Rep. Tom Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Board in Massachusetts to improve services and policy for people with brain injuries and their families. The board will be made up of state officials, healthcare leaders, and eight community members, including individuals with brain injuries and their caregivers. Its main job is to review how well current services are working, study the needs of affected individuals, and offer advice on state funding and public policy. The board must meet at least every three months and submit a report every two years to government leaders detailing its findings and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts election laws to allow candidates to use campaign funds for child-care services required because of their political activities. It defines these services broadly to include care from individuals, non-profits, and for-profit organizations, while restricting payments to family members unless they operate a professional daycare or babysitting service. The legislation also permits candidates to claim expenses for child-care that would not otherwise exist but for their campaign. Finally, it requires the director of campaign and political finance to create specific regulations outlining these rules by December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Zero Carbon Renovation Fund in Massachusetts to support the energy-efficient upgrades of existing buildings. The fund, managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center, provides financial assistance for projects that make buildings highly energy efficient, switch to all-electric systems, install renewable energy sources, and use low-carbon materials. Priority funding is directed toward affordable housing, public schools, and small businesses, with a specific focus on communities in environmental justice areas, gateway cities, and those disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Additionally, the legislation allows money to cover necessary remediation costs, such as mold removal or lead paint mitigation, that must be addressed before renovations can begin.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to classify applications for construction project eligibility and related update statements as public records. The change directly affects the public and government agencies by making these documents accessible for review under existing freedom of information rules. However, the bill specifically exempts any financial information contained within those applications from public disclosure. This adjustment aims to balance the goal of greater transparency in public construction projects with the need to protect sensitive financial data.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to create a new program aimed at improving the local and regional public health system, specifically targeting disparities in service delivery. The Department of Public Health will work with municipalities to establish a state action for public health excellence that ensures all residents have uniform access to essential services, with a focus on racial and health equity for historically underrepresented communities. Key provisions include developing statewide standards for public health programs, encouraging the sharing of resources and expertise across different jurisdictions, and providing adequate funding to help local health boards meet these new standards. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of public health services throughout the Commonwealth by formalizing support and accountability measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that on construction projects in Massachusetts exceeding one million dollars, a specific percentage of work hours be performed by apprentices in approved training programs. The law mandates that contractors and subcontractors follow a phased schedule where 5% of hours are done by apprentices six months after the bill passes, increasing to 10% after one year, and reaching 15% after two years. These requirements apply to all trades subject to prevailing wage laws and must comply with existing apprentice ratios set by relevant license boards. The legislation aims to create a more skilled workforce by ensuring larger public and private projects integrate more trainees into their operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide ban on law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts using facial recognition or other remote biometric surveillance technology, with the exception of the Department of Motor Vehicles for verifying driver identities. It directly affects police departments and other public safety organizations by prohibiting them from acquiring, possessing, or contracting for such software unless explicitly authorized by a separate law. The legislation also ensures that any evidence obtained through the unauthorized use of these tools cannot be used in court proceedings. By defining specific terms like "biometric surveillance technology" and "public agency," the law creates clear boundaries for what is permitted while restricting the ability of government entities to use automated systems that identify individuals based on their physical features.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state laws to direct specific fines and assessments from DUI-related cases into the Head Injury Treatment Services Trust Fund. It increases the fine for a first-time DUI offense by $50 and raises the assessment fee for convicted or pleaded-guilty individuals from $50 to $100. Additionally, the legislation requires that 75 percent of fines collected in various DUI scenarios be deposited into the trust fund, while the entire $100 assessment fee goes directly to the fund. These changes primarily affect individuals charged with driving under the influence and the state judicial system responsible for collecting those penalties. The funds collected are intended to support services for victims of head injuries.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to create rules banning public schools from using athletic team names, logos, or mascots that reference Native Americans or denigrate any racial, ethnic, gender, or religious group. The legislation requires schools currently using such imagery to select new alternatives by a specific deadline set by the board. While the ban applies to new team identities, schools are permitted to keep existing uniforms and materials if they stop purchasing new items with the prohibited names and remove the imagery from facilities during future maintenance. The law explicitly allows Native American tribes to use their own names for their sports teams and permits a public school to use a tribal name only if that specific tribe gives explicit consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands insurance coverage in Massachusetts to include services provided by certified nurse-midwives across various state-regulated health plans. It requires that when a policy covers a service performed by a licensed physician, it must also cover the same service performed by a nurse-midwife at the identical reimbursement rate. The legislation applies to state employee group insurance, individual and group hospital service plans, and other major insurance categories, ensuring that nurse-midwives receive equal payment for covered services as physicians. By mandating equal reimbursement, the bill aims to increase access to midwifery care without forcing insurers to lower payments to doctors to comply with the new rules.