Labor & Employment in Massachusetts

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1025: An Act relative to nonprofit institutions of higher education

SD 1025 modifies Massachusetts law to provide immunity from civil lawsuits for nonprofit institutions of higher education regarding wage payment timing. Specifically, it adds a provision stating that starting July 1, 2024, these institutions cannot be sued for paying employees monthly instead of more frequently, as long as this payment method aligns with the law. The bill directly affects nonprofit colleges and universities in Massachusetts by shielding them from legal claims related to their monthly payroll practices. This change creates a clear legal protection for these institutions concerning wage payment schedules under the specified section of the law.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1280: An Act codifying organizational standing

This bill (HD 1280) adds "public interest organizations" to Massachusetts law, defining them as non-profits working to combat discrimination, safeguard civil rights, or promote rights under Chapter 151B. It directly affects these non-profit groups by expanding their legal standing to file complaints or lawsuits. Key provisions allow such organizations to sue if their activities were impaired by unlawful practices, they were directly targeted, or they have a connection to those harmed by the violation. The bill clarifies that these groups can act as plaintiffs under existing civil rights laws without creating new rights.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1060: An Act relative to training tomorrow’s trucking industry workforce

SD 1060 establishes a state grant program to address workforce shortages in Massachusetts' commercial trucking industry by funding training and education initiatives. The program directly affects truck drivers, mechanics, technicians, and support staff, with a focus on creating opportunities for low-income individuals, women, minorities, and veterans. Key provisions require eligible applicants - like schools, employers, and workforce boards - to submit detailed proposals outlining training goals, evidence-based methods, and expected employment outcomes. The Department of Higher Education will oversee annual reviews and reports on participant numbers and job placements, while also mandating that motor vehicle permit applicants receive career information about trucking jobs.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Freight

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2073: An Act relative to public health volunteer responders

HD 2073 creates a state registry for volunteer health personnel (like nurses, EMTs, or public health workers) who can be activated during emergencies. The Department of Public Health will verify their licenses, require training, and establish a process to credential volunteers. During declared public health emergencies, state emergencies, or when local resources are exhausted, the commissioner can activate volunteers, granting them employee status for legal protections and benefits (like workers' compensation) under state law during their duty. This directly affects health volunteers who sign up for the registry and the state's emergency response capacity.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Health

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2343: An Act relative to a public health prevailing wage exemption

This bill exempts construction work on health care facilities and designated public health projects from prevailing wage requirements. It removes the need for contractors to pay local prevailing wages for projects involving health care facilities (as defined in state law) or other public health projects approved by the public health commissioner. The exemption specifically applies to the construction phase of these projects, meaning standard wage rules under Massachusetts law would not apply. This change directly affects construction workers and contractors working on qualifying health care and public health infrastructure projects in Massachusetts.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1960: An Act promoting safety in the use of off-highway vehicles

HD 1960 amends Massachusetts laws to clarify exemptions for emergency vehicle use during off-highway vehicle operations. The bill directly affects public safety personnel who use off-highway vehicles (like ATVs or snowmobiles) during emergencies. It adds a specific definition for "Emergency off-road vehicle" covering all such vehicles used by public safety during emergencies, and explicitly exempts these vehicles from certain regulations in Chapter 90B. This change ensures public safety personnel can use these vehicles for emergency response without being subject to standard off-highway vehicle restrictions.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2095: An Act providing for special death benefits to fallen public safety officers

This bill amends pension rules to ensure families of fallen public safety officers receive a minimum death benefit. It guarantees that for officers (police or firefighters) who died on or after December 1, 2010, the pension amount cannot be less than the salary they would have earned in the next pay grade step at the time of death. This applies to both regular officers and those in supervisory roles (e.g., police superior officers or fire officers). The change directly affects the dependents of qualifying public safety officers who died while on duty.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1661: An Act enabling all students to thrive: protecting a high quality, diverse educator workforce

This bill changes Massachusetts school layoff rules to protect teachers in high-need schools and diverse classrooms. It prevents schools from laying off certified teachers with professional status if a less qualified teacher (with or without professional status) holds the same position, unless the senior teacher is equally qualified. Teachers in high-need schools, those with "grow your own" program backgrounds, top-rated performers, or specific language skills (like Bilingual Endorsement) gain job protections during layoffs. The law requires schools to prioritize student needs and performance evaluations when making layoff decisions, and the education department must report by 2031 on whether it increases teachers of color. It applies directly to public school teachers and administrators in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1581: An Act providing fair and equitable line of duty death benefits for public employees

This bill amends Massachusetts law to provide a one-time $300,000 death benefit to families of public employees killed while performing their duties. It expands eligibility beyond "public safety employees" to include all public employees working for state/county government, public schools, universities, municipalities, or public authorities. The bill broadens the definition of "public employee" in related sections to ensure all qualifying workers are covered. This changes the existing benefit structure by standardizing the payment amount and extending coverage to a wider range of public sector workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2448: An Act to amend retirement benefits for certain employees of the Department of Youth Services

This bill updates retirement benefit eligibility to include all Bargaining Unit 8 employees in the Department of Youth Services, expanding coverage under existing retirement provisions. It specifically amends a section of law that previously listed other employee categories (like "supervising prison camp officer") by adding this new group. The change directly affects Bargaining Unit 8 employees by extending them the same retirement benefits previously available to other covered staff. No new benefits are created - only eligibility is expanded for this specific workforce.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Retirement Benefits Unemployment

All labor & employment bills