representatives and 23 state senators were willing to sign onto this because the symbolism of the gesture was more important than assessing whether it was a financially responsible decision. Essential Worker Bill of Rights in Massachusetts - MassCOSH Manufacturer workers for health manufacturing (including biotechnology companies), materials and parts suppliers, logistics and warehouse operators, distributors of medical equipment (including those who test and repair), personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation barriers, medical gases, pharmaceuticals (including companies and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology therapies, and medical devices, diagnostics, equipment and services) (including materials used in radioactive drugs), dietary supplements, blood and blood products, vaccines, testing materials, laboratory supplies, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting or sterilization supplies, and tissue and paper towel products. Farmers, farm workers, and agribusiness support services to include those employed in auction and sales: grain and oilseed handling, processing and distribution; animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically and for export. Recent and Popular Bills - malegislature.gov Please limit your input to 500 characters. The Massachusetts Essential Worker Pension Boost Bill H.2808 - malegislature.gov Pharmacy employees necessary to maintain uninterrupted prescription filling. Lawmakers Unable To Reach Deal On Spending Bill That / CBS Boston. In Joint Session, January 5, 2023 -- Communication from Her Excellency the Governor, Maura T. Healey, submitting her inaugural address. We will use this information to improve this page. WebEssential Worker Bill of Rights in Massachusetts All workers deserve proper health and safety protections, protection from retaliation, access to free testing and treatment for Requests by businesses to be designated an essential function should only be made if they are NOT covered by the guidance. Whats more, nowhere in any of the discussion does Zlotnik or any of the bills supporters suggest that among the revisions would be any notion that the state should pay for the added cost up-front. Please do not include personal or contact information. Workers who support weather disaster / natural hazard mitigation and prevention activities. BOSTON (CBS) -- Massachusetts is one step closer to giving bonuses of up to $2,000 to essential employees who showed up to work in-person during the COVID Any questions can be directed to covid19.biz@mass.gov. Trade Officials (FTA negotiators; international data flow administrators). Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for agricultural production and distribution. But there were reportedly differences in priorities for spending in areas such as public health, youth jobs, education and water and sewer infrastructure. / CBS Boston. Theres $400 million for mental and behavioral health programs and $600 million for investments in affordable, accessible and supportive housing. It is in recognition of that effort that we offer this bill., However, at the time, Rep. Ken Gordon questioned Zlotnik on whether or not a financial or fiscal analysis had been conducted relative to the cost that would be incurred if the legislation was signed into law, and Zlotnick admitted that no such calculation had been made, and Zlotnik said he recognizes that many details associated with the proposal still need to be contemplated.. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Senate Wednesday night unanimously approved a $3.82 billion package that aims to spend billions in federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. Workers in other medical and biomedical facilities (including Ambulatory Health and Surgical, Blood Banks, Medical Clinics, Community Mental Health Centers, Comprehensive Outpatient rehabilitation, Methadone/OBOT Clinics, 24 hour Diversionary and Residential Behavioral Health Providers, End Stage Renal Disease, Health Departments, Home Health care, Hospices, Hospitals, Rest Homes, Assisted Living Residences, Nursing Care Facilities, Organ Pharmacies, Procurement Organizations, Psychiatric Residential, Residential Treatment Schools, Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, State Hospitals, licensed medical marijuana retailers, and retail facilities specializing in medical good and supplies). Maritime transportation workers, including dredgers, port workers, mariners, ship crewmembers, ship pilots and tug boat operators, equipment operators (to include maintenance and repair, and maritime-specific medical providers), ship supply, chandler, and repair companies. Workers who manage health plans, billing, and health information, who cannot practically work remotely. Workers critical to rental and leasing of vehicles and equipment that facilitate continuity of operations for essential workforces and other essential travel. The legislation suggests that those eligible may include but not be limited to health care workers, long-term care workers, public health staff, childcare workers, educators and school staff, farm workers, food production workers, grocery store and other service workers, transportation workers, utility workers and foster care parents. State workers who repo Ethanol and biofuel production, refining, and distribution. Relative to parental rights in education. First published on November 18, 2021 / 10:10 AM. Bill S.1195 Data center operators, including system administrators, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, IT managers and purchasers, data transfer solutions engineers, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators, for all industries (including financial services). In subsequent reporting, government watchdog group The Pioneer Institute voiced its opposition. https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator, Massachusetts Coalition For Occupational Safety And Health, Families of Fallen Workers Support Services, https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator, Worker Health and Safety Agenda for the 2021 Legislative Session, Essential Worker Bill of Rights in Massachusetts, Act to Prevent Wage Theft, Promote Employer Accountability, and Enhance Public Enforcement. Food service workers in residential schools with students who are unable to leave campus. Employees of firms providing services, supplies, and equipment that enable warehouse and operations, including cooling, storing, packaging, and distributing products for wholesale or retail sale or use. This legislation will: Set up the Essential Employee Premium Pay Program to provide direct financial support to essential workers in Massachusetts. The unprecedented challenges we are experiencing have laid bare how intertwined public health and the economy truly are; how absolutely vital working people are to keeping every family safe, secure, healthy and fed; and how critical economic safety Please let us know how we can improve this page. Petroleum and petroleum product operations control rooms/centers and refinery facilities. Please enter valid email address to continue. