Sen. John Velis

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that all public schools in Massachusetts provide free breakfast and lunch to every student attending the school. To help cover these costs, the legislation requires schools to maximize the use of federal funding programs and assigns the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education the responsibility of paying for any remaining expenses not covered by federal reimbursements. Additionally, the bill directs the state to create regulations that help families access supplemental nutrition assistance programs by offering application support or referrals to relevant agencies. These provisions are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to help schools and childcare centers in Massachusetts buy local food and improve student nutrition. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will manage the program, which provides funding for kitchen equipment, staff training on cooking with local ingredients, and educational projects like school gardens. To receive money, applicants must be public schools or licensed childcare programs that serve meals through state or federal nutrition programs. The law also requires that grant distribution considers geographic, social, economic, and racial equity, and allows up to 15 percent of each grant to be used directly for purchasing locally grown food.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands death benefits for public employees in Massachusetts by increasing the one-time payout to $300,000 for families of those killed in the line of duty. It broadens eligibility to include all public employees across state, county, municipal, and educational sectors, rather than limiting benefits only to public safety workers. Additionally, the legislation creates a public service scholarship program to support the children and widowed spouses of deceased public employees, police officers, firefighters, and corrections officers who are pursuing undergraduate studies. These changes aim to provide financial support and educational opportunities for the families of public servants who died while performing their duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund to help Massachusetts farmers deal with financial losses caused by PFAS contamination in their soil and crops. It also grants farmers immunity from lawsuits if they are sued for damages resulting from standard farming practices that lead to PFAS presence in the environment. The legislation defines PFAS as specific fluorinated organic compounds and allows the fund to be financed through state appropriations, donations, and federal grants. Money from the fund can be used for testing, adapting farm management practices, providing health support, and developing educational resources for affected agricultural operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new right for employees in Massachusetts to take unpaid leave to appear in Probate and Family Court for matters related to their roles as parents or legal guardians, such as divorce or custody cases. Under the law, workers can use their existing paid vacation, personal, or sick leave to cover this time, but employers are not required to provide additional paid leave if they do not normally offer it. Employees must give their employer at least seven days' notice if the need for leave is foreseeable, or as soon as possible if it is unexpected, and may request the leave intermittently. To ensure the request is valid, employers can ask for a certification from the attorney general, and the attorney general is responsible for enforcing the rule.

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2442) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of John C. Velis, Daniel R. Carey and Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to ensure transparent ticket pricing. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Senate, January 29, 2024 --The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 175) of Cindy F. Friedman, Joanne M. Comerford, Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Lydia Edwards and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the disclosure of toxic chemicals in children’s products; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 318) of James K. Hawkins and others for legislation to direct the Department of Environmental Protection to publish a toxic chemicals of concern consumer products list, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2564).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require manufacturers and sellers to disclose specific toxic chemicals found in products intended for children aged 12 and under. It defines "children's products" broadly to include items like toys, clothing, cosmetics, car seats, and school supplies, while explicitly excluding electronics, bicycles, and certain other items. The legislation mandates that companies provide a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or other toxicity, using a list of authoritative scientific bodies to determine which substances are harmful. By establishing clear definitions and disclosure requirements, the bill aims to increase transparency regarding chemical safety in consumer goods used by young people.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed ticket sellers and platforms in Massachusetts to clearly show the full price of a ticket, including all mandatory fees, before a customer selects it for purchase. It mandates that the total cost and the specific amount of any service charges be displayed prominently in the same font size as the total price to prevent confusion. Additionally, the law prohibits sellers from increasing the ticket price during the checkout process, with the exception of reasonable delivery fees for non-electronic tickets that are disclosed before payment is accepted. These rules apply to anyone selling tickets for events like theater shows, public performances, or amusement parks that require a license.