Rep. Kelly Pease

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow low-stakes gambling on specific recreational games like poker, bingo, and bridge at municipal and town senior centers. It directly affects senior citizens and the organizations that host these games by defining strict limits, such as capping individual winnings at $20 and requiring that all money wagered be returned to players by the end of the session. The legislation also clarifies that no one may profit from organizing these games except for the players' own winnings, while explicitly stating that playing in such games is not a criminal offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to investigate how people falsely claim to have service animals. The commission will consist of fifteen members, including officials from the state judiciary, police, disability offices, and advocacy groups for both service animals and other types of pets. Its primary task is to study the issue of misrepresentation and make recommendations on how to address it.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify definitions regarding service animals and establish a formal process for verifying their legitimate status. It creates a new section in the state's general laws to define terms like "service dog" and "service-dog-in-training" based on federal standards, while explicitly protecting business owners from misrepresentation. A key provision requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to develop and distribute a verification decal for businesses to display in their windows or doors. This decal will be created in collaboration with national service dog organizations, restaurant owner associations, and business owner associations to help identify legitimate service animals.

Senate, January 8, 2024 -- Substituted as a new draft (Senator Velis) for the Senate Bill amending the charter of the city of Westfield (Senate, No. 2423).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to grant employees unpaid leave specifically for appearing in Probate and Family Court matters related to their rights as parents or legal guardians, such as divorce or custody cases. Under the new provision, workers can take this leave intermittently or on a reduced schedule, and they may use existing paid vacation or sick time to cover the absence if they choose. Employers are allowed to require advance notice of up to seven days for foreseeable leave and may ask for certification from the Attorney General to verify the need for time off. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing the law, and employers cannot be required to provide paid leave for this purpose if they do not normally offer such benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows employers in Massachusetts to pay final wages to a deceased employee's family without waiting for formal court documents like letters of administration. Under the new rules, an employer can make this payment if they receive a written affidavit from a surviving spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, or someone who paid funeral costs, along with proof of death and relationship. Once the employer pays these wages based on the affidavit, they are fully protected from any future legal claims regarding that specific payment. The law also requires employers to keep the written demand and payment proof in the employee's personnel file.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission in Massachusetts to study and develop policies against the financial abuse of people over the age of 60. The commission will be composed of legislators, legal experts, advocates for the elderly, representatives from the real estate and financial industries, and staff from aging councils. Its specific tasks include investigating how financial abuse impacts seniors, reviewing predatory lending practices, examining undervalued property transfers, and analyzing deceptive telemarketing or online scams targeting older adults. The group is required to submit a final report with policy recommendations to state officials by December 31, 2021.

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2423) of John C. Velis and Kelly W. Pease (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to amend the charter of the city of Westfield. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local approval received]

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to protect residents from surveillance by foreign adversaries using specific social media platforms. It defines "social media companies" as large platforms with over one million users that sell ads and allow content sharing, while excluding simple review sites or emergency alert services. The legislation specifically targets companies domiciled in or controlled by "countries of concern," explicitly naming Bytedance, TikTok, and WeChat as covered entities. By classifying these platforms as potential threats, the bill establishes a legal framework for the state to regulate or restrict their operations within Massachusetts to safeguard citizen data.