Labor & Employment (Unemployment) in Massachusetts

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1938: An Act relative to the Department of Unemployment Assistance Advisory Council

By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1341) of Patricia D. Jehlen relative to the Department of Unemployment Assistance Advisory Council. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1412: An Act relative to workers' compensation

This bill amends Massachusetts workers' compensation law to clarify when benefits may be suspended. It directly affects injured workers who are medically cleared to return to work but refuse to do so. The key provision states that if a registered physician determines an employee is fit to return to work and the employee refuses, their right to compensation is suspended, and any compensation during that suspension period may be forfeited. The change creates a specific mechanism for withholding benefits when an employee declines a work opportunity deemed safe by a medical professional. This policy adjustment aims to align benefit eligibility with medical clearance and return-to-work obligations.

Topics ✗ Healthcare ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workers' Compensation

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 817: An Act relative to death benefits to surviving spouses of call and volunteer firefighters

This bill updates death benefit eligibility for surviving spouses of call and volunteer firefighters. It expands benefits to include children over 19 who are physically or mentally incapacitated from earning income. The bill also adjusts how health insurance premiums are covered, requiring the same rate as government retirees rather than full premium payment. These changes directly affect surviving spouses and dependent children of qualifying firefighters who pass away while serving.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4063: An Act to ensure fairness in retirement benefits for institutional teachers

This bill amends a section of Massachusetts law to expand retirement benefit eligibility for certain educators. It adds specific teaching and library positions - such as Teacher C/D/E, Education Specialist A/B/C/D, and Librarian A/B/C or equivalent roles - to the list of positions qualifying for retirement benefits after 10 years of service. The change directly affects institutional teachers and librarians holding these designated titles who have worked for a decade or more. The bill modifies an existing law section without altering benefit calculations, simply extending eligibility to these additional roles.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Libraries Teachers Retirement Benefits Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2270: An Act relative to the retirement benefits of certain employees of the department of mental health

This bill amends Chapter 32 of the General Laws to expand retirement benefit eligibility. It specifically adds "employees of the department of mental health within bargaining unit 8" to the list of eligible workers covered under the existing retirement provisions. The change directly affects mental health department employees in bargaining unit 8, who were previously excluded from this specific benefit. The key mechanism is a technical addition to the statutory language defining who qualifies for these retirement benefits. This is a narrow procedural adjustment to the law, not a broad policy change.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Retirement Benefits Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2199: An Act relative to public employee benefits for military service members on active duty

This bill amends Section 100A of Chapter 32 of the General Laws to clarify that public employee benefits for military service members on active duty apply to all deaths occurring while on active duty, regardless of whether the death was combat-related or not. It directly affects public employees who die during military service, ensuring their benefits coverage is not restricted to combat-related deaths. The key provision is a simple textual amendment to expand the scope of existing benefit eligibility under the law. This is a procedural clarification, not a new policy change.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Public Employees Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 220: An Act relative to workers' compensation disfigurement benefits concerning scarring

HD 220 amends Massachusetts workers' compensation law to adjust which body areas qualify for disfigurement benefits. It removes "or hands" from the coverage criteria and adds "distally to the elbows, or distally to the knees" to specify that scarring on limbs beyond the elbows or knees now qualifies. This change directly affects workers who suffer workplace injuries resulting in visible scarring on these specific limb areas. The bill modifies the existing benefit eligibility without creating new financial obligations or altering other compensation aspects. The amendment focuses solely on refining the scope of covered disfigurement injuries under current law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workers' Compensation

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3485: An Act relative to the department of unemployment assistance

This bill establishes a special team to review Massachusetts' Department of Unemployment Assistance, focusing on technology, fraud prevention, equitable access, and processing speed. The team, appointed by the labor secretary, must draft a reform action plan by July 1, 2025, including cost estimates for improvements. It also creates a dedicated "Unemployment Assistance Review Fund" to finance recommended changes using state appropriations, grants, or donations without requiring new legislation. The fund's annual activities must be reported to state lawmakers, ensuring transparency in how resources are applied to modernize the department.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1950: An Act related to Group Insurance Commission Trust Fund

This bill amends a state law to require that funds appropriated by the legislature, along with contributions from active and retired state employees, be deposited into the Group Insurance Commission Trust Fund. This fund provides health and other coverages offered by the Group Insurance Commission. The change clarifies where these specific funds must go to cover the insurance benefits, directly affecting state employees and retirees who contribute to the fund. It is a procedural adjustment to fund management, not a change to benefit eligibility or coverage levels.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1624: An Act relative to public safety employee death benefits

This bill (HD 1624) expands death benefit eligibility under existing law to include Department of Public Works (DPW) employees. It amends Section 100A of Chapter 32 by adding "and Department of Public Works employee" after "correction officer" in the current text. The change directly affects DPW employees whose families would now qualify for the same death benefits previously available only to correction officers. The amendment takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment

All labor & employment bills