Rep. Priscila Sousa

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws regarding how healthcare providers handle newborns who were exposed to substances in the womb. It clarifies that simply finding drugs in a baby does not automatically mean the parents are neglectful, but it does require doctors to report cases where there is a risk the parents cannot care for the child after leaving the hospital. The legislation also introduces a "Plan of Safe Care," which is a strategy to ensure the baby and family have access to necessary health and treatment services once the infant goes home. Additionally, the bill mandates that hospitals screen pregnant patients for substance use, notify state health officials about these births, and connect families with support services to address addiction and parenting needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows families receiving emergency shelter or transitional assistance in Massachusetts to immediately access childcare vouchers and early intervention services for children under three, regardless of whether they meet standard work requirements. It requires the Department of Transitional Assistance to provide a full-time childcare referral upon receiving a letter confirming shelter residency and mandates that children in these shelters automatically qualify for early intervention services for one year after entering or leaving shelter. Additionally, the law directs the relevant department to remove administrative barriers and establish new policies within 90 days to ensure these provisions are implemented effectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify that specific consumer protections do not apply to online car sales where the buyer signs the contract electronically away from the dealer's physical location. It directly affects automobile dealers holding a Class 1 license and consumers purchasing vehicles through these remote digital transactions. The key provision requires dealers to explicitly inform buyers in writing at the time of sale that these particular statutory protections are waived for such online agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a universal pre-kindergarten program in Massachusetts for all children aged 2 years and 9 months to 5 years who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten. The legislation mandates that the state department of education provide publicly funded pre-k services with a minimum of 30 hours per week in public or public charter schools. Key provisions include creating a new advisory council to oversee program quality and staffing, ensuring diverse representation among teachers, and setting minimum salary requirements for pre-k instructors. The bill aims to create equitable learning environments that support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of every young child in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to fund high-quality pre-kindergarten education for children aged two to kindergarten age in Massachusetts. To receive funding, school districts must partner with community programs and meet strict standards, including small class sizes, qualified teachers with competitive salaries, and inclusive practices for children with disabilities. Grants will be awarded based on a combination of community readiness and the percentage of high-need students in the district, with priority given to underperforming areas. Recipients must create detailed implementation plans, track student progress, and submit regular reports to ensure the programs improve third-grade reading scores and close achievement gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the definition of "capital construction project" in Massachusetts law to explicitly include public preschool facilities. It ensures that building, enlarging, or equipping public preschools, as well as renovating existing structures for preschool use, are treated as capital projects. This change directly affects how public preschool facilities are funded and classified within the state's education infrastructure. By updating the legal definition, the bill aligns preschool construction with other schoolhouse projects under existing capital project guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Universal Pre-Kindergarten Commission to study how Massachusetts can provide pre-kindergarten education to every three- and four-year-old child in the state. The commission will be led by the Department of Early Education and Care and include representatives from various sectors, such as private preschools, teachers' unions, and school superintendents, to analyze different program models and funding options. By December 31, 2024, the commission must submit a report with specific recommendations on how to expand access, ensure quality standards, and determine the most effective way to finance the program. Additionally, the bill mandates that any surplus funds remaining in the Convention Center Fund after covering its required expenses be transferred to the Department of Early Education and Care to support the expansion of pre-kindergarten offerings.

By Representatives Sousa of Framingham and Lewis of Framingham, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Priscila S. Sousa and Jack Patrick Lewis that the commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance be authorized to convey certain parcels of land in the city of Framingham to said city. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers working on large private construction projects in Massachusetts to publicly display specific compliance information at their job sites. It applies to residential developments with more than 10 units or commercial projects larger than 5,000 square feet that cost over $750,000. Under the new rules, employers must post a certificate showing they are registered and current on contributions, a notice with worker's compensation details, and a detailed log tracking who enters and leaves the site. Contractors and subcontractors must also provide these records to the Attorney General upon request for inspection.