Rep. Colleen Garry

Maddy summaryHD 1549 allows former parochial school teachers in Massachusetts to purchase retirement service credit for up to 10 years of prior teaching. To qualify, teachers must have taught in an approved school with a valid teaching certificate, pay contributions based on the average teacher salary for those years (plus capped interest), and have their last 10 years of service as a state employee. The bill requires a single payment or annual payments to the retirement system to receive credit for the purchased service time. This directly affects teachers who worked in parochial schools before joining the state teaching system.

Maddy summaryHD 1243 requires private gas and distribution companies to increase transparency when awarding construction contracts over $100,000 for work on public ways. Companies must notify all qualified bidders within two business days of their decision, including the award criteria, bidder score, and winning amount. They must also post the contractor name, project location, and work duration on their website. This applies to all such contracts except single-bid situations or when disclosure would harm law enforcement, public interest, or commercial interests. The state department enforces these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires carnivals operating mobile amusement devices with enclosed passenger areas (like pods or cabins) to install seat belts as a safety restraint. It directly affects carnival operators who use such enclosed ride equipment. The law mandates these restraints to prevent injury if a rider loses consciousness or control during operation, with violations punishable by fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail. The bill defines "carnival" as mobile amusement enterprises using portable devices or temporary structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale of fur products made from animals raised on fur farms (such as mink or fox) within Massachusetts. It directly affects sellers of new fur products, including retailers and online businesses operating in the state, but excludes used fur items, religious items, and products legally sold under federal law. The law defines "fur product" broadly (covering clothing, accessories, and home goods) but exempts items converted to leather or made from certain animals like sheep or deer. Sellers violating the ban face civil penalties of $500-$5,000 per product, enforced by the Attorney General, with rules to be issued within six months. The law takes effect one year after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 3557, "An Act protecting victims of sexual assault") requires individuals convicted of specific sexual assault crimes (listed in Chapter 265, sections 13B, 13F, 13H, 22, 22A, 23, 24, or 24B) to undergo HIV testing within 14 days of conviction. The results must be shared with both the convicted person and the victim. Refusal to test leads to court hearings for contempt, potential sentence revisions, or probation violations, and testing must be completed before parole or early release eligibility. It directly affects convicted individuals in these cases and ensures victims receive test results.

Maddy summaryHD 3554 restricts abortions after the second trimester unless the mother's life is at risk. It requires physicians performing such procedures to obtain certification from themselves and two consulting physicians that continuing the pregnancy would likely cause maternal death, and the procedure must occur in a hospital. The bill also mandates that if a fetus shows signs of viability after an abortion (e.g., movement or heartbeat), hospitals and physicians must provide all necessary life-saving measures. This applies specifically to abortions performed under the allowed circumstances and does not affect care for miscarriages before 20 weeks or stillbirths after 20 weeks.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to add Krabbe Leukodystrophy and other lysosomal storage disorders to the state's mandatory newborn screening panel. It directly affects all newborns in Massachusetts by requiring these conditions to be screened for at birth. The key provision updates the existing list of screened disorders, specifically inserting the new diseases after phenylketonuria in the relevant statute. This change ensures early detection of these rare genetic conditions through standard newborn blood tests.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies from funding advertisements that discourage pregnant women from using pregnancy resource centers. It defines pregnancy resource centers as organizations offering services like counseling, prenatal education, and baby supplies to support expectant mothers. The law requires state agencies to stop negative advertising against these centers and to equally promote all facilities serving pregnant women, including both pregnancy resource centers and licensed medical providers. The policy takes effect 90 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts hospitals to verify that certain patients have arranged suitable transportation before discharge. It applies to patients who had anesthesia-related surgery, have developmental disabilities, are receiving substance abuse treatment, or suffer from Alzheimer's or dementia. Hospitals must confirm transport arrangements but are not required to provide or arrange the transportation themselves. The law aims to prevent unsafe discharges for vulnerable patients by adding this verification step to hospital protocols. It directly affects hospitals in Massachusetts and the specific patient groups listed in the bill.

Maddy summaryHD 3748 requires funeral directors to receive original death certificates within 24 hours of requesting them, directly affecting licensed funeral directors and undertakers. The bill amends Chapter 112 of the General Laws to mandate that issuers of death certificates deliver the original document to the funeral director's business location within this timeframe. This change streamlines a key administrative process for funeral homes, ensuring timely access to certificates needed for burial arrangements and legal documentation. The provision applies to all requests made by licensed funeral directors or undertakers.