Rep. Dawne Shand

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "construction" under Massachusetts prevailing wage laws to explicitly include offsite fabrication work. By amending Section 27D of Chapter 149, the legislation ensures that workers performing manufacturing tasks away from the main construction site are eligible for the same wage protections as those on traditional building projects. The change directly affects contractors and employees involved in prefabricated building components, requiring them to adhere to state wage standards regardless of where the work is physically completed. This update aims to close a potential loophole where offsite fabrication was previously excluded from prevailing wage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts prevailing wage laws to include certain bona fide apprenticeship and training programs. It directly affects construction projects that utilize these specific training initiatives, ensuring they qualify for prevailing wage requirements. The key provision expands the definition of eligible projects to cover apprenticeships that meet established standards, thereby extending wage protections to workers in these programs. This change aims to align training program participants with the wage standards applied to other skilled labor on public works projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines rural school districts in Massachusetts as those with low student density and below-average income to ensure they receive targeted support. It requires a state center to annually review these districts' health insurance plans and provide cost-saving recommendations, such as joining purchasing groups, while offering assistance to implement those changes. Additionally, the bill creates a new office of shared services to help rural districts form regional unions and manage shared resources, and it gives special education paraprofessionals priority for certain licensure grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education laws to allow students to count their participation in 4-H programs as school attendance, equivalent to an educational field trip. It requires schools to provide opportunities for students to complete missed work and ensures that grades are not negatively impacted by their absence from class for these activities. The legislation also mandates that 4-H agents provide proof of participation upon school request, while explicitly excluding attendance credit during standardized testing periods or times when a student is suspended or expelled.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a universal school meal program in Massachusetts to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students. It would require the state to allocate funding for these meals and mandate that every school district participate in the program. The legislation aims to ensure that every child attending a public school in the Commonwealth receives nutritious food at no cost to their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to help low-income families in Massachusetts afford diapers for infants and young children. It establishes a new trust fund managed by the Department of Public Health, which will be financed through state appropriations, interest, and unrestricted private donations. The Department of Public Health will select up to 12 organizations across the state to receive funding for purchasing, storing, and distributing diapers, with limits on how many grants are awarded to specific geographic regions. The program is designed to run for a set period, after which the department must submit a report to the legislature detailing the results.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to improve legal support and housing security for people facing eviction or the loss of housing subsidies. It creates a new advisory committee to oversee the program and defines specific legal actions, such as those involving mobile home parks or public housing, as "covered proceedings." The legislation designates non-profit organizations to provide legal counsel to individuals involved in these housing-related cases. By formalizing this support system, the bill aims to ensure that tenants have access to legal representation when their housing stability is at risk.