Labor & Employment in Massachusetts

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 433: An Act relative to non-fault unemployment insurance overpayments

HD 433 modifies Massachusetts' unemployment insurance rules for overpayments. It limits deductions from future benefits to 10% of the weekly rate for recipients not at fault, sets a 3-year deadline for recovery in such cases, and expands waiver eligibility for people on public assistance (like SNAP or TAFDC) or facing financial hardship. The bill also requires a 60-day waiting period before collections begin and clarifies when overpayments must be waived due to department errors or specific hardship situations (e.g., pandemic-era payment mistakes). It directly affects unemployment benefit recipients who received overpayments through no fault of their own.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2405: An Act relative to fairness in debt collection

HD 2405, "An Act relative to fairness in debt collection," protects consumers facing debt collection by setting clear limits on wage garnishment. It exempts 90% of a consumer's gross weekly wages (or 65 times the state/federal minimum wage) from attachment for consumer debt, with an additional hardship exemption available through a court process. The bill also prohibits employers from firing or refusing to hire workers due to garnishments and sets a 5-year statute of limitations for debt collection actions. These provisions apply to most personal debts (like credit cards or medical bills) but exclude mortgages, homeowner fees, and child support.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3058: An Act establishing parking cash-out

HD 3058 requires employers with 10 or more employees to offer a "parking cash-out" program instead of providing free or subsidized parking. Under this law, employees who choose not to use employer-provided parking can receive equivalent financial benefits - such as transit subsidies, cash, or a mix - equal to the current market cost of parking. Employers must calculate this cost based on nearby public parking rates or, if unavailable, the lowest-priced transit option within a quarter-mile, adjusting annually using the Consumer Price Index. The bill directly affects employers (excluding those with union contracts requiring parking or vehicle-reimbursed roles) and their employees who currently receive parking benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3047: An Act to provide public safety telecommunicators with the same internal benefits as first responders

This bill (HD 3047) requires public safety telecommunicators - emergency call dispatchers who handle 911 and non-emergency calls for police, fire, and medical services - to receive the same internal benefits as first responders. These benefits include health coverage, retirement plans, and other agency-provided perks, but the bill explicitly states that telecommunicators' compensation and pension benefits will remain unchanged. It applies to all dispatchers employed by public safety agencies, including those who supervise others in this role. The policy change ensures these critical frontline staff receive equitable internal support without altering their current pay or retirement terms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 216: An Act providing worker compensation protection to emergency response and medical personnel related to COVID-19 infection

This bill (HD 216) changes worker compensation rules for healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 on the job. It states that for any claim where an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, it is automatically presumed they were performing regular duties, the claim is valid under the law, and proper notice was given. The law specifically covers healthcare employees and non-medical staff at hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and at-home care workers. This shifts the burden of proof to employers in such claims, making it easier for these workers to receive compensation.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Workers' Compensation

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 96: An Act relative to apprenticeship programs

This bill requires construction contractors and subcontractors working on specific public projects to use approved apprenticeship programs. Within 30 days of winning a contract, they must join or maintain a state or U.S. Department of Labor-approved program and employ registered apprentices throughout the project. By January 1, 2025 (for most contracts), approved programs must have graduated at least three apprentices to journey worker status in the past five years. Contractors must submit written compliance proof and program details to the attorney general within 45 days of contract award. It affects all trade contractors on eligible construction, reconstruction, maintenance, or repair projects under specified state laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 956: An Act protecting Massachusetts workers

Massachusetts bill SD 956 requires employers with state business licenses to verify all new employees' work authorization using the federal E-Verify program. It prohibits employers from intentionally or knowingly hiring unauthorized workers, including those contracted through independent contractors. The law establishes a complaint process where workers or others can report violations without providing Social Security numbers, with investigations handled by the Attorney General or District Attorneys. Employers found violating the law must terminate unauthorized employees' work and face penalties, while all immigration status checks must be confirmed through federal authorities, not state officials.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4057: An Act relative to the employment of persons with disabilities

This bill requires that any Massachusetts state or local government contract receiving state funds must employ up to 2% of workers with disabilities, provided the contractor employs at least 75 full-time equivalent workers. It specifically applies to service contracts for janitorial, landscaping, food services, facility management, and other similar work. The law defines "individuals with disabilities" broadly to include various physical and mental conditions, and mandates that agencies like the Massachusetts Office on Disability will implement the rule within one year of contract award. Contractors must also use nonprofit employment providers to support workers with disabilities, while minimizing displacement of current workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags People with Disabilities

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 86: An Act assisting low-income students success through work-study

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Community College Career Pathways Trust Fund to support low-income students, particularly those receiving Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), in earning certificates or associate degrees. It creates education opportunity coordinators at every community college to help students access career planning, financial aid, childcare, and work-study programs. The fund provides state work-study jobs (capped at 15 hours/week) at colleges, career-related off-campus sites, or community service roles, prioritizing TAFDC recipients. Annual reports will track student enrollment, success rates, and post-graduation employment to evaluate the program’s effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Early Childhood Student Financial Aid

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2273: An Act relative to meeting human service demand by modernizing incentives for the direct care workforce

SD 2273 sets new wage standards for direct care workers in Massachusetts human services programs. It requires that direct care staff salaries meet or exceed the 75th percentile of similar jobs in the state (per Bureau of Labor Statistics), with proportional increases for front-line staff like case managers and supervisors. The bill also changes how fringe benefits and payroll costs are calculated, benchmarking them to health/education sector costs instead of the Consumer Price Index. It applies to human services providers and state agencies contracting for these services, with a planning process beginning July 1, 2025. The law ensures these wage adjustments won’t reduce funding for existing social service programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

All labor & employment bills