Rep. Steve Ultrino

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every public high school in Massachusetts to offer at least one foundational computer science course. The law ensures that all students have the opportunity to take this class within their four-year high school experience. The course must include rigorous mathematical or scientific concepts and follow standards set by the state's education board. These requirements will begin to apply to the school year starting after July 1, 2025.

By Representative Ultrino of Malden, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2673) of Steven Ultrino relative to retirement benefits for county correctional nurses. Public Service.

By Representative Ultrino of Malden, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2674) of Steven Ultrino relative to the retirement classification of forensic scientists employed at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory in the contributory retirement system for public employees. Public Service.

By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3171) of Natalie M. Higgins, Michael P. Kushmerek and others relative to establishing the gateway cities renewable, efficient, and electrified neighborhoods initiative. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representatives Moran of Lawrence and Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3194) of Frank A. Moran, Marjorie C. Decker and others relative to the use of contractors for repairing or performing work on public utility infrastructure. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representative Hunt of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2347) of Daniel J. Hunt and others relative to public fire safety and professionalism. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide mattress recycling program in Massachusetts, requiring mattress producers to manage the collection and environmentally sound disposal of discarded mattresses. Under the proposed system, a fee known as a stewardship assessment would be added to the retail price of mattresses to fund the program, ensuring free and accessible collection opportunities for residents across both urban and rural areas. The legislation defines specific terms such as "mattress" and "consumer" to clarify which items are covered and outlines requirements for record-keeping, performance audits, and worker safety for those involved in the recycling process.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows registered pharmacists in Massachusetts to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral contraceptives without requiring a prior prescription from a doctor. To ensure safety, pharmacists would need to complete specific training, use a risk assessment tool with the patient, and refer the individual to a primary care provider after the transaction. The legislation also mandates that pharmacists provide a written record of the prescription and prohibits requiring patients to schedule an appointment for this service. These changes aim to increase access to birth control by enabling pharmacists to directly provide these medications to anyone who needs them.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow Certified Nursing Assistant exams to be administered in languages other than English, such as Spanish and Chinese. It directly affects nurses' aides working in long-term care facilities where the resident population predominantly speaks a language other than English. The legislation requires the state department to decide which specific languages will be available for testing and mandates that facilities offering this option must recognize the costs of compliance in their payment rates. The changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2024, aiming to improve access to certification for non-English speaking workers in the healthcare sector.

By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2196) of Natalie M. Higgins and others relative to registered nurse patient assignment. Public Health.