Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Program, a state-run retirement savings initiative designed for private-sector employees who currently lack access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. The program primarily affects employers with at least 25 employees and at least two years of operation that have not offered a qualified retirement plan in the past two years, as well as smaller employers who may opt in. Key provisions include creating a new board to administer the program and setting up a trust fund to hold individual retirement accounts funded through automatic payroll deductions. The legislation defines specific terms related to employees, wages, and eligible employers to ensure clarity in participation requirements and operational procedures.
Rep. Sam Montaño
Sponsored bills
By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 9) of Joan Meschino and others for legislation to create a climate bank to facilitate innovative financing solutions for climate and clean energy innovations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Financial Services.
By Representative Muratore of Plymouth, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Mathew J. Muratore and others for legislation to authorize insurance coverage for prosthetic devices and orthotic devices. Financial Services.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Children and Families to actively identify and apply for federal benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income, on behalf of children in foster care. It mandates that the department manage these funds as a representative payee, ensuring money is used for the child's unmet needs and saved in special accounts to protect eligibility limits. The legislation also establishes strict rules prohibiting the use of these benefits to pay for the child's foster care placement and requires the department to provide regular financial updates to the child and their legal counsel. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for transitioning these funds to the child or a new payee when the youth ages out of the system or reunifies with their family.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to help Massachusetts communities address contamination in drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other environmental media. The fund will be financed through recovered amounts from lawsuits or settlements against manufacturers and sellers of PFAS-containing products, along with other designated transfers and donations. Expenditures from the fund will prioritize vulnerable environmental justice populations and can be used to provide grants to municipalities, counties, and health boards for remediation projects, treatment systems, and private well assistance. The law also establishes rules requiring grant recipients to repay the fund if they later recover costs from liable third parties and prohibits funding for projects caused by the applicant's own negligence.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes parity for substance abuse treatment by requiring insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover chemical dependency and mental health conditions at the same level as other medical treatments. It directly affects state employees, Medicaid recipients, and individuals with private insurance by mandating that these plans apply the same limits, duration rules, and financial requirements to substance abuse care as they do to general medical care. The legislation explicitly excludes certain services, such as long-term residential programs exceeding 45 days, court-ordered sex offender treatment, and psychotherapy provided in educational settings, from this parity requirement. By amending multiple state laws, the bill ensures that coverage for alcoholism and related conditions is not subject to stricter restrictions than those imposed on other health conditions.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to speed up the process for receiving inpatient mental health treatment and related legal reviews in Massachusetts. It requires hospitals to establish evening and night staffing consistent with national standards and mandates that independent medical examinations for indigent patients be requested within 24 hours and completed within three business days. Additionally, the bill shortens the maximum time a patient can be held without a hearing from fourteen days to five days and sets a seven-day deadline for hearings regarding involuntary commitment petitions. The legislation also directs the Department of Children and Families to create a specific timeline for administering antipsychotic medication to children in state custody who are hospitalized in psychiatric facilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that insurance plans in Massachusetts cover services provided by certified nurse-midwives at the same reimbursement rate as those provided by licensed physicians. It applies to state employee health plans, public health insurance programs, and private individual or group hospital service plans operating within the state. The legislation ensures that insurers cannot lower payments for nurse-midwife services to comply with the new coverage requirements, effectively treating these services as equal to physician services for billing purposes.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to collect and publish detailed data on student outcomes and special education services. The law mandates that schools report information broken down by race, ethnicity, gender, economic status, English learner status, and disability category to help identify and address educational inequities. Additionally, the bill expands the types of special education services that must be tracked, including assistive technology and behavioral supports, provided the state supplies an online tool to facilitate this reporting. By making this data publicly available in an easy-to-use format, the legislation aims to ensure that all students have equitable access to education and necessary support services.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state laws to streamline access to gender-affirming health care by limiting the documentation required from patients. Specifically, it prohibits the state commission, insurance companies, and health care corporations from rejecting a single letter from a qualified mental health professional that confirms the medical necessity of such care. The legislation defines a qualified professional as one who meets the standards set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. By removing barriers related to multiple letters of approval, the bill aims to facilitate easier access to these services for transgender and non-binary individuals.