Sen. Vanna Howard

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to formally define and address psychological abuse in the workplace, directly affecting employers, employees, and independent contractors. It introduces specific legal definitions for terms such as bullying, mobbing, and toxic work environments to clarify what constitutes mental mistreatment. The legislation also establishes new terminology for psychological injury, ensuring that mental harm is recognized with the same evidentiary standards as physical injury. By updating Chapter 149 of the General Laws, the bill aims to create a clearer legal framework for identifying and addressing non-physical harassment and abuse in employment settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Hospital Workforce Training & Apprenticeship Trust Fund to help Massachusetts hospitals recruit and keep staff. The fund, managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, will provide grants to eligible hospitals and training organizations for education programs, wage replacement, tuition stipends, and support services like housing and childcare. Additionally, the bill directs the state to launch a public marketing campaign to promote hospital careers and attract workers to hard-to-fill positions. These measures aim to address staffing challenges by offering financial incentives and improving the overall appeal of hospital jobs.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to increase access to hearing aids by modifying existing laws that currently restrict how physicians and audiologists can sell these devices. It allows audiologists and otolaryngologists to sell hearing aids to patients they have treated, provided they clearly disclose all fees and costs before the sale and inform the patient of their right to purchase elsewhere. Additionally, the legislation permits audiologists and hearing instrument specialists to sell hearing aids while working for or being affiliated with an otolaryngologist. These changes are designed to reduce barriers for patients seeking hearing care by expanding who can provide these services and ensuring transparency in pricing.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state law requiring employers in Massachusetts to provide bereavement leave to employees whose immediate family members pass away. It defines eligible family members as those living with the employee, such as spouses, children, parents, and siblings, and allows for up to 10 business days of leave within a 12-month period for funeral arrangements, attendance, or grieving. While the law mandates the time off, it explicitly leaves the decision to pay for that leave entirely up to the individual employer's policy. Additionally, the provision applies only to businesses with 10 or more employees and requires that the leave request be made within 30 days of the death.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts colleges and universities to provide students with their academic transcripts even if they owe money for tuition, fees, or loans. The law allows schools to withhold a student's grades or credits for a specific course only if the tuition and mandatory fees for that particular semester have not been paid. However, the bill explicitly states that schools may still refuse to issue a final diploma or degree if a student has unpaid financial obligations. The Department of Higher Education is tasked with creating new rules to ensure these requirements are followed across public and private institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in Massachusetts to grant college credit for Advanced Placement exam scores of three, four, or five to help students meet degree requirements. Institutions must clearly state on their websites how these credits apply to general education, major, or elective courses and ensure they can be transferred to other schools. While schools can still require higher scores, they must provide specific evidence that a score above three is necessary for success in related courses, and the Department of Higher Education will offer guidance on what counts as valid evidence. Additionally, the state's higher education board must annually review these policies and report its findings to the legislature by July 1 each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new right for employees in Massachusetts to take up to 10 business days of bereavement leave within a 12-month period following the death of a family member. The law defines family members to include children, parents, guardians, siblings, spouses, and partners living with the employee, allowing time for funeral arrangements, attending services, grieving, or handling legal matters. Employers have the discretion to decide whether this leave is paid or unpaid, and they may require proof of death, such as a medical record or police report. The policy applies only to employers with 10 or more employees in the state and does not affect existing contracts or laws that offer more generous leave benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands bereavement leave rights for employees in Massachusetts by adding death of a family member as a qualifying reason for family leave under state law. It specifically grants eligible workers up to eight weeks of leave per year to attend funerals, make necessary arrangements, or grieve, with financial benefits provided for two of those weeks. The legislation also clarifies rules regarding how this leave can be taken, allowing it to be used intermittently or on a reduced schedule, and prevents employers from requiring multiple concurrent leave periods if more than one family member dies in a single year.

Senate, January 22, 2024 --The committee on Labor and Workforce Development, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1145) of Michael J. Barrett and Sean Garballey for legislation to ensure bereavement leave; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1205) of Liz Miranda and Lydia Edwards for legislation relative to bereavement leave; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1879) of Sean Garballey, David M. Rogers and others relative to bereavement leave under the family and medical leave act; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1961) of Christopher J. Worrell relative to bereavement leave, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2562).