Rep. Tackey Chan

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Education to create and manage a grant program aimed at helping social work students find field placement opportunities. The funding is specifically intended to recruit and retain Master of Social Work students from historically marginalized and low-income communities. Money for this initiative would come from state, federal, or other available resources, including existing trust funds. The legislation seeks to build a more stable and diverse workforce of licensed social workers within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve Massachusetts' Paid Family and Medical Leave Law by clarifying how employers can count toward the required wage contributions. It allows employers to include funds from existing temporary disability policies, paid family leave programs, and various types of paid time off, such as sick or vacation leave, even if those are provided through collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, the legislation requires employers to inform employees of their eligibility for paid leave within five business days of a request, ensuring the notification is provided in the employee's primary language. These changes directly affect employers and employees by expanding the sources of eligible wages and standardizing the process for requesting leave.

By Representative Uyterhoeven of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3119) of Erika Uyterhoeven, Steven Ultrino and Lydia Edwards for the annual issuance of a proclamation by the Governor setting apart January 30 of each year as Fred Korematsu Day of civil liberties and the Constitution. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

Senate, March 4, 2024 --The committee on Labor and Workforce Development, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1197) of Jason M. Lewis, Rebecca L. Rausch, Jack Patrick Lewis, Michael D. Brady and other members of the General Court for legislation to improve the Massachusetts paid family medical leave law; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1198) of Jason M. Lewis, Lydia Edwards, James B. Eldridge and Paul R. Feeney for legislation to amend the Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave law definitions of a covered business entity and a covered contract worker; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1858) of Josh S. Cutler and others relative to the publication of hearing decisions by the Department of Family and Medical Leave; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1859) of Josh S. Cutler and others relative to data reporting by the Department of Family and Medical Leave; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1860) of Josh S. Cutler and others for legislation to include bone marrow and organ donation in the paid family and medical leave program; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1888) of Kenneth I. Gordon and others relative to the Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave Law; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1889) of Kenneth I. Gordon and others relative to the definitions of covered business entity and covered contract worker under the Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave Law; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1942) of Jeffrey N. Roy relative to unemployment benefits for replacement workers, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2605).

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to dedicate state resources to maintain a robust and healthy public higher education system in Massachusetts. It directly affects the state's public colleges and universities by seeking to ensure they have the necessary funding to operate effectively. The legislation aims to commit financial support to these institutions to prevent cuts that could impact educational quality and access. By focusing on resource allocation, the bill intends to provide a stable foundation for public higher education without specifying exact dollar amounts or spending limits.

Senate, March 4, 2024 -- The committee on Labor and Workforce Development, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1171) of Paul R. Feeney, Marc R. Pacheco, Jacob R. Oliveira, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the General Court for legislation to include offsite fabrication work for qualified projects under the prevailing wage laws of the Commonwealth; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1943) of Jeffrey N. Roy and others relative to compliance with prevailing wage laws for offsite fabrication, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2603).

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 establishes new standards and accountability measures for clean energy projects in Massachusetts funded by state resources. It defines who must follow these rules, including businesses and public utilities receiving state contracts or grants for renewable energy and climate initiatives. The legislation also sets specific criteria for identifying environmental justice populations, such as communities with lower incomes or significant minority populations. By clarifying these terms and requirements, the act aims to ensure that workforce standards are consistently applied across various state energy programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that construction industry employers in Massachusetts provide their employees with at least 10 hours of training approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It applies to businesses working on residential, commercial, or public projects and requires independent contractors to prove they have completed the necessary coursework. Employers who fail to comply face escalating fines, starting at $2,500 for a first violation and reaching $10,000 for subsequent offenses, with higher penalties for violations linked to employee deaths. The law exempts small projects costing $10,000 or less and routine home maintenance performed by homeowners, while also requiring the state board to publish lists of violations and establish rules for retraining schedules.