Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve the quality and accountability of temporary nursing service agencies in Massachusetts by giving the executive office authority to set fair rates and monitor agency performance. The legislation requires that rates for temporary nurses include allowances for wages, taxes, and benefits that do not exceed what permanent staff earn in the same region, while also mandating that agencies submit cost reports for auditing. To increase transparency, the bill directs the executive office to create a public performance report card that tracks agency compliance, staff reliability, and financial data by geographic area and facility type. Additionally, the law prohibits these agencies from poaching employees from facilities where they currently have an active contract for a period of one year after the contract ends.
Rep. Rodney Elliott
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force to review Massachusetts laws regarding animal cruelty and protection. The group will include representatives from the attorney general's office, district attorneys, state police, agricultural resources, and animal welfare organizations, along with two members appointed by the governor. Within 12 months, the task force must submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations, which may include creating a new misdemeanor statute for animal cruelty. This initiative directly affects state agencies and animal welfare groups by mandating a systematic evaluation of current legal protections for animals.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts education code to require schools to include prescription opioid abuse prevention in their violence prevention curriculum. The change specifically directs educators to teach students about the prescription drug epidemic and explain how misuse of these medications can lead to addiction to other substances like heroin. By adding this topic to existing legal requirements, the legislation ensures that all public schools address the risks associated with prescription opioids as part of their standard safety education.
By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3268) of John Barrett, III, Smitty Pignatelli and Carole A. Fiola for legislation to establish idling time limits for trains. Transportation.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to stabilize nursing home facilities in Massachusetts by updating how the state calculates Medicaid reimbursement rates. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adjust rates annually for inflation and use cost data from the last two years to better reflect current expenses. The legislation also mandates a statewide average plus 10% for nursing labor costs and provides a minimum 5% rate increase for facilities where Medicaid residents make up at least 75% of their population. Additionally, it sets specific payment standards for capital projects related to converting larger rooms into smaller, private ones.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the SAVE Students Act, creates a statewide anonymous reporting system for students, staff, and the public to report unsafe or violent activities in Massachusetts schools. The Department of Public Health will establish and manage this program, which must be accessible 24/7 through a mobile app, website, and toll-free phone line, and include a staffed crisis center offering multilingual support. The law requires that the system protect the identity of reporters while allowing them to voluntarily share their information if they choose, and mandates that regulations be developed to ensure the program does not lead to unfair disciplinary actions against students from protected groups.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to enhance the quality and safety of care in Massachusetts nursing homes by establishing specific staffing requirements and resident protections. It mandates minimum staffing levels for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse assistants based on current research, while also requiring facilities to make reasonable efforts to place residents in community settings rather than institutions. The legislation further restricts the construction of new rooms or renovations that house more than two residents and mandates the creation of Human Rights Committees within each facility to investigate complaints. Additionally, the bill expands the enumerated rights of nursing home residents to apply to all individuals living in these facilities, regardless of whether they receive Medicare or Medicaid benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to create a no-interest, forgivable loan program specifically for nursing facilities. The funds are intended to support three main areas: developing specialized care units for conditions like dementia and infectious diseases, covering costs for essential infrastructure upgrades such as HVAC systems and elevators, and financing innovative projects that reduce bed capacity to better match resident needs. By offering these loans, the legislation aims to help facilities modernize their infrastructure and adapt their services to provide more personalized care for older adults.
Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill aims to improve care standards in nursing homes by establishing specific staffing requirements and addressing social isolation. It mandates that long-term care facilities provide a minimum of 4.1 hours of care per resident per day, with at least 0.75 hours delivered by a registered nurse, while allowing for additional staff based on individual resident needs. Additionally, the law requires facilities to implement written policies and provide necessary technology to prevent social isolation, ensuring residents can maintain contact with family, friends, and other residents for religious and recreational activities. These changes directly affect nursing home operators and the residents they serve by setting concrete benchmarks for staffing levels and social engagement.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires every public school district in Massachusetts to create and maintain a comprehensive school counseling program for all students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Under the new rules, districts must hire licensed school counselors who dedicate at least eighty percent of their time to direct or indirect services for students. Additionally, the law mandates a specific staffing ratio of one counselor for every two hundred fifty students to ensure equitable access across all districts.