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Workers providing electronic security, fire, monitoring and life safety services, and to ensure physical security, cleanliness and safety of facilities and personnel, including temporary licensing waivers for security personnel to work in other States or Municipalities. Massachusetts Will those sponsors be willing to vote down the measure? Bay Staters who received any unemployment compensation in 2020 wont receive a $500 check, according to the Baker administration. 23 out of 40 Massachusetts state senators support it by signing on as co-sponsors. It's possible that a deal could be made on how to spend billions in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars during a legislative break, but the News Service reports that it may be on hold until 2022. Both chambers were in agreement on allocating $500 million for the state's unemployment trust fund and another half a billion dollars for the bonuses in the $3.8 billion package. Massachusetts Legislature Passes $4 Billion Spending COVID Essential Pay Program: Which Massachusetts Workers who conduct community-based public health functions, conducting epidemiologic surveillance, compiling, analyzing and communicating public health information, who cannot practically work remotely. Workers responsible for operating and dispatching passenger, commuter and freight trains public transportation and buses and maintaining rail and transit infrastructure and equipment. Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting other critical government operations. An advisory panel will determine which essential workers qualify for the bonuses. Workers responsible for handling property management, maintenance, and related service calls who can coordinate the response to emergency at-home situations requiring immediate attention, as well as facilitate the reception of deliveries, mail, and other necessary services. Propane gas storage, transmission, and distribution centers. Use this button to show and access all levels. Maintenance of communications infrastructure- including privately owned and maintained communication systems- supported by technicians, operators, call -centers, wireline and wireless providers, cable service providers, satellite operations, Internet Exchange Points, Points of Presence, Network Access Points, back haul and front haul facilities, and manufacturers and distributors of communications equipment. Workers supporting transportation via inland waterways such as barge crew, dredging, river port workers for essential goods. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Organizations and workers responsible for the care and custody of animals, pets and livestock. The Massachusetts Essential Worker Pension Boost Proposal Is A Case Study In Public Pension Failures More From Forbes Mar 19, 2023,03:11pm EDT Clean 1195) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to provide hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration. Published: Mar. Restaurant carry-out and quick serve food operations, including dark kitchen and food prep centers, and carry-out and delivery food employees. Bill S.1669 The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bills & Laws Budget Legislators Hearings & Events Committees & Commissions State House Bill S.1669 192nd (2021 - 2022) An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers Workers in dependent care services, in support of workers in other essential products and services. BOSTON (CBS) -- The Massachusetts Senate on Friday followed the lead of the House and unanimously passed a $4 billion spending bill that includes half a billion Personnel working for companies, and their subcontractors, who perform under contract or sub-contract to the Department of Defense, as well as personnel at government-owned/contractor- operated and government-owned/government-operated facilities, and who provide materials and services to the Department of Defense, including support for weapon systems, software systems and cybersecurity, defense and intelligence communications and surveillance, space systems and other activities in support of our military, intelligence and space forces. Massachusetts House unveils $3.65 billion ARPA, surplus spending bill Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health (including those involved in supporting emergency veterinary or livestock services); raising of animals for food; animal production operations; livestock markets; slaughter and packing plants, manufacturers, renderers, and associated regulatory and government workforce. The legislation Baker signed into law called for payments of between $500 and $2,000 for essential employees who worked in-person not remotely during the Blood and plasma donors and the employees of the organizations that operate and manage related activities. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Massachusetts Essential Workers Bill of Rights. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. A lock icon ( Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Gov. It is not even clear whether he would have pursued any cost analysis, had he not been called out on this. Workers in laundromats, laundry services, and dry cleaners. But the legislation, a bill to pay a bonus retirement credit to in-person public workers in that state, is still a terrible proposal.
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