Rep. Mark Cusack

Maddy summaryThis law bans the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling animal acts, such as circuses and mobile carnivals, effective January 1, 2025. It prohibits anyone from allowing these animals to perform tricks or participate in entertainment while being transported in vehicles between locations. The ban does not apply to animals that live permanently at a fixed facility, veterinary transport, or film productions that do not involve live public exhibitions. Violations of the new rules can result in civil penalties ranging from $500 to $10,000 per animal involved.

By Representative Cusack of Braintree, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1848) of Mark J. Cusack for legislation to establish rights and obligations of transportation network drivers and transportation network companies. Labor and Workforce Development.

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two branches with reference to the Senate amendment of the House Bill relative to salary range transparency (House, No. 4109), reports, in part, recommending passage of the accompanying bill (House, No. 4890).

By Representative Cusack of Braintree, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1846) of Mark J. Cusack for an investigation by a special commission relative to accountability in labor and services provided by contractors and subcontractors in the Commonwealth. Labor and Workforce Development.

By Representatives Fiola of Fall River and Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3245) of Carole A. Fiola, Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling exhibits and shows. Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

By Representative Cusack of Braintree and Senator Timilty, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4214) of Mark J. Cusack, Walter F. Timilty and John F. Keenan (by vote of the town) that the city known as the town of Braintree be authorized to provide for the retirement of William R. Cushing Jr., a police officer in said city. Public Service. [Local Approval Received.]

Maddy summaryThis bill requires covered employers in Massachusetts to submit detailed wage data reports alongside their existing annual reports to the state secretary. The state secretary will then compile this information and publish aggregate wage statistics on the executive office of labor and workforce development website, organized by industry and released annually by June 1. While the bill mandates the collection and public release of these aggregate statistics, it explicitly excludes the individual wage data reports from being considered public records, thereby protecting specific employer information from public disclosure.

By Representative Cusack of Braintree (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 673) of Gene John Cass relative to town committee elections and membership. Election Laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural measure that extends the deadline for the House Revenue Committee to submit its final report on a specific document. It directly affects the committee's schedule by allowing them until July 31, 2024, to complete their work on the referenced bill. The legislation temporarily suspends standard committee rules to grant this additional time. No new laws or policies are created by this text; it solely manages the legislative timeline for an existing proposal.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural measure that extends the deadline for the House Revenue Committee to submit its final report on a specific legislative document. By suspending a standard rule, the bill grants the committee additional time until July 31, 2024, to complete its work. It does not create new laws or affect public policy but serves to adjust the internal schedule for reviewing a related bill.