Labor & Employment (Workforce Development)

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 599: An Act to expand the doula workforce

This bill establishes the Maternal Health Justice Fund to expand access to doulas in Massachusetts. The fund, managed by the Department of Public Health, will provide scholarships for people seeking doula certification - prioritizing historically marginalized groups, low-income applicants, and those in areas with limited doula services - and support community-based doula programs and maternal health workforce development. It requires certification programs to meet specific competencies, including training on health equity, implicit bias, racism, and trauma-informed care. The fund will be financed through state appropriations and non-state sources like grants or donations, with unused funds carried forward annually.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds doula certification scholarships and workforce development, prioritizing marginalized groups, advancing employment opportunities in healthcare sector.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 471: An Act to further enhance behavioral health workforce development

This bill requires Massachusetts state departments to update job classifications to fully include Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors (LSMHCs) in their official job descriptions. It directly affects the Departments of Mental Health, Youth Services, Children and Families, Public Health, and Personnel Administration, as well as LMHCs and LSMHCs working in state roles. The key mechanism mandates that all relevant state job postings under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services must reflect these updated classifications by September 1, 2023. This change ensures state hiring practices formally recognize the full scope of practice for these mental health professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates inclusion of LMHCs/LSMHCs in state job classifications to enhance behavioral health workforce development, directly strengthening mental health services access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates inclusion of LMHCs/LSMHCs in state job classifications, ensuring proper employment standards for these workers in state roles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Mental Health Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 73: An Act relative to the structure of the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board

This bill (SD 73) restructures the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board by changing how its three members are appointed. The governor appoints one member chosen from a labor list provided by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, one from a municipal management list provided by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and one neutral member. Members serve staggered five-year terms (with terms ending every two years to ensure continuity) and no more than two can share the same political party. The board operates independently from the executive office of labor and workforce development, except for sharing non-interfering information as requested by the labor secretary.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExplicitly includes labor representation via AFL-CIO list for board appointments, strengthening worker input in employment relations governance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 853: An Act related to educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults

HD 853 requires state prisons and county correctional facilities to provide specific educational programming for incarcerated individuals aged 18-25 who lack a high school diploma or equivalent. The bill mandates at least one high school equivalency program (like HiSET) with testing, plus specialized classes in college readiness, vocational training, or workforce development. Facilities must offer a minimum of four hours of daily educational programming, with at least four hours spent in group settings (not in cells), and maximize in-cell tablet learning as supplemental time. This directly affects emerging adults in custody by expanding access to credentials and skills training to support reentry.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates educational programming in corrections for incarcerated youth to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates educational programming for incarcerated youth, expanding access to high school equivalency and workforce training programs in correctional facilities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates vocational training and workforce development for incarcerated individuals, directly supporting re-entry employment and improving workforce readiness, aligning with Labor & Employment goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Career & Technical Education Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 126: An Act to establish an office of youth development

This bill establishes a state Office of Youth Development within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to address critical issues affecting urban youth aged 7-18 in specific Massachusetts cities (including Boston, Springfield, and Worcester). It creates after-school, weekend, and year-round programs focused on reducing violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and school disengagement through practical skill-building, job training, and community coordination. The programs, delivered via contracts with community health centers, will integrate research-based approaches and include components like court diversion, community coordination, and youth worker certification. The initiative is funded through a dedicated state fund for five years to implement pilot services across targeted communities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes youth programs targeting violence reduction, a core criminal justice reform goal. Focus on prevention aligns with reducing recidivism and addressing root causes of crime, directly advancing reform efforts.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates after-school/youth programs targeting school disengagement through skill-building and community coordination, directly enhancing student engagement and educational access for K-12 youth.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes youth job training programs through Office of Youth Development, directly supporting workforce preparation and employment standards for at-risk youth.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 148: An Act relative to the structure of the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board

HD 148 restructures Massachusetts' Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) by establishing a new 3-member board appointed by the governor. The board will include one member chosen from a list provided by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO (representing organized labor), one from a list provided by the Massachusetts Municipal Association (representing municipal management), and one neutral member. Members serve 5-year terms with staggered expirations (every 2 years), and no more than two members can share the same political party. The bill also clarifies the board's independence from the executive office of labor and workforce development, limiting oversight to reasonable information sharing that doesn't interfere with its operations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates labor representation (AFL-CIO) on CERB, strengthening worker voice in employment relations governance per bill's structure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3501: An Act relative to healthcare industry recruitment and education for the 21st Century

This bill creates a 23-member Healthcare Industry Recruitment and Education Advisory Council to advise state agencies on workforce development strategies and establishes the HIRE Fund, financed by excise taxes and other sources. The fund must allocate at least 30% annually through competitive grants to support healthcare education, including facility upgrades, expanded health science programs, faculty pipelines, and culturally competent curricula in low-income schools. It specifically targets increasing diversity in healthcare careers by prioritizing grants for underrepresented youth through summer internships, mentorship, and partnerships with healthcare providers. The bill directly affects healthcare education institutions, K-12 schools in underserved areas, and underrepresented student populations seeking healthcare careers. The council must submit annual recommendations by March 31, including draft legislation to implement its findings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes HIRE Fund financed by excise taxes to fund healthcare education grants, directly advancing public service funding through tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates 30% of HIRE Fund for healthcare education, including expanded health science programs and culturally competent curricula in low-income K-12 schools, directly funding educational access and curriculum.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates HIRE Fund with 30% annual grants for healthcare education, facility upgrades, and workforce development programs targeting medical professionals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds healthcare workforce development through education grants, directly advancing employment standards via skill-building and job readiness programs in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2275: An Act to promote economic mobility through ESOL

SD 2275 creates a new ESOL for economic mobility coordinator position within Massachusetts' Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The coordinator must develop a statewide strategy to help workers with limited English proficiency (LEP), particularly newly-arrived and underemployed individuals, gain English skills needed for in-demand jobs. Key provisions include a 90-day pilot program to rapidly expand ESOL access, increased state funding (specifically $13 million allocated), and annual reporting on metrics like participants served, job placements, and program growth. The bill requires collaboration with employers, community organizations, and state agencies to align ESOL efforts with workforce needs without diminishing existing programs.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds ESOL programs for LEP workers, including newly-arrived immigrants, to enhance job readiness and integration through state-funded language access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $13M for ESOL programs targeting LEP workers to gain skills for in-demand jobs, directly advancing workforce development and employment opportunities within Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1725: An Act relative to workplace psychological safety

By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1347) of Robyn K. Kennedy, Dylan A. Fernandes, Michael D. Brady and Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to ensure workplace psychological safety by deeming workplace bullying an unlawful practice. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDeems workplace bullying unlawful, directly protecting workers' psychological safety under Labor and Workforce Development, aligning with workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 18, 2025

S 1298: An Act creating fairness in workers' compensation disfigurement benefits

By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1298) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation relative to fairness in worker’s compensation disfigurement benefits. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly creates fairness in workers' compensation disfigurement benefits under Labor and Workforce Development, directly expanding and protecting worker benefits related to workplace injuries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

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